Award Given for Imagination Cube Competition
The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), Phoenix Chapter, and American Institute of Architects (AIA), Arizona Chapter, presented their 2007 Imagination Cube Design Award to a team from DMJM Design for its entry, The Art of Place Making, which used channel glass in a design concept for a public sculpture that mimics the free-flowing form of a viscous liquid.

Now in its eighth year, the Imagination Cube competition encourages students and professionals to explore imaginative designs of a featured building material—either functional, technical, spatial or artistic. The designs, which are presented digitally and not built, must fit within a 48-foot cubic space.

This year’s Imagination Cube competition featured Pilkington Profilit channel glass from Technical Glass Products. All designs were required to use the product. The Profilit glazing system consists of self-supporting, U-shaped glass channels and an extruded metal perimeter frame. It can be formed into straight or curved walls in interior or exterior applications.

AAMA Updates Acoustical Ratings Document
Newly released is AAMA 1801-07, a technical specification for establishing the acoustical rating of doors, windows, storefront and curtainwalls based on ASTM standards and test methods.

According to John Lewis, American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) technical director, the revamped six-page document, first published in 1997 and titled Voluntary Specification for the Acoustical Rating of Windows, Doors and Glazed Wall Sections, includes several updates.

“In addition to various editorial changes, the most significant changes were the addition of minimum test size requirements of side-hinged doors, sliding doors and double side-hinged doors per AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S. 2/A440. The measurement of the latching force was also added to ensure acceptable performance of the unit before being tested for acoustical performance,” Lewis said.

The test specimen size for curtainwall, storefront and all site-built construction was changed to be in accordance with AAMA 1503 and NFRC 100.More information about AAMA 1801-07 is available at www.aamanet.org.

Architects' Guide to Glass & Metal
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