https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/2435-2016 en-us taraskaj@bnpmedia.com (Julie Taraska) Products incorporating sensors and connected systems, as well as those that benefit from engineering breakthroughs and that are produced via digital technologies, dominated Architectural Record's Products of the Year competition.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12053 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:05:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12053-record-products-2016 Taylor Aikin, AIA As senior project architect and associate at Murphy Burnham & Buttrick, Aikin leads the firm’s efforts in design, presentation graphics, and digital technologies. His many awards include Honors for Excellence in Design from his alma mater, Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography Meena Krenek, IIDA, LEED AP Krenek is the interior design director of Perkins + Will’s New York office, where she specializes in using visual storytelling—including text, graphics, and experiential design—to strengthen a sense of place. She is also the winner of three ASID Annual Design Excellence Awards from the Georgia Chapter.  Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography Carrie Bobo A project architect at Selldorf Architects, Bobo has served as an architectural designer and manager at A+I Design, Walsh and Purdy, and Eight, Inc. The Oklahoma native, who received an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, also is an accomplished figurative painter whose work has been exhibited around New York City. Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography Enrique Peiniger, Assoc. AIA, CLD, IES Peiniger is an engineer, architect, and founding principal of OVI (Office for Visual Interaction), a New York–based firm specializing in lighting design for architecture. Projects include Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street residential building in New York and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography Barry Richards Richards is a principal and studio leader at Rockwell Group, where he focuses on products, productions, and playgrounds. A trained architect, he oversees the firm’s furniture, lighting, and textile collections. He also creates stage sets, including those for the 81st Annual Academy Awards and the Broadway version of Hairspray. Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography Melissa Goren, PE, LC, LEED AP BD+C A licensed professional engineer, Goren has over 15 years’ experience creating lighting designs for research, corporate, and health-care facilities including the NYU Langone Medical Center’s Emergency Department and Columbia University’s Butler Library. She serves as the studio manager for LightBox Studios. Photo © Jenna-Beth Lyde/Parish Photography The best new play structures, railings, shelters, and site furnishings.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12062 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12062-record-products-2016-outdoor-recreational Best in Category: 9BL Glass Railing System CRL-U.S. Aluminum adds Safety Seal technology to its popular railing system, eliminating the need for a glazer to roll in the drop-side rubber seal during installation. A universal setting block and hollow base shoe secure the laminated tempered-glass panels instead, offering increased safety and a lower cost. The railing comes in six architectural finishes with three cladding options for the base shoe. crl-arch.com Shift Designed to be mixed and matched, the six patterns in this Sunbrella outdoor fabric collection play with opposing forces: light to dark colors, shiny to matte finishes, and natural to constructed motifs. The 100% acrylic textile comes in 54" widths and is highly fade-resistant. sunbrella.com Knight Bench with Aluminum Slats Previously available only with hardwood slats, the Knight bench now comes in an all-aluminum option on its backed and backless 6' and 8' offerings. The solid aluminum slats, which are made of recycled material, may be specified in 20 standard powder-coat colors. forms-surfaces.com Traverse This outdoor gateleg table can accommodate two people when half-folded and six when fully open. The powder-coated aluminum frame is rigid but lightweight, while the slats made of fully grown teak wood have a high level of natural oils that prevent moisture absorption, warping, and rot. royalbotania.com Editor's Choice: PlayCubes Created in the 1960s by architect Richard Dattner, these colorful geometric playground elements have been updated for the times, now featuring varying planes, handholds, and recesses that encourage climbing and exploration. The roto-molded plastic cubes come in single models suited to kids ages 2 and up and four preset configurations for ages 5 and older. “Sculptural in form, PlayCubes encourage free play and spatial experimentation.” —Juror Carrie Bobo playworld.com The best new doors, elevators, hardware, and windows.