Building Design+Construction editors bring you the top building products for the month of December. Collected across a variety of building sectors, these products make roofing easy, advance sustainable building, and provide sleek looks.
From universal shower pans to ventilated doors, here are 15 products being used in the industry today.
December 2023 Top 15 Building Products
—
RS Storm-Resistant Combination Louvers
by Construction Specialties
![RS Storm-Resistant Combination Louvers](/sites/default/files/inline-images/CS%20Standard%20Louvers_%20Uber_Offices.jpg)
The RS Storm-Resistant Combination Louvers are engineered to meet architects’ preference for horizontal louver blades while delivering the necessary storm resistance found in vertical louver blades. As a result of the pairing, the combination louvers can resist wind-driven rain and winds as high as 50 mph that can drive as much as eight inches of water per hour. Suitable for a lower-level application, the RS-5215 Storm-Resistant Louver has horizontal blades facing in a downward direction, obscuring vertical blades behind a horizontal front. Horizontal blades face upward on the RS-5225 Storm-Resistant Louver, and it is ideal for higher-level applications so viewers at street level won’t be able to see the vertical blades installed behind.
Universal Shower Pan
by Hydro Systems
![Universal Shower Pan](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Hydro%20Systems-Shower%20Pans-2.jpg)
The Universal Shower Pan by Hydro Systems is a 100% solid, non-porous surface that deters bacteria, mold, and mildew while resisting scratches and stains. Made from a proprietary solid surface material the company calls Hydroluxe SS—a blend of natural minerals and high-quality, man-made composites—a shower pan can be molded into any shape and size. Because it acts as a waterproof barrier, there is no need to waterproof the subfloor before installation, saving time and money.
MAPEI’s carbon-neutral product family
by MAPEI
![Collection of carbon-neutral products](/sites/default/files/inline-images/MAPEI%20Carbon%20Neutral%20family.jpg)
Specifiers, contractors, and homeowners can choose products that are fully offset through their entire lifecycle with the launch of the MAPEI family of carbon-neutral products. This carbon-neutral status is achieved by calculating a product’s carbon footprint and reducing it to zero through in-house efficiency measures paired with the acquisition of certified carbon credits in support of renewable energy and forestry protection projects. The family includes: Keraflex Super, Large Tile & Stone Mortar (white and gray), Light Mortar for Tile & Stone, Mapecem Quickpatch, Mapefer 1K, MAPEI Ultralite Mortar Zero, Planitop XS, Ultracolor Plus FA, and Ultraflex LFT.
Dekton Ukiyo fluted tiles
by Cosentino
![Ukiyo Umber Kitchen](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ukiyo%20Umber_Kitchen_V1_C1_5120%D1%852880_300dpi_JPEG.jpg)
Created in collaboration with high-end interior and product designer Claudia Afshar, Dekton Ukiyo is inspired by Japanese and contemporary design and celebrates the art of minimalism. The textured collection comes in two fluting options: GV2 with groves set 25mm apart and measure 5mm wide and 3mm deep; and GV3 with groves set 11mm apart and are 4mm wide and deep. Both options come in tiles sized 17.7 inches by 118 inches. Especially designed for vertical cladding application, the ready-to-install fluted tiles are available in a matte finish and five existing Dekton colorways.
Trap-Tee symmetrical metal roofing system
by McElroy Metal
![Trap-Tee metal seam](/sites/default/files/inline-images/McElroyMetal_Trap-Tee_Seam2.jpg)
Best suited for rectangular metal buildings and tilt-up warehousing, the Trap-Tee symmetrical metal roofing system is a site-formed, mechanically seamed system that measures 2 3⁄4-inches tall. This system has been designed to resolve the three major shortcomings of trapezoidal standing seam roof systems. Site forming eliminates end laps vulnerable to leaking over time, while the oversized seam and special clips dramatically increase wind uplift capacity and the symmetrical design allows for easy repair or alteration after the roof is installed. It is available with a Sherwin-Williams PVDF Fluropon coating.
Qwel Designer Acoustic Wall Tiles
by Genesis Products
![Qwel Wall Tiles](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Qwel%20Wall%20Tiles%202.jpg)
With the introduction of Qwel Designer Acoustic Wall Tiles, designers now have a complete, complementary acoustic solution for walls and ceilings. The wall tiles can be mixed and matched to achieve unique designs using the offered rectangle, square, and hexagon shapes in sizes ranging from 4–24 inches. Made from 100% non-woven PET fibers and up to 50% recycled materials, the wall tiles naturally manage sound without chemical after-treatments and are 100% recyclable. The washable tiles are stain-, mold-, and mildew-resistant and feature a Class A rating for fire and smoke.
