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The Game Changer – How SEO Has Turned Digital Marketing Upside-Down and How It Can Change the Game for Your Business

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[Photo Credit: www.newmediacampaigns.com] 
As marketing and branding ever-increasingly focuses on online techniques, search engine optimization (SEO), has taken its place as king of the digital platform. From businesses run by a handful of people, to the largest, multi-national and global corporations, everyone wants to crack the SEO code. When executed with intention and precision, SEO best practices can change the trajectory of a company’s success in a way that will provide far-reaching benefits and results.

We recently discovered “The Periodic Table of SEO Success Factors,” a chart designed by Search Engine Land, to help marketers and business owners decipher the SEO code and streamline their digital efforts. After studying and analyzing this incredibly helpful chart, our team has highlighted the nine important areas of SEO focus that can take a company’s digital marketing efforts to the next level.

[Photo Credit: Search Engine Land]

First, a company needs to recognize there are two main categories of SEO factors, on-the-page factors and off-the-page-factors. We begin by pinpointing the four most significant on-the-page factors, elements that marketers and businesses can directly affect:

Quality – Is your web copy of the highest caliber? Are company pages well-written? Is your social media communication precise and attention-grabbing?

Research – Do you understand the keywords that searchers may use to locate your company/product/service?

Titles – Have you made sure that your HTML title tags are utilizing your industry’s keywords?

Crawl – Can search engines effectively and easily “crawl” your site? Are there layers to your site that may pose as a blockade for search engines?

After a company has refined these four significant on-the-page-factors, it is time to move to a parallel component of SEO effectiveness and deal with the five most heavily weighted off-the-page factors, or elements influenced by outside sources:

Quality – Are the links on your website and social media from respected and valuable sources?

Authority – Do links, shares and other media contribute to your company’s reputation as a trustworthy source and industry authority?

Country – In what country is a viewer of your digital media located?

Locality – In which city or local area is a viewer of your digital media located?

History – Has a visitor regularly been to your site or digitally favored your media?

Our team is confident that a company’s accessibility and marketing route will experience dynamic change if these SEO fundamentals are executed with care and accuracy. The dominant presence of digital marketing in today’s branding culture demands the consideration of businesses, as we see every industry and sector experiencing the eminent take-over of tech-savvy companies.

Those corporations who have embraced the benefits and connectivity available by means of SEO are continually pushing to create formulas that will funnel greater and greater numbers of consumers through their websites and social media. In response, companies are creating search engines that are even more sensitive and complex. The latest digital search masterpiece to leave marketers reeling is Google’s algorithm, Hummingbird.

Hummingbird is an algorithm that has been designed to focus on the meaning and intent of a search, rather than the individual terms found within the search. This technology adds a completely new dimension to digital search capabilities and creates a whole new level of significance for SEO. For example, if a user searched “best ways to brand your company,” rather than searching for “best,” “ways,” “brand,” and “company,” Hummingbird would gather web hits that include subject matter about how to begin branding a company, then potentially top companies with the best branding. The algorithm might then discover different ways to brand a company in your industry and present you with photos of branding in similar fields; the list goes on and on.

A development like Hummingbird has the potential to leave companies who are lacking SEO strategy far behind those who understand SEO best practices and embrace this new building block of the marketing mix. However, the Eberly & Collard Public Relations team believes that all businesses and companies are capable of grasping the basics of SEO. Following the nine, top-ranked SEO factors of success, we feel that businesses, no matter the size or resources available to them, can execute effective digital marketing strategy. When this is done well, SEO can truly be a game-changer for your business.

To learn more about Search Engine Land’s ‘The Periodic Table of SEO Success Factors’ chart, click this link: http://ow.ly/pqwgZ 

To read more on Google’s new Hummingbird algorithm, check out this Forbes article: http://ow.ly/pq9UA.

Hospitality Bathrooms Go Green In 2013

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When travelers look for lodging while on a trip, they want their room to be a retreat for relaxation. Some consumers prefer a country-style bed and breakfast while others gravitate towards contemporary designs. One feature that not many will argue about is green sustainability.

