ARCHITECT's spring 2019 product call received more than 155 submissions from manufacturers worldwide, showcasing an array of innovative products for a range of applications. From interior finishes to building envelopes and digital tools, these 24 products stood out among the submissions. Many of these products will be exhibited at the AIA Conference on Architecture, in Las Vegas, June 6-9.
Gig, Visa Lighting
Designed for use in behavioral health treatment facilities, Gig is a wall-mounted, anti-ligature tasklight with a high abuse-impact rating of IK10+. Available in 3000K and 3500K color temperatures, Gig offers an optical distribution of 40 or 120 degrees. Measuring 3.75" wide, 6.75" tall, and 3" deep at its base, Gig comes in 16 powdercoated finishes (agate gray shown). Equipped with a touch dimming control system, IP65-rated, and ADA-compliant. visalighting.com
Regolo1, Nulite Lighting
A new addition to Nulite Lighting’s Regolo family, this minimalist linear lighting system comprises a variety of pendant, wall, surface, and recessed fixtures. Fitted with a distributed array of LEDs, Regolo1 products are available in 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K color temperatures with a CRI of 80 or 90. Two-channel tunable-white feature available. nulite-lighting.com
Shaper Sense Acoustic Luminaires, Eaton
Suitable for ambient and tasklighting applications, this line of acoustical pendants can provide uplight or downlight. Made of FilzFelt’s 3mm Wool Design Felt and 35mm recycled acoustic substrate, Shaper Sense comes in Box and Trapezoid pendants with noise reduction coefficients of 2.5 and 2.65, respectively. The pendants are available in 3000K, 3500K, and 4000K, with a CRI of 80 or 90 with 4,500-plus lumens. Offered in monochrome and two-tone options, and in 62 colors. eaton.com
Kiik, Arper
Designed by Japanese industrial designer Ichiro Iwasaki for Arper, this modular lounge seating collection, which includes backed or backless sofas, ottomans, tables, and free-standing consoles, can be arranged in multiple configurations for commercial and educational environments. The versatile collection can be upholstered in Arper’s leather and fabric offerings. arper.com
Plenum, Fritz Hansen
A nod to the modern workspace, the Plenum collection of contract furniture was designed by Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen. Comprising high-back one-, two-, and three-seater sofas with optional integrated features such as outlets, USB ports, and mounted swivel or free-standing tables, this versatile collection can be upholstered in leather or textile. The legs are powdercoated black steel. fritzhansen.com
Harbor Stone System, Tangram Studio (now Studio Other)
This semicircular workstation offers a modern spin on the linear benching system commonly specified for open-plan offices, particularly those with irregular floor plans. Designed by Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects, the Harbor Stone System features ergonomic desks—adjustable in height between 27" and 45.5"—with a proprietary cabling system and curvilinear privacy screens that also mitigate acoustics. Available in a variety of finishes. harborstonesystem.com
Studio Dekton Slim, Cosentino
Dekton’s ultracompact architectural surfaces are now available in 0.15" thickness. These ultrathin slabs, made from a blend of glass, porcelain, and quartz, are suitable for use in furniture, cabinetry, doors, and walls. Extremely lightweight and resistant to scratches, stains, thermal shock, and ultraviolet light, each 126"-by-56" slab is available in nine colors (Opera shown). Dekton surfaces also come in 0.3", 0.4", 0.7", and 1.18" thicknesses. cosentino.com
Open Corner PrivaSee, NanaWall Systems
Suitable for commercial, office, and educational facilities, this frameless, single-track, moving glass wall system can be used to create an enclosed interior space with acoustic qualities. Featuring 0.5"-thick laminated lites with a sound-enhanced interlayer, the PrivaSee system offers a sound transmission class of 36 and an outdoor-indoor transmission class of 30. Other features include one-hand operation, a self-activated interlocking mechanism, and open-corner configuration for design flexibility. PrivaSee’s sliding panels come as large as 4.1' by 10.6', while its single-action swing panels are offered in sizes up to 3.7' by 10.6'. ADA-compliant options available. nanawall.com
System M Friendly Access, FritsJurgens
This ADA-compliant pivot door hinge system is designed to be completely mortised into the top and bottom of a pivot door to minimize destruction during installation. Requiring a minimum thickness of 1.56", the System M Friendly Access can be incorporated into any interior or exterior pivot doors weighing up to 660 pounds, regardless of height and width. Doors equipped with this system can swing in both directions and be placed in a hold position at 90 or -90 degrees. Other features include self-closing, adjustable closing speed, and hydraulic back check. fritsjurgens.com
Upfit, Landscape Forms
Designed by Kansas City, Mo.–based firm Kem Studio with Dahlonega, Ga.–based pergola manufacturer Struxure Outdoor, this aluminum, modular, and scalable outdoor structural system aims to turn outdoor environments into vibrant social hubs. Upfit’s basic unit measures 16' square by 10' tall with options to integrate ceiling louvers, bike racks, tables, power distribution, lighting, and more. Available in a variety of colors and powdercoated finishes. landscapeforms.com
Quadra Seating System, Forms+Surfaces
This modular collection of outdoor furniture includes seats, tables, and planters, with optional inserts. Cast in TENSL ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), each Quadra unit can be used in multiple orientations. Measuring 17" wide and deep and 17.8" in height, the units are finished with a hydrophobic coating for added durability. Insert options include wood, powdercoated aluminum, UHPC, and molded polyethylene planter liner. forms-surfaces.com
UH46, NewTechWood
Constructed from a capped wood plastic composite that blends high-density polyethylene plastic with hardwood chips, the UH46 cladding panels aim to emulate the look and the feel of natural wood. Finished with NewTechWood’s proprietary Ultrashield Naturale coating, UH46 resists stains and degradation from ultraviolet light. Measuring 4.8" wide, 16' long, and 1" thick, UH46 is compatible with the company’s AW08 aluminum cladding clip, and can be installed vertically and horizontally. Available in an array of gray and brown standard finishes (Peruvian teak shown). Class C fire–rated. newtechwood.com
StoVentec R, Sto Corp.
