road trip:  (not really news, just an update on where we are)  part of the vmzinc team is in clearwater beach, florida -at least for another day or two.  we are attending the metal construction association annual meeting.  (www.metalconstruction.org)  we are also one of the sponsors for the event. 

this is a good meeting with relevant information and a healthy exchange of ideas.  sponsors, business partners, associates and even the competition attend, learn, laugh and discuss the industry.  business gets done and attendees can learn about the state of the market -a worthwhile endeavor in and of itself.  of course, it helps that it is being held in a non-winter-like location, too. not surprisingly, attendendance is up this year.  we’ll keep you posted. -vm

Source: www.zincsense.com

repost from www.zincsense.com

One of the problems designers come across is how to integrate Diffusers into the ceilings system. The idea here is to integrate the Diffuser as much as possible so that they are not the main focus on the ceiling. Ceilings Plus offers a great solution on how to integrate the diffusers into their Illusion ceilings panels. For more information visit http://tiny.cc/muml2

Source: renatocilento.blogspot.com

Repost from the GKD pressroom

Annette Strauss Artist Square, is part of the Dallas Art district and designed by Foster + Partners with Good Fulton & Farrell Architects as the architect of record. Named for the late former mayor of Dallas, Strauss Square will host a variety of outdoor events ranging from concerts to theatrical and dance performances to multi-day festivals and will accommodate audiences of up to 5,000 in open-air setting. The panels shown in the pictures below are VM Zinc / Alpolic composite panels. More here: http://tiny.cc/65g9u

Zinc as a building material has found acceptance and it’s place on many projects in North America. The durability, flexibility, and malleability of this metal makes it a great material to enhance and expand the creativity of the architects utilizing it in their designs. More here:http://tiny.cc/d9hi9

Architects are always looking for new materials and technologies to make projects standout in terms of aesthetics, design and functionality. Terracotta Façades panels bring a completely new dimension to designing the building exterior, by blending the latest technology for ventilated façades with urban tradition and materials. More Here:http://tiny.cc/25omz

This project is the entrance way to an underground parking garage. It is located in a historical area therefore new structure cannot block or interfere with the existing historical structures. The designers solution was to use a metal mesh. Furthermore this part of the city is prone to Graffiti, so the metal mesh also addresses that problem.

The Temple Sinai synagogue in Oakland, Calif.-done in collaboration with Michael Harris Architecture-features a sculptural chapel clad in standing-seam Green Tinted VM Zinc from Umicore Building Products. More here: http://tiny.cc/qqvpm

The RMJM designed Capital Gate Tower in Abu Dhabi has officially been recognized as a world record breaker. Built to lean 18 degrees westwards – more than four times that of the world famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The GKD stainless steel Mesh is a shading device that eliminates over 30 percent of the sun’s heat before it ever reaches the building, thereby saving on the need for cooling within the building. The Mesh twists around the building towards the south to shield Capital Gate as much as possible from direct sunlight. More here: http://tiny.cc/6wenc and here: http://tiny.cc/grqrg

One of the top projects in 2009 was the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). This project was designed by HOK-SVE and uses Crimar glass by Cricursa. For more information visit http://tiny.cc/d13n4