NeoCon will offer a variety of products for interior projects, including decorative glazing.

The event offers a comprehensive conference schedule including more than 120 CEU-accredited seminars, industry association forums and keynote presentations. Education tracks include environmental design; facilities construction and renovation; healthcare design; hospitality design; and more.

Show organizers expect more than 40,000 trade professionals to attend the conference, including architects, interior designers, facility managers, space planners, dealers/distributors, manufacturers/reps, corporate real estate executives, office managers, purchasing managers and project managers, among others.

Registration begins in March and additional information can be found on the event website.

Located at 1122 and 1135 57th Avenue is David Ruth’s Glass Sculpture Studio. During the open gallery event Ruth and his associates will showcase glass sculpture, ceramics and photography, as well as a little painting.

Ruth is a long-time glass artist who has worked to create an array of cast glass creations, from sculptures to both public and private commissioned artwork around the world. One of his projects includes the Fairbanks International Airport where he created a stainless steel and cast glass wall designed to represent a contour map of a portion of the Yukon River at Tanana, Alaska, about 125 miles from Fairbanks.

Also part of the open studio event, the Macaroni Factory is located at 1250 57th Avenue and was originally founded by Peter Voulkos around 1965. Eight long-term artists will present their paintings, ceramics, collage and photography this weekend.

The galleries will be open to the public and will offer an opportunity for conversation about art. Refreshments will be provided as well as various pieces for sale.

For starters, the Decorative Division’s education committee noted that its AIA-accredited presentation has been vetted and approved, and the division now has two speakers recorded in preparation of an online version. In other resources, the division learned that GANA has been marketing its spin-off http://www.decorativeglazing.com website to the American Society of Interior Designers, and has been getting plenty of hits, particularly for the updated member profiles.

Within the Technical Committee, the group’s glazing material compatibility and testing glass informational bulletin (GIB) will soon be published.

“The board approved it with one editorial comment regarding a Fahrenheit to Celsius temperature conversion, but we’ll get that taken care of and the GIB will be approved,” commented task group chair Joe Ryan of Ferro. Upon publication that task group will be dissolved.

The Product Color and Durability Subcommittee conducted work on its documents-in-progress during the meeting. Subcommittee chair Jeff Nixon of Glass Coatings and Concepts noted that the group’s “Glossary of Terms for Color and Appearance” is nearly complete. The group is giving it one last thorough review for minor edits before sending it off through the ranks for approval. In addition, the subcommittee went over its list of durability properties. Nixon noted that in the future some of this work on product color and durability may fall under the division’s new decorative glass standards committee. He said the new committee will look at, among other things, standards for specifications of color and durability, so in the future as that subcommittee really gets underway, the current subcommittee’s scope might change, rendering the subcommittee complete.

Next, Kris Vockler of ICD High Performance Coatings kicked off the first Standards Subcommittee meeting. The new subcommittee is expected to take a standard-making role, but also will work with third-party standard making bodies to ensure decorative glass is acknowledged in new standards.

In addition, Vockler explained, “We’re taking those bits that fall under other [GANA] committees and saying this makes sense to put under the standards subcommittee.”

A number of potential work items from existing task groups are finding a home within the new subcommittee. Among the suggested items to consider in the future was a standard on IG spandrel and information on acceptable color and gloss tolerances.

In addition, consultant Greg Carney of C.G. Carney Associates noted that the ASTM C1048 standard specification for heat-treated glass has a number of test methods within it regarding heat treating products that today would fall under decorative glass categories. He suggested that the standards subcommittee look into developing its own test methods that could then be referenced by ASTM’s standard.

Danik Dancause of Walker Glass Co. kicked off the Recyclability of Architectural Glass Task Group by noting that as the group continues to collect data, it has found that there are many more recycling companies than they’d even imagined.

“Our product goes in more places than I would have imagined,” Dancause added, mentioning end products such as concrete additive, sandblasting media and even highway paint, all of which include recycled glass. The task group is starting to identify the products that will pose problems to recyclers (mirror being one, as well as back-painted, wired and laminated glass). He added that the group is still working to locate a recycler on the West Coast with which to talk.

Before it concluded, the Decorative Division discussed the possibility of recruiting a speaker for its next meeting, which will take place as part of the GANA Annual Conference, February 20-24, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota in Sarasota, Fla. As division chair Marc Deschamps said that inviting someone who has “huge sway over our product” to come in and explain what they want out of decorative glass and their awareness of the product could be hugely beneficial. The division is hungry for education, and the biggest debate was whether to have an architect, designer or spec writer address the group about interest in decorative glass, or a panel of all such parties at once. The group agreed that such a panel might elicit more participation from member-fabricators who have not yet broken into the decorative glass arena.

Stay tuned to http://www.decorativeglassmag.com for more GANA Decorative Division news and updates.

“There are some amazing new trends–trends that are happening in the marketplace,” said Kris Vockler of ICD High Performance Coatings who moderated the session. Vockler noted that attendees would learn about this fast-growing segment of the glass market. Some areas covered by the presenters included the range of applications, from spandrel to countertops, trends, market changes and more.

