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ACMA to Host Composites Pavilion at AIA 2016

At the American Institute of Architects' (AIA) upcoming convention (May 19-21 in Philadelphia), the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) will host the third annual Composites Pavilion. The pavilion is a can't-miss opportunity for manufacturers, engineers and architects alike to stay on top of the latest product advancements and industry thinking in the field of architectural composites.

This year's Pavilion is the building and construction industry's first chance to pick up Guidelines and Recommended Practices for Fiber-Reinforced-Polymer (FRP) Architectural Products, published by ACMA. The guidelines are included in the most comprehensive document ever that provides guidelines and recommendations for the use of fiber reinforced polymer composites in architectural products.

"As the worlds of manufacturing and architecture continue overlapping, 2016 is the year composites will go big in architecture," said ACMA President Tom Dobbins. "Having codes and guidelines that govern the application of composites in architecture is not only a breakthrough, but a necessity."

The pavilion will also feature two new programs – Composites Central and the Composites Design Challenge. Composites Central is a series of short presentations by composites experts who will provide insights into FRP in architecture. Presenters include Ashland's Bob Moffit, LEED GA; Janicki Industries' Andy Bridge, Western Carolina University's Robert Steffen, Ph.D P.E., and Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Nicholas A. Dembsey, PhD. P.E., to name a few.

Toothpick bridges and balsa wood structures are a thing of the past – this year at the AIA convention, students will have the chance to participate in a design competition, The Composites Design Challenge, where they can showcase unique ways to use composite material in construction to develop new architectural components and assemblies. Winners for the challenge will be announced each day of the convention at 3 p.m. Come and see how composites is shaping the future of building and construction!

For more information on the Composites Pavilion, the presentations in Composites Central, and the architecture schools in the Composites Design Challenge visit http://www.compositespavilion.com, or contact John Busel at jbusel@acmanet.org.