It’s been three years since METALCON’s last show in Las Vegas, and we can’t think of a better place to celebrate the show’s milestone 30th anniversary! METALCON 2020 will take place October 21-23, 2020, in the Las Vegas Convention Center. The headquarter hotel will once again be the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, conveniently located adjacent to the convention center. If you are a frequent visitor to Vegas, you know the destination is always reinventing itself and creating new experiences for visitors. Here is a list of “what’s new” according to VisitLasVegas.com:
Example of bold metal roof color; photo credit: MRA
According to the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), coping with climate extremes, getting creative and achieving better, longer-lasting performance that adds more ROI for the home improvement dollar are all top of mind for U.S. and Canadian homeowners this year. MRA reports that the top five key style and performance trends in the U.S. and Canada include:
Central Library in Austin, Texas used perforated anodized aluminum as a central façade design element; Credit: Metal Architecture.
Paul Deffenbaugh, Editorial Director of Metal Construction News, shares his views on the the latest in metal design trends. Mr. Deffenbaugh sits on the judging panels of several design awards and listens as they discuss the merits and qualities of some of the most exciting architectural designs in the world. He says, “Over the last couple of years, we have identified a handful of design trends in the metal construction industry.” They include: use of perforated materials inside and out, use of bright colors, use of cantilevered planes, increase in customization, and how fabricators and installers are becoming linchpins in the construction team.
Featured in the November 22 issue of Metal Construction News, “MRA (Metal Roofing Alliance) Predicts Metal Roofing Trends for 2020.” According to the MRA, “metal roofing is an idea whose time has finally come.” They focused on the top five style and performance trends in the U.S. and Canada:
Show of Strength – Toughening up the home’s exterior to be better prepared for extreme climate changes. “Delicate detailing is out, while the use of heartier exterior features that offer an almost fortress-like feel and are meant to show off a home’s rugged resiliency are more popular than ever.” Metal roofs designed to mimic slate are especially on trend, helping homes achieve a substantial, natural look while delivering serious, low-maintenance and reliable performance.
Chicago-based Skender, a traditional construction firm for 64 years that’s now primarily known as a modular builder, says it’s on the cusp of a proposition that is as efficient a business model as the industry can imagine. From Construction Dive’s point of view, Skender offers the most promising
The Grand Award winner in the 2019 Metal Construction News Building & Roofing Awards is the Clear Lake Recreation & Wellness Center at The University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas.
As reported by DesignandBuildWithMetal.com this week, “The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has created a new group focused on increasing awareness of Metal Composite Material (MCM) for the architectural building envelope. The MCM Alliance supports product performance testing, initiates research, and promotes education and actions to influence public policies for the utilization and growth of MCM in the marketplace.”
Metal Construction News is a partner publication of METALCON 2019 and the sponsor of the Official Show Guide. With less than five weeks to go, REGISTER TODAY to join us in Pittsburgh and participate in the largest event in North America dedicated to metal in design and construction!
While I was picking my daughter up at the gym the other night, it dawned on me that we have spent countless hours in metal buildings over the past 7 years. With approximately 400 hours of practice per year times nearly 7 years plus gym meets, we are talking nearly 3000 hours! Then I began to realize that these metal buildings are everywhere and truly woven into people’s everyday lives. From gymnasiums, churches and schools, to sports arenas, warehouses, airplane hangars, and retail infrastructures (cue: Amazon distribution centers) … so for Magnificent Metal Monday today, let’s explore what makes these metal structures so functional.
The Metal Construction News Building and Roofing Awards are celebrating their 33rd year of showcasing the innovation and excitement of the metal construction industry. The deadline is approaching – all entries must be received by SEPTEMBER 20, 2019!
Magnificent Metal Monday hails the readers today by featuring Metal Construction News’ Readers’ Choice Awards for 2019. MCN comments, “In our sixth annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Metal Construction News readers identified four different roofing underlayments as their top products for the last year, and of those four, three were in the top six of overall products.
