Updated July 9, 2020
A: No. GlassBuild America 2020 is cancelled. The next in-person GlassBuild America is scheduled for September 13-15, 2021, in Atlanta.
A: This decision was made after much discussion and input from exhibitors, attendees and the National Glass Association (NGA)’s Las Vegas partners.
The State of Nevada currently prohibits public gatherings of more than 50 individuals in any indoor or outdoor areas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) does not anticipate that this limitation will be increased in a manner to allow large groups to gather in the Las Vegas Convention Center exhibit halls and meeting rooms in time for NGA’s September 2020 event.
NGA sent 35,583 attendee surveys and 333 exhibitor surveys, comprising the entire glass and fenestration industry supply chain, to gauge the feasibility and interest. For both polling groups, the overwhelming consensus indicated that it was impracticable and unsafe to proceed with the show.
As the industry’s trade association, it is NGA’s responsibility to operate in the best business and safety interests of its members, GlassBuild America stakeholders and the industry at large, and this is why we took the extraordinary step to cancel for this year.
A: GlassBuild America unites our industry for in-person business and connection. It’s the largest industry trade show in this hemisphere (and is ranked 97th on TSNN’s Top 250 Trade Show list), attracting buyers and sellers from more than 70 countries around the world every year. While we can’t replicate the genuine, in-person trade show experience this year, NGA is building an online product and education showcase to source products and services from the industry’s leading suppliers.
NGA will host GlassBuild Connect, an online interactive marketplace, Sept. 1-30, 2020.
A: GlassBuild America fuels almost everything we do as a nonprofit trade association, from advocacy work to protect the industry, to providing education and training programs, to producing hundreds of technical publications, to promoting our industry in front of stakeholders such as architects, building owners and code and regulatory bodies.
Unfortunately, NGA was not eligible for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans—only for-profit companies and charitable organizations were covered.
The good news is, the NGA is financially sound, so while this year’s cancellation is a “hit” to our nonprofit bottom line, the industry’s trade association is strong enough to weather the COVID-19 impacts. Thanks to NGA’s Board of Directors stewardship, prudent fiduciary oversight and strong management, NGA has savings—reserves in nonprofit lingo—to continue its essential work on behalf of its members and the industry and also pay its bills until revenue flows again.
It’s important to recognize that GlassBuild America without NGA would lose the quality and care of service and the industry-wide legitimacy and megaphone that is the industry’s trade association. This megaphone is amplified though the show’s official publications—Glass Magazine and Window+Door—also our websites, newsletters and other live events, including the BEC Conference, Glazing Executives Forum, Glass Processing Automation Days (GPAD) and NGA Glass Conferences where our technical volunteers gather twice a year.
GlassBuild America’s exhibitors buy booth space every year to market, promote and sell the best products and services the glass and fenestration industry have to offer. These supplier companies return every year because the buyers do and in turn, provide the fuel for NGA to serve the industry.
A: Yes! GlassBuild America is on September 13-15, 2021 in Atlanta, GA. The majority of GlassBuild Connect exhibitors you’ll see this year online will be back live at the Georgia World Congress Center once more.
It’s fair to say we’re all missing seeing and talking in person, checking out what’s new, what’s changed, handling products in a newly minted booth, being captivated by impressive machinery demos, sharing memories, the good-natured ribbing, and yes—the handshakes and hugs that cement business deals and long-term industry friendships.
For all of that, we’re on pause for now.
For now, there is GlassBuild Connect, and we look forward to seeing you online.
A: Mark your calendar for these NGA events:
NGA Glass Conference: Clearwater Beach
January 18-20, 2021
Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, FL
Where like-minded business leaders gather to influence and advance the industry through our Forming, Fabricating, and Advocacy Committee activities.
Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference
March 21-23, 2021
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Glass Processing Automation Days (GPAD)
March 23-25, 2021
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV
These two solutions-focused educational events will be co-located in 2021. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, the Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference is geared primarily to glazing contractors and is a mix of educational presentations, tabletop displays and networking. Glass Processing Automation Days (GPAD) is designed for glass fabrication industry leaders focused on improving their production capabilities. There will be a one-day overlap between the events, bridging both audiences and bringing them together for an industry economic forecast and motivational speaker.
NGA Glass Conference: Chicago
July 20-22, 2021
Renaissance Chicago North Shore in Northbrook, IL
A place for the brightest technical minds behind the glass and glazing industry to gather to discuss new resource development and trends and issues facing the industry.
Webinars
Be sure to watch glass.org, Glass Magazine and Window + Door for announcements of monthly Thirsty Thursday webinars and other business-building webinars throughout the year.