Cooper B-Line, Highland, Ill., has sponsored a student-led team from the University of Arizona in the 2009 Solar Decathlon. The sponsorship includes a donation of over 1,500 square feet (139 m2) of Cooper B-Line Traction Tread plank grating and carries a retail value of more than $10,000. The Solar Decathlon competition showcases the work of 20 international teams that design, build and operate an 800-square-foot (74-m2) solar-powered home. The students’ work will be on display Oct. 9-18, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. More than 200,000 people are expected to tour the environmentally friendly homes.
Solar-powered homes in Solar Decathlon
This Month’s Features
Bringing Design Synergy Home
with Vertically Stacking Doors
with Vertically Stacking Doors
Offering striking aesthetics and practical considerations for space, these aluminum and glass artworks are anything but standard garage doors.
Top 5 Factors when Considering Insulated Metal Panels vs. Metal Building Insulation
As insulated metal panels are widely available, is it still a best practice to rely on a “legacy” insulating material like fiberglass-based metal building...
Transformative Metal Roofing Design:
A Catalyst for Architectural Innovation
A Catalyst for Architectural Innovation
For architects, designers, and building owners, metal roofing no longer represents a tradeoff between performance and aesthetics; it has become a catalyst for design...
Thinking Beyond “Bigger is Better”:
Snow Retention in Alpine Design
Snow Retention in Alpine Design
Snow retention systems are among the most visible functional components of a metal roof, making aesthetic integration an important consideration in resort architecture.
Read the latest issue
May 2026
Sponsored By
