The metaphorical bridge between architects and the architectural glass and metal industry continues to see new “vehicles” cross over it every day.

Several of these are discussed in this issue. Certainly one of the most important today is fire-rated glazing. In a recent survey of the Architects’ Guide to Glass & Metal readers, the single most important topic architects said they would like more information about was fire-rated glazing.

This is not surprising, given the complexity of the subject and the prominence it has been given in recent years.

Another vehicle we are happy to announce is our Architects’ Educational Seminar Program, which was successfully inaugurated in Grand Rapids this month and will visit six locations across the United States next year.

In our survey, architects told us that they wanted to learn more about the architectural glass and metal industry and that they would attend day-long educational events to do so based on the event’s location. So we have developed a program that will help them earn AIA learning unit credits while learning about such important topics as fire-rated glass and new glass technology and applications.

This is part of our out-reach program to architects and to be sure that they are aware of all the vehicles which are crossing the bridge of our mutual concerns.

What else did our survey tell us?

Fire-rated glazing information may have been the leading topic that architects said they considered the most important architectural glass and metal subject they wanted to know more about, but it was, of course, not the only one. 

Following in order of importance were LEED courses, impact-resistant glazing systems, blast-resistant glazing materials, decorative glass and hurricane-resistant glazing. Historic glass, structural glass and glass engineering, curtainwalls and thermal performance also received votes.

It’s a formidable list, and one that is in line with the efforts that the industry and this publication have been making. It reinforces the importance of those vehicles coming over the bridge. 

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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