The list contains products ranging from metal roofing panels to insulated metal panels to chimney pots and caps. There were also a number of energy reduction products rising to the surface, including insulation materials and daylighting products that help reduce energy demands. But the bigger change in the 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards compared to previous years is the number of tools our readers were interested in. The Empire Level Manufacturing Co.’s TRUE Blue Squares took the top spot.
#2 goes to DAP Products for their Ultra Clear Sealant
For a product to be considered for the Readers’ Choice Awards, it must have been featured in the editorial coverage between the May 2018 and April 2019 issues of Metal Construction News. MCN tracks the leads generated by each product from their readers and ranks them according to the number of leads. Continue reading the full story for the full list of the 30 winners.
Many of these manufacturing companies will be exhibiting at METALCON 2019, October 16-18, 2019 in Pittsburgh. Check out the FLOOR PLAN for the largest event in North America dedicated to metal in design and construction and register today. On behalf of the METALCON team, congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Metal Construction News Readers’ Choice Awards.
CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A SPECIAL BLOG REGISTRATION DISCOUNT. The promo code does not work for exhibitors, manufacturers, suppliers or distributor registration categories.
Magnificent Metal Monday travels to Pittsburgh, PA, the location of METALCON 2019, for a look at a unique three-story home built in one of the city’s dense urban neighborhoods. Designed by David W. Nitchkey, a principal at CORE Architects of Pittsburgh, he opted for the use of exposed fastener panels from McElroy Metal for the home’s exterior.
Nitchkey’s home appeared in a recent issue of DesignandBuildwithMetal.com as a “featured project.” Nitchkey explains, “My wife and I both wanted to live in a contemporary urban home, reflecting a modern design on both the exterior and the interior. We chose metal to create the contemporary industrial aesthetic of the exterior. Beyond aesthetics, the exposed fastener metal panel system provided an economical solution and the material is basically maintenance free. After maintaining a large 1950s era suburban home for 14 years, we were ready to spend less time on exterior maintenance and more time enjoying the benefits of living in a city neighborhood.” Part of their decision to use metal was also to pay homage to the city’s steeped history in steel and metal making.
The home measures 2,500 square feet on a narrow 20-foot by 60-foot lot. “As a designer, I looked at the exterior cladding as an exercise in graphic design,” Nitchkey says. “The dimensional profiles, direction of the panel patterns, panel sizes and seaming, and exposed fastener colors, all became part of the layers of the design. Conceptually, the first floor horizontal U-Panels in a Charcoal color, provide a dark base to ground the structure and create a platform to support the silver Galvalume volume of the second and third floors, clad in vertical U-Panels. To provide a visual interest, ‘the wedge’ utilizes horizontal Mega Rib panels in Regal White. The added depth of these panels contrasts nicely against the shallower U-Panels.
Abreez Contracting of Pittsburgh installed the McElroy panels: 1,140 square feet of U-Panels in Charcoal, 3,408 square feet of U-Panels in unfinished Galvalume, 360 square feet of Mega-Rib panels in Regal White and 162 square feet of Matrix soffit panels in unfinished Galvalume.
McElroy Metal markets metal roofing, siding, and substructural products for architectural, residential, commercial, and industrial applications. McElroy has 13 manufacturing facilities across the United States. You can visit McElroy Metals and see their latest product line in Booth #1740 at METALCON 2019.
METALCON 2019 is a “one-stop shop” for key training, education and one-on-one time with industry experts and exhibitors. It is a critical addition to any “punch list” for a roofing job. Recently featured in Metal Construction News, having a punch list is necessary in any metal roofing job whether it is a roof retrofit or new construction. The information that can be obtained at METALCON this year will give you the tools to complete a job accurately.
Metal Construction News announced MBCEA’s Building of the Year Awards for 2019 in their July issue. Top honors went to the BARNES Buildings and Management Group based in Weymouth, MA, for their Boston MedFlight Hangar 12A project. The awards were announced at MBCEA’s Annual Meeting that took place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina May 2-4.
Our friends with MBCI shared in a blog post, “Just because you’ve been installing roofing for 30 years, doesn’t mean installer training and certification isn’t necessary. From a bottom line perspective, it’s important for companies to be proactive in making sure there is always someone on their team who is a certified installer for the products they use—or might use.”
