TEMPLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Classic cherry wood or natural pine? A ray of sunshine yellow or a neutral cool grey? Large veining or small particulates on a gorgeous quartz countertop? Finding the right look for today’s home renovation projects can be exciting and daunting with more than a multitude of choices. To help designers and consumers identify the colors, patterns and materials that make their dream kitchen or bathroom project a reality just became a finger pinch away with Wilsonart’s expanded, interactive Visualizer. A leader in engineered decorative surfaces for more than 50 years, Wilsonart has added its newly debuted quartz patterns to its real-time design tool to build on the company’s extensive surface offerings. The Wilsonart® Visualizer, which includes more than 100 surface pattern options and is available for tablet, desktop, or notebook, can be viewed on Wilsonart.com, or via new, free apps on Google Play and the App Store. Wilsonart Visualizer offers the latest CGI design technology for photorealistic, real time design. The tool features realistic kitchen and bath layouts, and allows users to mix a variety of countertop, decorative edge, cabinet doors, flooring and wall color options to create their ideal design. Quick and easy to use, the Visualizer saves consumers and designers from the heartache of pattern regret. Users also can easily share their design selections or creations with peers, friends and family through their personal social media networks. Designers using the tool to create design boards also can save their project to a work book (coming soon) or print or email the board to fabricators and contractors to expedite purchasing.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rinnai, the number-one selling brand of tankless water heaters in the United States and Canada, has launched a television advertising campaign that highlights the benefits of tankless water heaters. The campaign, which is the only television advertising effort for any tankless water heater brand, debuts today and runs through late Fall. The two 30-second spots, titled "Dinner" and "When You Need It," humorously highlight the challenges families and homeowners have with tank water heaters while presenting Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters as the solution, including an endless supply of hot water and energy savings. The ads are running on major cable networks, including CNN, HLN, Fox Sports, HGTV, DIY Network and Fox News. These networks reach the brand's two key demographics - well-educated consumers with an interest in home improvement, as well as water heater dealers and installers and commercial audiences. In addition to the television advertising campaign, Rinnai is the only tankless water heater brand to advertise consistently in the consumer space, including high-profile consumer magazines, such as Architectural Digest, Dwell, Southern Living and others, radio, professional sports sponsorships, digital campaigns and television product placements.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and DANVERS, Mass., April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is happy to announce that North American lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA has made a significant donation of innovative LED lighting products to the Energizing Taliesin West program. Led by energy efficiency consultant Big Green Zero, the program is focused on the goal of continuing Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy of innovation in finding better and less expensive methods for building structures and for utilizing them. The donation by OSRAM SYLVANIA is made with the goal of creating energy savings and supporting environmental sustainability efforts at both of Frank Lloyd Wright's historic estates, Taliesin West (Scottsdale, AZ) and Taliesin (Spring Green, WI). OSRAM Sylvania has donated a variety of energy-efficient LED lamps to be installed at both campuses, which were the personal homes and architectural laboratories of Frank Lloyd Wright during his life. OSRAM SYLVANIA's commitment of technologies and products that promote resourceful energy use contributes to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's focus on innovation through energy efficiency continuous improvement. For an inside look at the Energizing Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West with LED lighting project, watch this video: http://redirect.aecdaily.com/s18122/bit.ly/FLLW-LED.

It was an exciting and humbling experience for Caesarstone to attend Salone del Mobile with the best of the best in the industry. Thankfully, designer Philippe Malouin was able to take our product to whole new levels with a swing set and incredible planter installation.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (March 2, 2015) – Native Trails has added new pieces to its revolutionary NativeStone™ Collection. The new bathroom products – available in June –include: Palomar Vanity Top with Integral Sink and Cabrillo Bath Sink. The entire NativeStone collection, which includes sustainable concrete kitchen, bar/prep and bathroom sinks, made its debut in 2014. Handmade by artisans in Vietnam, NativeStone is an innovative blend of cement and natural jute fiber. Surprisingly lightweight (40 percent lighter than standard concrete), it is resistant to cracking, scratching and staining.

