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.

Esther Greenhouse, an aging in place specialist and environmental gerontologist at Cornell University, tells us why lever handles are winning as universal design gains ground.

Esther Greenhouse, certified aging in place specialist and environmental gerontologist, discusses how universal design may already be in place in our home.

MLuxe: Every year, there are a few must-see products. What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen so far?
Dahl: There are so many, but the Autoslide DIY-installed automatic sliding door-opener is definitely a cool product. The doggy door feature is the best. It senses the height of a pet and opens only far enough to let them in or out.

How have the needs of the average homeowner changed in the past few years?
We went from wanting the largest home on the block to taking more responsibility for the resources we consume and being more involved in the home building process.

For the rest of our interview with Timothy Dahl, click here.