With the knowledge that comes with certification, you’ll be able to assist contractors and consumers alike in choosing the right metal roof for their needs. Being a certified provider, homeowners, design professionals and contractors will be able to clearly differentiate quality levels of steep slope metal roofing by applying industry performance standards.
The award recognizes a Woman of Outstanding Roofing Leadership Distinction (W.O.R.L.D.).
Do you know someone who leads by example, with passion, strength and integrity? A true champion for women in the roofing industry as well as her local community and family?
The National Women in Roofing Organization’s mission is to support and empower women in our industry through education, mentorship, networking and recruiting, and our growing membership is filled with outstanding women who fulfill our mission on a daily basis nationwide! The organization focuses on connecting and empowering women so that their training and leadership skills can help drive the overall betterment and professionalism of the roofing industry.
Did you know that you will have four chances to win a $500 CASH PRIZE at METALCON 2019? All you have to do is visit all ten Innovation Stations located on the show floor and scan the METALCON APP for a chance to be entered into the daily drawing. Cash prizes are generously donated by METALCON’s long standing partner publication, DesignandBuildwithMetal.com. Drawings will be held on Wednesday at 2 pm and 5pm and Thursday at 2pm and 5pm; entry is based on cumulative scans not daily scans and a person may only win one time.
METALCON’s commitment to the industry goes far beyond exhibits. The show not only offers one on one interactions with exhibitors, but also offers opportunities to learn from industry experts. The METALCON team is excited to announce this year’s “line-up” for the PPG Theatre, sponsored by PPG which is headquartered in the host city, Pittsburgh. In addition PPG is sponsoring Bryan Trottier, former professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins and seven-time Stanley Cup winner, as one of the keynote speakers. A full schedule of general sessions on key industry topics will be available throughout the show in the PPG Theatre.
On this Earth Day, Magnificent Metal Monday (MMM) turns to our friends at Metal Roofing Alliance to see how metal stacks up against other roofing materials in being environmentally friendly. According to MRA, metal is considered the most environmentally friendly and sustainable roofing material available based on its sustainability, energy savings and value. Metal roofs are 100% recyclable and are made with a minimum of 25% recycled material, depending on the type of metal. Metal roofs can also often be installed over an existing roof, eliminating the environmental impact of disposal.
Magnificent Metal Monday (MMM) travels to Greenville, Texas, to check out the new high tech headquarters for Innovation First International. As reported by our friends with DesignandBuildwithMetal.com in March, “The company behind the popular HEX BUG micro robotic toy line was founded on the belief that product and technological innovation are vital to success, so it’s no wonder the company turned to a state-of-the-art, Metl-Span building envelope for its new, 63,500 square-foot headquarters.”
According to the latest figures from the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), metal roofing is growing in popularity, especially in states that experience severe climate conditions. The report identifies the top five states for interest in metal roofing are Florida, Pennsylvania, California, New York and North Carolina, with Texas close behind.
Dating back to the days of World War II when the British demanded a stronger roofing product to protect themselves against bombings, stone coated steel roofing tiles have played an important part of roofing history. It wasn’t until a few years ago that the industry saw a surge in their popularity and usage.
DesignandBuildwithMetal.com has issued their inaugural Metal Roofing Edition. This issue features some of the most outstanding metal roofing projects showcased on their website over the past 12 months, along with a number of supporting articles dealing with related technologies and ancillary products. The cover features a fire station in Florida that doubles as a hurricane command center. The building showcases metal roofing from Petersen, illustrating both the aesthetic qualities and performance attributes that have made metal the first choice for such projects.
A recent article in Metropolis Magazine asks, “When a building comes down, where do its materials go?” Recycling five essential materials—steel, concrete, drywall, glass, flooring—turns up different challenges, but architects can be part of the solution. As the environmental crisis worsens, we must ask: Can we reduce our demand on new resources? The article
As winter weather officially sets in and reports of snow and ice storms appear in the news on a more regular basis, thanks to our friends at MCA, you will be well prepared. MCA has released a technical bulletin concerning snow retention and the proper design and use of snow retention devices when a metal roof is involved called Qualifying Snow Retention Systems for Metal Roofing.
