One of the amazing things about modern architecture are the reactions it can elicit from a person. It's beautiful! It's too cold! I could never live there! That's my dream home! As this style proliferates across the country, one the hotbeds has been and continues to be in Manhattan Beach, Calif. That's where the Los Angeles Times focused their spotlight on a 2,400-square-foot home by designer and builder Noah Walker of Walker Workshop Design Build.

Homeowners Tiffany and Andy Chen are proponents of the indoor-outdoor lifestyle (thanks to their two sons) and made sure Walker incorporated features such as Western Windows Systems sliding glass doors into the structure. The LA Times article describes the bottom floor: "On the ground floor, Walker designed an open plan where the kitchen, family and dining areas merge seamlessly with the outdoors. 'In the summer months we open all the doors and play tag,' Tiffany said."

"Noah Walker did a great job on this house," says Western's Todd Hayhurst. "While it has a modern look, it feels warm and inviting for the family. It's great example of what can be done with the right designer or architect. And, of course, we're delighted that Western products help accomplish this dichotomy."

Read the full LA Times piece and see all the photos here.

Western was proud learn that our company was chosen as the cover story for the Winter 2013 edition of US Builders Review, a quarterly journal written for construction industry executives.

Detailing Western's explosive growth (including our Volume Program) as well as our commitment to our three core values, the article highlights the leadership of President Jason Funk and the overall philosophy of the company. The piece goes on to say:

"Throughout the company's expansion, Western continues to produce the finest quality luxury-quality windows and doors on the market. Though a broader demographic calls for more affordable pricing, Western decided from the beginning that even as the team entered new markets, the company's commitment to quality would never suffer. Excitingly for the consumer, Western found a way to bring the price and lead time down without sacrificing quality The end result is a n outstanding value proposition for each Western customer."

"It's always nice to be recognized by industry publications for our work and our growth," says Funk. "We're very proud to be on the cover of US Builders Review, but we're not going to sit around and just pat ourselves on the back. Just like all the other recognition we have received, it serves as motivation for our team to work harder and continue to make our customers happy."

Featuring a beautiful project by the firm Robinette Architects, Inc. on the cover as well as other stunning projects from our portfolio, check out the full article about Western Window Systems in US Builders Review here.

Mike Bennett
Office employee of the Month - May 2013

Since joining Western Window Systems in July, Mike has become an integral part of the Volume Program team. He has been the driving force behind our inventory tracking system that has enabled the company – and, specifically, the Volume Program – to grow at an unprecedented rate in our history. Mike’s skills, though, go beyond merely tracking numbers.

“Mike treats every one with dignity and respect and is very conscious of the feelings of others and of our customers,” says Volume Program manager Chet Willis. “He is very patient, understanding and sympathetic with customers and goes out of his way to get them whatever it is they need.”

Western recognizes that talented individuals such as Mike have been the drivers of our growth and success as a company. His commitment to improving our partnerships, delivering an excellent product and creating new solutions has helped our team make huge strides over the past few months and has positioned the Volume Program for continued growth. Thanks to Mike for all his hard work and dedication!

To learn more about Mike click here.

As part of their annual “Products of the Year” list, the editors of U.S. Glass magazine have named Western Window System’s 2600 Series Multi-Slide Door Best in the Moveable Glass Wall Systems category.

“We’re incredibly proud to see our 2600 Series Multi-Slide Doors named as product of the year by the industry leading glass magazine,” said Greg Bailey, product manager for these doors at Western Window Systems. “This is just another sign of the industry recognizing how far our company has come and the quality products we’re producing these days.”

U.S. Glass hailed Western’s ability to customize everything from size to color to type of glass contained within the Series 2600 Multi-Slide Door, particularly with angles of 90 degrees and 180 degrees (and virtually any angle in between). Though Western has traditionally been known as an aluminum door supplier only, it's clear that our new wood/aluminum clad door is the talk of the industry.

“Western has been experiencing huge growth for the past two years thanks to many new, innovative ideas. While the innovation and ideas stretch across our entire company, our new 2600 series door was truly one of our best,” said Jason Funk, president of Western Window Systems. “It’s a huge honor to get this recognition and we are excited to see the role these doors will play in our continued growth.”

Please click on this link to read the full article from U.S. Glass: CLICK HERE.

Dru Taylor Shepard
Shop employee of the Month - May 2013

During the rapid growth of Western Window Systems the last few years, there have been a lot of fresh faces around our manufacturing floor. Introducing new members to the team can be a challenging task – unless that person is someone like Dru Shepard.