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12061 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12061-record-products-2016-openings Best in Category: PrivaSEE A special interlayer allows this movable glass-wall system to achieve a sound transmission class (STC) of 36—better than that of most fixed-glass partitions. Panels for the frameless, single-track PrivaSEE are offered in heights up to 10' 6" and widths up to 4' 1". nanawall.com Weco W2C Mounted on a narrow frame made of laminated Spanish chestnut, this double-paned window works structurally with a hidden aluminum profile to create a transparent plane that maximizes the view. The operable window comes in pivoting, sliding, and tilt-and-turn options; it also can be incorporated into glazed window walls as well as curved, angled, and irregular openings. It comes in sizes up to 9' high and 19⅔' wide. wecowindows.com Invisible Sill Though invented over 20 years ago, Vitrocsa’s Invisible Wall system still features one of the slimmest profiles out there, a fact that’s made the product the choice of architects like Tadao Ando, Thom Mayne, and Richard Meier. This option, available on the TH+ profile, hides the sill underneath continuous flooring, minimizing slots and creating an almost seamless look. vitrocsaUSA.com View Dynamic Glass View now manufactures a 6' x 10' panel size of electrochromic glass to enable greater applications of the technology in commercial buildings such as airports, hospitals, schools, and hotels. The first and only manufacturer to develop electrochromic glass to this degree and size, View eliminates the need for blinds and reduces HVAC costs by an average of 20%. viewglass.com EZYJamb Inswing This 18-gauge frameless jamb system enables the door to open inward yet, when closed, remain flush to the exterior wall. The completed jamb also can be painted with the whole wall area. The frame features reinforced edges to prevent door damage, can accommodate any door size, and offers a range of concealed and mortised hinges. ezyjamb.com Oden Architectural Door System Krownlab upgrades its Oden sliding door hardware by adding its patented Tru-Level System, which enables a full ¼" of adjustment, both vertically and horizontally, at each mounting point. Made of brushed stainless steel, Oden is available in lengths up to 13' and can be used with metal beams as well as framed, concrete, and glass walls. krownlab.com Allura Shutter This space-saving rolling door provides security for high-traffic pedestrian areas and suits installations with limited headroom and side room. Various perforation and fenestration options provide for light and air filtration. The door comes powder-coated in a range of hues and with a choice of manual, crank, or tube-motor operation. overheaddoor.com DRS 1202 Requiring no top or bottom rail, the DRS 1202 swinging glass door system utilizes an innovative hydraulic closing mechanism concealed in the vertical rail. This mechanism eliminates the need for door closers in the floor; it also  can be specified in three spring tensions to accommodate doors up to 96" high. The system comes in a variety of transom and sidelight configurations. crl-arch.com Vinyl Folding Door System LaCantina’s energy-efficient, low-maintenance door system matches numerous vinyl-window packages. Offered configurations include up to six panels, with the maximum panel size 96" x 35". The standard double-glazed models offer a .34 U factor and .20 Solar Heat Gain Coefficient, while the triple-glazed ones provide a .25 U factor and .17 SHGC. lacantinadoors.com Editor's Choice: MyPORT This app-based smartphone service for Schindler products communicates with a base station to identify building occupants and send an elevator to them. The technology—which works via Bluetooth—also can be used to authorize visitors and lock and unlock doors. “A smartphone app that can customize your experience as you move through a building? MyPort is the Holy Grail.” —Juror Barry Richards schindler.com The best new commercial, contract, outdoor, and residential lighting and electric products.