Combined lead and PFOA/PFOS filter
by Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
![Combined lead and PFOA PFOS filter](/sites/default/files/inline-images/item_00094902156439.jpg)
The 2,250-gallon WaterSentry 71300C filter reduces lead, PFOA, and PFOS within drinking water and can be integrated into Elkay bottle filling stations and faucets for schools, hospitals, airports, and other commercial and residential applications. Utilizing highly engineered activated carbon to absorb contaminants, the filter can reduce cysts, Class I particulates, and chlorine taste and odor from drinking water as well under NSF/ANSI 42 and 53. For ease of maintenance, the 71300C filter is equipped with a quick-disconnect, ¼-turn installation and an automatic inlet shut-off valve that closes when the filter is removed.
Caesarstone Time Collection
by Caesarstone
![Caesarstone Time Collection](/sites/default/files/inline-images/unnamed_2.jpg)
Caesarstone Mineral represents a new generation of surfaces created with advanced sustainable manufacturing and materials, and the Time Collection is the first to launch under the portfolio with three contemporary designs that draw inspiration from quartzite and marble. Providing versatile colors and patterns, 5113 Solenna, 5140 Dreamy Carrara, and 5310 Brillianza each bring together multiple design elements while making a statement. These premium low silica sustainable surfaces deliver the same durability, performance, and aesthetic as quartz while reducing the crystalline silica content of the surfacing material to less than 40 percent.
PAC-CLAD Board and Batten wall panel system
by Petersen, a Carlisle Company
![Board and Batten system](/sites/default/files/inline-images/e0c77a9a-a59c-6730-60ba-03c89993848e.jpg)
Expanding the creative options for designers and specifiers of exterior cladding systems, the PAC-CLAD Board and Batten wall panel system provides a classic design aesthetic for residential and commercial wall applications. The ¾-inch depth and 2-inch width of the batten create dimensional interest while keeping trim offsets to a minimum, and concealed fasteners maintain clean lines and a rhythmic pattern of alternating wide vertical boards and narrower elevated battens. Offered in 24-gauge steel and .032 aluminum, panel widths available include 12 and 16 inches, and maximum lengths are 30 feet for steel and 22 feet for aluminum. The system can only be installed vertically.
MetalWorks Immix Blades and Linear panels
by Armstrong Ceiling & Wall Solutions
![metalworks-immix-linear-sequels-student-center-rend-a](/sites/default/files/inline-images/metalworks-immix-linear-sequels-student-center-rend-a.jpg)
Part of the Armstrong Sustain portfolio, the MetalWorks Immix Linear panels and MetalWorks Immix Blades panels meet stringent industry sustainability compliance standards. The panelized torsion spring ceiling systems are also part of the Armstrong CleanAssure family of disinfectable products, and black acoustical infill panels hide the plenum in both lines for a noise reduction coefficient up to 0.95 as well as a clean, finished installation appearance. While both lines have a consistent ⅛-inch reveal end-to-end, the Immix Linear Blades panels feature a monolithic or open reveal linear look, and the Immix Blades panels achieve an open reveal linear look.
Green-Lock Plus Membrane Adhesive
by The Garland Company
![Green-Lock Plus Membrane Adhesive](/sites/default/files/inline-images/GreenLock%20Plus_Features%20and%20Benefits%20Slick-1.jpg)
The Green-Lock Plus Membrane Adhesive can now display a unique U.S. Department of Agriculture Certified Biobased Product Label that highlights its percentage of biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine or forestry feedstocks. Administered through the USDA BioPreferred Program, the label aims to draw attention to biobased products and their ability to help address climate change through various means. The membrane adhesive contains zero VOCs, low odor, fast curing and can help projects meet sustainability goals or local requirements.
VanAir ventilated door
by VanAir Design
![VanAir ventilated door](/sites/default/files/inline-images/74.%20VanAir%20Door_0.jpg)
When laundry closets in multifamily units are in less-than-ideal areas, like next to a kitchen or a living space, the door in front of it becomes an unsightly and noisy problem for occupants. This patented VanAir ventilated door features an integrated air channel that prevents air and sound from taking a straight path through the door. Instead, air and sound are channeled through a series of bends and absorptive material.
SAFTI Fence
by SAFTI FIRST
![SAFTI Fence by SAFTI First](/sites/default/files/inline-images/61.%20SAFTI%20FIRST%20SAFTI%20Fence%20B.jpg)
Designed for building applications in high-fire-risk areas—especially those with grand views like coastal and mountainous regions—this clear, fire-rated glass fence system offers a one-hour fire rating and is tested to a 400-pound impact. Compared with traditional metal, PVC, or wood fencing, SAFTI Fence offers added security, fire protection, sound control, and even animal control. The U.S.-made system is available with glass options: laminated, decorative, colored, satin etched, and bird/animal friendly patterns.