Columbia, MD (April 24, 2015)—The release of Vectorworks® Architect 2015 software by global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has prompted the availability of two updates to the company's Vectorpress series of guidebooks, which are developed to help users make the most of their software. Expert trainer Jonathan Pickup has authored both titles, Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual, Seventh Edition and 3D Modeling in Vectorworks, Seventh Edition, providing new and experienced users alike with professional training tools at their fingertips. Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual explains how to incorporate Vectorworks 2015’s tools into a design-based BIM workflow and how new ways of drawing can increase efficiency, all while taking readers through the basics of the software interface. Pickup’s manual breaks down each topic into three steps: read a section of text, watch a video and then complete an exercise. Sections begin with an introduction to the Vectorworks Architect platform and progress through the completion of a mock project for a residential client, including how to generate contract documents. Readers learn how drawing with objects, rather than lines and arcs, and creating projects using BIM principles can improve their workflows. The second updated tutorial, 3D Modeling in Vectorworks, is laid out in three parts. Part one educates readers on using the software's tools to create 3D models on an individual basis. Part two reveals how to use the technology to create a freeform architectural project. Part three shows the workflow in action, allowing readers to learn to split up projects. The book also contains exercises that feature the new Deform tool, teaching readers the twisting, tapering, building and bending modes. The Vectorworks Architect Tutorial Manual and 3D Modeling in Vectorworks are part of Nemetschek Vectorworks’ self-paced training options. For more information and to purchase these manuals for $75 each, visit www.vectorworks.net/training/guides.php. Books will also be available for purchase when Pickup signs copies of his books on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET in the Paris Foyer at the Sofitel Philadelphia Hotel. All registered attendees of the Vectorworks Design Summit are welcome to attend.

RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The world’s highest-scoring college dorm in Leadership and Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the latest among top LEED projects to consistently incorporate brick exteriors. Serving as a model of sustainability, Berea College’s “Deep Green” residence hall in Kentucky earned LEED Platinum Certification with a score of 90 points and appears on Princeton Review’s 2015 Guide to 253 Green Colleges. Brick’s proven green performance and sustainability include: •Natural materials: Fired clay brick is made from clay and shale, and available in many permanent colors and shades that do not fade, unlike competitors. •Brick does not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other toxic materials. •Manufacturing: More than 80% of brick kilns are fired with natural gas; numerous plants use fuels of bio-based materials from other industrial applications and waste products. •Almost no wasted material: Virtually all of the clay and shale to make brick ends up in the brick itself. Brick can also use materials recycled from other industries’ manufacturing processes, such as sawdust. •Thermal mass helps lower energy use: Unlike thin, light building materials, brick’s natural thermal mass helps it store heat during the day, then slowly release the energy later. •Local resources: Reducing fossil fuels, at least two brick plants are located within 500 miles of 49 of the country’s top 50 metropolitan areas. •Long life: Brick’s superior durability offers a 100-year life span vs. a 25- to 50-year life span with vinyl siding.

Schindler Elevator Corporation has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by L.F. Driscoll Construction Managers & Builders to supply and install 31 gearless Schindler 7000 high-rise elevators at Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, along with 11 mid-rise machine room-less elevators, two Schindler 330A hydraulic elevators, and 10 Schindler 9300AE escalators. The $1.2 billion, 59-story structure, in the Center City section of Philadelphia, will be a vertical stacked campus that includes 1.3 million square feet of office space and a 222-room Four Seasons Hotel. Once complete, the 1,121-foot tower will be the tallest building in the United States outside of New York and Chicago, as well as the largest private development project in the history of Pennsylvania. “The Comcast Innovation & Technology Center is a prime example of the integrated, sustainable urban environments that Schindler is so proud to support,” said Greg Ergenbright, president, Schindler Elevator Corporation. “Schindler’s proven commitment to safety, reliability and sustainability, and our innovative technology makes us an ideal choice for this cutting-edge building.” Moving occupants more efficiently throughout the tower and hotel will be the energy-efficient Schindler 7000 custom high-rise passenger elevators equipped with Schindler’s PORT Technology destination-dispatch system. The system has a two-way communication interface between occupants and the building’s environment and optimizes traffic flow while offering predictive call entry and personalized service. The PORT Technology’s patented access control uses RFID technology to play a significant role in managing and controlling access within the building.

A Purdue University chemist has developed an adhesive technology that could help bond items in wet, moist conditions such as human tissue or underwater construction - by studying mussels and oysters. Jonathan Wilker, professor of chemistry and materials engineering, developed the adhesive while studying the environmentally friendly adhesive qualities of mussels and other shellfish. Wilker's patented adhesive is comprised of similar components used by mussels in their natural adhesives. "A lot of the chemistry involved in the animals' adhesive is protein-based, but no one is going to be able to make a complicated protein for large-scale applications. So we are substituting simple polymers for the proteins while maintaining other aspects of the adhesive chemistry," he said. "We have looked at the design and synthesis changes that we can make and compared our adhesive to what the shellfish are making. The system can be easy to generate on large scales and yet still maintain the functions that we are after. This synthetic mimic approach then allows us to tailor the material for specific bonding situations and applications. Wilker and his team have created a platform technology that industry partners could develop in several ways. "We can design certain characteristics into the adhesive, but we won't be able to focus on a specific product for a specific application," he said. "It's possible that we could connect with different companies that can develop the materials for several sectors including aeronautical or automotive manufacturing, biomedical joining of tissues, construction, coatings and cosmetics." Conventional adhesives currently available are made from petroleum feedstocks and can release volatile organic compounds and other toxic materials into the environment. Wilker's technology can be developed from renewable resources.