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12060 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12060-record-products-2016-lighting-electrical Best in Category: Mesh Designed by Francisco Gomez Paz, Luceplan’s 21st-century take on a chandelier features dozens of LEDs spaced to optimize their spread of light. The striking steel fixture is dimmable, provides 3400 lumens of illumination, and offers a warm 2700K color temperature. It measures 39 2/5" wide x 35 2/5" high with a standard drop of 39 2/5". Extension kits for more dramatic installations also are available. “A light fixture that works as a piece of art, Mesh has a different presence during the day and at night.” —Juror Melissa Goren luceplan.com Soleil Noir Paris-based architect Odile Decq is known for designs that are assertive and futuristic. Her pendant for Luceplan is no exception. Molded from polyurethane foam, Soleil Noir has a fluid, triangular shade that hovers above a black disc housing the LEDs. The light is diffuse and indirect, with the effect reminiscent of a solar eclipse. luceplan.com i402 LED Luminaire Electrix Illumination’s LED fixture features a pair of independently aimable luminaires that provide uniform coverage on walls over 10' high. Measuring 6½" wide x 3" tall, the i402 comes in 2' or 4' lengths. It has an integral driver, output of 84.5 lumens per watt, and an 80+ CRI. Custom finishes are available upon request. electrixillumination.com LiniLED Illuminated Handrail Organic Lighting’s stainless-steel handrail system gently illuminates stairs, ramps, and walkways with integrated, specification-grade LED strips. Available in four color temperatures (2700K to 5600K), the indoor/outdoor liniLED can be installed in uninterrupted runs up to 33’ long. Five light colors, including blue, orange, and red, are also available. organiclighting.com Celeste Glass These fully customizable annealed glass panels achieve an illusion of infinite depth when backlit by natural or artificial light sources. Available in ½" and ¾" thicknesses and in sizes ranging from 4' x 8' to 5' x 10', they come packaged with an LED kit in white color temp­eratures or programmable RGBs. They are also offered in standard or bespoke designs and in all-glass configura­tions. sensitile.com Mirel LED Advanced optics are responsible for the superior glare control and generous batwing light distribution of this louver fixture. Distinguished by a minimalist aesthetic, the Mirel LED luminaire comes in three popular sizes—1' x 4', 2' x 2', and 2' x 4'—and in pendant, recessed, surface-mount, and lay-in configurations. Color temperature options include 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K. zumtobel.us Geode Made of 3-D-printed ceramic, this compelling pendant appears to have no light source at all. This is because its LEDs are discreetly concealed in the luminaire’s hollow body, with the illumination reflecting off the hard surfaces to radiate a vibrant, indirect glow. Geode comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. two.parts Axiom Light Coves These pre-engineered direct and indirect light coves provide fully concealed plug-and-play illumination that integrates with Armstrong’s acoustical and drywall suspension systems. Luminaire options for the direct system include XAL’s LENO zero plenum LED fixture; Axis Lighting’s CovePerfekt, Litecontrol’s 17L-CC, and Vode’s ZipWave LED 707 are choices for the indirect one. armstrongceilings.com Fraxion 2.0 Lucifer’s recessed LED downlights, accents, and wall washers are some of the slimmest on the market, measuring roughly 2" to 3" thick. Available with a 3" round or square aperture, the fixtures come in four color temperatures (2700K to 4000K) with three CRIs (80, 90, or 97). They are suited for wet or dry locations and offer field-changeable optics ranging from 15° to 60°. luciferlighting.com 1612-Record-Products-Lighting-Electrical-10.jpg Tecton Zumtobel’s linear LED system provides uninterrupted illumination for schools, offices, and retail locations. An optic split-lens technology ensures targeted light distribution in wide, narrow, shelf, and asymmetric beam patterns and in a range of color temperatures. Made of steel painted with polyester-resin enamel, Tecton comes in two lengths and delivers 5500 to 11000 lumens. zumtobel.us Iris LP Manufacturer Minimis claims this tiny recessed LED—which measures less than 1" in diameter and features a .35" square aperture—is powerful enough to uplight a single-story wall. The IP67-rated fixture suits flush horizontal or vertical installations; it may be used indoors or out in dry or nonsubmersible wet locations. Available in 3050K and 4800K, the Iris LP operates via 12-volt DC power. minim.is LS Pro Durabulb Lighting Science’s LED A19 lamp has a shatter-resistant polycarbonate plastic shell that makes it ideal for use in factories, schools, and indoor construction sites. The 60W replacement has an output of 700 to 710 lumens and comes in a choice of a warm 2700K or cool 5000K color temperature with a CRI of 80 or 83, respectively. It