Hotels are embracing eco-friendly products to decrease impact on the earth and reduce operation bills, while maintaining comfortable luxury for guests. How are they doing this? By targeting the space where the most waste takes place – the bathroom. Below, we highlight five sustainable products that have caught our attention for hotel and resort bathroom spaces.

The Organic 2 Handle Single-Hole Faucet

Starck Organic 2 Handle
Single-Hole Faucet

Designed by Philippe Starck, this faucet contains a third less brass than traditional fixtures. The handle at the top controls water temperature with an adjustable temperature restriction, and the distinctive rotating spout controls volume, creating an easier method of controlling water flow.

The Versacork Series

Sustainable Flooring Versacork Premium™

The Sustainable Flooring Company strives to provide flooring, wall, and millwork options of high quality, while maintaining its personal commitment to not adversely impact the environment for company benefit. All of the company’s products are made from reclaimed or recycled wood, bamboo or cork. In addition, various combinations of the three materials can be used to create the best possible match for clients’ needs. The Versacork Premium™ series is a suitable application for showers, pool surrounds, back splashes, and bar tops, while offering remarkable slip-resistance when wet or dry. It is soft to the touch and absorbs body heat for a warm floor.

Vetrazzo® Recycled Glass Countertops

Vetrazzo® Countertop in ‘Chivalry Blue’

The variety of color options Vetrazzo® provides is simply astounding. The countertops are comprised of 100% recycled glass, including architectural or art glass, beer bottles and jars. The end result creates a unique look and feel for the hotel’s style. Once a Vetrazzo® countertop is installed, it truly becomes a functional work of art within the bathroom.

Algiers Vanity Light

AFX Algiers Vanity Light

AFX has re-innovated the decorative light fixture category by using the latest LED technology with fluorescent lamping, modern ballasts and top-quality design engineering. The versatile Algiers Vanity features a contemporary design with metal end covers and satin nickel finish. Moreover, it can be mounted vertically or horizontally to the wall or ceiling.

American Standard Tropic Showerhead

American Standard Tropic Showerhead

Hotels, resorts, and other businesses or facilities can potentially save thousands of dollars annually by making an investment in low-flow bathroom appliances. As an example, New York’s LaGuardia Airport saved over $160,000 in one year, after spending $90,000 to convert its restrooms. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a full list of products that adhere to the WaterSense® conservation standards. One manufacturer leading the effort is American Standard. The company has a number of products listed, including the Tropic showerhead. Tropic uses 1.5 gallons per minute, compared to the standard flow of 2.2 gallons per minute, without sacrificing performance.

Each of these companies has various eco-friendly products that will fit into any style of bathroom. Joining the sustainable hospitality industry is not only a profitable economic decision, but also a wise environmental decision.

The New Business of Agribusiness, Part II: Skylight Farm on Tending the Land and Community

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[Photo Credit: Justen Clay Photography]
Last week, friends and followers of Eberly & Collard Public Relations were introduced to Justin Aiello and Skylight Farm. Our team was given the opportunity to share Skylight Farm’s integrative and relational marketing methodology, which has propelled Aiello into the spotlight as an innovative, new face for organic agribusiness. This week, our team is excited to delve more deeply into the in’s-and-out’s of organic growing and how Skylight Farm’s unique practices affect the Georgia growing community.

Why farm? Justin Aiello, the young owner and operator of Skylight Farm, could provide a long list of reasons why he chose to quit his previous job and pursue farming, but they all point to caring for the land and his community. The 27-year-old farmer, motivated by a desire to contribute to the local, sustainable food-culture in Atlanta, has spent the past year learning and researching the effects of farming on the local environment. His comprehensive study of biointensive growing methods, as well as the opportunity to be schooled in southern growing culture by seasoned veterans, has provided the farmer with a unique outlook on agribusiness. Skylight Farm is a blending of old methods and new practices with an innovative and fresh outlook on agribusiness.

[Photo Credit: Justen Clay Photography]

Aiello’s growing methods range from those that have been passed down through generations of Georgia farmers, to the employment of the most modern agricultural technology. Everything done on the farm is put to practice with great care and sustainability in mind. Skylight Farm employs a number of different growing methods that enable Aiello to produce as much as possible, while caring for the land in the best way possible. 