Since joining Western in July, Dru has made an impressive impact on the workflow and quality of the metal department. “Dru is one of the few people on the floor who deals with every department and it is usually when other departments are in a rush,” says Miguel Flores, who nominated Dru for this award. “Dru will stop whatever he is doing to satisfy the needs of his internal customers and jump right back to what he was doing without ever having an issue.”

In the short time he has been a member of the Western family, Dru has come to embody the present and future values of the company. His desire for excellence, his knack for problem solving and his ability to form strong partnerships across departments has resulted in better results and a better work environment. Thank you Dru for your hard work and we’re excited to see where you grow from here.

To learn more about Dru click here.

Western’s Volume Program continues to command the attention of the homebuilder industry thanks to our commitment to changing the way people live.

One of the leading home construction industry voices, Professional Builder magazine and its online component HousingZone.com, published an article titled, “Rise Of The Outdoor Living Room,” that points to Western, among others, at the forefront of offering homeowners and homebuilders the opportunity to incorporate outdoor spaces into the living room.

Kevin Rosinski, vice president of Toll Brothers’ California Division, hails the upsell opportunity of products like those from Western. “We have seen an increase in demand for many outdoor living components but the multi-slide doors are really leading the way,” says Rosinski. “They are one of the best memory points we have in the models. We have sold the option on 80 percent of the homes sold to date.”

President of Woodley Architectural Group’s California office, Debra Falese, even singled out Western’s Volume Program as a leader in this area. “I know of some builders who are putting them in their medium-market plans as standard,” she says. “A couple of the big sliding door companies are making it much easier and affordable. For instance, Western Window Systems offers a builder series (called The Volume Program) that gives you set options of a 9-, 12-, and 15-foot door. So as an architect, I can design to those openings and I know I have a chance at them getting specified into the house as a standard feature, versus just putting them in the model and having people ‘ooh and ahh’ and then not be able to afford the upgrade.”

Learn more about Western’s Volume Program by visiting our dedicated site here: http://www.westernwindowsystems.com/volumeprogram/

Please click on this link to read the full article from Professional Remodeler: CLICK HERE.

De Anne Hayhurst
Manager of the quarter - April 2013

To many of her fellow employees and Western Window Systems clients De Anne stands as the linchpin of this company. A veteran of the window and door business for more than 20 years, she has been a part of the Western team since 1995 – and that experience has been vital in elevating the company’s standards of customer service.

“My day is different every time I walk in the door,” De Anne says. “It’s crazy, but it’s good. I track inside sales staff, working with accounting and invoicing. Basically, I keep our dealers happy and help them feel like they’re our only customer.”

De Anne’s motivation is seen throughout her work, but her seemingly never-ending energy doesn’t stop at the door. “I always have to be doing something,” she says. “ I can’t even watch a whole movie without stopping it to move around or getting something done.”

To learn more about De Anne click here.

In Professional Remodeler magazine’s February issue cover story, “Form Follows Function”, Western Window Systems was featured as one of the window companies behind the current trend of offering energy efficiency and universal design to the marketplace.

Article author Kyle Clapham writes in the piece this movement is here to stay. “Replacing out-of-date windows with new Energy Star-rated alternatives can bring a home up to efficiency standards and save money down the road—a trend likely to stay at the forefront of the industry as advances in solar heating and insulation technology continue, and expectations of energy-efficiency products rise.”

Clapham goes on to write that beyond just functionality and energy efficiency, design has become a major driver in homeowners’ choice of new windows. Highlighting our 9500 Series Bi-Fold Windows 9500 Series Bi-Fold Windows, Professional Remodeler says, “… these windows have become popular for their ability to dramatically open living areas.”

Scott Gates, Western’s Vice President and General Manager, supports this assertion by telling the magazine, “Homeowners love the way these windows expand the livable space of their home while also transforming their backyard into a perfect place to entertain when the weather is beautiful.”

Please click on this link to read the full article from Professional Remodeler: CLICK HERE.

Eddie Ballesteros
Lean problem solver - May 2013

It’s hard to understate how important Eddie is to Western Window Systems. He’s someone every employee looks up to; his attitude and easy smile are infectious; and his 25 years of experience gives him the skills few, if any, in this industry possess.

“First off, he’s one of the most talented custom fabricators in the industry,” says VP & General Manager Scott Gates. “Whether it’s custom welds, radius bends or custom units that have unique elements, Eddie can handle it all. He drives a lot of our custom business because of his expertise.”