is also compatible with electronic low-voltage (ELV) dimmers. lsgc.com L280W Linear LED Luminaire Manufactured to withstand extreme conditions, this IP67-rated, continuous-linear fixture provides dimmable 3000K white light for washing building facades or accenting architectural features. The low-profile luminaire, which features a microlinear acrylic lens, can be specified in four lengths. Lighting designers also can choose among five drivers and four mounting configurations, with beam spreads ranging from 15° to 90°. electrixillumination.com 3" Round & Square LED This recessed Kurt Versen luminaire, offering a discreet 3" round or square aperture, installs in new and existing ceilings. Available with black, gold, wheat, and pewter trim, the fixture is accessible from below to simplify maintenance and upgrades; it features a 0-10V dimmable Xicato XTM LED module providing 1100 to 2100 lumens at a 2700K to 4000K color temperature. Options include flush-mount installation and a choice of three optical systems. hubbelllighting.com Editor's Choice: Cu-Beam This 5⅛" wide x 23⅜" long x 1¾" deep luminaire from Dyson utilizes a proprietary technology to move heat away from the light source, allowing it to dissipate along the wings of the fixture. A single high-­power LED chip and custom-designed lens provide a precise pyramid of illumination over a task area in the downlight model, or a wide ambient glow across the ceiling in the uplight version. dyson.com The best new appliances, cabinets, fittings, and fixtures for kitchen and bath.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12059 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12059-record-products-2016-kitchen-bath Best in Category: LG Styler Featuring a glass touch-screen door and aluminum handles, this clothing-care system for bedrooms, laundry rooms, and walk-in closets refreshes items without detergents to reduce wrinkles, odors, and allergens. A portable water container enables the appliance to supply hot steam at the touch of a button to treat up to four articles of clothing at a time. “The LG Styler would be a wonderful amenity for a business traveler to find in his hotel room.” —Juror Barry Richards lg.com Align Pre-Rinse Spring Featuring Moen’s Power Clean technology, this single-handle, ADA-compliant kitchen faucet offers 50% more spray power than comparable models, as well as four times the reach of its competitors’ hoses. Align comes in a chrome finish and may be mounted on a sink or countertop. pro.moen.com Container C-BOX These stainless-steel wall niches provide storage solutions for bathrooms and wet areas, sitting either flush with the wall or projecting from the surface. Depth-adjustable from 0.25" to 2", the containers come in three sizes and are suitable for both dry- and solid- wall construction. easydrainusa.com 44 dBA Dishwasher This stainless-steel dish­washer with a tinted exterior window performs at an exceedingly quiet 44 decibels thanks to a built-in insulation system. The Energy Star–qualified appliance, which has six wash cycles, uses KitchenAid’s Clean Water microfiltration technology to flush out food particles as small as a pinhead, reducing active time. kitchenaid.com WIDE Vanity Inspired by Bauhaus design, the WIDE vanity base features two UL-approved electrical outlets and two USB ports in the uppermost of its three soft-close drawers. Available in heights of 28" and 54", the piece has a solid-wood frame and comes in two finishes. ronbow.com Tay Set on a rippling plinth, Tay is a double-ended roll-top bathtub made of solid cast iron. The tub’s exterior can be primed and painted; left raw and black with a rough-textured surface; polished to a shine; or clad with copper (shown) or brass. Made by hand, the tub measures 76" long, 34" wide, and 21½" high. drummonds-uk.com Talis Select S 100 This basin mixer’s water flow and temperature are controlled by a cartridge rather than by a conventional lever. This technology requires no electricity to function or additional devices to be situated in the base cabinet. The faucet, which has a conical spout, also offers a water-saving flow rate of 1.2 gpm. pro.hansgrohe-usa.com TruFlush Flushometer Designed for water accuracy and conservation, this flushometer for commercial restrooms in South American, Middle Eastern, and Asia Pacific markets works on wash-down and siphon-jet fixtures with water pressures ranging from 10 psi to 100 psi. It offers two flush volumes for closet flushometers (1.28 and 1.6 gpf) and three for urinal models (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 gpf). Manual (pictured) and sensor-activated versions are available. sloan.com 1612-Record-Products-Kitchen-Bath-09.jpg Eurocube