From SPIN, or small plot intensive farming, to conservation tillage methods, Aiello’s approach to growing is both pioneering and conscientious. Skylight Farm does intensive crop rotations and cover cropping, to keep the soil nutrient-rich as well as helping to prevent pest and disease problems. The farm also composts, harnesses integrative pest management practices and as Aiello emphasizes, makes use of “good, old-fashioned hard work.” 

[Photo Credit: Justen Clay Photography]

Since Skylight Farm sits on only a few acres, the farmer has embraced one growing method in particular, SPIN farming. Aiello explains, “SPIN farming allows you to grow very productively on a small space, only a few acres. In order to achieve the highest variety and most production out of a small space, you must plant smaller sections of crops and plant more often.” This means that a field could produce as many as 15 different crops at any given time. So, Skylight Farm plants row-by-row, alternating the rows in which different crops will be grown. Aiello illustrates that a 100 foot row of carrots might be completely harvested over the course of two weeks, so he plants a new bed of carrots, in a different place, every two weeks. He elaborates on the benefits of this method, sharing that, “SPIN farming allows us to have a steady supply of vegetables while maintaining a high variety in our crop rotation as well as making sure we don’t over-use the soil with just one crop.” The farm currently serves as a model for this method of farming and Aiello hopes to educate future growers on the environmental benefits to be found in this approach to production.

With education and preservation in mind, Skylight Farm utilizes integrative marketing to develop relationship with its local community in the hopes of sharing its engaging and unique approach to agribusiness. Those who interact with the farm, whether it’s digitally or at the Piedmont Park Green Market, learn something new about farming with each interaction. When Aiello shares photos documenting the step-by-step process of growing kale or posts an article about food seasonality, Skylight Farm bridges a gap in the connection between producers and community. Each time a customer asks Aiello about his business at the farmers market and he shares tidbits about organic farming, the purpose of Skylight Farm comes full circle. 

[Photo Credit: Justen Clay Photography]

As ECPR seeks to connect consumers with what they are consuming, our team gets excited about sharing innovative businesses, like Skylight Farm, who are creating fresh connections. In tending the land, Justin Aiello and Skylight Farm are investing in the health of Atlanta. As Aiello emphasizes, “Building relationships with a farm is not only a way to support your local economy, but also a way to support sustainable, healthy living. Know your farmer, know your food.”

To get to know Skylight Farm, click the link to visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/skylightfarmGA

You can also visit with Justin and the rest of the Skylight Farm team or pick up some veggies at the Piedmont Park Green Market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click the link for more information: http://ow.ly/oHSDM 


[Photo Credit: Brittany Price]

ECPR is Chicago-bound for the Casual Market!

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It’s that good time of year again… Three members of our ECPR team, Jeff Collard, Don Eberly and Dominique de Bruin, are gearing up for the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market 2013, Sept. 17-20, 2013, in Chicago, Ill. The rest of us will be back in our Atlanta office next week participating in the show through social media!

We have been working with the Casual Market for several years, and this is our second year as the official public relations firm for the show. With 45 permanent showrooms and nearly two hundred temporary exhibitors, we have been working diligently to provide public / media relations and social media services to the Casual Market management team and its exhibitors and showrooms. We are looking forward to attending and assisting with the market next week.

Leading up to the show, our team has creatively and strategically conducted targeted marketing campaigns directed toward trade media professionals in the casual industry. This includes conceptualizing press release campaigns to raise show awareness; writing byline product trends articles for key trade publications to provide retailers, dealers and designers with the tools they may need for stocking 2014 store inventory; and distributing educational insight to consumer media outlets to keep homeowners abreast of new and evolving trends and products in the casual industry. Each of the aforementioned campaigns was designed to not only enhance the Casual Market’s presence among the trade, but also to provide additional brand recognition for exhibitors and showrooms alike. 
As the official public relations firm and media contact for the Casual Market, our team will be onsite in the show’s press room, offering assistance to our friends in the media as well as supplying public relations and social media support to exhibitor / showroom representatives. Part of our scope of work is to aid in bringing together and coordinating interviews between manufacturers and key media members.

