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Umicore Ranks in Top 10 of the World’s Most Sustainable Corporations

Categories: building products, business, news, Umicore Building Products, VMZINC
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Based on key performance indicators, such as innovation, diversity, and eco-friendly productivity.

January 26, 2012 (Raleigh, NC) — Umicore, a global materials technology group and the parent company of Umicore Building Products USA in Raleigh, NC, has been included once again in the top 10 of the world’s most sustainable companies.

Corporate Knights, an independent magazine focused on promoting sustainable development, published the rankings this week.

The “Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies” ranking is based on key performance indicators such as innovation, diversity, and productivity related to a set of environmental factors. Ranked eighth out of 100, Umicore was praised for the significant role the company plays in the metal recycling chain and the development of materials for clean energy applications.

This accolade follows Umicore’s recent inclusion in the innovative Living Planet Green Tech Index launched by WWF, the Living Planet Fund Management Company, and Chevreux.

Umicore is also a long-standing component of the FTSE4Good index, which measures performance of companies that meet globally recognized corporate responsibility standards.

“The inclusion of Umicore in these rankings and indices is a recognition that our strategy and business philosophy do meaningfully address the priorities of society today,” said Umicore CEO Marc Grynberg. “We have a strong focus on products and services that provide environmental benefits, such as recycling, automotive catalysts, and materials for rechargeable batteries. This is complemented by ambitious objectives to further improve our environmental and social performance.”

“It is great to be involved with a company that takes a strong stance on sustainability, as well as representing an architectural product that contributes to that equation,” said Daniel Nicely, market development director for Umicore Building Products USA, the manufacturer of VMZINC® architectural zinc.

For more information on Umicore’s sustainability strategies and practices, visit www.umicore.com/sustainability.

For more information on Umicore Building Products, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

About Umicore:

Umicore is a global materials technology group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are centered on four business areas: Catalysis, Energy Materials, Performance Materials, and Recycling. Each business area is divided into market-focused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life. For more information: www.umicore.com.

About Umicore Building Products USA:

Umicore is a world-leading producer of VMZINC® architectural zinc. For over 160 years, Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects, and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. For additional information: www.vmzinc-us.com.

Ceramic Christmas Trees Made by People with Disabilities Now Available Online

Categories: charity, fundraising, health, news, non-profit, people with disabiliites
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RHA Howell announces annual fundraiser.

December 14, 2011 (Greensboro, NC) — RHA Howell has announced that the popular lighted ceramic Christmas trees made by people with disabilities are available again this year for purchase online.

Available in green or white, the ceramic Christmas trees stand about 12 inches tall and feature tiny lights on the branches that are illuminated by a bulb inside the tree.

People with disabilities who are served by RHA Howell’s Greensboro day and community programs made all of the trees. Proceeds from sales will benefit RHA’s developing arts immersion program.

“Our Christmas trees have been a popular fundraiser for many years,” said special events coordinator Debbie Valentine. “They’re a lovely holiday decoration and our clients love making them.”

The ceramic trees are $25 each plus shipping and handling ($15 via UPS ground). Or they can be picked up at RHA Howell Greensboro, 1508 Gatewood Ave., Greensboro, NC, 27405. Orders should be placed online at www.rhahowell.org by clicking on the Christmas trees icon.

For more information contact Kandy John at 336-273-6105, email: kjohn@rhanet.org; or Roger Jones at 252-521-1131, email: rojones@rhanet.org.

The Greensboro day and community programs are part of RHA Howell’s statewide service to children and adults with disabilities and their families. For more information visit www.rhahowell.org.

About RHA Howell, Inc.

RHA Howell is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that has been helping people with disabilities and special needs, and their families, make choices to live more independently for more than 35 years. Integrity, high standards for quality, and hard work are at the core of every RHA Howell disability assistance program. Proven leaders in caring for people, RHA Howell, Inc. is a pioneering force in the field of human services, particularly supporting infants and children. For more information, please go to www.rhahowell.org.