Mounted on a spring hose that offers 360° movement, this semipro faucet’s pullout spray head allows for seamless switching between regular water flow and spray. The single-lever mixer has a ceramic cartridge, adjustable flow-rate limiter, and a scratch- and tarnish-resistant surface. grohe.com Editor's Choice: Transpara This frameless shower-door system eliminates all visible door hinges, wall clamps, and framing units that hold glass panels together or against supporting walls. A pivoting four-component fitting uses the door’s weight to close it from within, allowing for a floor-to-ceiling shower enclosure with a striking all-glass profile. crl-arch.com The best new products for cooling, heating, plumbing, and ventilation.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12058 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12058-record-products-2016-hvac Best in Category: Art Cool Gallery for VRF LG’s Multi V line of outdoor variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems now comes with the company’s Art Cool option, whereby users can personalize a unit by mounting a framed picture over its opening. Behind the artwork, the 33-pound VRF machines feature motorized oscillating guide vanes, airflow from three directions, and 11 cooling and heating settings. lghvac.com Artisan Collection Adding aesthetics to airflow, these fans feature a choice of seven artworks either hand-drawn or screen-printed onto their aluminum airfoils. Temp-erature and motion sensors improve the fans’ energy efficiency, while embedded Wi-Fi chips allow them to be controlled via smartphone or Internet of Things hubs such as Amazon’s Echo. Custom patterns and an LED light are also options. haikuhome.com Q Series Fan Suitable for up to 50' ceilings, this destratification fan has a motor-mount system that provides an exceptionally large space for air to enter. This increased room reduces the amount of noise created upon air intake, making the 23" high by 15¼" wide device quiet to operate. The unit also features an energy-efficient EC motor. airiusfans.com RLM Small Systems UV Lamp Kit This remote lamp-mount kit utilizes ultraviolet energy to destroy microbial growth in fan coil units and heat-pump systems. It includes a CU2 sensor for local or remote lamp/ballast monitoring and a 120-volt–277-volt input power supply. Sizes range from 12" to 33", with the single-ended T5 diameter lamp offering 8,760 hours of lamp life. uvresources.com 1612-Record-Products-HVAC-05.jpg Editor's Choice: Scala2 Suitable for residential buildings with up to three floors and eight taps, Grundfos’s self-priming pump boosts water pressure from city mains, shallow wells, and storage tanks. A sensor within the machine compares the measured and desired pressures and adjusts the pump’s speed accordingly; a control panel on the Scala2 allows users to communicate with the sensor and onboard frequency converter. "Thanks to its pump-control sensor and variable speed, the Scala2 adapts to demand." —Juror Taylor Aikin us.grundfos.com The best new AV equipment, connected devices, controllers, and sensors.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12057 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12057-record-products-2016-hardware-software-control-systems Best in Category: Wireless Daylight Sensor This solar-powered peel-and-stick sensor for automated shade management requires no batteries; it sits in a window frame or jamb measuring daylight and wirelessly communicating the data to a nearby ceiling or wall-­mounted controller. This controller, which can host up to 20 wireless devices, then sends the data to a MechoNet hub, which issues the commands to move the shade as prescribed. mechosystems.com Equinox 73 LCD Touchscreen Thanks to its larger-than-average 7" touchscreen, this home-management device can display up to three customizable widgets simultaneously, allowing immediate access to building subsystems including lighting and temperature. The user can toggle between full-screen and edit mode and manage up to 12 subsystems in total. vantagecontrols.com Best Shelter This scalable commercial security setup uses a combination of wireless technology and code-compliant mechanical hardware for lockdown of a specific door, hallway, or entire building in the case of an emergency. The system comprises a gateway and repeater that sends signals to initiate lockdown; a fob that manages which sections are to be affected; a solid brass lockset; and an electric exit device. bestaccess.com DW-311 As the first dual-technology wall-switch occupancy sensor on the market, the DW-311 uses passive infrared and ultrasonic technologies to detect movement in a space. The specification-grade