CT: Is LEED coming into play at all?
IB: We’re wary of the danger of the term “sustainability” because it sounds cliché, but the truth is, it’s affecting the design of curtain walls. There is no choice but to consider the impact of the energy a building uses. Right now, energy efficiency standards for curtain walls are not consistent, but I expect this will change in the near future.

Already, we’re seeing suppliers develop systems to better improve thermal performance on curtain walls.

MW: More of our clients, particularly developers, are self-imposing strict criteria for environmentally sound projects, even when it’s not required. Many are demanding LEED certifications – they’re going for gold and platinum ratings because they want that distinction. In fact, we were involved in the first and largest office building in New York City to receive LEED Gold certification: 7 World Trade Center.

CT: Can go you into some more detail about the types of relationships you foster with clients?
MW: A large majority of our work –  more than 70 or 80 percent – comes from repeat clients. We’ve built a lot of relationships over the years, many dating back to the ’80s. We’re consultants to the developers and owners, helping them identify the best sources for materials and secure the best contractors. Part of our strategy is to remain independent, so we decline direct work from our vendors. We want the client and the contractor to view us as impartial – making recommendations in the best interest of the project. On a high-rise building, the curtain wall alone is measured in the tens of millions with several projects having enclosure systems valued at greater than $100 million, so that impartiality is important.

CT: What have been some of the most notable projects you’ve worked on?
IB: We were involved in the IAC/InterActiveCorp. headquarters in New York, which was designed by architect Frank Gehry. It’s newly built, occupied now, and just a magnificent building. The nine-story tower has a sculpted glass façade, which is really unique and extremely challenging to develop. There was nothing straight on the exterior wall, so the façade was constructed with cold-bent glass sheets to conform to the curved shape of the building. The team did a marvelous job designing it.

MW: In addition to 7 WTC, we are active on the World Trade Center redevelopment; we are working with the Port Authority on the Freedom Tower. The curtain wall is in the testing phase now, and construction will begin next year. We are also working with Silverstein Properties on Towers 2, 3 and 4.

IB: We take pride that we’ve worked with some of the most world-renowned architects – Frank Gehry, Lord Norman Foster and Jean Nouvel, a French architect who worked with us on the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

CT: What’s in the works?
MW: In addition to our New York office, we have satellite offices in Las Vegas and Miami, and one forming in South America.

IB: South America is interesting because several economies are booming – Brazil, Chile, Argentina, for example. We were brought into these markets because of our reputation. We’ve been selective about our expansion and where we set up satellite offices. Expansion is part of our long-term plan, but we aim to grow through referrals and our connections.

MW: In the third quarter of 2006, we partnered with Keystone Capital, an investment firm in Chicago. We began to think about corporate sustainability and what should come next for us. With Keystone, we have gained the financial strength and corporate sophistication to continue our growth organically. Now, we’re at a point where we can consider acquisitions or other strategic alliances.

Many firms we work with are becoming international powerhouses, and we need to adapt as well in order to remain competitive and preserve our intimate involvement with our clients. With Keystone, we can think in broader terms and set our sights on opportunistic growth.