10 Questions on Skylight and Curtain Wall Industry Trends
With Adrian Ayotte, President, AGT

How long have you been in the skylight and curtain wall industry?

I have been in the industry since 1983. Throughout that time my goal has been to grow AGT into an industry leader. By developing a talented and dedicated workforce, AGT has quickly grown from a small engineering firm using outside companies for extrusion into a single-source supplier for some of the world’s most complex glazing projects.

In your view, what are the most impressive changes in the industry during that time?

The innovative use of glass has been the most dramatic change in our industry. Our industry has evolved from four-sided support, fully capped systems to frameless systems supported by cables and point supports with everything in between.

Glass has improved as well. The early days saw tinted glass as a daring innovation. But today, we have high performance glass, large sizes, low-e, gas filled, fritted patterns of any design, point-supported, frame-supported, warm-edge technology and much more all available at prices that are historically quite stable. You get a lot more glass for your money today than you did 25 years ago.

AGT started out as Architectural Skylight Company, and has now grown to include curtain wall. What led to the expansion of the company?

It was a natural extension of the work we do because they both include aluminum frames and glass. AGT has the best equipment in the industry to manufacture frames to close tolerances and the engineering to support this activity. Having provided complex frames for other companies led us to conclude we could have an impact in the curtain wall industry.

How do design, manufacturing and installation challenges differ from sloped glazing to vertical glazing?

Vertical glazing requires more attention to the installation phase of the work. In order to save time and money, most curtain wall projects include unitizing individual frames that can be installed efficiently in the field. Coordination of window delivery for immediate installation is crucial as most projects are limited in space to store completed work. Architects often have unique applications that require custom dies to meet the specification. This is a process that requires a level of intensity and know-how that is inherent at AGT.

You introduced E-Skylight.com to allow customers to design and order their own skylights completely online. How has that changed the way projects are managed in the construction industry?

I am not sure that the impact has been on project management as much as it has been on the customer. The online system is a friendly, efficient and interactive way to do your own design. The pricing feature of this product allows the user to run multiple designs and compare prices without obligation. It is cutting edge technology available for free. E-skylight.com is like getting a C-class Mercedes – you know it is a smaller version of the larger Mercedes, but it is still a Mercedes.

What do you consider to be most unique about the way that AGT conducts its business?

We have a company philosophy of promoting our products and services on their own merits and never talk down a competitor’s work. We feel our work speaks for itself.

You’re an engineer by training – how does that affect the way you run your business?

Well, perhaps because I am an engineer I look for projects that are challenging and interesting to us. I love to consider projects that require a unique solution, a new way of doing something, and I welcome those projects where someone else has said it cannot be done. When we complete a project of this caliber it is always rewarding to see the complex engineering brought to life.

What are some of the ways that AGT has shortened installation time with its engineering and project management process?

Rather than using outside contractors for this work, we have in-house engineers that are dedicated to our work. We feel that it is an advantage to have our engineering under our control. And, as part of our internal controls, we use state of the art project management software to track all projects.

What would you tell a building owner who is interested in building with custom skylights or curtain wall, but does not have experience with it?

I would advise him to get a good architect to draw up his dreams and allow us an opportunity to help in the design. Glass is a great product and really does change the character of a building by bringing in sunlight and a feeling of openness. People just feel better when they have a window where they can view the world.

What do you know now that you would like to have known about the glass industry when you first started in the business?

Glass has changed dramatically over the years and we have kept pace with those innovations. Rather than wishing for what I might have known then, I prefer to stay current with new uses and applications, working with creative individuals that continually push the envelope.

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