Webberville, MI - April 15, 2015 - Applegate Insulation, Inc. is proud to announce its R-2 through R-30 glass-free, non-woven recycled cotton insulation blankets meet the AC81 Acceptance Criteria for Cotton Fiber Insulation as verified by Intertek-ATI. Applegate Insulation, Inc., a manufacturer of recycled cellulose and non-woven cotton insulation products for residential and commercial applications has, through third-party testing, successfully met the stringent criteria of AC81. Intertek-ATI is a global, independent agency ensuring products meet quality, health, environmental, safety and social accountability standards for virtually any market around the world. Testing was conducted in accordance with AC81, Acceptance Criteria for Cotton Fiber Insulation, editorially revised October 2013. The scope of AC81 testing includes evaluating characteristics for: surface burning, thermal transfer, moisture absorption, fungi resistance, corrosiveness, thickness and density. In addition, the R-13 / 3.5" blanket met a 1-hour rating for interior load bearing and exterior non-load bearing walls in a fire-resistant-rated, UL Design No. U344 listing assembly. For more information about Applegate's cellulose insulations, please visit www.applegateinsulation.com and for information on the Cotton Armor non-woven line, www.applegatecottonarmor.com.

Columbia, MD (April 20, 2015)—As part of its commitment to helping students succeed, global design software developer Nemetschek Vectorworks, Inc. has launched the 2015 Vectorworks® Design Scholarship program. Students from across all design disciplines around the world are encouraged to submit their best individual or group work by Monday, August 31, 2015 for the opportunity to win up to $10,000 USD. The submission process is simple; students submit their best project, which may include work completed for a class assignment, and answer three questions, each in 150 words or less. An esteemed panel of judges will evaluate submissions on the basis of design integrity, effective use of computer technology and originality, as well as the articulation and communication of a design vision. The Richard Diehl Award is a global award named for the founder and chairman of Nemetschek Vectorworks. Through the scholarship, Diehl strives to inspire young minds and give students the tools needed to develop ideas from concept to completion. To apply to the Vectorworks Design Scholarship or to learn more, visit www.vectorworks.net/scholarship. Winners will be announced on October 15, 2015. Contact us at academicteam@vectorworks.net with any questions and follow @Vectorworks and #FundMyVision for updates on the program. Visit our online gallery to view inspiring work from last year’s winners, as well as runners-up.

MORRISTOWN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Schindler Elevator Corporation announced today the introduction of its Schindler 5500 machine room-less (MRL) traction elevator, delivering a seamless blend of efficiency, flexibility and performance for mid-rise buildings. The Schindler 5500 MRL, currently available in select North American markets, combines advanced features typically available only in high-rise buildings with proven space and energy saving features. Schindler’s innovative PORT Technology destination- dispatching system is available as an option to enhance movement through the building. PORT Technology can combine personalized access with faster travel times by grouping passengers with similar destinations, and has traditionally been applied to buildings with higher rises.

NAPA Program Recognizes the Nation’s Top Asphalt Pavement Projects, Best Practices Lanham, Md. — The National Asphalt Pavement Association’s Awards program begins accepting nominations today, April 1, for its Quality in Construction and Operational Excellence Awards. Nominations are made online at www.AsphaltPavement.org/Awards. The Quality in Construction Awards recognize outstanding pavements in the following categories: Asphalt Pavements Using More Than 50,000 Tons, General Paving Projects Using Less Than 50,000 Tons, and Airport Pavements. Additional recognition is awarded for the use of sustainable paving practices and for innovative projects. Nominations can be submitted by any pavement contractor or pavement owner through Oct. 9, and winning projects will be highlighted at the NAPA 2016 Annual Meeting in February. Annually, the top airport pavement receives the Ray Brown Airport Pavement Award. In addition, the 10 highest ranking general paving projects are recognized with the Larry H. Lemon Award. The top asphalt highway projects using more than 50,000 tons undergo further testing and analysis, and are placed into contention for the coveted Sheldon G. Hayes Award. The Operational Excellence Awards recognize NAPA member companies for best practices in asphalt operations, safety, community relations, ecological practices, and marketing. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 4, and winners will be honored at the NAPA 2016 Midyear Meeting.

We are so proud and honored to announce that Display Reveal, our interior wall reveal which was introduced to market mid-2014, has earned highest strata award in 2015’s Awards for Design Excellence (ADEX) with a Platinum award. This was AS Hanging Display Systems’ first entry into the ADEX competition. ADEX is the largest and most prestigious award competition for excellence in product design of furnishings and building materials marketed to the design trade, with over 600 companies participating this year. ADEX Awards has recognized products demonstrating superior innovation, function and aesthetics for over 20 years.