AIArchitect asks, "What have you learned at Expo2002? What have you found most interesting?"

Janet Grapengeter, AIA
Facility Manager, Clairol, Inc.
Darien, Conn.
I'm a facility manager. I don't have a traditional practice, and the things that I look for tend to be products that are maintenance-free and enhance my ability to keep the quality of the facility over its life cycle. I'm probably looking at different things than most of the people here. I tend to zoom past most of the displays on designed glass and products like that. I'm looking at some of the more functional items. I found vinyl-enhanced tile that seems rather intriguing. It looks like it stands up to heavier wear than normal vinyl tile. I've seen too much stuff already. Now I am going to focus a little on the software end of the show. One of the important things I do is keep facility databases, and I am interested in what's new and exciting.

Li You
Anshen + Allen, Los Angeles
I'm just looking around, finding out the things I didn't know before. For example, there are a lot of things you see in magazines, but you don't get a chance to work with them on projects. You get to find out what they're actually made of, the details. It's very educational—you get a chance to ask the representatives what the products are and to find new items.

Harry Hunderman, FAIA
ILCH
Northbrook, Ill.
I've been focusing on the type of work we do, specific things such as stone, pedestal systems, and concrete pavers. It's like walking through Sweet's Catalog. It's always good to see, feel, and touch things, rather than just looking at them in a book. It's always good to ask a quick question and get a specific answer about products that we worked with in the past or are thinking about working with in the future.

Kelleigh Condon, Assoc. AIA
Reno Smith Architects, Aspen, Colo.
I'm just looking around the Expo floor right now to see what is interesting. My favorite booth so far has been one for steel cabling. I learned something new about cable connections. I also learned more about a relatively new material, self-cleaning glass. I'm most interested in residential products, since that's the kind of work our firm does the most.

Andrew Vernin McGuory, AIA
Facility Planning, St. Paul Minnesota Public Schools
I'm always looking for new products. Right now I'm specializing in educational facilities, so I have a particular interest in products and systems that can be used in schools. Of course, security products are one interest now. In addition, I saw a really interesting thing in the new product section—a single machine that both washes and dries clothes. And it's ventless. The sales reps have been really knowledgeable.

Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.