In addition, throughout the show, our team will be managing press kit material. In part, this will assist editors with learning more about new products and trends seen at the show. Also, while maintaining the press room and press kit distribution, ECPR will be interacting on Facebook and Twitter live during the show. We welcome showroom and exhibitor representatives, media personnel and even attendees to drop by the press room to share thoughts and feedback on this year’s show, which we will then share on Facebook and Twitter. For companies, showgoers and media using their own channels, the hashtag for Facebook at Twitter is #CasualMarket2013.
To learn how our team can assist with trade show marketing, media relations and publicity, visit our website at www.eberlycollardpr.com. 
For more information about the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, visit the website: www.casualmarket.com. We hope to see some of our industry friends and fans at the show!
Those lucky enough to attend will be enlightened with the worlds most beautiful and technologically advanced outdoor furnishings and accessories for 2014. 
2013 Casual Market – Sept. 17-20

The New Business of Agribusiness, Part I: Skylight Farm on Connecting Crops with Culture

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[Photo Credit – Justen Clay Photography]
With a background partly rooted in agribusiness and horticulture, the Eberly & Collard Public Relations team has a unique passion for these industries, in addition to others in which we specialize. Today, we believe that many consumers have become increasingly disconnected from the growth and production of their food sources. One of our missions in working with agribusiness companies and horticultural businesses is to utilize cutting-edge marketing and branding methods to connect consumers with the important backstories surrounding what they are consuming. The Eberly & Collard team gets particularly excited when our work creates an innovative connection in the agricultural industry.

Brittany Price, one of our newest team members, has worked extensively with Atlanta-area biodiverse vegetable farm, Skylight Farm, offering communications, marketing and business development support. This young, up-and-coming local business is owned and operated by 27-year-old Justin Aiello of Douglasville, Ga. Skylight Farm is the result of Aiello’s landscaping background paired with his desire to care for the environment; it may also have something to do with the fact that Aiello just loves good food.

Through a farm apprenticeship, the young farmer learned the ins-and-outs of organic production. When Aiello was provided land on which to start his own farm, he knew the biodiverse and organic model was the path he would take, as he explains, “Stewarding the land organically allows me to give back just as much as I take, maintain healthy, nutrient rich soil and have a farm that will be sustainable for many years to come.” Aiello is one of a growing number of Georgia farmers who are revolutionizing the face of organic farming in two key ways: with a fresh perspective in agribusiness marketing and with innovative and specialized growing methods.

[Photo Credit – Justen Clay Photography]

While Skylight Farm’s growing methods are inspiring for those in the agricultural world, there is often a disconnect between the world of farmers and the world of consumers. As Aiello and the ECPR team knows, community-based, integrative marketing is essential for the agricultural and horticultural industries.

Often, representatives from organic farms will simply show up for a farmers market, hoping their goods will speak for themselves. However, Aiello believes the highest level of marketing is necessary for a farm’s success. This means that everything is executed with the consumer in mind, including the basic layout of his booth at the market, the farm’s customer outreach, and especially its branding. From the farm’s extensive utilization of social media marketing to the award-winning design created for Skylight Farm by Atlanta-based designer, Russell Shaw (to view Skylight Farm’s branding, click here), a great deal of the young farm’s success is due to a comprehensive approach to marketing. Aiello has also built relationships in the food service industry creating a partnership with BoccaLupo, an Atlanta-based modern, Italian restaurant that was recently featured on the cover of Atlanta Magazine as one of the city’s best new restaurants.

[Photo Credit – Justen Clay Photography]

Aiello emphasizes the importance of relationship-building in his business model, as he believes that a farm will never be truly successful without garnering the support of its local community. He explains, “I think one of the most beautiful things about food is that it bridges all gaps; we all eat and there is something especially wonderful about sharing food with people.” For Skylight Farm, this looks like an innovating and comprehensive approach to the business of organic farming.

From its novel, natural growing methods, to Aiello’s exceptional marketing and branding standards, Skylight Farm creates a new norm for the agricultural industry. No matter the size of a farm, the Eberly & Collard team believes that Justin Aiello of Skylight Farm, along with a growing community of like-minded businesses, will have a profound effect on the way growers and producers connect with consumers. Our team is excited to be a part of building these connections.

Stay tuned for Part II of our Agribusiness Series featuring Skylight Farm, in which we’ll share more about what it takes to operate an organic farm: the farm’s growing practices and as Aiello emphasizes, “all the good old-fashioned hard work,” that goes into making Skylight Farm a success.