solution, which provides building and energy-code compliance for small- and medium-sized applications, offers 0–10-volt dimming control for LED lighting systems. It’s available for 120, 277, and 347 voltages and is UL and cUL-listed. legrand.us Editor's Choice: Life Space UX This collection of tabletop hybrids combines sound and visuals. Capable of being brightened or dimmed to mimic candlelight, the Glass Sound Speaker, pictured, has actuators that vibrate on the glass to deliver clear, high notes and a powerful midrange. The 4K Ultra Short Throw Projector provides four times the clarity of full high definition, is 3-D capable, and can serve as a laser light source. “Life Space pushes the boundaries of light and sound to become an element of its own.”  —Juror Enrique Peiniger sony.com The best new casegoods, drapery, seating, and upholstery.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12056 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12056-record-products-2016-furnishings Best in Category: Alu Net This see-through window covering with an open-net weave and aluminum metalized backing controls heat and glare by absorbing, filtering, and reflecting light. The lustrous polyester textile is 100% flame retardant and comes in seven colorways (including 104, shown). carnegiefabrics.com Meety Aluminum L-shaped legs unite the offerings in the Meety family of customizable tables. Tabletop shapes include round, square, and trapezoid, while the material palette ranges from glass to wood veneer to laminated HPL. arper.com Parentesit Freestanding Inspired by minimalist art and classic Japanese interiors, these movable modular screens with black metal frames come in multiple square and circular motifs. Each is available in Arper’s full range of Kvadrat and Fidivi fabric options. “Parentesit Freestanding are minimal frameworks that direct space, create scale, and humanize an environment.” —Juror Carrie Bobo arper.com Rhythm Mixing materials and textures, the Rhythm system of wooden casegoods supports meeting-hosting and solo use. Options include storage containers, wireless charging, and sliding trays. All pulls are inset, allowing cases to be opened from any angle. Porcelain, metal, and black-glass finishes personalize the look. geigerfurniture.com Avila Twilight This blackout shade eliminates at least 96% of light, glare, and shadows from entering a space; it also can improve the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient of a standard glass unit by up to 58%. The PVC-free polyester/acrylic fabric comes in nine hues, with three of the darker options featuring a matching color on the textile’s street-facing side. mermetusa.com Caravan Vintage Moroccan rugs inspired these outdoor textiles that are part of the Richard Frinier Collection for Sunbrella. The two base-cloth constructions and five coordinating patterns are bleach-cleanable and fade and stain-resistant; all are woven from Sunbrella’s patented acrylic fiber. pindler.com Trea The shell of a lobster inspired Todd Bracher’s design for this multipurpose chair that automatically adjusts to a user’s weight and position. The sloping seat edge reduces pressure on the back of the knees, while the three base choices allow the piece to serve as a desk, side, or occasional chair. humanscale.com Traverse Thanks to its aluminum honeycomb skeleton, this wooden table by HOK Product Design can cantilever up to 20’ without center support. Tech cradles beneath the inch-thick top house power receptacles, charging ports, and audio and visual hookups. Traverse comes standard in two widths, four lengths, and five woods. okamura-us.com QuickStand Lite Allowing users to switch between standing and seated positions, QuickStand Lite can be clamped onto a desk to provide for an extra 20" of height range. The unit’s adjustable articulating arm supports a keyboard and up to two monitors that together weigh up to 25 pounds. humanscale.com Editor's Choice: Printstool With a body made of lignin, a renewable plant-based material, this dynamic 3-D-printed stool can be customized in over 150 ways. Vegetable-tanned leather tops the plywood seat, which is cushioned with CFC-free foam. Printstool comes in two heights, three seat hues, five designs, and five body colors. wilkhahn.com The best new products for ceilings, flooring, textiles, and wall treatments.