The American Institute of Architects’ semi-annual Consensus Construction Forecast says that despite lingering housing market and financing concerns, the U.S. design and construction industry shows signs of future improvement.
Corporate profits have returned to pre-recession levels and businesses have subsequently been increasing capital spending, borrowing costs are at record low levels, and growing demand for commercial and retail projects are all factors that are expected to contribute to a 2.1 percent rise in 2102 spending for nonresidential construction projects, according to AIA. AIA also forecast a 6.4 percent increase in spending in 2013.
“Spending on hotels, industrial plants and commercial properties are going to set the pace for the construction industry over the next two years,” said AIA chief economist Kermit Baker. “The institutional market won’t experience the same growth, but healthcare facilities and places of worship are poised for a positive economic outlook in that sector.”
To see the complete Consensus Construction Forecast, please visit aia.org.

The Cabinet Makers Association, with sponsors C.R. Onsrud, Microvellum and Cabinetmaker+FDM magazine, will host the Central Florida Regional Event on Feb. 10, as part of the CMA Professional Certification Program.
The event will take place at A Ward Designs, a CMA member-shop in Winter Haven, Fla. The event host, Kevin Ward, will demonstrate how CNC routers and software systems have automated his shop to work at peak efficiency. The event will also include a Q&A session on how shop owners and managers can benefit from enrolling in the CMA and its programs, and presentations on new media marketing techniques.
For more information or to register, please visit http://cabinetmakers.org/2012FEB10_FL_PCP_Event.html. 

The Philadelphia Invitational Furniture Show will take place at the 23rd Street Armory, from March 23-25.
The new location at the 23rd Street Armory puts the show in a medieval castle-like building. The show opens with a preview party on Friday, March 23, which will feature an auction of exhibitor work to benefit CERF+, an organization supporting crafts people through traumatic difficulties. Guest auctioneers will be David Rago and Suzanne Perrault of “Antiques Roadshow.”
For more more information, please visit www.PhilaIFS.com. 

The National Kitchen & Bath Association served as the professional resource for kitchen safety and planning in designing and building the HGTV Dream Home 2012.
The 31 NKBA kitchen and planning guidelines cover all areas of the room, some of which include the work triangle traffic, seating clearance, dishwasher placement, cooking surface ventilation, oven landing area, electrical receptacles and lighting.
“We are proud to continue our relationship with HGTV, and offer the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines as a respected industry resource in the creation of functional and sound kitchen and bath spaces,” said Alan W. Zielinski, 2012 NKBA president. “The NKBA is honored to be part of this exceptional project.”
The 4,000-square-foot modern Western ranch house was constructed over the course of six months outside of Park City, Utah. The home is featured on HGTV.com. The Dream Home giveaway can be entered up to twice daily, once on HGTV.com and once on FrontDoor.com through Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. ET. 

The 44th annual NeoCon, the National Exposition of Contract Furnishings, will take place at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart from June 11-13.
NeoCon features the latest furniture design trends, products, and concepts in office, healthcare, hospitality, residential, institutional and government interior environments from more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors. NeoCon will also feature more than 120 CEU-accredited seminars, industry association forums and keynote presentations. Conferences will cover a wide range of subjects and topics on educational tracks including:Office Design: Dealer Strategies; Environmental Design; Facilities Construction & Renovation; Facilities Technology; Facilities Management; Healthcare Design; Hospitality Design; Institutional Design; Lighting Design; Professional Development; Residential Design and Senior Housing.
Registration for NeoCon will be available in March. For more information, please visit www.neocon.com, or call 800.677.6278  .

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected furniture and wall systems manufacturer KI as the 2011 WasteWise Packaging Reduction Gold Achievement Award winner.
KI says its sustainability program recycled and reduced 1,580,494 pounds of industrial waste through material diversion and prevention in 2011 by focusing on reducing content in product design, using recycled materials, preventing waste during manufacturing processes and diverting material from landfills. 
“We’re honored to be recognized with this prestigious award from the EPA,” said Tim Heyrman, engineering manager, KI. “Our packaging reduction program and similar initiatives are important to our customers, who emphasize good stewardship of the environment and want to do business with companies that share that commitment.”
To learn more about KI’s sustainability efforts, please go to http://ki.com/green. 

Stiles Machinery will host a CNC technology workshop on Thursday, February 16, to demonstrate how Stiles’ CNC machinery can help manufacturers reduce their footprint and achieve production goals.
The free event will include CNC machine demonstrations and provide insight into various production applications. The event will be held at Stiles Machinery’s location in Grand Rapids, Mich. For more information or to register, please go to www.stilesmachinery.com/events/lunch-learn-comparing-compact-cnc-solutions.

After a slow start, home improvement spending is expected to trend up in 2012, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity, recently released by the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
According to the report, remodeling activity is on course to end on a positive note in 2012, if momentum continues to grow in this segment.
“We’re beginning to see some hopeful signs in the economy, and the housing market is finally starting its slow recovery,” says Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center. “That should prove helpful for home improvement spending as the year progresses.”
“Sales of existing homes have been increasing in recent months, offering more opportunities for home improvement projects,” says Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center. “As lending institutions become less fearful of the real estate sector, financing will become more readily available to owners looking to undertake remodeling.”
To read more about the LIRA, visit www.jchs.harvard.edu/lira-glimmers-hope-remodeling-2012.

Stiles Machinery will be expanding its 2012 Executive Briefing Conference with the “featured presenter” to allow manufacturing executives to learn even more about new technologies and business concepts, with the goal of discovering “What’s Now, What’s New, and What’s Next.” 
The 2012 Executive Briefing Conference will be held in Charlotte, N.C.,focusing on tactical ways to match the speed-to-market while staying ahead of the speed at which the market is changing. The “featured presenter” expansion will provide a “world-class presenter to discuss topics of universal significance.”
The 2012 conference “featured presenter” will be Dr. Jeffrey Karrenbauer, former logistics staff officer for the United States Air Force and president of Insight, a supply chain solutions and consulting services provider. Dr. Karrenbauer will illustrate how to apply optimization and simulation to improve supply chains. His presentation will address the following challenges: strategic sourcing and outsourcing, unification of marketing, supply chain risk management, and the green movement.
For more information or to register, visit www.stilesmachinery.com/ebc.

Woodcraft Supply LLC posted a new online video for potential franchise owners to view and learn more about owning their own Woodcraft woodworking tool store.
By visiting http://www.woodcraft.com/enewsletter/franchiseletter.aspx, potential franchise owners can hear current Woodcraft franchise owners from around the country talking about how they got involved with Woodcraft, what it takes to successfully manage a store and how the experience has changed their lives for the better. 
“In an effort to give would-be franchise store owners information from an owner’s viewpoint, Woodcraft has produced a video that tells the stories of retail store owners in seven states,” said Gary Lombard, vice president – retail/franchise development, Woodcraft Franchise LLC.