For more information on Skylight Farm, click the link to visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/skylightfarmGA

You can also visit with Justin and the rest of the Skylight Farm team or pick up some veggies at the Piedmont Park Green Market every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Click the link for more information: http://ow.ly/oHSDM

[Photo Credit – ECPR]

Social Media Marketing: You can do it, too!

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Click to Enlarge
For small business owners and public relations firms, social media marketing can be an expansive and daunting, but worthy task. The phrase, “social medial marketing,” encompasses a vast variety of digital marketing options. With such a wide range of social media available, it is important to understand where to focus your company’s time and energy. The Eberly & Collard Public Relations team recently participated in a webinar, “Social Media Marketing Made Simple,” in which we revisited a number of tried and true methods for social media marketing and also learned a few new, creative tips. 

The webinar designed and led by Shane Lamotte, of Conscious Commerce, challenged social media marketers to drop unproductive marketing methodologies in exchange for what we will call, the “Three C’s” of social media engagement: establishing connections and kick starting your digital following (creativity), developing engaging content (clarity) as well as maintaining conversations and the practical monitoring of your marketing efforts (consciousness).

“Creativity” – Social media communications are about immediate engagement. No consumer will take the time to read a boring or cliché Facebook post. When a social media marketer seeks to engage customers digitally, it is important to provide the necessary and basic company information. However, “content is king” and the more original, engaging and understandable a post, the better. To develop a creative and inviting social media presence, keep things simple and attention-grabbing. Think outside the box. As Shane Lamotte stressed in his webinar, “the best content inspires sharing.”

“Clarity” – After customers are engaged with a company’s digital platform, it is of the utmost importance to communicate well, seeking clarity in all digital engagement. Social media posts, whether it be Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or any other form of social media, should remain focused on the industry and expertise of your work. A social media marketer seeks to develop a streamlined conversation with fans and customers, so that a network is developed and the company establishes itself as an “expert” in a given field.

“Consciousness” – Finally, social media marketing should seek to be conscious of its consumers at all times. This means dealing with both positive and negative feedback, letting the customer know that the company is engaging with them and the media is not simply an advertisement. This can be as simple as responding immediately to Tweets or Facebook posts from fans. It can also mean graciously dealing with criticism in a public fashion. Your businesses’ followers want to see that you pay attention to their individual feedback and value their support. This is the best way to build a positive digital presence for your company.

Click to Enlarge

The webinar ended with a great deal of advice on balancing these three areas of social media management, while not becoming overwhelmed with this specific area of marketing. Social media marketing seems tricky, but it does not have to be; once a marketer has taken the time to understand the world of social media, this realm of marketing becomes an exciting new platform on which to engage customers and prospects.

One of our services is managing interactive social media channels for clients. If you’d like to consider our professional toolkit for launching your channels or have a need to change your social media into two-way dialog between you and your customers and other important groups, contact us for a free assessment. Learn more on our website here: https://eberlycollardpr.com/social-media.asp

2013 Landscape and Lawn Care Equipment Trends

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When landscape contractors’ services are in demand, landscape equipment is not far behind in growth. In the current issue of Landscape and Irrigation magazine, the 2013 equipment trends were revealed from various marketers and product managers within the landscaping and construction industries. In this blog post, as we often do spanning all 11 of the our industry specializations, we have compiled an overview of the top five landscape and lawn equipment trends that we found most intriguing.

Fuel-efficiency


Daryn Walters, director of marketing for Exmark, explains that “doing more using fewer resources” is important these days. Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) and battery-powered products are greatly decreasing fuel usage for contractors, which allow their dollars to stretch quite a bit further. Exmark has been selling as many EFI Lazer Z S-Series mowers as they can build because of its fuel-efficiency and performance that is indistinguishable from that of gasoline-powered mowers.

Ergonomics

Equipment designed for maximum productivity by reducing user fatigue and discomfort is being taken into greater consideration when being purchased. The General Equipment Company improved its one-man and two-man hand-held hole diggers by utilizing proper ergonomics in order to increase the capacity of workers as well as minimize worker compensation issues.