VertiStack Clear Door
by Clopay
![Clopay VertiStack Clear Door](/sites/default/files/inline-images/20.%20Clopay%20VertiStack%20Clear%20Door%20A_0.jpg)
The VertiStack Clear Door delivers a compact door with vertically stacking sections that take up minimal ceiling space or can be recessed and hidden from view entirely. Its streamlined aesthetic also extends to its engineering, with no hinges or exposed tracks and a smooth, quiet operation. While the door can help commercial environments embrace the natural environment when open, sunlight also filters in via the door’s panels, which are available in a range of options.
Inpro Bond Roll-On Adhesive
by Inpro
![Inpro Bond Roll-On Adhesive](/sites/default/files/inline-images/42.%20Inpro%20Inpro%20Bond%20Roll-On%20Adhesive_0.jpg)
Inpro Bond Roll-On Adhesive is the first ever roller-applied adhesive in the building materials industry for rigid sheet wall protection, says the maker. The adhesive has an increased coverage rate over mastic adhesives by nearly 50%, allows for repositioning, and is compatible with all industry standard primers. It features a light-blue drying color, so contractors can see where they are applying adhesive during installation for an even application.
RELATED:
Related Stories
| Aug 11, 2010
Pioneer Courthouse: Shaking up the court
In the days when three-quarters of America was a wild, lawless no-man's land, Pioneer Courthouse in Portland, Ore., stood out as a symbol of justice and national unity. The oldest surviving federal structure in the Pacific Northwest and the second-oldest courthouse west of the Mississippi, Pioneer Courthouse was designed in 1875 by Alfred Mullett, the Supervising Architect of the Treasury.
| Aug 11, 2010
Gold Award: Eisenhower Theater, Washington, D.C.
The Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., opened in 1971. By the turn of the century, after three-plus decades of heavy use, the 1,142-seat box-within-a-box playhouse on the Potomac was starting to show its age. Poor lighting and tired, worn finishes created a gloomy atmosphere.
| Aug 11, 2010
Giants 300 University Report
University construction spending is 13% higher than a year ago—mostly for residence halls and infrastructure on public campuses—and is expected to slip less than 5% over the next two years. However, the value of starts dropped about 10% in recent months and will not return to the 2007–08 peak for about two years.
| Aug 11, 2010
Great Solutions: Business Management
22. Commercial Properties Repositioned for University USE Tocci Building Companies is finding success in repositioning commercial properties for university use, and it expects the trend to continue. The firm's Capital Cove project in Providence, R.I., for instance, was originally designed by Elkus Manfredi (with design continued by HDS Architects) to be a mixed-use complex with private, market-...
| Aug 11, 2010
Seven tips for specifying and designing with insulated metal wall panels
Insulated metal panels, or IMPs, have been a popular exterior wall cladding choice for more than 30 years. These sandwich panels are composed of liquid insulating foam, such as polyurethane, injected between two aluminum or steel metal face panels to form a solid, monolithic unit. The result is a lightweight, highly insulated (R-14 to R-30, depending on the thickness of the panel) exterior clad...
| Aug 11, 2010
Nurturing the Community
The best seat in the house at the new Seahawks Stadium in Seattle isn't on the 50-yard line. It's in the southeast corner, at the very top of the upper bowl. "From there you have a corner-to-corner view of the field and an inspiring grasp of the surrounding city," says Kelly Kerns, project leader with architect/engineer Ellerbe Becket, Kansas City, Mo.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA Course: Historic Masonry — Restoration and Renovation
Historic restoration and preservation efforts are accelerating throughout the U.S., thanks in part to available tax credits, awards programs, and green building trends. While these projects entail many different building components and systems, façade restoration—as the public face of these older structures—is a key focus. Earn 1.0 AIA learning unit by taking this free course from Building Design+Construction.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA Course: Enclosure strategies for better buildings
Sustainability and energy efficiency depend not only on the overall design but also on the building's enclosure system. Whether it's via better air-infiltration control, thermal insulation, and moisture control, or more advanced strategies such as active façades with automated shading and venting or novel enclosure types such as double walls, Building Teams are delivering more efficient, better performing, and healthier building enclosures.
| Aug 11, 2010
Glass Wall Systems Open Up Closed Spaces
Sectioning off large open spaces without making everything feel closed off was the challenge faced by two very different projects—one an upscale food market in Napa Valley, the other a corporate office in Southern California. Movable glass wall systems proved to be the solution in both projects.
| Aug 11, 2010
AIA course: MEP Technologies For Eco-Effective Buildings
Sustainable building trends are gaining steam, even in the current economic downturn. More than five billion square feet of commercial space has either been certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program or is registered with LEED. It is projected that the green building market's dollar value could more than double by 2013, to as muc...