What do architects value most in window and door specification?
- Expansive aesthetic choices
- Permitting approval
- Energy efficiency
- Accurate replication of historic detail
- Price range
- Delivery confidence
- Big glass window and door options
- Residential and commercial applications
- All the above
All the above is a good answer.
All the above from a single partner may be a better one.
Today, few architects have the time or inclination to deal with multiple manufacturers and reps as they sort through Division 08 selections. It’s an issue Scott Alden and Paul Hemingfield know well.
“With all that’s going on with building science today, specifying to meet window and door code and performance requirements is a big challenge,” observes Alden. “Yes, maintaining the creative vision ranks high. But code and energy performance targets are constant concerns.”
Alden and Hemingfield work for JELD-WEN, a leading building products manufacturer specializing in residential and commercial window and door systems. Alden is the company’s senior manager of architectural services; Hemingfield is the director of innovation for the $3.75 billion company.
They are in constant contact with architects nationwide, aware of the challenges many in the profession face. “I’m working on a building now where we started project discussions three and a half years ago,” says Alden, a 39-year industry veteran. “You can only imagine how pricing has changed over that time. Maintaining a price point that length of time without sacrificing performance or aesthetic intent is a challenge.”
What’s the best way to navigate compliance, budget, and design priorities? These building product experts advise architects to keep four factors in mind:
- Vast Product Portfolio. What’s the application—residential, commercial, mixed-use, or multifamily? What’s the style—minimalist, traditional, coastal, or historic?
“Work with a problem-solver who offers a deep bench of products, sizes, and styles with various performance and budget tiers,” recommends Alden. “A robust range of options is essential, especially as a hedge against costly change orders.”
- Continuous Innovation. Advances in building and material science constantly reset performance and aesthetic standards. Hemingfield cites the innovations his company has introduced as examples. “AuraLast JELD-WEN window and patio door components are warranted against rot, termites, and water damage for as long as the homeowner owns and lives in the home. VPI Windows reinvent what’s possible with vinyl windows in structures up to 25 stories. Karona interior louver doors transform design and increase airflow by up to 50%. Leading with ‘what’s next’ in this industry is an operating imperative.”
- Vertical Integration. Supply chains today remain fragile and subject to disruption. Hemingfield says to consider a product manufacturer that controls the end-to-end means of production. JELD-WEN, for example, owns and operates its own lumber mills, millwork centers, and manufacturing centers. This gives it greater control over the entire production process.
- Trusted Insight. An expansive product portfolio means little without a trusted advisor. “Everything must jibe; no detail is too small,” Alden says. “Should the exterior door be inswing or outswing? What’s the best way to replicate a historic window trim?” He notes that missing even a small specification detail upfront can lead to costly downstream corrections.
The relationship between a product advisor and an architect is more than transactional. It’s a covenant built on truth and prompt follow-up, says the architectural consultant.
“Team up with an experienced pro who goes above and beyond expectations to serve the best interests of your practice and the project.”
Learn more about how JELD-WEN helps simplify confident window and door system selection.