Productivity and Dependability

We realize that productivity and dependability are two traits, but both work best together. Companies are willing to spend more money, if the products are worth the investment. More recently, SnowEx and TurfEx have developed lines that increase the amount professionals save on materials, labor and maintenance expenses, at a slightly higher price. Productivity and dependability at a greater price actually create a favorable cost-to-benefit ratio for contractors.

Photo credit to Landscape and Irrigation magazine
(July / August 2013 issue)
Simplicity in maintenance and operation 

Mustang has improved the functionality of its products, which allows for easier operation by various workers. Kelly Moore, product and training specialist for Mustang skid-steer loaders explains, “Many companies have several different operators, and the machines need to be customizable to these different equipment users.” By simplifying the maintenance and operation processes, the company is saving time and money that may have been wasted by using more complicated or high-maintenance products.

Versatility

If a contractor can have one product that performs a multitude of tasks, that product is not only saving the contractor time on a project, but is also generating additional revenue. As a result, this saves on labor costs for customers. Andy Van Soelen, rental solutions specialist for Vermeer Corporation, notes that “compact size and variety of attachments to match” are desirable because Vermeer’s “mini skid-steer family offers more than 30 attachments,” which adds versatility and value to the collection.

Now that these top five landscape and lawn care trends have been revealed, it may be a good exercise to assess if your products meet these up-and-coming standards. Please post your comments and questions. We welcome your feedback and your own trends insights.

Learn about all 11 of the industries in which we specialize here: https://eberlycollardpr.com/our-industries.asp

~ Jasmine

Generating Buzz Where it Counts

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After years of working with clients in the interior design industry, we understand and recognize the steep competition that designers face in landing new projects as well as having completed projects published. Our team’s experience has shown time and time again that securing new interior design projects is almost always foundational upon having a vast portfolio of relatable design work and a trusted reputation that stems from publicity. 

This year, Eberly & Collard Public Relations has had the immense pleasure of working with the talented and much sought-after interior designer Kimberly Grigg, CEO and principal designer with Knotting Hill Interiors. A combination of our services and media connections, along with Kimberly’s unique and admired design style, has led to regional and national media placements in both print and online formats.

Kimberly Grigg, CEO and principal designer with
Knotting Hill Interiors
By capitalizing on Kimberly’s experience and expertise in almost all facets of interior design, we were able to secure a monthly “how-to” design column in Myrtle Beach, S.C.’s, The Sun News. Once a month, Kimberly offers design enthusiasts tips and tricks for designing their homes. Her published columns include tips about mixing and matching fabrics, designing bathroom spaces as well as designing for families. To read Kimberly’s latest column on designing family-friendly spaces, click here.

The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC

In addition to introducing Kimberly to homeowners as a well-versed, design expert, the column positions her to attract qualified leads and attain speaking and show house opportunities. As PR practitioners, we know every medium in which a designer lands media coverage holds its own set of rewards. In Kimberly’s case, a regular “how-to” column enables us to promote her as an industry expert and increase her and Knotting Hill Interiors’ exposure. Plus, since she is one of the most talented designers we know, readers of the column love her…as do we!

Rising Up To New Design Standards

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Image by 360 Architecture
Rise up Falcons fans, it is time to get on board with the construction of the “Pantheon,” the new football stadium for the Atlanta Falcons.

While we are a national public relations firm that, in part, specializes in publicizing building and architecture firms throughout North America, we are located in Atlanta. So, our team is looking forward to seeing the progressive journey of the stadium’s construction.

Image by 360 Architecture

Concepted by 360 Architecture, a Kansas City, MO-based firm, the new stadium will feature a state-of-the-art operable roof that will enable games to be played rain or shine. 360 Architecture specializes in a wide range of commercial and residential design services. This includes recreation centers, municipal facilities, sports arenas and ballparks, single- and multi-family residences, mixed-use entertainment districts, and corporate and commercial office buildings. Some of the firm’s most well-known projects are MetLife Stadium, home of the NY Jets and NY Giants, as well as Legoland Discovery Center in Kansas City, MO, and the Kansas City Downtown Airport renovation.

