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.

The new Ultimate Glider from Marvin Windows and Doors, already hailed as one of 2011’s best new building products, is now available in an all-wood version.

Marvin has re-invented the glider window with modern features and performance that breathe new life into this classic window. Previously available only in a clad aluminum exterior finish, the Wood Ultimate Glider now offers homeowners the beauty, warmth and performance of natural wood inside and out.

Marvin designed this versatile unit for elegance, durability and smooth operation. With its clean lines and recessed hardware, the Wood Ultimate Glider is sure to become a favorite of homeowners and builders alike.

The Clad Ultimate Glider, introduced earlier this year, was recently named one of the 101 Best New Products of 2011 by the editors of Professional Builder and Professional Remodeler magazines.

“Marvin reintroduced round tops to the homebuilding industry. Now we’ve reinvented another favorite,” said David Hipke, product planner for Marvin Windows and Doors. “This window is packed with features that add value. But perhaps its best features are its clean, elegant design and absolute ease of operation.”

The Wood Ultimate Glider features:

• One hand operation
• Patent pending handle and lock system
• Auto locking
• Low handle placement for ease of use – no reaching up
• Exterior of sustainably harvested pine
• Interior available in seven wood species: Pine, Douglas Fir, Cedro Macho, Mahogany, White Oak, Cherry, Vertical Grain Douglas Fir
• Interior also available in Factory Painted White Finish or Primed Wood
• Integrated weep system for drainage
• Several operating configurations

The Wood Ultimate Glider is the perfect choice for a host of building applications, including:

• Kitchen sink areas
• Decks and walkways
• Close lot lines
• Knee walls and lower levels
• Condominiums
• Multi-family units
• Assisted living

The Wood Ultimate Glider features a patent pending sash removal system built for easy operation. Plus, it can be seamlessly mixed and matched with other Marvin windows, such as the Ultimate Casement.

The Wood Ultimate Glider will give homeowners and builders a new reason to take a fresh look at gliders.

Well, the episode of “Cool Tools” for which that segment was shot aired this weekend on the DIY Network, and they’ve posted the clip online, as well.

We’ve long been a fan of architect Sarah Susanka and her “Not So Big House” philosophy. And it seems we keep seeing more evidence that a significant number of American homeowners are more interested in craftsmanship, quality and fine design than they are in raw square footage.

Affluent, mature homeowners especially fit this profile. The more money older homeowners have, the less they demand maximum square footage. Among Americans age 45 and up planning to spend $400,000 or more on a home, only 28 percent say they want as much space as their money will buy. By contrast, 46 percent of those planning to spend less than $150,000 say they want maximum square footage for the money.

That information comes from Margaret A. Wylde’s useful and insightful book, “Right House, Right Place, Right Time,” which looks at trends in the over-45 housing market.

It’s just one more indication that many affluent, mature Americans are interested in quality design and features, not just raw space.

Marvin can help architects, builders and remodelers meet the needs of these premium customers with beautiful, innovative products like our Ultimate Casement, Ultimate Sliding French Door and Ultimate French Casement. We offer more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed the federal government’s stringent ENERGY STAR standards.

Come visit us at Booth 1453 at the AIA Convention in New Orleans to see all the latest products that will help you give your clients the home of their dreams.

Marvin's innovative Ultimate Replacement Casement

Remodeling has been a bright spot in the homebuilding and design industry, and a recent report by the Harvard Center for Joint Housing Studies suggests that the long-term trend will continue to be favorable.

Several factors are converging to produce the positive outlook. First, as Baby Boomers age, the turnover of their homes will generate remodeling activity. About three-quarters of home sales by people over 55 are made to people under 55. The homes of older sellers are generally older and generate immediate and significant spending on renovation.

A younger person buying from an older seller can be expected to spend about $5,000 annually on renovation, the report concludes. In addition, the median age of the existing U.S. housing stock grew from 29 years in 1997 to 32 years in 2007 — also indicating that future renovation and remodeling are more likely. Energy efficiency is always a concern, and Marvin meets it with more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed the federal government’s stringent ENERGY STAR standards.

These and other factors cited in the report suggest that the long-term prospects for the remodeling market are favorable for architects and others in the building industry.

