More Advice from The Terminator

In my last Fired Up blog, I focused on the first rule in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Seven Tools for Life.” But the Governator packs so much good advice in these rules, it is almost impossible to stop with just one. Schwarzenegger’s list, which features prominently in his commencement speeches and his latest book “Be Useful,” has some pieces of wisdom that are particularly relevant to the glazing industry.

Taking a note from the action hero who defined an era of film, I wanted to “focus in” on a few more of Arnold’s seven tools and how I see them relating to what we do in the world of glazing or through the eyes of a fenestration professional.

Never think small

Architects are increasingly looking for systems that maximize glazing area—from butt-glazed systems to larger and stronger curtain walls with larger glass lites. For those of us on the glazing manufacturing side of construction, this is a challenge and it requires stakeholders to collaborate.

At Technical Glass Products, we collaborate both with the designers and between the various teams in our facilities. Our sales, engineering and fabrication teams work closely to ensure we are developing systems that meet demands, that we are using project data to maximize design potential and that we are fabricating these systems to the highest standards.

It takes a lot of minds and hands to think bigger, and it takes a lot of work to translate those ideas into groundbreaking buildings.

Work your ass off

Speaking of work, it’s no secret that the construction sector is experiencing a lack of skilled laborers—a trend that is projected to continue as more than 1 in 5 construction workers are 55 or older and nearing retirement.

This means every point of the industry is being asked to do more with less. For glazing fabricators, this can mean investing in state-of-the-art equipment that makes fabrication and manufacturing easier for those on the production floor. It can also mean utilizing initiatives like Manufacturing Day to reach out to local schools and communities to bring in the next generation of manufacturers and skilled laborers. Working harder can also mean opening the doors for others.

Sell, sell, sell

This one may seem obvious to glazing professionals everywhere, but it goes beyond the literal sale of glazing systems and services—especially as The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reports that architecture firm billings have continued to decline in the first half of 2024.

Sell, sell, sell might mean something like finding and developing glazing systems that offer multiple points of value to a project and then letting project stakeholders know these value points. This includes systems that provide multiple performance capabilities simultaneously—from fire-rated curtain walls that also protect against hurricanes to glazing systems that combine fire and security ratings.

These and other products fit specific contexts and help architects improve building design more easily.

Break your mirrors

Finally, The Terminator himself encourages readers to look less at themselves and more at each other. How can we improve our communities, cities, states, country? How can we work together for a better future?

While this may seem like a lofty goal, manufacturers, designers and engineers have been working toward this for decades through the development of more environmentally friendly glazing systems. These initiatives range from providing data on green product certification to developing systems that contribute to more energy-efficient and occupant-centered buildings.

Some of TGP’s team were recently at ZAK World of Facades conference in Miami. There, they heard several building professionals speak about how glass facades are advancing building design to meet new sustainability and performance benchmarks. What else can we do to build and manufacture and better?

One effort to support better construction practices is to provide more transparency around the chemicals used within building products. Currently, four of TGP’s fire-rated systems have received Declare Labels from the International Living Future Institute. These labels provide information on the chemical makeup, production, lifespan and end of life options of building products to help designers make more ecofriendly decisions and to earn points toward Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification.

Remembering your “clear vision”

These are big charges for any one person in glazing to take on. To keep pushing forward as an industry, it is important that we work together and not forget what this business is all about—supporting groundbreaking designs meant to keep building occupants safe, healthy and inspired.