Grand Award winner in the 2018 Metal Construction News Building & Roofing Awards; photo courtesy of pod architecture + design, Rabbit Hole Distilling, and Prodigy Construction
You know it’s nearing the end of another year when “best of” lists for everything from music to toys to movies to fashion begin popping up everywhere. The construction and roofing industry is no exception. Here’s a round-up of some of the industry’s “best of the best” from 2018:
Among the 275 exhibitors at METALCON 2018 was CertainTeed, a leading North American brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings. METALCON attendees were offered an exclusive preview of their impressive Matterhorn® Metal Roofing collection and what contractors, architects and building owners will soon see in expanded markets nationwide. Continue reading →
METALCON will take place in Charlotte as planned October 10-12, 2018. In the wake of Hurricane Florence, there has been no damage or interruption in services reported at the Charlotte airport, hotels, and Convention Center. “Charlotte weathered Hurricane Florence and is doing well,” says Charlotte Regional Visitor Authority (CRVA) Director of Communications, Laura White. Our thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by the terrible devastation caused by the hurricane. By attending METALCON, you can help North Carolina with its rebuilding efforts.
Charlotte’s Thriving Business Community
Among the many reasons, METALCON named Charlotte as the location of choice this year because of its metal manufacturing industry base. More than 600 regional companies employing nearly 16,000 employees comprise related industries. Nucor Corporation is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Charlotte, with $16.2 billion in annual revenues and a profit of nearly $800 million. It is the largest U.S.- based steel manufacturer and the 12th largest steel producer in the world.
Local North Carolinian companies that will be exhibiting and attending the show include: 3A Composites; Betco, Inc.; Cape Fear Automation; IMS USA LLC; Metal Fastening Systems Inc.; RCI, Inc.; Union Corrugating and Wuko, Inc.
Getting to Charlotte
By car, plane, train or bus, ease of accessibility is another reason why Charlotte is an excellent location for METALCON. Air service in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) is exceptional. Nine major airlines operate at CLT, offering over 700 daily flights with nonstop service to 165 destinations and 33 international destinations. The airport is located only 7 miles away from the Charlotte Convention Center and Downtown hotels, about a 15 minute ride away! Visit Charlotte’s website for detailed information on travel to the city. Once you arrive at the airport, ShuttleFare is offering a $5.00 discount for roundtrip airport shuttles. Click HERE to book your shuttle.
Networking After-Hours … Charlotte’s Dining is Fit for a Queen
Home to culinary incubators like Johnson & Wales University, the Queen City draws innovative chefs who, inspired by their own backgrounds, rethink local and regional delicacies. Visitors can eat, drink and tour Charlotte’s culinary scene by taking advantage of unique tour options via segways, bicycles, or by foot. Check out some of Charlotte’s most popular eats on Charlotte NC Tours’ Taste and Glide Segway Tour or for our “foodies,” you may want to check out FEAST Food Tours. The Taste of Carolina Gourmet Food Tour offers chef creations coupled with learning about the history of the Queen City or if museums are your thing, check out the Taste of the Mint!
Outside of METALCON Show Hours … Charlotte’s Top 5!
Here are the top 5 things (plus a bonus) to do while visiting the “Queen’s City!” Appropriately named for its 325 foot peak, conquer the twists, turns and drops aboard Fury 325, the world’s tallest and fastest giga roller coaster located at Carowinds. Just steps away from the convention center, the heart of racing beats at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. If water is your thing, head to the U.S. National Whitewater Center (USNWC), home of the world’s largest man-made whitewater river and an official Olympic Training Site. You can pay your respects to the late Reverend Billy Graham at The Billy Graham Library. Born in Charlotte in 1918, the renowned evangelist was raised on his family’s dairy farm, just miles away from Charlotte’s Airport.
In less than two weeks, the metal construction industry’s largest international event for metal construction products, technologies and solutions takes place October 10 – 12 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
REGISTER before September 30 and receive a $40 discount off registration.