Veteran World Traveler, Cruise Specialist Joins “Travel For Boomers”

Categories: blogs, budget travel, news, people
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Pamela Scala brings her expertise to the new blog.

Pamela Scala

December 7, 2011– Pamela Scala, a seasoned world traveler and cruise specialist, has joined Travel For Boomers, a new blog about a host of travel topics specifically for members of the “Baby Boomer” generation who either love to travel or want to travel, and want to do it as inexpensively and comfortably as possible.

Cruising, travel safety, and traveling with special dietary needs will be Scala’s focus on Travel For Boomers.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Pamela Scala studied Radio, television and film production with a sub-specialty in journalism. Her career has included working for a Chicago marketing firm, work with non-profits in board development, public relations, and event planning. Most recently she’s been involved in website development.

Known to her family as “Thrifty Pam,” Scala lives up to the moniker in her world travels by using frequent flier miles and rewards points to fly and stay in hotels for free. She’s also an expert at finding the best deals for luxury travel.

“I lived for 25 years in the Chicago area, where I did almost anything to get away from the weather,” she said. “Snow is a four-letter word, after all. Having had enough of that, my husband and I moved to a barrier island in Florida where we happily wear flip-flops year round.”

Her travel mantra is “Anywhere, anytime,” she said. “Back alleys and hidden storefronts don’t scare me. Biking where no motorized vehicles can go and people take their water buffalos for an afternoon walk is right on target. And luxury travel that includes flying in the front of the plane is the only way to go as long as it’s for free.”

A dedicated “travel hacker,” Scala uses a variety of methods to amass frequent flier miles and hotel rewards points. She brings that expertise, as well as her vast experience on cruise ships, to Travel For Boomers.

For more information on Travel For Boomers, visit www.travelforboomers.com.

VMZinc Gets Renewed Notice of Approval from Strict Regulatory Department

Categories: building products, business, construction, environment, news, sustainability
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Miami Dade approves Umicore Building Products’ standing seam metal roof systems for hurricane zone.

December 6, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) — Miami Dade County’s Permitting, Environment and Regulatory Affairs department has renewed its Notice of Approval (NOA) for the VMZINC® Double Lock Standing Seam (VM DLLS) metal roofing system, Laurent Heindryckx, Director of Operations for VMZINC/Umicore Building Products USA, announced recently.

Miami Dade County requires an NOA for any manufacturer who wants to sell its products on projects located in the Miami Dade area of Florida.

“Miami Dade set the most stringent requirements with regards to wind loads and water penetration,” Heindryckx said. “Having this NOA is proof that our panels can sustain hurricane force winds.

Umicore’s VM DLSS (NOA No.: 11-0812.04, Expiration Date 11/16/2016) is classified on the Miami Dade website as appropriate for a “high velocity hurricane zone.”

The VMZINC standing seam metal roof system features a double folded seam. The low height of the seams (1”) contributes to the modernity, lightness, and regularity of the roof and facade, while highlighting its architectural purpose.

“For more complex designs, this system presents a more technologically advanced appearance,” said Daniel Nicely, VMZINC’s Director of Market Development.

Nicely also noted that Umicore’s standing seam technique is particularly suitable for very large roof and facade surfaces and for structures located in regions of harsh climates, like mountain or continental climates, which are often subject to strong winds, heavy rain and snowfall.

“Having the Miami Dade NOA renewed shows that the quality of VMZINC’s architectural building products remains consistent,” Nicely said.

Heindryckx added: “The NOA can be used as a sales argument anywhere in the US to demonstrate the effectiveness of our product even in brutal hurricane zones.”

For more information on the Miami Dade NOA, go to www.miamidade.gov/building/pc-search_app.asp. Select Umicore Building Products USA Inc. in the field “Applicant.”

For more information on VMZINC, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

About Umicore Building Products USA, Inc.

Umicore is a world-leading producer of architectural zinc. For over 160 years, Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, NC. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

Paul Hobgood Joins Triangle Modernist Houses’ Advisory Council

Categories: architecture, business, historic preservation, mid-century architecture, modern architecture, news, non-profit, people
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Paul Hobgood

To assist the non-profit with its ongoing mission.

