BEIJING — Beijing, China will host the 2012 Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony next year, announced Beijing mayor Guo Jinlong and Hyatt Foundation Chairman Thomas Pritzker.
The award has been distributed annually for the past 30 years and 14 different countries have hosted the ceremony, with locations ranging from the White House in Washington D.C. to the Todai-ji Temple in Nara, Japan.
Johnson Controls introduced the Panoptix solution, designed to make it easier and more affordable for facility owners and operators to achieve better building performance.
The system includes four key components. Its open technology platform aims to simplify collection and management of data from disparate building systems and other data sources, a suite of cloud-hosted building efficiency applications that work with any building management system.
Draper Inc. introduces the GreenScreen Revive, its new eco-friendly, window shade fabric. The product received a silver rating from the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s verified rating system, which assesses categories of renewable energy, clean water, material health, social responsibility and material reutilization.
High Wind Roof (HWR), the new standing seam roof product from Varco Pruden Buildings, is designed for projects that require high-wind codes or have Factory Mutual requirements. The system was developed to meet wind conditions in coastal regions and other high-wind areas and can provide performance and protection against winds above 130 miles per hour. When incorporated as part of a total Varco Pruden Building system, the HWR can withstand wind conditions in excess of 180 miles per hour, according to the company.
Ensinger’s Insulbar thermal technology is designed to lower building operating costs by reducing energy loss without sacrificing any structural or design requirements. Insulbar increases the insulating value of windows, doors, skylights, and curtain walls. Under testing conditions, Insulbar has shown more than 500 percent more thermal efficiency than non-thermally broken aluminum, according to the company. Insulbar profiles can be custom designed to meet project specifications and can result in total window u-value ratings of .2 or lower, exceeding current ICC thermal and CRF standards.
The 6460 Series direct/indirect linear suspended LED luminaire from Lunera Lighting delivers near daylight-quality light. The 6460 Series distributes light 70 percent directly down to the workspace and 30 percent indirectly upward to the ceiling, which eliminates hot spots and creates a uniform illumination of the ceiling. Designed for 16 foot center-on-center spacing, the 6460 Series can be joined into dramatic, continuous runs.
CalStar Products added a Thru-Wall unit to its line of sustainably manufactured masonry. The unit’s design combines the structural properties of standard concrete with the aesthetics of a traditional brick wall. Available in nominal sizes of 8-by-4-by-16 inches and 12-by-4-by-16 inches, the units are half as tall as standard concrete blocks and are dual-sided to feature both a flat face for a classic 16-inch appearance and a notched face to fill with mortar for the look of 8-inch bricks.
Crossville recently introduced Mixology, a new metal line crafted by the company to replicate cast metal sculptural pieces as affordable and earth-friendly tile. Each tile contains at least 50 percent post-consumer recycled content and is certified by Scientific Certification Systems.
Made for interior vertical applications, the tiles come in seven designs and two sizes: 4-by-4 inches and 6-by-6 inches. Additionally, 10 trim options and two random mosaics are available in four distinctive finishes, providing 98 pieces to mix and match.
PROMOTION — More and more, schools are considering renewable energy options to cost-effectively meet their energy needs. Lennox’ patent-pending SunSource® Commercial Energy System collects energy from the sun, feeds it directly into Lennox’ solar-ready Energence® rooftop unit, and supplies any excess electricity to the rest of the building or to the power grid.
PROMOTION — Munters Integrated Custom Air Handler (ICA) dehumidification system has simplified the complex task of integrating a desiccant dehumidifier with other air conditioning components. ICA is customizable to multiple configurations, offers ten rotor sizes, seven desiccant options, and a range of standard components engineered for maximized performance. ICA incorporates many advanced features including an innovative double wall construction with superior no-through metal design in either 2.5 or 4 inch wall thickness.