According to the editors of ENR Southeast, Falcons owner, Arthur Blank, retained the services of 360 Architecture based on the firm’s creativity and extensive background in designing high-level sports complexes. Three Atlanta-based architectural firms will be assisting 360 Architecture with its “Pantheon” concept, including Goode Van Slyke Architecture, Stanley Beaman & Sears and tvsdesign. Each firm brings its own unique skill set to the collaborative project, and as a result, the stadium’s blueprint will feature a 360 degree scoreboard, incorporate sustainable building practices and materials and will soon be a city landmark.

Image by 360 Architecture

With the design plans likely to be firmed-up in April 2014, construction will begin late-spring to early-summer. Atlanta-based Holder Construction has been hired as the managing partner, and Hunt Construction Group, located in Phoenix, AZ, will build the downtown stadium. According to the Falcons, local Atlanta firms H.J. Russell & Co. and C.D. Moody Construction Co. are also aligned with the joint-venture team. The new stadium is set to open in time for the 2017 season.

Falcons, NFL fans, and our blog readers in the fields of building and architecture, tell us what you think of the new “Pantheon” design.

Building With The Best

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Builder July 2013

Thanks to our editor friends at Builder magazine, our blog readers, clients and followers can stay abreast of today’s top design-build projects, construction techniques, product advancements, and more related to the building and construction industry.

In Builder’s July 2013 issue, the magazine’s editorial team rounded up a list of innovative products builders and contractors should keep in mind for current and future projects. From shingles and water diversion systems to faucets and windows, our team recaps the eight products Builder’s editors are highlighting this month.

Builder July 2013 – click to enlarge

1. Zola Corner Window: Number one on the editors’ roundup is Zola European Windows’ Zola Corner Window. This sleek line of aluminum-clad fixed and operable windows can maximize views around corners with its Corner Lift-Slide. Available in a myriad of sizes with a variety of interior woods, Zola Corner Windows are ideal for residential building projects.

2. Weyerhauser OSB Panels: Next time a project includes hardwood floors, consider using Weyerhaeuser’s OSB Panels. By installing these high-density OSB panels under hardwood floors, builders and contractors can improve fastener retention and built-in drainage. A favorite feature for some of our builder and architect clients, the panels also offer a sealed edge to resist the swelling and shrinkage that loosen fasteners in wet places.

3. Tamko Shingles: Reinforced with a layer of non-woven polyester fabric for impact resistance, the Heritage series of laminated asphalt shingles also includes a Class 4 impact-rated version designed to resist cracking and rupturing from heavy hail. With a 30-year limited warranty, Heritage is the ultimate for new construction or re-roofing jobs.

4. Moen Faucet: Moen’s S6700 faucet displays geometric forms, squared corners and straight lines. Part of the company’s minimalist 90 Degree collection of bathroom faucets, it complements both residential and commercial contemporary spaces. We’ve seen this fine-looking faucet in several of the designer show houses for which we have managed public relations, and it gets our vote as a must-have fixture.

Builder July 2013 – click to enlarge

5. CertainTeed Water System: A product to consider with deck installations is CertainTeed’s Undershield water system. It diverts water to a gutter at the deck’s edge, protecting areas underneath from water intrusion.

6. Therma-Tru Doorlites: Therma-Tru enables builders and contractors to protect and preserve homes in coastal regions by incorporating impact-rated doorlites and sidlites into homes. When installed with a Therma-Tru impact-rated door these products can withstand winds up to 195 mph and meet code requirements for extreme weather in coastal areas.

7. Foundry Siding: The Tapco Group’s fire-resistant, panelized, vinyl siding uses ceramic finishes to provide a realistic texture with no telltale sheen. Each panel is molded from hand-selected quarried stone and delivers up to 40 feet of non-repeating coverage. This striking siding gets our seal of satisfaction.

8. Häfele Pull-Out Storage: Häfele’s lockable, pull-out compartment is a resourceful product residential builders and contractors can specify for home renovations and new construction projects. It allows homeowners to safely store cleaning supplies and other items under kitchen or bathroom cabinets and away from children.

If you’re interested in viewing extended product descriptions, visit Builderonline.com. And, stay tuned for more products for designers, builders, architects, and consumers on our blog. Our clients and friends in the industry have a lot to offer, so more to follow from your ECPR trend-watchers in the near future.