November 30, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) – Paul Hobgood, a design associate in the award-winning architectural firm Kenneth E Hobgood Architects in Raleigh, has been selected to serve on Triangle Modernist Houses’ 2012 Advisory Council.

TMH is a 501C3 nonprofit established in 2007 to preserve and promote Modernist architecture in the Triangle. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and historical archive for Modernist residential design in America.

Selected from a cross-section of the design community, Advisory Council members support and improve TMH’s programming, including popular house tours, architecture movies, trips, presentations, and many other events.

Paul Hobgood graduated from North Carolina State University’s College of Design in 2008 with a Masters in Architecture. He was a finalist for the Kamphoefner Honor Fellowship, an annual award that recognizes the College’s outstanding Master of Architecture student. He has worked at Kenneth E. Hobgood Architects since 2004, and has served as a design architect on a number of the firm’s modern, award-winning projects since then.

“I’m excited about serving on the Advisory Council for two reasons,” Hobgood said. “One, it’s an opportunity to further enhance a resource – TMH — that spotlights the Triangle’s rich history as it pertains to modernist homes and architects, since I’ve spent most of my life in and around modernist architecture. Two, I have a genuine sense of pride when it comes to the Triangle. I’m also intrigued by the broad spectrum of interests and specialties that comprise this year’s Advisory Council. It should make for a spirited debate/process.”

The 16-member Advisory Council meets twice a year at the modern Durham home of TMH founder and board chair George Smart.

“The Advisory Council is part focus group, part brain trust,” said Smart. “The members’ experience and insights into design and preservation have helped us create so many popular events over the years that our website is now up to 40,000-plus views a month. I’m looking forward to the innovations that will no doubt come from the 2010 Advisory Council.”

For more information on TMH, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

For more information on Paul Hobgood and Kenneth E. Hobgood Architects, visit www.kennethhobgood.com.

About Kenneth E. Hobgood, Architects:

Kenneth Hobgood, FAIA, founded Kenneth E Hobgood, Architects in Raleigh, NC, in 1992. Since then, the firm has received 39 design awards from the American Institute of Architects North Carolina chapter and its work has been published and exhibited in the United States, Japan, Italy, the Netherlands, England and Germany. In 1997, Kenneth Hobgood as awarded the Kamphoefner Prize from North Carolina State University’s College of Design for “consistent integrity and devotion to the development of modern architecture” in North Carolina. He has served as a visiting critic at Auburn University, Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kentucky, and as an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University since 1988. For more information visit www.kennethhobgood.com.

ABC’s Nightline Spotlights Rick Ingersoll, The Frugal Travel Guy

Categories: blogs, budget travel, entertainment, news, people, travel, video
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Millions who tuned in discovered “Flying First Class For Free.”

November 29, 2011 — Rick Ingersoll, author of The Frugal Travel Guy blog, received national broadcast coverage last week when he was featured on ABC’s Nightline on November 22 in a segment entitled “Flying First Class For Free.”

Ingersoll is what ABC’s John Donvan called “a frequent flier mile millionaire.” He and others like him go to extreme measures to amass airline miles and hotel rewards points so that they can travel “literally around the world in first class for next to nothing,” anchor Terry Moran said in his introduction to the segment.

Donvan taped the segment with Ingersoll during the Chicago Seminar in late October. Organized by Rick Ingersoll and other veteran “travel hackers,” the seminar teaches participants how to maximize frequent flier miles and rewards points to enjoy free or nearly free travel around the globe. Donvan pointed out that Ingersoll does the same on a daily basis on his blog The Frugal Travel Guy.

Donvan highlighted three of the methods “extreme mileage hoarders” like Ingersoll use: (1) credit card sign-up bonuses, which often offer from 20,000 to 70,000 miles for an approved card after a minimum spend on that card is reached; (2) mileage and “mattress” runs to rack up frequent flier miles or hotel bonuses; and (3) rental car deals that often offer mile deals on rentals.

“Rick wants to teach the rest of us the tricks to becoming miles millionaires, too,” Donvan said.