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12055 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12055-record-products-2016-finishes-surfacing 1612-Record-Products-Finishes-Surfacing-01.jpg Best in Category: SoftFold This modular acoustical ceiling with a parametric design is scalable, easy to install, and offers an NRC of 0.75. It is constructed of Soft Sound—a proprietary material made of 100% PET plastic with up to 50% recycled content—and has a Class A fire rating. “Sculptural and faceted, SoftFold is beautifully crafted. Its acoustic properties are excellent too.” —Juror Meena Krenek arktura.com Zen24 Zen24 is a concrete aggregate that is half the weight and one third the cost of the real thing. The stone surfacing offers a texture reminiscent of raked sand and comes in three neutral colors. Its large format (12" high x 24" long x 1" deep) makes it suitable for sizable interior and exterior applications. eldoradostone.com Paper Featuring a graph-paper pattern, Ornamenta’s 24"-square rectified tiles feature a special glaze that allows them to be written and drawn upon like a chalkboard. The porcelain grès tiles come in three colors and can be used on floors and walls in residential and commercial settings. ornamenta.com Plaid The woven-vinyl textile uses 14 different colors of thread to create a bold pattern that does not need to be aligned. Made of TerraStrand yarn, which contains phthalate-free renewable vegetable compounds, Plaid is available in plank and square tiles as well as wall-to-wall flooring. Its Microban antibacterial protection also inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. chilewich.com/contract Extraordinary Collection This offering includes three 12" x 48" designs that can be used alone or together to generate varying degrees of texture. The collection, which is Cradle to Cradle Silver–certified, utilizes a special process whereby stray ends of yarn that are typically sheared after tufting are left on the carpet face to serve as a design feature. shawcontract.com Blenz Patina Blending color and texture, this metal surfacing collection features variegated earth tones suitable for use on walls, columns, and facades. The lightweight, solid-core aluminum material is available in 48" x 96" and 48" x 120" sheets; it is easy to clean and install. Custom options are also available. mozdesigns.com Dekton Trilium Made of 60% recycled material, this Dekton ultracompact surface replicates the texture and color variation of aged and oxidized stainless steel, with hues ranging from deep grays to rusty undertones. It can be used for both indoor and exterior surfaces and is impervious to stains, UV rays, and temperature shock. cosentino.com Christiane Müller Collection For her eponymous HBF Textiles collection, Amsterdam-based designer Christiane Müller drew inspiration from the abstract paintings of Dutch artist Jan Schoonhoven and the minimalist architecture of Peter Zumthor. The line’s seven designs (Smart, pictured) play with texture and pattern and come in a range of 45 colorways. hbftextiles.com Bespoke Surfaces Designtex’s custom surfaces for branded environments comprise artwork from contemporary artists and photographers digitally printed on a choice of 15 substrates. The images can appear on textiles, wallcoverings, magnetics, glass film, ceramic steel, and decorative rigid panels. designtex.com OverStitch Part of the Open Archive Collection, OverStitch woven carpet features interlaced backing yarns and face fiber; the combination creates an inseparable unit that resists delamination, moisture, and yarn zippering. The 100% solution-dyed carpet is available in 12 palettes and comes in a 9" x 36" plank size. tarkettna.com Lift This piece-dyed textile by product designer Konstantin Grcic utilizes a network of interlocking ovals to form large vertical stripes. The polyester fabric has a 3-D structure, with its standing center fibers bonding its two outer layers. Offered in neutral and bright hues, the fabric is Greenguard-certified. maharam.com Jali S Glass Sensitile Systems expands the material palette of its light-filtering Jali panels with this line of slim, lightweight options that contain 20% recycled cullet. Available in PMMA acrylic resin as well as annealed or tempered glass, Jali S comes in 19 patterns and over a half-dozen colors; custom filters may also be inserted to create unique hues. Each panel is custom-manufactured, with thickness and shape defined by the customer. sensitile.com La Bohème Neolith created this wood-look composite surfacing material using a combination of its proprietary technology and sintering techniques. Inspired by the trunk of the Lebanese cedar tree, La Bohème can be placed directly on existing surfaces, reducing cost and installation time. neolith.com MA’s Concrete Used in Europe for over 20 years by architects including Jean Nouvel, MA’s concrete is now available in the United States. This ultrathin cement finish is less than ⅛" thick when applied and exceeds European requirements for mechanical and chemical resistance. Available in 72 colors, it can be applied on walls, flooring, and countertops, among other uses. abcworldwidestone.com Editor's Choice: Paint Shield After two hours of contact, this EPA-registered microbicidal paint kills greater than 99.9% of bacteria, including staph, E.coli, and MSRA. The interior coating may be applied on nonporous ceilings, walls, doors, and trim. It comes in an eggshell finish in a choice of 590 colors. swpaintshield.com The best new cladding, glazing, moisture barriers, and roofing products.