As the much-anticipated annual Builders’ Show opens its doors in just a couple short days, we’ve got our schedule filled with people to see, new products to admire and tweet-ups in which to partake.

A few brands to watch out for:

• Feeney: Proving that cable rails provide great design in addition to structure, Feeney will showcase its wide offering of custom cables, rails and hardware for commercial and residential applications.
• Masonite: Want to experience “Art in Doors”? Stop by Masonite’s booth at IBS to check out how doors are so much more than mere portals. The company’s new West End collection appeals to those with great design taste who seek modernity.
• Amerec: Anyone looking to add some luxury to their bathroom should check out Amerec’s booth at IBS, where the brand’s new T100 Touch Control panel will surely be the center of attention. The touch screen panel provides easy access to and control of steam and time settings.
• Gerber Plumbing Fixtures: Celebrating its 80^th year, Gerber will feature the Viper 1.28 high efficiency toilet, which provides exceptional performance paired with smart water savings, among the full line of vitreous china and brass offerings.
• Nuheat: Though the Orlando weather may not call for it, surely heated floors are irresistible. Nuheat develops custom and luxurious electric floor heating systems that provide comfort through virtually any flooring material.
• Danver: Ever expanding its product offering for the outdoor living trend, Danver will have on display EcoSmart outdoor fireplaces in addition to the stainless steel cabinetry they’re known for.
• Viance: Introducing its 2012 “Fish-More” promotion, Viance helps contractors gain more business by recommending the brand Ecolife for deck building.
• The Fortress Company: Fortress fence and railing products not only create safe surroundings, but contribute to the beautification of any property.

The K&A team will attend IBS this week in Orlando and would love to see you. If you’re attending and would like to participate in a short meet-up, (we could even feature your brand on our YouTube channel)… let us know here!

Kleber & Associates (K&A), an Atlanta-based integrated marketing and communications firm specializing in the home and commercial building products channel, has been chosen as the public relations and social media agency  for the International Woodworking Fair (IWF). Now responsible for expanding brand awareness of the IWF event through media relations and online communications, K&A will head up these initiatives in an effort to promote and grow awareness of this bi-annual event.

“Recently, we have felt a need to expand  our reach into new business sectors,” said Michael Burdis, IWF 2012 Chairman and President of James L. Taylor Manufacturing Company, “With their experience in the building industry; Kleber & Associates was an excellent choice.”

IWF strives to be the tradeshow where industry leaders can find the latest innovative products, machinery, materials and design. IWF 2012 will be held August 22-25, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia USA at the Georgia World Congress Center.

“We are very excited to begin our work with IWF,” said Steve Kleber, president and owner of K&A. “Especially as the company plans to introduce new products and designs for their 2012 event in the months to come, K&A is honored to be entrusted with the task to help build the IWF brand through public relations and social media.”

About IWF- International Woodworking Fair

The largest woodworking technology trade show in the Western hemisphere is held every other year at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, and is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. Recognized around the world as the pre-eminent event for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment, supplies and innovative new technology, IWF attracts visitors from every level of the industry and over eighty countries and all fifty states.  For more information about the International Woodworking Fair, go online to www.iwfatlanta.com, or call 404-693-8333.

Designed for upgrading oft-neglected indoor spaces, brands such as Owens Corning Basement Finishing System and WoodTrac Ceiling System provided business building leadership for remodeling contractors seeking competitive advantage.

Check out videos live from the show floor here!

This Greenbuild report is brought to you by guest blogger Mark Johnson, FAIA

Connect with him on Twitter at @MarkJohnsonFAIA, or on GreenDesignGuide.

Greenbuild celebrated an exciting tenth year by going to Toronto, its first destination outside the United States. USGBC’s theme, Greenbuild Next, was appropriate as attendees pondered, “what’s next” for the sustainability movement and green building products.  Attendance was down a bit at 23,000, but the energy and enthusiasm are so high at Greenbuild, it’s a show not to be missed!

