courtesy James Hardie Industries Hardie Architectural Collection

From the 440 exhibitors on the 123,000-square-foot expo floor at the 2022 AIA Conference on Architecture in Chicago, the editorial team at ARCHITECT picked 11 product highlights.

Del Dios Academy Stem Building.  San Diego, CA.  HMC Architects.
courtesy NanaWall Systems Del Dios Academy Stem Building. San Diego, CA. HMC Architects.

NW Acoustical 645, NanaWall Systems
This daylight-friendly, folding glass door boasts a sound transmission class of 45. Available in custom configurations of up to 12 panels, the unit features acoustically separated aluminum framing and floor-supported systems. It can be specified in a range of finishes and glazing options, and with a swing door configuration to help manage foot traffic. nanawall.com

courtesy ASI Group

Matte Black Collection, ASI Group
Can you ever have too much black? This sleek collection offers a noir range of toilet tissue holders, towel dispensers, and faucets. Crafted using durable, powder-coated, matte-black stainless steel, the versatile line also features seamless 18-gauge cabinet doors and 20-gauge cabinets. americanspecialties.com

courtesy Assa Abloy

Attack-Resistant Openings, Assa Abloy
Aiming to offer a design solution that supports school safety, Assa Abloy partnered with School Guard Glass for this line of secure openings that can be integrated into new and retrofit projects—including those with wood or hollow metal doors. The range includes fire and exit code-compliant doors, frames, and hardware assemblies tested according to the FBI’s Active Shooter Report. assaabloydss.com

courtesy Burgeree

3D Acoustic Tiles, Burgeree
These sound-absorbing products are a polyester felt made from recycled materials (Burgeree cites plastic bottles as one source). The tiles come in a variety of shapes from shell to diamond—shape BY-053 pictured here—and dozens of colors. burgeree.com

courtesy James Hardie Industries

Hardie Architectural Collection, James Hardie Industries
Developed in response to labor shortages and other industry demands, this integrated portfolio of fiber-cement panels and metal trims provides a low-maintenance option for designers and homeowners. Available in five nature-inspired textures—including fine sand, sea grass, and sculpted clay—these panels are also expected to remain resilient in severe weather. jameshardie.com

courtesy LP Building Solutions

SmartSide Trim and Siding, LP Building Solutions
The SmartSide ExpertFinish trim and siding are designed with a proprietary lap joint for ease of installation. Created using an engineered wood-strand technology to withstand the elements, the trim and siding come in 16 colors, including redwood red and abyss black. lpcorp.com

courtesy Glen-Gery

Venetian Glass Brick, Glen-Gery
These glass interior and exterior bricks are shaped by hand by Italian artisans and come in four finishes—natural, polished, frosted, and satin—and five colors, including clear, golden amber, aquamarine, blue sapphire, and smokey quartz. glengery.com

courtesy Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope

Terra Swing Access Door, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope
Envisioned to make “the building exterior more accessible,” according to Oldcastle, this high-performance terrace door meets current ADA standards with a 10" kick rail, five pounds or less operating force, and a ½" threshold. Each door also features easy installation—no concrete notching required—and a continuous exterior perimeter seal thanks to its field-installed exterior trim. obe.com

courtesy Pabco Gypsum

⅝" Interior Panel, Pabco Gypsum
The new ⅝" glass-faced panel completes a full line of interior and exterior products for commercial and residential use by Pabco Glass that are ideal for pre-rock construction. These panels feature a fire-resistant gypsum core encased in a glass-fiber mat and are designed to be mold- and water-resistant, too. pabcogypsum.com

courtesy Clopay Corp.

VertiStack Clear, Clopay Corp.
This compact stacking sectional door for commercial use requires no overhead tracks, allowing for an open and minimalist ceiling. A new offering from Clopay Corp., the door is available in glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate options in a variety of finishes. clopaydoor.com

courtesy Huntsman Building Solutions

X-Wall System, Huntsman Building Solutions
In response to the increasing energy requirements for continuous insulation to reduce thermal leaking, Huntsman Building Solutions has created the X-Wall System. This closed-cell spray foam is installed from the exterior and also functions as an air and water-resistant barrier and a vapor retarder. huntsmanbuildingsolutions.com

This article first appeared in the July/August 2022 issue of ARCHITECT.

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