Each of these attributes make Eddie an invaluable member of our production team, but it’s his ability to think “lean” that made him our winner of this month’s “lean problem solver” award. Eddie was the first member of our production team to implement a shadow board in his fabrication area, setting an example for 5S thinking and limiting waste time looking for tools. Next, he recognized an important opportunity to make a few changes to our window wall production that will significantly improve our lead times, help us produce more units every hour, and also improve customer satisfaction. “It’s great to see that even the guys that have been at Western the longest can still come up with new ideas that help us on our road to continuous improvement,” adds Operations Director Garvin Peterson.

Thank you Eddie for all of your hard work over the past two decades and for continually improving everything about the Western brand. We’re proud to have you on our team.

To learn more about Eddie click here.

Jumping off the success of last year’s award-winning Product Guide (Window & Door magazine gave it the Crystal achievement award for “best product literature”), we have just released an updated version with new products and specifications. Some of the changes include:

 ► Focus on Western’s core values and how they shape our business.
 ► Beautiful photos of additional residential, commercial and prefab projects.
 ► Information and details on our new bottom loaded Bi-Fold option.
 ► New photos and details on our 980 Series Pivot Doors.
 ► Specifics on divided lite bars options for all of our products.
 ► New photos and details on our 2600 Series Wood/Aluminum-Clad Doors.

“A little over a year ago, we released Version 2 of our Product Guide and our partners just loved it,” said Scott Leech, vice president of sales for Western Window Systems. “Dealers, homeowners, architects and builders all raved about it. Our goal with Version 3 was simply to build off of a great design that our customers loved with a goal to make it even better.”

We cannot wait to show you our new Product Guide. To request a hard copy please contact us or please click on this link to download a digital version: digital product guide (warning: it’s a 45MB file).

P.S. Have you seen this man?

Meet Hugbert. We’ve hidden his photo somewhere in our new Product Guide. If you’re the first customer find him, email us and you could win an iPad Mini! (And, if you're lucky, we might even tell you the real story behind him.)

Email dmitchell@westernws.com with where you found Hugbert and see if you won the iPad Mini!

Join Dwell and Western Window Systems as we explore America’s growing fascination with prefab construction. In the past 12 years at Dwell, prefab has captured the attention of their readers like few other topics. Every year Dwell dedicates a full issue to prefab, “simply because we have yet to see a slowdown in the number of designers innovating in prefab,“ says Dwell president Michaela O’Connor Abrams. She adds, “In this special issue we’ve endeavored to emphasize process as well as final product, because understanding the ways in which an idea or sketch manifest itself into an actual building is paramount to understanding the way and how of prefab.”

 

At Western, one of our core values is innovation and we celebrate any construction initiative that pushes the envelope on how to build better, design better and, most importantly, live better. “We have a deep fascination with prefab architects and builders. Many of the players in that industry have gravitated towards Western because of our ability to provide doors that open entire walls and expand living space to help make a small prefab unit that much more livable for a homeowner,” says Western VP of Sales Scott Leech. "We get excited every time we get involved with a prefab manufacturer."

 

"When you look at firms like Marmol Radziner or Method Homes, they are the embodiment of cool. We love anything cool," adds Western President Jason Funk.

 

Speaking of cool, this special issue of Dwell definitely fits the bill.

To view the full digital issue please, CLICK HERE.

In partnership with Professional Builder magazine and their “GreenZone” program, architect Bogue Trondowski and builder Method Homes, produced a prototype for a new series of modular homes that “show how small homes can be comfortable, and how sustainability can become a seamless part of residential design,” according to Vanessa Brunner from Houzz.com.

Both the builder and architect contacted Western to help make their vision a reality. As Professional Builder puts it, “The cutting-edge design – focused on indoor and outdoor living space – also centralizes around location based flexibility.” Luckily, “indoor and outdoor living space” is what we do best.

“When I saw the project in design phase I immediately fell in love with what these guys were trying to create. The emphasis on space maximization as well as sustainability and energy efficiency made our 2600 Series Wood/Aluminum-Clad Multi-Slides the perfect choice for the moving walls of glass the floor plan required. We were thrilled to be involved with such a marquee project,” said Western VP and GM Scott Gates.

The prefab home was located just outside the Moscone Center in San Francisco and was clearly the highlight of the Greenbuild show. The project has made waves of news all throughout the industry.

