Marvin’s Industry-Leading Door Offers More Flexibility Across a Wide Range of Applications

Warroad, Minn. – The industry-leading Ultimate Lift and Slide Door from Marvin Windows and Doors now offers a Performance Sill option that greatly expands the range of applications for this high-end door.

Unlike a traditional recessed sill, which must be embedded in concrete, the Performance Sill option can be installed using a wood subfloor. This new option makes the Ultimate Lift and Slide more adaptable to a range of applications, such as second-floor installations.

“We’re pleased to offer this new option to builders, remodelers, architects and homeowners,” said Christine Marvin, director of marketing for Marvin Windows and Doors. “It will make this outstanding door all even more versatile.”

Features and benefits of the Performance Sill option include:

Mostly constructed of extruded aluminum

• Delivers the structural stability required for large door systems
• Unlike other sills of this type, this sill incorporates thermal breaks — both transverse and longitudinal — to assure thermal performance in even cold climates

Offers greater flexibility of use in diverse applications

• Interior floor surfaces can come flush to the top of the sill: When used with more traditional sliding door applications, the finished floor surface can fall anywhere along the interior of the sill
• A superior sill for wood construction since concrete fill is not required
• Works great with second floor applications
• More friendly transition from interior spaces to exterior decks
• Sill finished in either clear anodized or bronze anodized with stainless steel roller
• tracks

Unlike recessed sills, the Performance Sill offers adjustability throughout the life of the door

Can achieve a DP rating of 30 in select clad configurations and sizes

Marvin's Ultimate Glider is a great example of universal design.

We’ve long embraced the principles of universal design. And with America’s population aging and multi-generational families in a household becoming more common, those principles are getting a lot more attention within the building industry. That’s why we were pleased to be selected for inclusion in the Universal Design Tour at IBS 2012, planned and sponsored by the 50+ Housing Council’s Universal Design Committee.

Esther Greenhouse

“Universal design is inclusive,” said Esther Greenhouse, a committee member and one of America’s leading environmental gerontologists. “Universal products offer superior functionality, benefit a broad audience and have broad market appeal.”

In other words, the successful universal design product not only operates easily and performs well, it looks good and appeals to everyone. Many so-called “accessible design” products are narrowly tailored to appeal to the specific needs of a certain individual, Greenhouse pointed out — “and usually lack the advantage of being attractive.”

Marvin offers a wide range of universally designed products, including:

The Ultimate Glider: A complete re-engineering of a classic design, our Ultimate Glider features a low handle, one-hand operation and automatic locking.

The Low Profile, High Performance Sill: Made of durable Ultrex fiberglass, this sill has a low rise (less than 3/4″), making use with walkers and wheelchairs easier.

The Ultimate Casement: This revolutionary window swivels 140 degrees to let you wash the outside of the window from inside the house. No more ladders — which send 20,000 Americans to the emergency room every year!

Visit us at Booth W2339 and see our great products — which also happen to be great examples of universal design.

Greenhouse stopped by the Marvin booth for a quick chat about common misconceptions about universal design:

In the coming days, we’ll be telling you about new Marvin products and also about other interesting items we spot at the show. We’ve also got a special report in store: we’ll be attending Friday’s speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and giving you an early account of his remarks. It’s sure to be a newsworthy event.

Visit us at Booth W2339. And check back here throughout the week for regular updates.

Green building, universal design, remodeling — it’s all on the table at this year’s PCBC. We’re excited to hear big ideas, see the latest innovations and get an understanding of what some of the industry’s brightest minds are thinking.

If you’re interested but unable to attend PCBC 2011, we recommend following the Twitter accounts below for news and observations. (If you’re attending and you’d like to be added to our list, please use the comment section to share your Twitter account. We’ll add you!)

@PCBC_TheShow
@WestCoastGreen
@guykawasaki
@david_arkin
@brianjback
@designECOLOGY
@annedminster
@ericcoreyfreed
@urbangreensf
@hlovins
@jason_warnock
@BuilderLink
@greenbuildermag
@rbiv
@syaussi
@maryvincent
@boyce_thompson
@mikelyon
@sustainablemag
@npann
@mariaswanson
@searsjeffery
@EldoradoStone

The official Twitter hashtag is #pcbc2011.

And, of course, you can follow us at @MarvinWindows.

He shares an example from another of the discussion’s panels, Steven Tourek, senior vice president and general counsel at Marvin Windows and Doors:

For example, one of our panelists, Steve Tourek of Marvin Windows, talked about decisions the company had to make when the economy went south. His company’s leaders considered what would happen if they laid off a lot of employees. They’d have difficulty paying their mortgages. Mass layoffs in towns where their plants were located would also affect schools, stores, and other businesses. The well-being of the entire community would be harmed.

So the company decided not to lay off any employees. Instead, executives took reductions in salaries and benefits. Shareholders also took less, and so did the workers. As a result, they kept the company, they kept their customers, and they kept their communities whole.

Read Colson’s full article, and read more about Marvin Windows’ “no layoffs” approach here.

Marvin and Integrity at AIA

The AIA Convention begins today, May 12, in New Orleans. This is an exciting trade show and a chance for architects and design professionals to discover new products and ideas.

Running through May 14, AIA 2011 promises to be full of information and education. According to AIA, the Exposition “introduces you to more than 800 exhibitors to discover new products, technologies, and services—professional resources that you can implement in your practice or project.

Marvin will be there (along with Integrity Windows and Doors). Stop by booth 1453 to see great products like the Ultimate Glider with the new White Painted Interior Finish and the ever-amazing Ultimate Lift and Slide. And don’t forget that we offer more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed the stringent federal ENERGY STAR standards.