Panelists during today’s presentation focused on a variety of decorative glass trends.

Patricia Linthicum, a former facade engineer and blogger for Decorative Glass magazine, began by talking about trends in decorative glass.

“What makes a trend … it’s different depending on the area,” she said. “You have to adapt to the geographic location of the culture,” she said, explaining that what’s popular in Atlanta, for example, will be different than what’s popular in Phoenix. “Trends are created by consumers; consumers want luxury, quality and bespoke … you want something that makes your home unique.”

Linthicum shared many images of a variety of decorative glass projects around the world. In hotels, for instance, she said designers want to create a project that will be special and adding decorative glass can help do that.

She also pointed out, “Decorative glass is huge in corporate branding and signage.” Another opportunity, she noted, is an interior partition. While these are commonly created with clear glass, LInthicum added they, too, are an opportunity for branding.

Hospitals are another growing opportunity for decorative glass.

“Hospitals are moving forward with meditation rooms and a lot of work is in finding ways to provide calm and comfort to people in hospitals,” she said, explaining that decorative glass is a way to create such an environment.

In terms of residential applications, these also provide many decorative glass possibilities. In kitchens, for instance, homeowners are adding glass to their cabinets, countertops and backsplashes.

Likewise, in bathrooms not only are homeowners using glass in shower enclosures, but as Linthicum pointed out, “even the bathtub [can be] covered in decorative glass.”

And good news for the North American mirror industry, Linthicum said, “Antique mirrors over the past year have sold like hotcakes. Designers say if it will hold still for a minute they’ll put a mirror on it.”

Mandy Marxen with Dreamwalls was the next presenter. She spoke on “Putting the ‘I’ in Customization.”

“Customization is huge. Decorative glass is the one bright spot in the glass industry in a lot of ways as seeing positive growth,” said Marxen who talked about a few different ways decorative glass can be customized” color, texture, printing and shape.

Marxen said that while many projects may have budget constraints, “One jaw-dropping feature can offset simpler finishes in other areas.”

In terms of color, Marxen said a simple ten-color palette is no longer acceptable. Luckily new technologies and innovations have made it possible ti create most any color possible. She also said colors are benefiting from low-iron glass technologies, which allow for the true color to come through.

She showed one retail project that featured a hot pink wall.

“It”s very hot pink and very customized,” she said. “I love seeing this stuff come through the plant because it’s so shocking and so customized.”

Likewise, Marxen pointed out that printing on glass is a growth area and is also benefiting from low-iron glass. Other printing trends include creating glass made to look like natural stone such as marble and granite.

“Technology advances can merge and create a perfect storm for decorative glass,” she added.

Advances in texture is making it possible to do more and more with glass flooring and stairs, which Marxen said is another growing trend.

Looking at a kitchen application, Marxen showed images of a 4-inch glass countertop.

“I don’t know how they do it, but they can create an amazing, floating pool on your countertop,” said Marxen. “Glass brings that pow element that cabinets and appliances cant really generate.”

She also talked about how water-jet technologies allow companies to customize glass in any shape.

“You can create incredible detail from a CAD file,” said Marxen. “As people become more family with decorative glass they become more comfortable bringing into their own environments.”

Greg Saroka with Goldray Industries was also a presenter.

“I speak with architects all around North America and have noticed some specific trends in decorative glass,” said Saroka, who focused much on printing on glass.

“There are a number of ways to put images on glass, but I think digital imaging will soon outpace many of the others ways,” said Saroka, who said public art projects are one application type that seems to be growing rapidly.

Another reason for the growth, Saroka noted, is that graphics can still allow light transmission while giving privacy to the other side.

Steve O’Hollaren from ICD High Performance Coatings talked some about building renovations and said the use of decorative glass is becoming a popular choice for older buildings. He showed a few examples of recent projects that feature decorative glass for both aesthetics and functional purposes. Products featured included colorful spandrel as well as channel glass.

In concluding the day’s session, Vockler added, “It’s not only exciting that decorative glass is exploding [in popularity], but people can change the whole look of a building without having to start from the ground up.”

“Our intent with this NeoCon seminar was to educate the interior designers on the vast array of glass options they have inside for buildings,” said Ashley Charest, GANA account executive. “We certainly know that all 40,000 NeoCon attendees could not be at the seminar, so GANA is also in the process of converting this educational seminar into an online version.”

The seminar, which is accredited by the American Institute of Architects and was presented by Steve O’Holloran of ICD High Performance Coatings, provided information and definitions of different types of decorative glass; various design and application possibilities using decorative glass; how different types of decorative glass are made; and tips on specifying different types of decorative glass.

The presentation focused on four categories of decorative glass:

• Coatings and colors;

• Etched/frosted;

• Heat formed; and

• Laminated glass

Beginning with coatings and colors, O’Holloran looked at several glass types within this category, such as silkscreened, digitally printed glass and painted/backpainted glass. While the many different processes can afford a wide range of color choices, O’Holloran said it’s still the basics that are most popular.