Take a look at all of the various media outlets that have focused on this state-of-the-art prefab project:

 ► YouTube - Western VP/GM Scott Gates & Professional Builder's Pat O'Toole
 ► Professional Builder - "Greenzone" Special Feature
 ► Houzz - "Meet a New Resource-Saving Prefab Design"
 ► Dwell - "Highlights of Greenbuild 2012"
 ► Jetson Green - "Paradigm Sustainable Prefab at Greenbuild"
 ► Earth Techling - "Little Green Dream Home Could Be Yours"
 ► San Francisco Chronicle - "Greenbuild hot climate for sustainability"
 ► Forbes - "The Makings of Green Buildings"
 ► Architecture Source - "Net Zero Prefab Homes Roll Out in the USA"

“It’s amazing to see a project that features our wood multi-slide door so prominently get so much attention from major media outlets. The interest generated in our new door system has been huge,” said Western’s Greg Bailey, a 2600 Series specialist.

In their latest issue, American Builders Quarterly magazine has a featured article on one of our favorite architectural partnerships, Brissette Architects, Inc.

The article, titled "Organic Architecture in the Desert," highlights the design firm's recently completed home for John Shanholt and Gail Kearn. It talks in great detail about the influence that Frank Lloyd Wright and his school of architecture had on the two principles at the firm, Ron Brissette and Jeff Kamtz. "The firm's designers apply the principles of organic architecture advanced by Frank Lloyd Wright, and its beautiful projects seamlessly integrate the surrounding desert landscape, incorporating the unusual vegetation and seemingly eternal sunsets in full." The photographs of the home show a beautiful modern design that is also very warm.

As is common on their contemporary projects, Western was lucky enough to provide our window and door systems for many of the openings. The article notes, "Kamtz and Brissette wanted to create a more intimate relationship between the homes interior and the desert landscape outside, so they incorporated large windows and sliding glass doors that, when opened, make it difficult to tell where the interior of the home stops and the backyard begins."

"At Western, we call that life without boundaries and Ron and Jeff are two of the best at promoting indoor-outdoor living," says Western Vice President Scott Leech. We encourage you to check out the amazing views this home captures of the beautiful Arizona desert. You can read the full article if you CLICK HERE.

Recently Window & Door magazine announced its 2012 Crystal Achievement Award winners. Selected by a panel of judges representing all segments of the industry, the awards recognize significant innovations and achievements in window and door technology, manufacturing, and marketing. “I am truly impressed by the marketing category winners this year,” said Nicole Harris, Window & Door publisher. “We continue to see fresh ideas in literature and online media.” That being said, Western Window Systems was honored to see our Product Guide selected as the national winner for the “Best Product Literature” category. Each of the winners was highlighted in the print magazine and also on their website. In the section focused on Western’s Product Guide, the article reads “The company’s Product Guide has become its most valuable tool, and the quality of the piece has dramatically enhanced the marketplace’s perception of Western and the quality of its products.” We are honored by the recognition, and we are very excited to provide this brochure to our customers for no charge. “We promise our customers ‘excellence,’ so it's always nice when others in the industry recognize that is what we have achieved,” says Vice President and General Manager Scott Gates.

To read the full article on Western’s award please CLICK HERE. To download a digital copy of Western’s award-winning Product Guide please CLICK HERE.

Every four years, in the words of publisher Deb Levy, U.S. Glass magazine "scours the industry for individuals who have had the biggest effect on the industry." She goes on to write, "This is not a popularity contest, it's about choosing individuals who, by their words and actions, change an industry. Some shape, some mold, and some blow it up and start over again. Our team assembled a list who, in our judgment, after consultation with numerous thought leaders in the industry, do just that."

 

Our team at Western was thrilled when our president, Jason Funk, was selected for the prestigious list of influencers. We celebrate their recognition of his leadership in the rapid growth of Western as well as the way he and our company are leading trends that are changing construction.

 

Jason was interviewed by their special projects editor Megan Headley for the August issue. One highlight of their conversation includes when Megan asked, "What do you think is the biggest challenge for the industry right now?" Jason answered, "Finding creative ways to adjust outdated business models to meet our new economic reality … To succeed in this new reality, businesses in our industry have to find creative ways to differentiate themselves between competition, and work hard to communicate how their companies' products and business philosophies mesh with the consumer's own value system … We can't simply sell our products' features and benefits, instead we have to educate on how they can enhance living conditions and improve overall quality of life … We have to make our business personal, and we have to be motivated with a vision that is much greater than the bottom line …"

To read the full recap of their interview please CLICK HERE. To see the entire list of industry influencers, you can read the August 2012 digital issue of U.S. Glass if you CLICK HERE.