In the past, architects and aluminum extruders have had a limited relationship. The general contractor acts as the go-between, even though the extrusion suppliers are critical to a project’s success. Consequently, disconnects between architects and extruders occur, resulting in missed opportunities to tap into fast-changing advances in alloy development, extrusion technology and fabrication options.
The time is ripe for more direct communication between architects and aluminum extruders. Architects are employing more complicated aluminum curtainwall systems for their projects as they specify larger areas of glass and aesthetics that deliver more daylight and visual design. In addition, too much time—and cost—often is spent with communications late in the project between architect and the extrusion manufacturer.
Benefits Abounding
The clear absence of direct collaboration between architect and the aluminum extrusion industry, without the general contracting in the middle, is surprising when the shortcomings are so obvious. An architect, for instance, voices a criticism to the general contractor about an extruder’s suggestion or question. The contractor passes it along to the extruder, who must actually bear the disappointment, inconvenience and, at times, economic loss. The architect is usually insulated from hearing the practical difficulties of using an extrusion design that has been specified. When the contractor is the middleman, the extruder’s complete viewpoint isn’t always expressed effectively.
For an aluminum extruder, a direct relationship with an architect allows it to validate the feasibility of the architect’s planned design at the concept stage, therefore enhancing the project’s timeline and costs. Today, the extruder usually must wait until the architect has finished the design, it has been approved by the project owner, passed along to the general contractor and sent to subcontractors who then inform the aluminum extrusion company.
While architects can communicate with first-tier suppliers and manufacturers about new products and innovations before a construction contract is signed, they usually don’t have interactions with second- and third-tier contractors under the contract.
This process simply doesn’t acknowledge the issue: An architect can draw a design concept but that doesn’t mean it can be achieved. It’s the supply chain and its middlemen that explains why the architect and extruder don’t directly collaborate. This disturbing gap becomes more significant as so many exciting changes are underway in the architectural design, building materials and construction arenas.
How to Bring the Two Together
Architects and the aluminum extrusion industry should consistently work closely together since practically every building project today requires custom applications that involve extrusions. Extrusions are not a commodity, although they generally are viewed as such. Architects should express their desire to a project’s general contractor to be actively involved in selecting extruding companies for each project, so they can match their visions with the companies’ ability to deliver on them.
Extruding companies and their trade association should keep architects—and architectural schools—current with the latest advances in extrusion capabilities. The trade groups might consider publishing information, perhaps quarterly, on the latest extrusion innovations with case studies of how they were used in projects. Architect associations can also schedule workshops or forums with aluminum extruders on the cutting edge of building design advances.
Further, councils for both groups can host programming that includes architects and extruders to help cultivate relationships through networking and education opportunities. This is an essential element in creating a strong, lasting partnership. These one-on-one conversations often lead to much more direct communication between disparate parties.
In short, architects and aluminum industry leaders must evolve their relationships with one another just as the building materials and design breakthroughs are shifting. It would break down barriers to project communications and launch a new era of improving building processes.
