MBMA Announces 2026 Architecture Faculty Workshops at UMass Amherst
Cleveland, OH – The Metal Building Manufacturers Association
(MBMA) will hold its annual Architecture Faculty Workshop for college
and university professors from across the county on April 15 and 16 at
the University of Massachusetts. Workshop attendees will take a tour of
the UMass campus and visit a nearby metal building manufacturing plant.
Registration for the program is now underway at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2026arch, and there is no fee for architecture educators to attend.
“The
annual MBMA Architecture Faculty Workshop has been a great benefit to
the educational community,” says John-Paul (JP) Cardin, P.E., MBMA
Director of Research and Engineering. “In addition to learning about
metal building systems, attendees get insights into our student design
contest and can help their students be successful in the competition.”
The event is FREE for everyone, but for the first 25 registrants, all costs for travel, meals and lodging will be reimbursed by MBMA.
The
workshop introduces metal building systems to faculty and presents
ideas for integrating this popular building type into the curriculum.
One focus of the workshop is the annual MBMA student design competition,
underway during the fall academic semester, which awards more than
$30,000 to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty sponsors. The
workshop provides the background for faculty to serve as advisors for
the competition.
The workshop begins with an introduction to
metal building systems and a look at design trends. Additional
presentations and speakers include the following:
• MBMA Student Design Competition Insights, Eric F. Pros, AIA, Director of Design, DS Architecture
• Metal Building Designs – In and Out of the Classroom, Stephen Schreiber, FAIA, ACSA, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at UMass
• The Diamonds of New England: From Fenway Park to Polar Park,
Janet Marie Smith, AIA, Co-founder & Chair of Canopy Team, and
Executive Vice President for Planning & Development, the Los Angeles
Dodgers
Attendees
of the workshop will receive free publications and access to resources
about metal buildings. On top of the presentations and tour of the UMass
campus, a local metal building manufacturing plant tour is scheduled
for the morning of Wednesday, April 16.
“We look forward to
seeing academic leaders and providing more information about metal
buildings and our design contest,” comments MBMA General Manager Tony
Bouquot. “Our competition is open to both graduate and undergraduate
students, so educators at all levels can gain some important insights by
attending.” He notes that typical attendees include undergraduate
and graduate college and university professors, graduate
program advisers, deans of architecture schools and practicing
architecture professionals who are also adjunct professors.
About The Metal Building Manufacturers Association
Founded in 1956, MBMA serves manufacturers and suppliers that work with
industry professionals, architects, building designers, educators,
building code officials and others to advance the metal building systems
industry. The efforts of member volunteers and association staff
regularly lead to industry improvements and groundbreaking research.
Resources on the association's website include technical materials, research reports, videos and design guides, plus news of the most current research and ideas to propel the
industry. MBMA also provides graduate and undergraduate educational
resources at MBMAeducation.org. For more information, visit mbma.com.