ABC taped Ingersoll in United Airlines’ First Class Lounge at O’Hare Airport and caught him conducting a workshop at the Seminar. Among other world travels, Ingersoll told Donvan about a 10-day trip to China he and his wife took this year in business class that would have cost around $20,000 but, instead, cost them only $60 each in taxes plus 120,000 miles each.

In the luxury of a first class cabin aboard a parked United jet, Donvan asked him, “So you think this is something ordinary folks can do?”

“Not only can, but should do,” Ingersoll said.

ABC’s “Nightline” is late-night television’s award-winning news program featuring anchors Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran and Bill Weir. A video of November 22 segment with Rick Ingersoll and a transcript of the show are available at http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/frequent-flyer-secrets-tips-racking-travel-points/story?id=15001634#.TtKMmHG8pEQ.

For more information on The Frugal Travel Guy, visit www.frugaltravelguy.com.

About The Frugal Travel Guy:

Rick Ingersoll is the author of The Frugal Travel Guy blog, which is read around the world and averages 6000 views per day, and The Frugal Travel Guy Handbook. He is constantly on the lookout for the best credit card and debit card sign-up bonuses and other promotions. He posts frugal travel tips deals every day on his blog with the goal of reducing his readers’ travel costs for the rest of their lives. He is also available for seminars and speaking engagements. For more information visit www.frugaltravelguy.com.

Bridges CAP/C Program and Hilltop Home Collaborate with “Money Follows The Person” To Make A Child’s Dream Come True

Categories: health, kids' issues, news, non-profit, people with disabiliites
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November 29, 2011 (Raleigh NC) — A child living with complex medical needs will be moving from her

L-R: Maria and her twin sister Nicole.

current residential placement back to her family’s home due to the collaborative efforts of RHA Howell’s Bridges Community Alternative Program for Children (CAP-C), Hilltop Home (a private, nonprofit residential center), and the North Carolina “Money Follows the Person” project.

Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a state demonstration project that assists people who live in inpatient facilities to move into their own communities with supports. The project’s intent is to allow North Carolinians to have greater choice about where they receive their long-term supports.

This marks the first time that MFP has assisted in transitioning a child with complex medical needs back to her home through CAP-C. Much of the credit goes to Holly Lemieux, Executive Director of Hilltop Home, for recognizing that this particular child was ready to return home, and for getting CAP-C to assist in helping the family re-unite.

“This 18-month partnership with Hilltop Home and RHA Howell CAP/C has been a true labor of love,” Lemieux said. “After nine years, this family is realizing their dream of having Maria at home where she belongs. Many thanks to Lena Robertson, RHA Howell CAP/C case manager, for her advocacy in making this happen.”

The RHA Bridges staff has been working closely for months with Trish Farnham, Project Director, and Christy Blevins, Assistant Director for the MFP project, to make this family’s dream a reality.

“Our CAP-C professional team has been working diligently to identify the needs this child will have upon her discharge to ensure a seamless and successful transition back to home,” said John Gibbons, Director of Bridges CAP-C Case Management. “Our case managers also helped to organize home and vehicle modifications to make the environment ready for the child’s return home.”

The modifications included widening doorways, installing a ceiling lift to move Maria safely about the home, building an entry ramp, and modifying the family van to accommodate her wheelchair.

“It has been quite an undertaking for our case managers,” said Gibbons, “but one that has also been rewarding for all of us.”

MFP provided funding of $23,000 to help make this dream a reality. The funds were approved in advance to ensure that the needed modifications could be in working order prior to Maria’s discharge from Hilltop Home and before the effective date for her CAP-C services to begin.

For more information on North Carolina’s Money Follows The Person program: http://www.ncdhhs.gov/dma/medicaid/MFP.htm.

About RHA Bridges:

RHA Bridges, a program within RHA Howell, Inc., serves as a “bridge” between families, needed services, the Department of Social Services, the Division of Medical Assistance, physicians, and therapists. CAP-C Bridges helps to coordinate the work of home health professionals who provide care for children with medically complex needs through age 21. For more information on the Bridges CAP-C Case Management program, visit www.rhabridges.com or call 919-803-2960.

