2007 Media Releases & Alerts
NAHB Research Center Opens New State-of-the-Art Product Testing Laboratory and
Market Research Facility
Leading Product Testing and Market Research Agency for Residential Construction
Expands to Improve Housing Performance and Speed Acceptance of Innovative
Building Technologies
NAHB Research Center president Michael Luzier led off the day’s celebration. He
was joined on stage by Don Pratt and Gary Grossman, chairman and vice chairman
of the Research Center BOD; Mike Adams, president of Gardiner & Gardiner;
NAHB vice president and secretary Bob Jones; and NAHB president Brian Catalde.
See Fox Morning Show coverage of the Grand Opening. June 5, 2007, Upper Marlboro, Md. - The NAHB Research Center, one of the
nation's — and the world's — leading housing research institutions, today
announced the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art product testing
laboratory and market research facility. Part of a major expansion effort to
advance housing technology research and improve the quality and durability of
homes, the specialized facility will provide home builders and building product
manufacturers the industry’s broadest array of third-party product testing,
quality assurance, and market research services available under one roof. Since
its founding in 1964 as a subsidiary of the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB), the Research Center has been the home building industry’s
leading source for objective information and analysis on housing construction
and development issues and an integral component of the NAHB Federation’s
overall housing advocacy, education, and research mission.
NAHB president Brian Catalde keynoted the ceremony, addressing the important
role of the Research Center and its new facility in a redoubled commitment to
improve the quality and affordability of homes for all Americans. Other
presenters included Jerry Howard, NAHB executive vice president and chief
executive officer, Bob Jones, NAHB vice president and secretary, Don Pratt,
chairman of the NAHB Research Center Board of Directors, Gary L. Grossman,
secretary and treasurer of the NAHB Research Center Board of Directors, Mike
Adams, president of Gardiner & Gardiner, and Michael Luzier, NAHB Research
Center president and chief executive officer. More than 500 guests attended the
ceremony and dedication of the new facility.
Driving Innovation in Housing Technology
NAHB Research Center president Michael Luzier stated that there is currently a
wide array of obstacles to moving new products into the housing market, which
the Research Center is working to improve with its testing and market research.
Constructing the new facility is an essential part of the company’s business
strategy and will help to leverage its position as a research authority in the
residential construction industry. "This new facility will enable the NAHB
Research Center to further integrate our engineering and market research
expertise and provide our clients specialized and comprehensive product
commercialization services to help them overcome the many barriers to
innovation in the home building industry," said Luzier.
The NAHB Research Center is recognized as a test laboratory, quality assurance
agency, and certified product listing agency by many building and plumbing code
agencies, and by national, state, and local code enforcement authorities. New
capabilities supported by the 42,000-square-foot lab include large-scale
thermal testing, acoustic performance testing, and two-story shear wall
testing. Its increased size will also make it possible to simulate real-world
forces of nature such as wind-driven rain and wind-blown debris on whole-house
models, which was not possible in the previous facility. In addition, the
integrated 1,000-square-foot market research suite and observation gallery
overlooking the testing floor is a unique feature of the laboratory, combining
applied market research, focus groups, and roundtables with real-time
observation capabilities.
The NAHB Research Center provides the following specialized material and
structural systems testing, research, and certification programs for public and
private clients:
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Products and Systems Testing.
The Research Center works with builders and manufacturers to test the
performance of products and subsystems used in homes today, with both
controlled laboratory tests and evaluation in the field.
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Product Certification.
The Research Center laboratory certifies products to nationally recognized
standards. The NAHB Research Center certified seal assures builders, code
officials, and consumers that products meet or exceed the applicable industry
standards.
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Builder and Trade Contractor Certification.
Through its National Housing Quality Program, the NAHB Research Center has
established quality assurance requirements for builders and trade contractors
to help these professionals implement QM systems which are evaluated and
audited annually to tightly control the construction process and improve
customer satisfaction.
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Services for Manufacturers and Industry. The Research
Center provides proprietary and customized market research services, including
roundtables, focus groups and interviews to help builders and manufacturers
understand customer preferences.
For more information on the NAHB Research Center and its services for builders,
manufacturers, and private-sector clients, visit www.nahbrc.org.
6/07
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