October 4, 2012 (Raleigh NC) – Umicore Building Products (UBP), the manufacturer of VMZINC® architectural zinc products, has published a new VMZINC app to the Apple iTunes App store that can be downloaded to any iPhone device.

The VMZINC app interface is very easy to use and allows the user to effortlessly browse VMZINC product range, as well as panel systems. The Product Selector feature allows the user to select the characteristics they are looking for in a zinc panel, such as a distinct size, color or texture that may be important in the design process.  The Product Selector  feature filters the attributes and shows panel types that meet the defined criteria.

Users are also able to search VMZINC projects that are near them with a Geo-Location feature. The VMZINC app will provide a physical address, and guide the user to the project.

Users of the VMZINC app will also have access to the VMZINC panel specifications, details and technical information.   All technical information can be easily emailed directly from their phone.

In addition, the app offers user-friendly functionality that allows the user to contact VMZINC instantly or find a representative near them. 

Features include:

• Product selector
• Browse multiple project photos
• Specifications in both PDF and Word document format
• 2D details in both PDF and DWG format
• Geo-Location search capability
• Sales representative contact information by state

All of this can be done in the palm of a hand from any location, while offering an easy way to share detailed information across all contributors to a project.

October 9, 2012, Glenview, IL  -- The Metal Construction Association (MCA) recognized its 2012 Chairman’s Award recipients today at METALCON International, the only annual conference and exhibition dedicated to metal construction products, technologies and solutions. The Chairman’s Awards are an annual designation given to outstanding building projects involving MCA member companies. The awards honor innovation and creativity while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. METALCON is taking place this week, October 9 through 11, 2012 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

MCA Chairman Todd Miller welcomed press and award recipients at a press conference this afternoon in the Solar Bay demonstration area of METALCON with an overview of the trends the judges saw with the award entries this year and how the Chairman’s Awards recognize the exemplary application of metal. One of the three judges that chose the winning projects, Andrew M. Koglin, AIA, commented how the creative and innovative use of metal caught the judges by surprise and spoke about the changes architects have seen in the last few years with using metal in buildings. MCA then presented a short video describing the nine winning projects. Afterward, MCA member company representatives accepted award plaques.

Recipients for these awards are selected each year from projects submitted by MCA members to Metal Architecture Magazine’s annual Design Awards Program. This year, the honorees were chosen by a panel of professional architects. The panel consisted of:

·        Andrew M. Koglin, AIA, president of OKW Architects, Chicago, IL has over 25 years of experience in residential, retail, institutional and office projects. Currently, he directs OKW’s retail and mixed-use project group and, as president, he manages the day-to-day operation of the firm.

·        Elaine Fitzgerald, CSI, CDT, CCS, is a registered architect with experience in commercial, higher education and high rise building design. Most recently, she was a project architect for Goettsch Partners, Chicago, IL and currently is an active member of the Construction Specifications Institute and Illinois Landmarks.

·        Hector Hernandez, Assoc. AIA, LEED GA, is an associate architect at Legat Architects and has served on design teams providing programming, planning, and architectural and interior design services for a wide array of projects. Hernandez was recently inducted into the Metropolitan Leadership Institute.

The MCA Chairman’s Awards were given in eight categories: Municipal, Education – Primary and Secondary Schools, Education – Colleges and Universities, Institutional, Commercial/Industrial, Roofing, Residential and Overall Excellence. MCA also honored one project with an Honorable Mention Award for Overall Use of Metal.

Institutional: Temple Sinai

The First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland uses green zinc on its building for aesthetic appeal, long-term durability and the ability to shape it into walls that wrap and protect -reminiscent of the texture and draping of prayer shawls. The zinc VMZ standing seam panels from Umicore Building Products clads the new chapel, community area and library and connects them to the existing temple, social hall and new classroom wing. The stone clad wall of the circulation spine evokes the Western Wall of Jerusalem with a similar purpose of connecting the past and the present. 

The MCA judging panel felt this project stood out for its use of the green zinc and its connection to the rest of the elements of the building.

The architects for this project are Michael Harris Architecture and Mark Horton Architecture. The contractor is Oliver & Company and the metal installer is Peterson Sheet Metal.