Kevin Greenwood and Stage Tops USA cover lives events around the globe
July 1st, 2020
by Jill C. Lafferty “Everything is visual today,” says Kevin Greenwood, owner/CEO of Stage Tops USA, a Manchester, Tenn.-based company that manufactures and installs roof skins, wind walls, stage scrims and other fabric projects for major live events around the world. “[My clients] want to be seen. The bigger the better. They want to put […]
Rose Brand launches ‘Distance is resistance’ campaign
July 1st, 2020
Rose Brand launched a national campaign in late April to reinforce the social distancing message with the unfurling of a 140-foot banner in its Secaucus, N.J., headquarters parking lot. The banner, manufactured and printed in-house, conveys the rallying cry, “Join the resistance, keep your distance” and features Lady Liberty, an iconic symbol of hope. Rose […]
Protecting structures with fabric
July 1st, 2020
When it comes to protecting structures from the elements, fabric has it covered. by Jeff Moravec Think Hawaii doesn’t get bad weather? Think again. Wind can be a problem, but protection can be found in the form of a rope and pulley system, like this one from Tropical J’s in Honolulu. Photo: Tropical J’s. Fabric […]
Protective fabric mesh surrounds a landmark tower
July 1st, 2020
A fabric-clad tower in southern Germany brings technicians, elevator experts and the public together in one spectacular vertical setting. By Bruce N. Wright, FAIA The fabric-wrapped ThyssenKrupp test tower in Rottweil, Germany, is used to test and certify high-speed elevators, reducing development time of skyscrapers. The tower’s observation deck offers visitors stunning views of the […]
Automation advantages
July 1st, 2020
Adding automation can prove challenging, with costs to consider, processes to change and nervous employees to reckon with. Still, fabricators who have taken the leap say there’s no other way to go. by Pamela Mills-Senn Wizard Screen Solutions began automating in 2017 using computerized TigerStop™ cutting guides at cutting stations, a customized testing station for […]
Solar-powered canopy captures the rhythm of Miami
July 1st, 2020
The Rhythm Foundation exists to bring international music to the U.S. It focuses on music from cultures that connect to South Florida including Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa and Europe. In 2015, the Miami, Fla.-based nonprofit was awarded management of the North Beach Bandshell, an open-air amphitheater in Miami Beach’s North Beach Historic District […]
Expo unveiled: HGTV stars do well by doing good
July 1st, 2020
by Rebecca Post Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E Laine, the stars of HGTV’s “Good Bones,” will headline as keynote speakers at IFAI Expo 2020. When daughter-mother team Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E Laine rehabilitated their first house in 2007, they began a journey that morphed into a successful business and a binge-worthy series […]
Registration opens for IFAI Expo
June 15th, 2020
IFAI Expo Nov. 3–6, 2020 in Indianapolis, Ind., will mark the event’s 100th anniversary. IFAI has announced that it is moving forward as planned, and registration is now open. Safety protocols are in place and will be coordinated with host hotels and the Indiana Convention Center (ICC). The registration area at IFAI Expo will be […]
Fabric offers numerous benefits for awnings and canopies
June 2nd, 2020
By Bruce N. Wright, FAIA These dome awnings were fabricated with solution-dyed polyester. The classic rounded design of this awning system complements the building and streetscape in a way that a hard-edged metal treatment would not. Photo: courtesy of Marlen Textiles. Fabric awnings and canopies can provide energy savings, thermal and visual comfort, weather protection […]
Conceptual fabric artist Christo dies
June 2nd, 2020
Environmental conceptual artist Christo planned to transform the Arc de Triomphe in late 2020. Photo: André Grossmann; © 2019 Christo. Christo, an artist known for wrapping landmarks around the world with massive fabric installations, died Sunday at his home in New York City. The Bulgarian-born artist who used only his first name was 84; no […]