From Draper’s Blog
Draper supports green building projects and takes sustainable design seriously. On our blog we post articles about how our products support green building, daylighting, shading, and other information about how to get the most out of the products and resources that are available to support an environmentally conscious build.
- Draper Adds to Sustainable Fabric OfferingsWhether we’re talking about food, consumer products, or building materials, transparency is a popular topic. Whatever people buy, they want to know what’s in it. Such transparency helps architects and designers make sustainable design choices. As part of the drive toward transparency, there are also calls for window shade products ... read more
- Special Announcement in Sustainable Solar ControlToday’s architects are seeking more product transparency and sustainable design choices and we’ve been getting more requests for products with a limited number of ingredients. That’s why we will be making a special announcement at Greenbuild 2018. We can’t say anything more right now, but look for our announcement during ... read more
- Updated Daylighting Academy Recognizes Project-by-Project SolutionsNo single solar control solution fits every application, and often there is no standard solution in place. Draper is updating its Daylighting Academy with new educational materials to help architects recognize how to address solar control issues on a project-by-project basis. We will kick off our updated Daylighting Academy October ... read more
- Five Ways We Help You Finish the Job FasterTime is money. That time-worn statement may be a cliché, but it still applies, especially in the solar control market. Shading solutions are just one part of the construction process and installers have a limited amount of time to get their products installed without impacting the entire project timeline. Here ... read more
- Draper Partner Spotlight: NECSometimes a pre-existing solution just won’t fit the audiovisual need. The demand for custom solutions has been made abundantly clear to us since we introduced our custom audiovisual solutions initiative at InfoComm in June. Industry acceptance of our new initiative has exceeded expectations as we’ve developed partnerships with several top-tier ... read more
- Be Aware-National Fire Prevention WeekThis is National Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The theme for 2018 is “Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware–fire can happen anywhere.” Although Draper products do not fall within fire prevention or suppression categories, we do strive to help fire prevention efforts by using materials ... read more
- Interior Design Podcasts You Should FollowDesign is all around us. It’s everywhere we look, impacting our daily lives in more ways than it’s possible to list. Learning about and keeping up with the design world’s news and trends can be challenging, simply because there is so much going on. Here are several interior design podcasts ... read more
- Real-World Solutions for the AEC Community at CONSTRUCT 2018Specifying window shades and solar control equipment can be difficult due to the number and variety of styles of shade models, fabrics, controls, and even due to where and how the shading devices will be installed. And what if you need a completely custom solution? At CONSTRUCT 2018, our experts ... read more
- We Did What We Tell You Not ToIt’s never a good idea to leave exterior shading systems deployed during very windy conditions. Even with products like the FlexShade ZIP, which are designed to stay put in windy conditions, we stress that the product should not be in the open position during high winds. However we were still ... read more
- Architectural Podcasts You Should FollowHow do you stay up to date on trends, news, and best practices in the architectural community? Consider podcasts. Portable and easy to listen to in the office, car, or at home, well-done podcasts drill deeply into niche topics. Here are seven architectural podcasts you should download and give a ... read more
- The Draper New Dealer GuideOver the past few years, the window shade industry has undergone substantial growth. Because of this, and shade market factors, Draper has added quite a few new dealers. Working with a new manufacturer can be a bit of a hassle, especially when it comes to specialty custom products like shades. ... read more
- Get the Most Out of Your Shades—Go Early!Too often, one thing gets overlooked in the beginning stages of the design process: window shades. To get the most out of shades, don’t wait until the end of the design process to think about them. Instead, consider them early on, when windows, curtain wall, and HVAC are being planned. ... read more
- Using Controls to Personalize Shading SystemsA plethora of choices exist when it comes to customizing window shades. From color combinations and openness factor to panels built to fit individual window specs and environmental benefits, window shades are one of the most customizable design solutions you can find. And they add a personalized touch, especially when ... read more
- The Evolution of Window ShadesSince the development of roller blinds (possibly in 1700s Scotland), the concept appears to have remained basically the same. Today’s roller shades do look something like the original concept. They still feature a fabric panel attached to a roller. They still control glare and solar heat gain. And the strength ... read more
- It Looked Like a Standard Videowall, but Then …Audiovisual equipment isn’t always the first thing architects consider when planning a building. At the A’18 architectural conference last week, Draper and NEC Display Solutions partnered to show how a custom architectural audiovisual experience can play a major role in aesthetics, wayfinding, and messaging. To showcase that role, Draper worked ... read more