“Regardless of the vast number of coating colors available by far our most popular colors are still white, black and grey,” he said.

Silkscreened glass, O’Holloran explained, is created by applying inks to glass through screenprinting, resulting in either solid coverage or a pattern. Silkscreened glass is often used in many different applications, including spandrel, interior walls and partitions, shower doors and more.

Direct-to-glass digital printing is a new technology that continues to see interest. The process involves digital imagery being printed directly onto glass, resulting in high details and multiple colors. The finished product can be used in both interior and exterior applications.

One direct-to-glass digitally printed project example he discussed was the Harlem Children’s Hospital.

“What is amazing is the number of panels on the Harlem Children’s Hospital, several hundred, and each one is different coming together to form one enormous graphic,” he said.

Backpainted glass is also growing in popularity, and is often used in kitchen and bathroom backsplashes. Backpainted glass provides full coverage on unexposed surface, is available in a wide range of colors and can also be combined with other fabrication process, such as laminating.

Under the etched and frosted category, O’Holloran next talked about products such as acid-etched glass. This type of glass has a surface that diffuses light, reduces glare and have both a frosted and translucent appearance.

He also discussed carved glass within the etched/frosted category.

This type of glass, O’Holloran explained, provides a 3‐dimensional look as images are carved into the glass surface with differing depths. The result is a creative, sculpted image.

Slumped glass, cast glass and fused glass were all covered under the heat-formed category. Slumped glass is formed when sheets of float glass are heated and “slumped” into a mold.

“Each piece is produced individually,” he said.

Cast glass, though is produced by pouring molten glass into a mold while fused glass uses extreme heat to fuse two or more types of glass together.

“It’s highly artistic,” said O’Holloran.

There is also laminated decorative glass, which consists of decorative interlayers or other materials laminated between lites of glass. It can be made with materials such as PVB, EVA or Ionomer, which are layered in a sandwich and then cured through heat and pressure, or with resins, which are poured or pumped between glass and cured through the addition of chemicals or UV light.

Laminated decorative glass can be used in such applications as interior glazing, canopies, flooring, public art pieces and more.

Guardian featured many different decorative glass products for interior applications, including colored and textured glass.

Gardner Glass is featuring new options with its Dreamwalls colored glass. Mandy Marxen explained that with new water jet technologies, the company can now offer custom tiles in addition to its custom color possibilities.

“We can take a CAD drawing and create the tile in any desired shape,” she said. “We’re offering a new world of opportunities.”

Arch Aluminum and Glass is showcasing its Visual line, which includes printed interlayers. Jon Johnson explained the company offers both ink jet as well as thermally transferred printed options. Johnson said the line has been receiving a good bit of interest at the show.

Guardian Industries officially launched its InGlass product line for interiors, including its partnership with Joel Berman Glass. Diane Turnwall with Guardian said the company had gotten lots of interest from those who have been stopping by the booth.

“This is the first time we’ve packaged everything together,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of interest in the website, which allows you to see different product combinations.” As an example, the company showed a switchable glass product constructed with one of the Berman textured glass products.

“It could also be made with other glass types,” Turnwall added.

NeoCon 2011 runs through Wednesday this week. Look to http://www.decorativeglassmag.com for more news and reports from the show.

Dale Chihuly Neodymium Reeds de Young Museum, San Francisco, California, 2008 Photo by Teresa Nouri Rishel © 2011 Chihuly Studio, all rights reserved.

Three large installations will be on view in the Shapiro Family Courtyard, where they will capture the natural light from the soaring, glass-enclosed space. Included is a new version of Chihuly’s sculpture Lime Green Icicle Tower, measuring 42 feet tall. Also on view in the courtyard will be an elaborate neon installation of criss-crossing orange and yellow lightning bolts that will span the balcony of the historic building façade. Another large-scale installation comprises glowing Cattails whose vivid glass blades will sprout up from the landscaped areas outside the courtyard.

The exhibition continues in the new Ann and Graham Gund Gallery with nine installations such as a kaliedoscopic, curving Persian Wall; a prismatic Chandelier room with six brilliant examples, including the deep aquamarine Chiostro di Sant’Apollonia Chandelier; an Indian Room of blankets, Baskets and other objects that influence the glassworks; and a room containing the vibrant, otherworldly Mille Fiori installation which is 58 feet long.

More than 40,000 industry professionals from around the world will have the opportunity to experience thousands of new products from more than 700 of the world’s top furnishings manufacturers for commercial office, residential, health care, hospitality, institutional and government design environments. Products will span a wide range of categories, such as decorative glass. Some of the exhibitors this year include Arch Deco Glass, Carvart, Cristacurva, Crossville, General Glass International, Joel Berman Glass Studios, Skyline Design and Walker Glass.

 Additional information about Neocon is available on the event website.