So what’s new at the world’s largest expo featuring sustainable building products? I overheard a few curmudgeons who wanted to see more dazzling new products, but I was delighted to see many product makers focusing on incremental refinements, collaboration, and cost savings to improve their products. As more manufacturers introduce green building products, the competition heats up and that drives prices down, speeding the adoption of sustainability. It’s a good thing for all of us as we hunker down to power through a tough economy.

Another theme at Greenbuild was the thoughtful integration of design and technology. Product makers are getting better at designing green products to look handsome and mainstream.

DIRTT showcased a fascinating new indoor idea, the Breathe Living Wall, a modular indoor wall garden that saves floor space in today’s smaller homes, contributes to better indoor air quality, and looks beautiful.

Richlite teamed up with Plyboo to collaborate on an exciting new surface product called Stratum. It embeds a layer of bamboo between two layers of Richlite. Its beauty is the way the edge reveals each layer and contrasts the two materials.

Expanko’s Vallarex cork floating floor system is another handsome product combining advanced technology with nine beautiful shades and patterns. The fiberboard core is made with recycled post production waste and features a glue-less installation.

I could go on at length about all the handsome new dual-flush toilets from bathroom fixture companies, but I’ll leave the potty talk to them! Click here to see a list of all the exhibitors at Greenbuild.

My ‘Cool Booth Favorite’ for Greenbuild 2011 is Austria. Their booth’s combination of contemporary design, open plan, and lighting was a show stopper!

Greenbuild 2012 is in San Francisco next fall. Make your plans early. Hotel rooms sold out this year…a good thing!

For the past couple of years, I’ve been particularly fascinated with the Remodeling Show – perhaps more so than other industry events. Due to our economic climate, the undeniable increase in remodeling and renovation over new home purchases, and general uncertainty, it’s often a relief to experience how our industry of home and building professionals continues to block and tackle through it all.

I’m pleased to see brands such as the ones listed below to dedicate time, people and resources to a tradeshow such as the Remodeling Show, as it is a direct result of their commitment to marketing and innovation.

Simple updates for the home

• WoodTrac: Possibly the simplest way to get that “wow factor” in an office or room in the basement is by replacing standard drop-tiles with a customizable ceiling system that mimics the coffered look.
• CedarSafe: Using specially designed panels in a closet help for organization, but those made of Aromatic Eastern Redcedar is scientifically proven to repel unwanted pests from your belongings.
• Hy-Lite: Decorative glass windows can increase energy savings and provide privacy, all while looking stylish.
• Thermique Technologies: Using heated glass technology, Thermique offers luxurious glass towel warmers, space heaters and heater plates for residential and commercial settings.
• STEP Warmfloor: Bringing the heat under your feet is STEP Warmfloor, whose products are designed to produce radiant heat under all floor types while maintaining low-voltage use.

And I’d be amiss to not mention the Deck Expo, which occurs on the floor simultaneously with the Remodeling Show. We can expect to witness the latest in decking technology and sustainability, as decking brands are continually working to improve their products’ durability, beauty and resistance to the elements. A few I’m especially looking forward to checking out:

• KLEER Decking: “Thinking beyond wood,” KLEER utilizes cellular PVC for its decks as well, which contains no organic fillers and is up to 40 percent lighter than wood-plastic-composites.
• Gossen: Decking, moulding, weatherstrips and railings by Gossen are made from cellular PVC, making its full line of building materials low maintenance and resistant to mold, stains, fading and water damage.
• GeoDeck: Mechanically engineered in an environmentally-friendly fashion, GeoDeck’s composite decking has exceptional color retention and resistance to decay.

What’s a deck without accessories?

• CAMO Fasteners: At the show, CAMO will introduce its brand new hidden fastening tool, the CAMO Marksman™ Pro-NB , created specifically for narrow deck boards.
• Highpoint Deck Lighting: The deck and landscape lighting company will also feature new products at the event, including new LED lights for recessed step lighting, under railing lighting or as a deck surface mount.

Outdoor living is still very much alive, even as the colder months arrive.

