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Notes from the AIA: Product News

Notes from the AIA: Product News

For those of you who missed the AIA Convention or spent most of your time in seminars (or eating gumbo in the French Quarter), here’s a look at news from the exhibition floor:

(Above) TOTO offered architects a mini-CEU in which they could wear a suit designed to simulate the effects of aging. Promoting universal design is part of the company’s strategic partnership with the AIA.

A new mesh cladding product called Texo created quite a buzz at the convention. The pre-stressed fabric paneling is a patented system designed by Milan-based Tensoforma and can be used as a secondary facade on new structures or on existing buildings with poor solar performance (panels can even be made with photovoltaic textiles). The company just launched in the U.S., so we’re excited to see its first projects here.

3form’s Advanced Technology Group presented its collaboration with ITAC, a building technology integration research group at the University of Utah College of Architecture + Planning. The group designed a facade called CRATE made by using 3form Koda XT as a latticework to create various solar shading profiles.

Duo-Gard unveiled plans for its new solar-powered car charging stations. The company’s turnkey service includes in-house design, engineering, fabrication and installation services, plus field support on photovoltaics, inverters, and metering required to connect to the grid. (If building owners want to recoup the cost, credit card machines can also be installed.)

Elevator manufacturer Schindler demonstrated its new “machine room-less” low-rise elevator design, which can fit into the footprint of a hydraulic elevator design but operates with energy efficient traction technology.

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