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12054 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12054-record-products-2016-facades Best in Category: Fabrik This dry-joint architectural mesh system comprises a flexible steel framework into which component materials—such as terra cotta, glass, or wood—can be woven horizontally, vertically, or in a pattern. The large-scale sheets may be shipped folded or rolled in coils and erected via crane to accelerate construction. The mortarless Fabrik may also be easily repaired and recycled. “The diversity of applications, range of infill materials, and quality of aesthetics make Fabrik a very exciting product.”  —Juror Taylor Aikin  shildan.com Houdini Channel Glass Featuring 40% recycled content, Bendheim’s micro-fluted low-iron glass provides privacy, reduces glare, and allows for up to 85% light transmission. The channels can be installed horizontally or vertically; face widths range from 9" to 19" and lengths span to 23'. A tempered form of the ¼"-thick glass is available for higher wind loads. bendheim.com Poplar Wall Covering These handcrafted coverings are made from repurposed poplar bark, a waste by-product in furniture and plywood manufacturing. Interior and exterior options include panels up to 12' long x 8' wide and shingles in three standard lengths. All the pieces can be treated with finishes, sanded to reveal their grain pattern, and laminated to numerous substrates. barkhouse.com HIT MVX Thermal Connection An insulated connection for cantilevered balconies, the HIT MVX utilizes a double-symmetrical compression shear-bearing pad made of mortar—rather than the typical steel—to eliminate cold bridges and lower overall thermal conductivity. Element heights range from 6¼" to 12", while widths run from 10" to 39". All pieces have a two-hour fire rating. halfenusa.com Series 4500 SSG Unit-Glaze Window Wall This aluminum-frame system has a split-mullion design and gravity-loaded sill flashing that allows its preglazed sections to snap together on the jobsite, saving construction time. Its double thermal system with 1" insulating glass also offers superior protection against air and water infiltration. The extruded frames come in two sizes and in an array of coatings and finishes. crl-arch.com Aerolon Series 971 Tnemec’s new formulation of its water-based acrylic coating uses aerogel to create a non-structural thermal break in building envelopes. The spray-on formula—which offers a K-Value of 35mW/mK—makes shims and break pads on exterior-to-interior incursions unnecessary. A Class A fire retardant, the low-VOC coating is compatible with a variety of primers and topcoats. thermalbreak.tnemec.com Engineered Cedar Shake Made with recycled resins, these roofing tiles mimic the look of weathered wood but are more durable, resisting fire, moisture, insects, and impact. The tiles, which can be cut and scored with a utility knife, attach with nails and do not require additional framing. They are available in multiple width sizes, staggered or straight exposure, and in a gray or brown color family. plygem.com InsulTech A combination of three products, InsulTech comprises a preassembled structural masonry unit, a molded high-performance Neopor EPS insulation insert, and a thin veneer face. The 12" x 8" x 16" blocks are water-repellent and offer an effective R-value of 16.2 at 75°; they also come in over a dozen veneer colors. echelonmasonry.com Timber End Connectors Balancing engineering with aesthetics, these cast-steel fittings for architecturally exposed areas connect the ends of heavy timber or glue laminated structural elements. The units are suited for a building’s primary or secondary structural framing and come in both a standard clevis-type fitting and custom designs. castconnex.com Editor's Choice: FibreC Formed Parts Formerly produced only in flat sheets, this glass-fiber-reinforced concrete cladding now comes in U- and L- shapes as well as curved parts. These ½"-thick pieces—available in sizes up to 4' x 15'—may be mounted directly onto a curtain wall, saving construction time. Noncombustible and 100% recyclable, the parts may be specified in 12 colors and three textures. rieder.cc