• Archadeck: From covered patios to screened-in porches and sunrooms, Archadeck proves that outdoor living doesn’t stop when summer ends.
• DANVER: When the air gets a little too cool for comfort, DANVER offers patio heaters from EvenGLO that pair nicely with its complete line of stainless steel cabinetry, grills and kitchens for outdoor living.
• Fortress Railing Products: Whether you spend time outside or not, attractive fences and railing systems can add great curb appeal to the home.

GLASSBUILD: September 12-14, 2011

Georgia World Congress Center: Atlanta

The National Glass Association’s annual event, GlassBuild America, hit Atlanta this year with a show full of innovation, energy savings and pops of color.

Innovation & Energy Efficiency

- Guardian Glass introduced a new coating system for its residential windows in which three layers of silver are used to coat the glass. The coating helps significantly improve energy efficiency.
- Trulite is on its way to becoming a one-stop shop for its customers. As glass panels aren’t just for shower enclosures, Trulite offers glass and aluminum solutions including curtain walls, patterned glass, entrance doors and sliding wall systems for commercial applications.
- Sage Electrochromics showed off its brilliant window tinting system, which can electronically adjust the tint of windows according to preference and weather, all while saving energy and eliminating the need for screens, blinds or draperies.

Color

- On Guardian Glass’ commercial side, colors abound in various applications for glass panels and furniture.
- IGE Solutions print any design, image or pattern directly onto glass in its turnkey facility.
- General Glass International displayed its decorative glass options, which include silkscreening, lamination, painted and etched glass.

“We are in the worst economic market maybe of my lifetime … [but] there is more change and innovation going on today than there ever has been in the history of the planet.” – David Petratis, Quanex Building Products President and CEO on the GlassBuild show floor

CONSTRUCT: September 14-16, 2011
McCormick Center: Chicago, IL

CONSTRUCT, the commercial building event for architects, specifiers, engineers, facility managers, and building owners, was held this past week in Chicago. Although sparse with guests on opening day, CONSTRUCT highlighted some of the industry’s most unique and leading products, and our team was there to bring you unique findings.

Door Opening Solutions

The Good Design Studio from ASSA ABLOY was a highlight of the show: a beautiful display of door hardware from the ASSA ABLOY Group brands.

Product Calculator

Atlas Roofing most recently introduced its LTTR Calculator, allowing builders and contractors to choose the climate zone in which their project is located in order to properly calculate the needed R-value for the area. Based on consensus standards in both the U.S. and Canada, Long Term Thermal Resistance (LTTR) is a scientifically supported method to calculate the 15-year, time-weighted average R-value of roof insulation.

Fuzzy Flooring

Yes, you heard correctly. Forbo Flooring Systems exhibited its line of Flotex flooring, an alternative to textile flooring. Flotext provides the benefits of traditional textile flooring, including comfort underfoot and sound insulation, but with the addition of durability, long-term aesthetics, and low-cost maintenance.

Casual Market: September 12-15
Merchandise Mart- Chicago, IL

The International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market is a four-day tradeshow that provides retailers with a destination to find all things related to outdoor and casual living. With the increasing trend in outdoor rooms and living spaces, K&A was excited to see what new trends were apparent at the show. Our experience on the showroom floor consisted of a plethora of outdoor furniture manufacturers, several grill and smoker manufacturers, and a handful of outdoor bioethanol fireplace manufacturers.

With homeowners looking to extend their living space with complete, well-designed rooms, outdoor spaces require the same care and detailed design as their interior counterparts. As the trend is expected to continue to evolve over the next few years, attendees were looking for ways to capitalize on the outdoor theme to stand apart from others in the industry.

BioEthanol Fireplaces

Outdoor options for heat are becoming increasingly popular. A focal point of the exhibit booths at the Casual Market this week were BioEthanol Fireplaces. Bioethanol is completely composed of biological products. The combustion of bio ethanol results in a clean emission: heat, steam and carbon dioxide.