About RHA Howell, Inc.:

RHA Howell is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that has been helping people with disabilities and special needs, and their families, make choices to live more independently for nearly 40 years. Integrity, high standards for quality and hard work are at the core of every RHA Howell disability assistance program. Proven leaders in caring for people, RHA Howell, Inc. is a pioneering force in the field of human services, particularly supporting infants and children. For more information, go to www.rhahowell.org.

Green Hill Center Invites Jason Craighead To Join Winter Show

Categories: art, events, news
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Raleigh artist will feature three works in Greensboro’s premiere art exhibit.

Struggle For Comfort, mixed media on canvas, 50x by 60h

November 28, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) — Green Hill Center for North Carolina Art, located in Greensboro, has invited Raleigh artist Jason Craighead to show and sell his work during the 2011 Winter Show, Greensboro’s premiere art exhibition, from December 4 – January 15.

Jason Craighead is a recognized leader in the North Carolina art scene. His work has been featured in many solo and group exhibitions throughout the Southeastern United States, and it is included in many private and public collections throughout the United States and internationally.

Green Hill Center is one of North Carolina’s preeminent contemporary visual art centers, celebrating the state’s art and culture. This is first time Craighead has participate in the invitation-only Winter Show of 100 artists from across the state, although he has been a part of other events at the Center.

“Having participated last year in Drawing Revisited show and knowing Edie Carpenter and the other staff members there, I have so much appreciation for what they do at the Green Hill Center,” the artist said. “It’s a great venue and a great educational

That Last Fandango, mixed media on paper, 22w by 30h

resource. I’m flattered to be asked to participate, with a group of artists I have great respect for as well.”

Craighead will have three pieces in the Winter Show: a 50w by 60h work on canvas entitled “Struggle for Comfort” and two 22w by 30h works on paper entitled “This Distance” and “That Last Fandango.”

The Winter Show opens Saturday, December 3, with the Collector’s Choice gala fundraiser from 7 to 11 p.m. Gala-goers have an advance opportunity to purchase pieces in the exhibition before they are available to the public. The Show opens to the public on Sunday, December 4, from 2 to 5pm.

The Green Hill Center is located at 200 North Davie Street, Greensboro, NC 27401-2819. (Phone: 336-333-7460). For more information, go to www.greenhillcenter.org.

For more information on Jason Craighead, visit www.jasoncraighead.com.

This Distance, mixed media on paper, 22w by 30h

About Jason Craighead:

Jason Craighead has been a professional artist and an active participant in the Raleigh arts community for many years. He is a member of the City of Raleigh Arts Commission and chairman of its Art, Education and Collections Committee. He has donated many paintings to charitable art auctions, including the annual Art Papers Auction in Atlanta, and his paintings consistently bring in some of the highest bids. He serves regularly as a juror for art shows throughout North Carolina. He is represented by Flanders Gallery in Raleigh, NC, Broadhurst Gallery in Pinehurst, NC, and Thomas Deans Fine Art in Atlanta, GA. For more information: www.jasoncraighead.com.

VMZINC® Enjoys Record Attendance at Expo CIHAC

Categories: architecture, business, construction, events, green architecture, news
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L-R: Juan Clavel, Veronica Valderrama, Esperanza Munguía, Lili Martinez, and Francisco Jover.

November 21, 2011 (Raleigh, NC) — If attendance at the VMZINC® booth at Expo CIHAC last month is any indication, Mexico will be a thriving market for Umicore Building Products, as the global company anticipates.

Expo CIHAC is the premier event in Mexico and Latin America for the building, construction, and housing industries. Held at Centro Banamex in Mexico City, the show features building materials, machinery, equipment, hand and power tools, building systems and prefabricated technologies, financial services, real estate, finished houses, insulates, piping, and more. Expo CIHAC also includes various technical seminars about the latest challenges and trends of the industry.