Available in glass and render finishes with ultrasmooth to grainy surfaces, this lightweight, ventilated rainscreen cladding system provides a variety of aesthetic and high-performance options. StoVentec also offers ultraviolet protection, weather resistance, and insulating capabilities. Available in flat or curved formats, as well as in custom finishes and sizes. stocorp.com
City Multi N-Generation, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS)
Suitable for commercial applications, METUS’ latest outdoor variable refrigerant flow unit has a smaller footprint than previous generations while offering improved energy efficiency, design flexibility, and a higher heating capacity. The City Multi N-Generation is offered in 6- to 32-ton capacities and can store up to five days of operational data. With an increased vertical piping limit of 295'. metahvac.com
Simple Abstraction, Interface
As its name suggests, this artistic take on modular carpet tiles provides designers the flexibility of creating an abstract design. Available in five colorways, each carbon-neutral, solution-dyed tile is manufactured with recycled nylon and Interface’s TacTiles no-glue installation technology. Offered in the company’s Skinny Planks’ tiles, which measure 0.3" wide by 9.8" long, this line can be paired with other Interface carpet or LVT vinyl tiles. Features up to 78 percent total recycled content, and treated with an antimicrobial solution. interface.com
Forum, Shaw Contract
Bold graphics, abstract geometric shapes, and tactile textures make up Shaw Contract’s Forum carpet and rug collection. Designed specifically for high-traffic hospitality environments, Forum is available in machine-tufted broadloom, 18"-by-36" tiles, and various rug configurations. Offered in more than 280 solution-dyed nylon and custom color options. shawcontract.com
Game Theory, Carnegie
Suitable for commercial applications, Carnegie’s new collection of upholstery textiles features four designs with geometric patterns and tactile textures. As part of this collection, Puzzle (shown) features a bold, multicolored pattern that repeats every 23.5" vertically and every 14" horizontally. Made up of Sunbrella solution–dyed acrylic (73 percent) and polyester (27 percent), Puzzle can withstand up to 100,000 double rubs on the Wyzenbeek scale and can be used indoors or out. Available in six colorways. carnegiefabrics.com
Vero Air Toilet, Duravit
A new addition to Duravit’s Vero Air Series, this ADA-compliant, wall-mounted, and rimless ceramic toilet offers an angular, rectangular bowl and a lid with a slow-close option. It can be specified with a seat equipped with SensoWash technology, adding bidet-like functionality that includes water, air, and seat temperature control, three wash options, and an LED night light. Vero measures 14.6" wide and 22.5" long and comes with an antimicrobial finish. duravit.us
Sensate with Kohler Konnect, Kohler
Equipped with Kohler Konnect smart home technology and a motion sensor that can respond in 20 milliseconds, this voice-controlled, touchless kitchen faucet can also be programmed to dispense measured amounts of water. Featuring a magnetic docking system, Sensate comes with a double-function, pull-down sprayhead and a single lever handle for manual water flow and temperature adjustment. Through the Konnect mobile app, users can track water consumption and enable notifications in case of leaks. Sensate measures 15.5" tall with a 8.43" spout reach, and comes in four finish options. Compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, and ADA-compliant. kohler.com
Nirvana Smart Fan, Modern Forms
Suitable for residential and hospitality environments, this fan features aluminum hardware, three ABS blades, a silent direct-current motor, and optional integrated LED lighting that can deliver 1,600 lumens. Measuring 56" in diameter, Nirvana can be controlled using a scalable radio-frequency wall panel or a mobile app. It also pairs with third party smart home systems such as Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats. Can be used indoor, outdoor, and in wet environments, and offered in four finishes (glossy white shown). modernforms.com
IntelliFlex I/O by Draper
Draper’s new control system for its motorized roller shades is designed specifically to cater to small- to mid-sized commercial projects. The scalable and flexible system can be expanded and adapted without replacing hardware or wiring, according to the manufacturer. The system’s Network Device Connector can connect up to 120 devices, including intelligent motors and wall switches. draperinc.com
Weatherwell Extreme, the Window Outfitters
An extension of the company’s Weatherwell line of shutters, this plantation-style shutter is designed to withstand structural, water, and debris impact in extreme weather conditions, including hurricanes. Available in heights ranging from 15.75" to 157.5" and widths upwards of 59", the powdercoated aluminum shutters offer 3.35" or 6" elliptical blades, and fixed, bifold, sliding, or stacked configurations. With six standard colors and the option for customization. two-usa.com
Discovery Assistant by PlanIT Impact
In under five minutes, this AI–powered building performance analysis tool can offer site, M/E/P, and transportation design strategies that optimize energy efficiency and the associated payback period. Users can input conditional filtering, energy goals, and constraints to produce results that cater to their project requirements. Autodesk Revit and SketchUp plug-ins are available. planitimpact.com
Hypar Explore, Hypar
This generative design platform leverages cloud computing to allow AEC professionals to iterate up to thousands of design and planning options based on their specified criteria—all in five seconds or less. Potential concepts can then be exported for continued use in popular modeling programs. Software developers who publish their tools get assistance in productization. hypar.io