Marvin is ready with innovative products like the Ultimate Replacement Casement, the Ultimate Glider and the Ultimate Lift and Slide. Come visit us at Booth 1453 at the AIA Convention in New Orleans to see all the latest products that will help you give your remodeling clients the home of their dreams.

Bring your window and door design challenges to Marvin for custom capabilities, one-on-one architectural consulting and unique solutions that meet your project specifications beautifully. We thrive on great ideas, unusual challenges, even projects that seem impossible to other manufacturers. Creating your exact vision is our specialty.

Come visit Marvin (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.

Modative Architecture

There’s a great item by Nancy Egan in the latest issue of Residential Architect magazine with some thoughts on where the residential housing market is going. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a link to an online version. But it’s worth recapping briefly.

A key issue for architects to consider is the pig in our demographic python. No, not the Baby Boomers. They’ve gotten so much attention over the decades that most people don’t realize that Gen Y (currently aged 18 to 30) is an even larger group than the Boomers.

Those 80 million Gen Y’ers are economically challenged, with high debt loads, poor employment prospects and a general malaise about the economic circumstances of their young adulthood. But Gen Y hasn’t abandoned the dream of home ownership, according to research by the ULI.

What they do want is a different kind of home: smaller, affordable, energy-efficient. Modative Architecture in Los Angeles has shown one approach with its small-lot subdivision homes, calling them “starter homes for Gen Y.”

Marvin supports this kind of new thinking with innovative, efficient products like the Ultimate Casement Window, the Tripane with Krypton and the Ultimate Glider. We have more than 150,000 product options that meet or exceed stringent federal ENERGY STAR standards.

Kayleen McCabe, star of DIY Network's "Rescue Renovation," and John Kirchner of Marvin take a break during filming.

We had some serious star power in the Marvin booth Friday, as Kayleen McCabe and her crew from High Noon Entertainment stopped by.

Kayleen, the star of DIY Network’s “Rescue Renovation,” filmed a segment on the Clad Ultimate Glider for a DIY special on IBS 2011, set to air in June.

A licensed contractor, Kayleen showed a lot of enthusiasm for the sleek design, easy operation and innovative engineering of the new glider. She really “got” how this window performs. It’s worth noting that this stylish window is also energy efficient, with many options meeting or exceeding federal ENERGY STAR standards.

And we can say in all sincerity: she’s every bit as likeable in person as she is on TV. Thanks, Kayleen and crew — hope to see you again next year!

WARROAD, Minn., January 13, 2011 – Marvin Windows and Doors is proud to introduce an innovative option for energy efficient windows: Tripane with Krypton*. Using proven tripane construction along with the superior insulating properties of Krypton gas, Marvin’s new window option performs to our highest standards ever.

“This remarkable window is an example of taking something that was already great and making it better,” said Seth Stohs, Regulatory Product Planner for Marvin Windows and Doors.

Marvin has more than 800 glazing options certified by the National Fenestration Research Council (NFRC) as performing to a U-factor of 0.20 or lower. The U-factor measures heat loss through a window; the lower the number, the better. Many of Marvin’s windows feature a U-factor that’s at least 33% or stronger than the federal government’s stringent ENERGY STAR standard.

“We’ve taken ENERGY STAR standards and exceeded them by far,” Stohs said.

Tripane with Krypton is available on Marvin’s most popular window lines, including:

• The Ultimate Casement Collection, including operating and picture Push Out Casements, Venting Picture Windows and French Casements
• The Ultimate Awning, including operating and picture Push Out Awnings
• The Ultimate Double Hung
• The Ultimate Double Hung Magnum
• The Clad Ultimate Insert Double Hung

Tripane with Krypton is available with a range of low-emissivity coatings suited to specific climate zones. It is ENERGY STAR rated and certified by the NFRC.

Tripane with Krypton is designed for passive building and meets many energy and regulatory standards and codes.

* Tripane with Krypton” refers to a blend of Krypton (primary gas), Argon and Air.  NFRC ratings are based on specifications, as shown in the NFRC database as AR3/Air, which are used to describe multiple gas content designs. The searchable NFRC Certified Products Directory database is available at http://search.nfrc.org/search/searchDefault.aspx.

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.