There’s no time like the start of a new year to commit to greener and more sustainable design practices. For inspiration, RECORD asked some of the judges in our annual Best Products competition to share their firms’ goals for improving material choices and product sourcing... Read More

Using formerly worthless rice straw, CalPlant is pioneering an MDF manufacturing process that benefits agriculture and construction.

Architects and designers are revisiting this colorful alternative to MDF as greener, versatile, and more durable.

Hands-on demonstrations in authentic environments give designers a real sense of the company’s lighting capabilities.

Manufacturing technology is creating grime fighting for surfaces ranging from cladding to roofing to paints.

Gensler’s product-development team can cherry-pick manufacturers it wants to collaborate with. These companies, in turn, gain insight into what architects really need to source. Record interviewed Gensler’s director of product development Brandon Larcom about the program.

Architect Carol Ross Barney and Maximiliano Carmona, McDonald’s senior director of global design and development, share their insights on strategies that can be employed across retail.

More than a decade after Perkins and Will launched an index of harmful substances found in building materials, architects still need the database to shed light on the impact of a products’ ingredients. Read more.

Effective lighting schemes can enhance landmarks and skylines. To brush up on the trends defining cityscapes, RECORD interviewed Faith Baum, who merged her firm Illumination Arts with Horton Lees Brogdon (HLB), creating one of the largest woman-owned lighting design firms in North America. Read more.

Manufacturing is booming in Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas. But challenges lie ahead.