Architecture Billings Index ends the first quarter on an upswing

May 1, 2016  |  News

The Architecture Billings Index reflects consecutive months of increasing demand for design activity at architecture firms. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. …
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Serge Ferrari introduces Precontraint 502 Satin

May 1, 2016  |  News

Serge Ferrari North American and Trivantage announced the availability of Precontraint® 502 Satin flexible composite material. The product will be fully stocked in all colors at Trivantage’s 12 distribution centers. Precontraint 502 Satin is an evolution of the Classic version of Precontraint 502…
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Zaha Hadid’s work has a natural affinity for fabric

April 12, 2016  |  News

The late British master architect and Pritzker Prize winner worked in all the standard architectural materials, but many of her most striking designs aptly incorporated tensile fabric elements. “Our work with Zaha Hadid’s office on the Serpentine Sackler Gallery addition,” says Lance Rowell, f…
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SBA revises size standards

April 1, 2016  |  News

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) increased small business size standards affecting businesses in 46 industries in North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and in one industry in Sector 44-45, Retail Trade. SBA retained the current size standards f…
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US Navy Chooses Infinity Canopy

April 1, 2016  |  News

The United States Navy has chosen Infinity Canopy to cover its 35-foot-by-45-foot pergola, located at US Navy Seal Beach Golf Course in Cypress, Calif. The pergola creates an intimate space for various functions. After an exhaustive search and visits by the US Navy staff and engineers, Infinity Cano…
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Midwest Awnings opens after fire

April 1, 2016  |  News

After fire tore through its Cameron, Ill., manufacturing facility in December, Midwest Awnings Inc., Galesburg, Ill., is open at a temporary location north of the original plant. No employees were injured in the blaze; however, there was a lot of fabric in the building at the time of the fire. Midwe…
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Architects praise House passage of HR 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act

April 1, 2016  |  News

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed on Feb. 29 the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act. The legislation reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency and calls for a major review of disaster cost trends that …
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Keyston Bros. expands team

April 1, 2016  |  News

Keyston Bros., an Atlanta, Ga.-based supplier and innovator of fabrics, vinyls, leathers and textiles, has hired Eric Johnson as SVP/national sales manager. Johnson will report directly to CEO Dee Duncan, and will oversee all core sales efforts and new business development. Previously associated wit…
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J. Ennis relaunches Ennis 1974 fabric

April 1, 2016  |  News

Ennis 1974 is a PVC-coated polyester with a PVDF/acrylic finish—a choice material for awnings, tents, canopies, gazebos, inflatable structures, and light frame-supported structures. The material undergoes a lacquering treatment (Rotofluo W) of surface coatings to protect and insulate the PVC layer…
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Building code adoption key for state and local governments to withstand disasters

April 1, 2016  |  News

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) on March 22 filed comments in a Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) rule-making proceeding, supporting in concept the establishment of a disaster deductible for states and local governments in lieu of raising the threshold for disaster declaratio…
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