Most recently, EcoSmart released its outdoor fireplace line. Simple to use and easy to clean, EcoSmart Fire’s outdoor fireplaces eliminate the hassle of traditional outdoor fires. Versatile and portable bioethanol outdoor fireplaces create a unique ambience for any outdoor living space.

In addition to outdoor fireplaces, another similar bioethanol product we came across was Anywhere Fireplace, which carries a line of bioethanol tiki and table torches. The stainless steel contemporary designs of the torches will light up and add style, sophistication and ambiance to any outdoor space.

Outdoor Living Showcase

The theme of this year’s PCBC show was “The Beginning of Next,” designed to engage and educate building industry leaders on what’s next for the industry. Redesigning the event experience on the tradeshow floor, this year’s show included the Outdoor Living Showcase, offering design options and alternative ways to create functional, yet practical outdoor living spaces.

Throughout the show, the continual talk among exhibitors and attendees was focused on the outdoor “room.” As expected, there was still a strong focus on the environment and eco-friendly, green products. With the trend expected to continue to evolve over the next few years, many exhibitors are looking for ways to capitalize on the outdoor theme.

Outdoor Trends

Kleber and Associates’ own Danver Stainless Steel Cabinetry had a grand show and made headway with quality customers. As the leading manufacturer and distributor of outdoor kitchen and living amenities, Danver is known in the industry for its stainless steel cabinetry and specifically customizable finishes. The company offers a perfect option for builders and designers looking for durability and low-maintenance outdoor cabinets.

Outdoor options for decks are also becoming increasingly popular. Known in the industry for its PVC trim products, Kleer Lumber, manufacturer of extruded free foam cellular PVC building products, introduced Kleer Decking, a seven-color array of PVC decking that has the natural look of wood and features cap stock technology on every deck board within the line.

EcoStar provides numerous alternatives to traditional steep-slope roofing products, offering an eco-friendly and aesthetically appealing solution for virtually any steep-slope application. Showcasing its various options at PCBC, EcoStar continues to lead the market with recycled slate and shake roofing tiles. EcoStar roofing products are composed of up to 80 percent recycled post-industrial rubber and plastic. These post-industrial materials consist of waste that includes car bumpers and baby diaper production remnants.

Nichiha USA’s fiber cement siding and cladding is an industry best, introducing a new product at PCBC, NichiFrontier. NichiFrontier was designed to complement Nichiha’s Sierra Premium Shake product at a lower price point. The company also showcased its ever-popular Illumination Series cladding, an affordable, yet durable alternative to metal panels.

Unique Finds

New from Acuity Brands is the Acculamp S-Series, a comprehensive assortment of LED-based lamps. Acculamp provides an energy-efficient alternative to traditional light sources and is an ideal solution for projects where performance and efficiencies are the priority, including retail, hospitality, gallery and restaurants… all entirely different, yet demanding applications.

Ortal-USA introduced its modern fireplace designs and installations to the American marketplace for the first time. Showcasing a variety of heating options at PCBC, Ortal provides high-tech, energy-efficient, 21^st century designs for residential and commercial settings. Hand-crafted glass-to-glass fittings set a new industry standard for modern design.

K&A is also proud to represent Gerber Plumbing Fixtures, which displayed its High Efficiency Avalanche toilet, alongside a wide array of faucet fixtures. Gerber is a leading manufacturer of high performance plumbing fixtures, faucets and fittings sold exclusively through professional wholesalers.

Catching attention from far across the convention center, ACME Home Elevators showcased its line of custom residential elevators. ACME Home Elevator uniquely offers two types of hillside lifts; a cable lift and a track lift. These lifts are made to traverse steep hillsides. They provide home and beach access, cargo hauling, and handicapped access; a perfect addition to complete an outdoor space. Hillside lifts safely allow users to enjoy waterfront property without the inconvenience of climbing stairs, and generally increase overall property value.

Viance LLC is an industry leader in the development of advanced greener building material solutions that improve the performance and durability of wood and wood products. Showcased at PCBC, D-Blaze fire retardant treated wood is available for interior applications where fire retardant construction materials are specified or required by building codes. D-Blaze treated lumber and plywood is highly effective in controlling the spread of flame and smoke development caused by fire.

