Starting off this week with some forecasting news. There was a good economic mid-year update presented this week and some interesting nuggets came from it. The analysts see us being past the bottom now and rising. The metrics are all pointing at least in an upward direction.
Sisecam Flat Glass held its T Meetings, focused on architectural glass and design, as global and online events for the first time this year. Partnering with the Arkitera Architecture Center, also based in Turkey, the meetings hosted two prominent architects; Kim Herforth Nielsen, the founder of Denmark-based 3XN Architecture, and Patrik Schumacher, principal of Zaha Hadid Architects.
Resilience. If there is a word that accurately describes the glass and glazing industry right now, it’s that one. While I hear about other industries having companies fall by the wayside or have several actively looking to sell, for the most part our world has followed a dogged determination path to not let all they have worked for falter.
One of my best friends is a professional coach. He works with business people and athletes and helps them on the mental game. He’s given me tips and directions along the way that have made a huge difference in how I am able to operate.
It is critical anyone in business measure the bottom line and ensure the company is operating in a profitable manner. Those that are just holding on or sitting idle have the biggest threat in a pandemic, because the future cannot be forecasted exactly with so many factors out of control.
I think for all of us in the industry we may take GlassBuild for granted. It’s always been there, but it’s actually more than a show―it’s the lifeblood of the industry and the NGA. It’s what is needed to be able to have the technical chops, guidelines, bulletins and conferences.
COVID-19 has turned 2020 plans upside down for us all. It has asked us to adapt and change; to find new ways of connecting, working, collaborating, problem solving. Now it’s forcing us to pivot once more when it comes to our industry’s gathering place.
Most states in the U.S. are now in the process of reopening, after shutting down due to COVID-19. Reopening, or continuing to work, during this time poses unique challenges to installers and glaziers. We asked three leading glazing contractors about protecting employees, the role of technology, and their advice for other glaziers going forward.
We had a double blast of code dives this week with webinars from the National Glass Association and from Glass Canada. Both webinars did sound at least a minor alarm about the next area of concern for the commercial glass world when it comes to codes; that would be the spandrel area. This is something that bears watching.
In the face of COVID-19 pandemic, leading glass and glazing companies quickly pivoted to produce solutions for safer and healthier workspaces. These companies are invited to submit their essential products, projects, and/or achievements for consideration for recognition as part of Glass Magazine's new awards program, which will highlight the industry’s role in responding to COVID-19.