And the learning doesn’t stop there! The Conference has “200+ planned program offerings, including pre-convention workshops, theme presentations, continuing education learning units (CEUs) and expo education—all specifically designed to be convenient, plentiful, and well rounded. The diversity of offerings, from business planning to marketing and business development, from zero net energy design to building codes, allows you to enhance your knowledge of design, practice management, and career development.

Extending the learning opportunities beyond the convention center, AIA New Orleans will host a variety educational tours that explore the soulful flavor of the city’s architecture—from historic and modern, to recently restored. In just four days, and in a single location, you can earn all of the CEUs you need for 2011.”

If you can’t make it to the show, follow Marvin Windows for details about our new products, cool things we’re finding at the show and relevant 2011 trends.

Susan Marvin

Susan Marvin, president of Marvin Windows and Doors, received Bemidji State University’s 2011 Distinguished Minnesotan Award during commencement ceremonies today.

First presented by Bemidji State in 1981, the Distinguished Minnesotan Award acknowledges the contributions of current or former residents of the state who have performed exemplary service to the people of Minnesota or the United States. Susan Marvin’s father, the late William S. Marvin, received the honor in 1990. Other awardees include transplant surgeon Dr. John Najarian; polar explorer Ann Bancroft; and television journalist Don Shelby.

“Susan Marvin is a stellar example of what the Distinguished Minnesotan Award is all about,” said Richard A. Hanson, president of Bemidji State University. “A product of northern Minnesota, she has remained firmly rooted in her commitment to the area while generously sharing her leadership talents with state and national organizations.

“She is a superb role model for our students, leading by example and proving once again that hard work and commitment to community are keys to success,” Hanson said.

As president of Marvin Windows and Doors, Marvin oversees the window and door business of the Marvin Companies including the Marvin, Integrity and Infinity brands. Marvin serves on the boards of directors for Hormel Foods Corp., Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., the University of Minnesota Foundation Board of Trustees and the St. Thomas College of Business Advisory Board of Governors. She is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization and Women Corporate Directors.

“I’m deeply honored to receive this award,” Marvin said. “This recognition reflects the accomplishments of a larger community — the amazing group of talented people whose goal is to lead an industry and have succeeded in doing so. So that’s why I am accepting this honor on behalf of my family and our community. The values I have lived by, the accomplishments, the success … they’re not mine alone. I am proud to share them with a long line of people who showed me that success is not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end. It is what allows us to make lives better for others.

“I’m especially proud to be recognized by a respected institution of higher education,” Marvin said. “Both my parents believed fervently that education, coupled with hard work, is the key to success in life. I’m confident that this year’s graduates will once again demonstrate the truth of that belief.”

Marvin has been an active member of various industry associations including the Window and Door Manufacturers Association and the National Council of the Housing Industry. She was a member of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and in 1995 served as board chair. In 1995, Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson honored Marvin for her contributions to Minnesota business.

Marvin is a 1979 graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she earned an undergraduate degree in journalism. She lives in Warroad and Minneapolis with her husband, Keith Schwartzwald.

Here’s what we did during IBS:

Marvin reported on some big trends in the construction industry, like these six upcoming home design and building trends for 2011 (with videos!) and a look at the latest in energy efficiency on Green Day, including our continued support of the ENERGY STAR program.

Marvin unveiled an array of new and improved products — a beautifully updated glider window, our most energy-efficient window to date, more options for our grilles-between-the-glass windows, and a host of improvements to the Ultimate Inswing French Door.

Marvin showcased other cool products from the Builders’ Show, like this outdoor space heater, a toilet with self-closing lid, and a power station for charging electric cars.

Marvin interviewed a bunch of smart folks, including home improvement blogger Timothy Dahl, universal design pro Esther Greenhouse, and building supplier Mark Pollari.

Here are all of our videos from IBS2011:

Those are some of our favorite highlights from IBS2011. What were some of your favorites from the show?

Ultimate Inswing French Doors

How many improvements has Marvin Windows and Doors made to its Ultimate Inswing French Door?

How much time have you got?

With both homeowner and builder in mind, Marvin is rolling out a host of changes to this popular door that will add to its performance, beauty and ease of installation.

For the homeowner:

• Design options include raised or flat panels, a full line of architectural hardware choices and multiple sizes and configurations
• The profile gives a more traditional aesthetic
• The redesigned all-Ultrex® sill can stand up to years of tough use
• An available sill liner in oak, mahogany or cherry adds a finishing touch to the interior sill surface
• Optional exterior mahogany sill cover offers a true wood sill appearance
• Ultimate Inswing French Door Transoms have been redesigned to perfectly complement the new Ultimate Inswing French Door platform

For the builder:

• The redesigned all-Ultrex sill comes in true depths of 4 9/16” or 6 9/16″
• The sill incorporates a robust weep system and an integral installation flange allowing for anchor points across the length of the sill
• Redesigned sill needs no added support at the nosing
• Field or factory-applied jamb extensions are available
• Wood version accepts traditional brick mould and flat casing components
• Easy installation for stationary panels, since exterior parting stops are removed for jamb fastening

“We’ve made this great door more robust and more stylish,” said Jeff Siverhus, Senior Product Planner for Marvin Windows and Doors. “Builders will appreciate the ease of installation, while homeowners will enjoy beautiful performance for years to come.”

ABOUT MARVIN WINDOWS AND DOORS
Marvin Windows and Doors brings its Built around you®. philosophy to life with every customer and every solution. A premier manufacturer of made-to-order wood and clad wood windows and doors, Marvin offers the industry’s most extensive selection of shapes, styles, sizes and options to fit the diverse needs of builders and match the personalities of homeowners.

Marvin’s tradition of delivering the finest craftsmanship in windows and doors began in Warroad, Minn., a small town just six miles from the Canadian border, where the privately-held, family-owned and operated company is still headquartered today. Learn more at www.marvin.com.