Metal Architecture, Jan 2021

metalarchitecture com January 2021 METAL ARCHITECTURE 9 The Metal Building Manufacturers Association MBMA released its 2020 Annual Report Inspired Designs Coast to Coast This resource notes the challenges that MBMA has faced this year and emphasizes how the association and its members have met them It also celebrates many intriguing and appealing metal buildings from a range of end uses across North America The report provides valuable information for anyone who works with metal building systems has an interest in metal buildings or is involved in the low rise commercial building market It is available for free download at the MBMA blog blog mbma com 2020 has been an unprecedented year for the association and the world at large said Steve Browning MBMA chairman Weve had to face challenges that no one could have foreseen and weve met these head on We moved meetings online expanded our collaborative work and even saw several major industry mergers Through it all we persisted in producing the important and valuable work of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association The 2020 MBMA annual report is full of information on metal buildings and describes the work undertaken by MBMA throughout the year Its contents include Management perspective and a message from chair Steve Browning An architects perspective noting that metal building systems are more than utilitarian and how they inspire architects to innovate A report from the new Architect Committee which was established early in the year and describes its outreach initiatives to influence architects and designers Information on efforts to promote accreditation for both metal building manufacturers AC472 and metal building erectors AC478 Educational outreach highlighting activities to engage future engineers and architects with the preliminary development of a design competition for students and their faculty representatives Efforts to enhance current energy codes and educate members builders architects and specifiers on best practices and how to apply them Sustainability resources for the entire design and construction community including work on updated environmental product EPD reports Publication of several new case studies including Commercial Communities and Warehouses Storage and new videos such as Build Forward and the upcoming How Its Built Fire protection and insurance work to ensure safe code compliant and insurable metal buildings including studying the impact of hail on metal roofing Promoting safety in the workplace and meeting the unexpected challenges of the pandemic through online meetings documenting best practices and advice from outside experts including MBMAs legal counsel Research and technical initiatives such as work on the AISC Design Guide 25 Frame Design Using Web Tapered Members and research on minimum design loads that provides valuable input into the upcoming ASCE 7 standard MBMA has seen a lot of changes in the years since its founding in 1956 noted Tony Bouquot MBMA general manager and this year has been unique to say the least Our annual report highlights the associations leadership through these unusual times Weve continued to carry on our work from gathering and disseminating information about the unprecedented challenges to workplace safety Were continuing important technical research emphasizing code compliance and communicating industrywide educational efforts This years report also showcases the many attractive qualities of metal buildings as we engage with the expansive architectural community through our new Architect Committee Demand for multi generational housing increases high density development decreases MBMA releases annual report INDUSTRY NEWS The pandemic has buoyed the custom residential design sector while impacting homeowner design preferences according to a fourth quarter Home Design Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects AIA The survey results which focus on community and neighborhood design showed a decline in homeowner demand for infill and higher density development reversing a multi year trend Conversely demand for multi generational housing accommodations vaulted in popularity Project billings inquiries and design contracts also rebounded from a record decline in the first quarter of 2020 Additionally all custom residential sectors reported improved market conditions with home improvement reporting the strongest gains The uneven impact of the pandemic on specific construction sectors is nowhere more apparent than in custom residential said AIA chief economist Kermit Baker Ph D Hon AIA Though the initial impact of the pandemic hit residential architects hard a stay at home lifestyle and the desire for more space and less density has increased homeowners desires to modify their accommodations Other findings of the report indicate Front side porches increased in popularity Durability low maintenance remained a popular choice for home exteriors and Fire resistant materials continued to increase in popularity Residential architecture firm business conditions indicate Firms in all regions reported strong growth in billings in Q3 Project backlogs at residential firms continued to increase in the third quarter and On average firms reported about a 6 increase in the value of backlogs from the second quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2020 The AIA Home Design Trends Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of more than 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector