Architecturally Speaking by Sara Sandock

Greetings industry veterans! I wanted to introduce myself as Sara Sandock, the new editor for MA. My background is in publishing, and I have written for a plethora of business-to-business publications covering a range of industries such as: home décor/interior design, project management, not-for-profit, finance, fast food, technology, healthcare, construction and, last but not least, metal! However, I would not consider myself a metal connoisseur by any means but find myself impressed with the creative design possibilities I am seeing in several metal projects that have come my way.

I have a few friends in different facets of the architectural industry, and am always envious of the end-results they achieve. Whether it is a brand new structure that took years to perfect, or simply a few “architectural” upgrades that make a building more durable for a longer period of time, individuals in the architecture industry definitely deserve those bragging rights. It is very interesting to me to take a step back from the element of design element that I have become so accustomed to, and observe a more in-depth understanding of the materials that are behind the beauty. Metal, at first thought, doesn’t necessarily stir up creative juices, but when you are presented with the possibilities that metal materials bring to the surface (literally), it becomes an even more intriguing avenue to consider.

Currently, I am accepting submissions for Market Feature projects in the religious sector for Metal Architecture’s October issue, and have to say am really impressed with the imagery and information I have received thus far. Every day structures that you may pass each day without a second glance, such as churches and other religious sanctuaries, really serve several functions within the community. For instance, several projects used metal to be cost-efficient. Obviously, churches are not-for-profit structures with a usually small budget to maintain, so every dollar saved really goes a long way. Also, some of the religious projects submitted were created or retrofitted to serve more than one use. For example, primarily a church, one of the projects also plays the part of a community center, conference hall and even a theatre when necessary. The versatility in design with metal is a topic I look forward to dig into even deeper as the year goes by!

Submit any comments or religious-related project information to ssandock@moderntrade.com. I look forward to working with all of you!