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From structural loading and thermal performance to fire ratings and hardware—a practical guide for architects, engineers, and specifiers navigating garage door selection.
Summer build season is here, and outdoor living is at the top of every client's list. This season, the dominant shift is toward full integration — fewer "pool dropped in the yard" layouts and more engineered transitions between the pool, patio, and surrounding living areas, where the entire backyard functions as one cohesive architectural environment.
The best outdoor spaces don’t happen by accident. Research in urban design and public life has consistently shown that seating plays a critical role in how people experience a landscape—shaping where they gather, how long they stay, and whether a space feels welcoming or overlooked.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the key considerations to keep in mind when designing your pool house. Plus, we’ll share 4 tips to help you create a space that beautifully balances both function and style and makes any backyard a true oasis.
Explore trending landscape products shaping today’s outdoor environments, from durable site furnishings and lightweight resin planters to advanced irrigation systems and rooftop decking solutions. Discover how leading manufacturers like Maglin, DIG Corporation, TerraCast Products, and Archatrak are helping architects and designers create high-performance, visually cohesive spaces.
Specifying FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) has always carried a degree of uncertainty. A manufacturer's catalog provides dimensions and finish options. A static product photograph shows one angle under controlled lighting. A showroom visit is time-consuming and logistically impractical for every product on a specification list. For decades, design professionals have worked around these limitations, accepting that the gap between what a product looks like in a brochure and how it performs in context is simply part of the process.
This post looks at what that shift involves practically, where exterior visualization delivers the most value for AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) teams, and why certain project types—rooftop schemes in particular—demand a different approach to what most standard rendering briefs provide.
Process heating systems are a critical component of many industrial operations. Industries such as chemical manufacturing, oil refining, food processing, and power generation rely on heating equipment to maintain precise temperatures throughout their production processes. Whether it involves heating liquids stored in tanks, maintaining the flow properties of petroleum products, or supporting temperature-sensitive chemical reactions, these systems must deliver consistent and reliable thermal performance to ensure stable operations and product quality.
In today’s projects, entry systems are expected to carry a lot of weight, both literally and figuratively. Beyond aesthetics, specifiers have to consider performance requirements like thermal efficiency, wind load, acoustics, accessibility, and fire ratings, all while ensuring the system integrates cleanly with the surrounding façade.
As we head in 2026, the North American construction landscape continues to shift under pressure from labor shortages, material cost volatility, sector growth, and sustainability requirements. For architects, engineers, and other design professionals, these shifts are already influencing how projects are planned and products are specified.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water every day. As populations grow and demand on freshwater resources increases, this level of consumption is becoming unsustainable. So, how can architects design homes and neighborhoods that dramatically reduce water use?
When designing a residential neighborhood or housing development, integrating shared recreational spaces provides lasting value. Whether you're developing a new community or revitalizing an existing one, adding a playground is a smart investment.