There’s always a sense of excitement in the air at trade shows, and last month’s AIA National Convention and Design Expo in Washington, D.C., was no different. From the introduction of innovative new products to the showcasing of a company’s product line, there were a lot of discussions taking place. Metal products took on a visible role at the show. Many of the manufacturers you
see in this magazine showcased their newest products and innovations. I had the chance to walk the show fl oor multiple times over the course of three days, and talked to a variety of sales and marketing people at these companies. Everyone I talked to was pleased with the show’s turnout. And everyone was happy about the amount of solid, qualifi ed leads they were receiving, which I’ll gladly take as a promising sign that the construction market is continuing to improve. Architects attending the AIA Show also have the opportunity to earn continuing
education units in seminars. This month, Senior Editor Mark Robbins takes a look at metal manufacturers who are using CEUs to educate architects on all of metal’s benefi ts. Turn to page 18 for the story. Starting on page 22, Editorial Director Paul Deffenbaugh takes a closer look at the
metal products that Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. supplied for the Bridgestone Americas Testing Center in Akron, Ohio. Much more than just a regular building, the state-of-the-art center, which will garner LEED Gold certifi cation, brings engineers together to facilitate idea sharing and inspire innovation through collaboration. Additionally, turn to page 9 to see what changes in categories and credits you can ex-
pect in LEED 2012 for New Construction when it comes out later this year, as Thomas Taylor continues to take a look at the USGBC’s newest version of its green building rating system. Have a great start to your summer, and let’s hope these signs of improvement only lead to a great rest of the year for the architecture and construction markets.
Marcy Marro Managing Editor
CORRECTIONS In the April 2012 issue, the Metl-Span Prestige Series panel shown on page 53 is not an insulated metal panel.
In the May 2012 issue, the photo of the Museum of Broadcast Communications on page 51 was switched with the product photo of MBCI’s standing seam roof panels on page 54.
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