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
Education, advocacy, and metal building excellence
Metal building systems extend far beyond the basic, box-like structures that many architects may still associate with them. Today, they support complex designs, varied...
Bracing for the future
In metal building design, owners want to know the cost and delivery. Architects think about openings, elevations, space planning, and how the building will...
Champions Run
Recognizing the growing popularity of pickleball, Champions Run Golf Course in Omaha, Neb., developed a new year-round facility designed to provide an inviting environment...
From basic shelter to building blocks with infinite possibilities
When 13 metal building system manufacturers came together 70 years ago as the founding members of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA), they did...
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September 2026