The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announced that the second meeting of the Building Product Manufacturers Alliance (BPMA) would take place Dec. 8-10, 2008, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, Calif.

Open Energy Corporation, a renewable energy company focused on delivering building integrated photovoltaic solutions, announced that it has completed its largest solar electric installation for the new California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Calif.

B.L. Downey Company announced the appointment of Mark A. Prochaska as Maintenance Manager with responsibilities for equipment and building preventative maintenance in B.L. Downey Company’s 325,000-square-foot plant in Broadview, Ill.

The Midwest Roofing Contractor’s Association (MRCA) National Conference was held Nov. 12-14 at the beautiful Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

John J. Silvia of Matthews, N.C., has been named architectural sales representative for Englert, Inc., targeting architects interested in designing with metal roofing in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Legendary NBA player Bill Walton will deliver the Keynote Address during the 2009 International Roofing Expo, Feb. 3-5, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Held immediately prior to the opening of the show, the Keynote Address, “Nothing but Net,” will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. in the South Pacific Ballroom E. 

To help architects and design engineers overcome problems with roof garden installation, water leakage and root penetration, Dow Hyperlast has introduced VERDISEAL Green Roof Waterproofing System.

The MRCA’s motto is: A Commitment to Education is a Commitment to Your Company’s Future.” So it was no surprise that the estimated 1,000 people in attendance were treated to an array of educational programs and a trade floor full of the newest products in the roofing industry, including the continued push of advertising for “green” products.

Applicad launched RoofScape for Architects at the Interbuild trade show in Birmingham, England, in October, and it will be on display again at the rapidly approaching Big5 show in Dubai.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a global champion and leader on issues of sustainability and the environment, will be the keynote speaker at the first COOLWALL Symposium sponsored by Textured Coatings of America (TexCote) on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009, in Las Vegas.