Architect Juan Clavel of Aldbanta Arquitects and the NOW Specialities, Inc., agent in Mexico, manned the VMZINC booth assisted by Francisco Jover, VMZINC Director of Sales in Spain.

The booth featured all of Umicore’s VMZINC architectural zinc products, including ALPOLIC composite zinc by Mitsubishi Plastics Composites American, Inc., using NOW’s zinc composite rainscreen systems.

According to Verónica Valderrama, coordinator of Mexico-Sales, attendance was “incredible. This was only our second year exhibiting at Expo CIHAC. The first year we had over 500 registered visitors to our booth. This year we had over 1000 registered visitors. Total attendance for the show has not been released, but the previous year was over 50,000.”

Expo CIHAC attracts exhibitors from all over the world and is attended primarily by people in the industries from Mexico, Central and South America.

“With our Mexican companies’ work experience in the past and the interest in our products at this year’s expo, we believe Mexico will be a great market for VMZINC,” Valderrama said.

For more information on VMZINC, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

For more information on Expo Cihac, go to www.cihac.com.mx/.

About Umicore Building Products USA, Inc.

Umicore is a world-leading producer of architectural zinc. For over 160 years Umicore has been providing innovative solutions for building owners, architects and contractors. Umicore has offices and representatives all over the world. In the United States, Umicore Building Products USA, Inc., is based in Raleigh, NC. For additional information, visit www.vmzinc-us.com.

Triangle Modernist Houses Names 2012 Advisory Council

Categories: architecture, historic preservation, jazz, mid-century architecture, modern architecture, news, non-profit, people
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November 17, 2011 (DURHAM, NC) – George Smart, founder and director of Triangle Modernist Houses.com (TMH), has named the organization’s 2012 Advisory Council.

Appointment to the Advisory Council is a one-year term starting January 1, 2012. Selected from a cross-section of the design community, Advisory Council members support and improve TMH’s programming including popular house tours, architecture movies, trips, presentations, and many other events.

Members of the 2012 TMH Advisory Council are:

Queron Smith, Senior Vice President, M&F Bank
Architect Chad Parker, AIA, of Gensler
Caterri Woodrum, Chief Financial Officer, NC Museum of Art
Architect Brian Shawcroft, AIA
Greg Raschke, Associate Director for Collections and Scholarly Communication Administration for the N.C. State University Libraries
Architect Robby Johnson, AIA, of Clearscapes
Stan Williams, Senior Director of Public Affairs for the North Carolina Symphony
Architect Matt Griffith, AIA, principal of in situ studio
Dr. David Brook, Director, North Carolina Archives & History
Architect Jessica Johnson Moore, AIA, of More Space Studio
Design associate Paul Hobgood of Kenneth Hobgood Architects
Architect Jody Brown, AIA, author of the blog “Coffee With an Architect”
Project designer Tika Hicks of Frank Harmon Architect PA
Ann Marie Baum, Cherry Modern
Architect K.C. Ramsay
Kim Weiss, principal of Blueplate PR and public relations coordinator for Triangle Modernist Houses

“One of the greatest challenges we face in architectural history is the identification, protection, and public appreciation of North Carolina’s modernist architecture—especially of houses,” said Dr. Brook, “I am particularly interested in the intellectual and architectural legacy of Dean Henry Kamphoefner and the faculty and students of the former School of Design at NCSU. I welcome membership on the TMH Advisory Council as a way to preserve this heritage and to encourage future excellence and innovation in architectural design.”

“The Advisory Council is part focus group, part brain trust. Their experience and insights into design and preservation tapped new wildly popular events moved our website up to 30,000+ hits a month. It’s an honor to get this dream team together, and I look forward to a great 2012,” said George Smart.

For more information on Triangle Modernist Houses, visit www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

About Triangle Modernist Houses:

Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH) is an award-winning 501C3 nonprofit established in 2007 dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting Modernist residential design. The award-winning website is now the largest educational and historical archive for Modernist residential design in America. TMH also hosts popular house tours several times a year. For more information: www.trianglemodernisthouses.com. TMH also maintains an active community on Facebook. For more information: www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.

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