tangents ‘25 | Phoenix
By: Craig Howard
Last week, Ivan and I were invited by Western Windows Systems to tour their factory in Phoenix, AZ. This was part of their annual "Architectour" where WWS invites a group of architects and designers from all over the country to come network, see projects, and to learn about WWS and what new window products they're working on. The first night, we were invited to a social gala hosted by ICONIC LIFE at a spec house in Paradise Valley that features WWS products throughout, including their most well-known product, their multi-panel sliding door. They employed an 8-panel sliding door that stretched about 40' across, opening up an entire wall, connecting the kitchen and living spaces to the patio and pool area. It was a gorgeous house that really epitomized that indoor-outdoor connection that is a vital experience for southwest living.
Day 2 was a full tour of the massive WWS factory in Phoenix. We got a complete walkthrough of the process of manufacturing a variety of window and door products. It was incredibly informative and provided new insights for how windows and doors can be incorporated into a variety of projects. We also got to learn about an upcoming product line that is specifically targeting the increased Title 24 Energy requirements in the State of California, allowing these open wall designs that are currently difficult to incorporate due to strict U-value codes. That night we got to hang out with the whole 40-person group at TopGolf Scottsdale, where Ivan and I finished 1st and 2nd in the overall scoring; not bragging.
On Day 3, we got a wonderful guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West campus in Scottsdale. The compound was once the winter home for Wright and his team of apprentices. They painstakingly built every structure and planned out every landscaped environment to fit perfectly into the desert landscape overlooking Camelback Mountain to the west. Ivan and I had been here numerous times previously, but tor the first time, we got to tour the drafting studio (which is normally closed to tourists) and view some of the work that the apprentices did for the Guggenheim Museum. We're suckers for these drawings and it was great to see some of the original work.
We thank Western Windows for the opportunity and for providing a wonderful few days in Phoenix!