The Disney-like event for designers and architects this year has come and gone, but the trends will live on… at least until next year. With no office chair unturned and no textile untouched, the 2011 trends include: Gray, Green, Groovy & Gather.

Hot Neutral: Gray

Any self-respecting design enthusiast has noticed an abundance of gray in consumer fashion and design. Commercial design went chic with the color popping up everywhere at NeoCon. Combined with texture, white and yellow, gray was the standout neutral of the show.

• Before making it up the elevator (if you were lucky), a gorgeous gray and white textured fabric adorned a waiting-room style chair from David Sutherland.
• The debut of LG Hausys’ new line of vinyl wallcoverings designed by Anya Larkin didn’t disappoint. From patterns to a shimmering, gray texture (featured at Tiffany’s) it stood out for showcasing the color in a new way.
• Another Tiffany’s sighting featured blingy glass tile at Joel Berman.
• At every turn, a textile line featured the new neutral with pops of color like yellow, pink and green. Check out Luna, Momentum, Knoll and DesignTex for the color in action.
• Arcadia’s new Encore collection featured a fun, spacey desk chair in a shimmering silver fabric.

Green Isn’t Going Anywhere

Being “green” isn’t so hard anymore. Every showroom or line featured at least one environmentally friendly claim. Inhabitat has a lovely write-up with all things green at the show, but below is our take.

• With inherent green qualities, such as utilizing a remarkably renewable resource, recycling and avoiding chemicals, Expanko cork and rubber floors showcased style while keeping Mother Nature in mind.
• The Mohawk Group introduced a dazzling new carpet line utilizing SmartStrand, a fiber technology for the commercial market made from renewable resources like corn syrup. The entire showroom was homage to sustainability. Two thumbs up!
• Besides offering beautiful design solutions, 3form upped the ante with its green offerings. ReMix uses slices from the edges of panels and recycles them into one-of-a-kind works of art for commercial spaces.
• Coatings also entered the discussion. Wolf Gordon’s Wink, a first-of-its-kind finish that can turn a surface into a white-board, touts a low-VOC, water-based formula.
• Lighting enthusiasts could check out everything LED on the seventh floor and compare and contrast the effectiveness of different brands, including Acuity Lighting and Currey & Company.
• With about 20 seminars available, attendees could get their fair share of information on the subject. Plus, “green” products are becoming super-stylish, so designers don’t have to make the tough choice between aesthetics and the right-thing-to-do.

Getting Groovy

Maybe Mad Men influenced the bright colors and retro details seen from floor-to-floor, or maybe we’re just biding our time before 80s design details become en vogue. Either way, groovy colors and textures were all the rage.

• Edelman Leather was perhaps the brightest spot with lime, tangerine, fuchsia and lemon chairs beckoning from its showroom.
• The orange and green task chairs were inescapable. Chromcraft, Tayco, BBF, Gautier and Smith Systems were just a handful of companies offering up fun chairs with a nod to colors from the past.
• Wood paneling made its mark at Ki in a new lounge chairs. Abet Laminati highlighted an updated wood-like finish while utilizing new, digital technology.

Gather ‘Round

Collaborative design was key in office and lounge design. Work pods, public seating and easy online sharing options make working together (or apart) a fashionable experience.

• The Hon Company’s workstations were easy-on-the-eyes and the kind of desks you wouldn’t mind being handcuffed to.
• AirShare’s seamless technology allows co-workers to instantly share their just-completed presentations sans wires and plugs.
• DesignerPages.com unleashed its army of citizen bloggers on the show floor to report the latest trends and products. Utilizing smart phones, Twitter and hash tags, the 30+-person team let all of NeoCon know where to be. Planar broadcast the Twitter feeds on flat screens scattered across the mart, making the show one of the most collaborative, digitally-savvy events yet.
• Sparkeology, one of the most fun booths around, allowed worker bees to stay connected with integrated docking stations into tables and seating.