AIA 2007 Underway in San Antonio

More than 24,000 people are expected to take part in this year's AIA Show, which opened today in San Antonio. Green design and LEED are hot draws for architects and suppliers walking the show.

Meghan Ryan, a sales manager for Dorma's Glas Division, said her company is offering several interior glazing products to help architects achieve their green and LEED goals.

"We're seeing a push to present a full package of interior glass systems," she said. "Architects are intrigued by the possibilities of what we can do for them."

One Dorma product on display is the Visur interior glass wall system, a demountable system available in 3/8- and ½-inch glass. Another s the Deubl, an all-interior door system that fits into any standard drywall opening.

"We can use doors to bring in more light," Ryan said.

Dorma also has options for those looking for a little more creativity and design. Last fall it acquired the German glass company Mame, which makes a line of decorative glazing, now available through Dorma. "There's a huge interest in this," Ryan said. "Architects want that custom look without the custom price."

A few feet away from Dorma, Kawneer is displaying a variety of glass products to meet many design trends, including LEED and sustainability.

"What we're looking at is how to make it [LEED] easier for the architects," said the Karen Zipfel, director of marketing.

"We're trying to make it easier for them to know about our products and how they fit into LEED."

Kawneer is also presenting a series of Expo Education presentations at the show. These 15-minute sessions at the company's booth are focusing on thermal barriers in aluminum fenestration systems, achieving LEED strategies with Division 8 and curtainwall design and selection.

"They listen to the presentation and then take a test and it's all monitored by AIA," Zipfel said.

Kawneer's booth is also highlighting the company's various product categories, including hurricane resistance and energy efficiency, as well as several others related to curtainwall, windows and openings.

ACH's Cindy Coulter was optimistic, not only that the show would be a strong successful one, but also about the recent news of ACH's pending sale announcement.

"It's exciting," Coulter said. "We will no longer be part of an automotive company and we will become a glass company. So we're optimistic and enthusiastic."

The AIA Show runs through Saturday. Check out USGNN tomorrow for more show news and updates.