HITT Contracting has a unique history, starting back in the 1930s as a small family-owned business in Arlington, VA. What started as a six-person operation, HITT now has over 1,000 employees. As a major player in the construction community, they are an innovator exploring sustainable and virtual resource technologies in the industry. HITT was voted ENR’s Mid-Atlantic Contractor of the Year, the award-winning team produces a wide variety of projects on a national scale.

Metal buildings have a long history in the United States, dating back to the first steel -framed skyscraper in the late 1800s. Beginning its rise with steel, the emergence of metal buildings was prevalent around WWII when it was used to construct bomb shelters. It became more and more popular through the 21st century with a variety of natural metal and natural metal substitutes being offered.

With over a century in the construction business, Clark expanded from a small local excavator to a nationally trusted and operated brand. With over 4,000 employees, the company operates from Maryland to Seattle, Washington. Their expansive portfolio includes well-known projects around the country and the team has been awarded over 1,000 regional and national awards. As you can imagine, construction has changed a lot over the past 100 years, and Clark remains an innovator, staying abreast to the latest and greatest in construction technologies and practices.

There are a multitude of benefits to utilizing metal substrates in architectural applications. The many benefits include customization, economic efficiency, innovative design opportunities and ease of both fabrication and installation. Whether the material is a metal composite or single skin, these products offer a sustainable and tested alternative to traditional cladding materials.

In an article by Cristina Villalón, Co-Founder and Lead Designer at Álvarez-Díaz & Villalón, she discusses over a dozen popular trends in hospitality design. As she describes, the average hotel patron is exceedingly difficult to please, she states, “Their expectations are high. Their appetites, eclectic. And their fingers are ever-busy, hammering on smartphones, sharing every experience—especially unpleasant and disappointing ones…” To accommodate this demanding consumer base, design requirements are purposeful, contemporary and sophisticated.