Design & Construction Week (DCW) 2020, Jan. 21-23 in Las Vegas, gives plumbing, heating and cooling professionals two trade shows to learn about new products and trends they can use to ensure their customers’ projects are the best they can be.
This year marks the seventh time that the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) have co-located their trade shows—the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Builders’ Show. Featuring products from more than 2,000 exhibits in more than 1 million sq. ft. of space, industry experts and numerous networking opportunities, DCW gives the estimated 95,000 residential design and construction professional attendees the best bang for their bucks.
• Opening ceremonies. Basketball legend and business mogul Earvin “Magic” Johnson will headline the Design & Construction Week opening ceremonies, taking place the morning of Jan. 21. Complimentary shuttle bus service will be provided between all official IBS and KBIS hotels and the Paradise Event Center at the Westgate, except properties that are within walking distance. Learn more at www.kbis.com/opening-ceremonies.
• Closing concert. Attendees can listen to the Grammy Award-winning Doobie Brothers at the closing concert Jan. 23. Tickets are $40 and must be purchased in advance (www.kbis.com/closing-concert).
Check out these additional must-see events scheduled for both shows.
KBIS 2020
Kitchen and bath fixtures and other products are a more than $158 billion business—one-quarter of the U.S. residential construction market—notes NKBA’s Kitchen and Bath Outlook report, released last February. “Our research reveals the strong position of the kitchen and bath industry, which is particularly significant in times of a fluctuating economy," notes NKBA CEO Bill Darcy.
Of this $158 billion total, the report notes, $99 billion (63 percent) is generated by remodeling and replacement projects in existing homes. The remaining $59 billion (37 percent) comes from new home construction.
Anyone involved in the design and installation of residential kitchens and bath spaces should make their way to Las Vegas to the KBIS 2020 (www.kbis.com) to view the freshest designs from more than 600 exhibitors encompassing three halls, including 70 new exhibitors.
The show is also attracting boutique specialty brands from around the world. More than 25 global brands from Germany, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Spain and the United Kingdom will be present, showcasing unique products not typically found at the event. Many will be found near the KBIS Edit area of the show floor. Find your favorite exhibitors at www.kbis.com/show/floor-plan-exhibitor-list.
• KBISNeXT Experience. Anchored by the KBISNeXT Stage, located in the South Hall, it will host more than 15 programs, including four awards events, 50+ industry-leading voices and personalities, and topics ranging from health and wellness and resilient design to business development.
Some of the show’s thought-provoking programs including Design Bites, Best of KBIS Awards, Discovery District, Showcase for Living in Place, Lightovation Lounge and Lighting Pavilion, DCW Outdoor Living Pavilion, and the Design Milk X Modenus Talks Lounge. Learn more at www.kbis.com/show/kbisnext-experience.
• KBISThink. Hosted in the KBISNeXT Experience, this program offers all industry professionals the opportunity to tune up their knowledge base. To learn more, visit www.kbis.com/think.
• VIP Technology Tour. “Consumers from North America were forecast to spend the most on smart home systems and services in 2022, with expenditures amounting to 63 billion U.S. dollars, in comparison to consumers from other regions,” says market research firm Statista.
Created specifically for design, construction and technology pros who wish to learn more about products available that enable the “connected home,” the inaugural VIP Technology Tour will be hosted by Sally Finder, senior architecture editor of Traditional Home magazine. Taking place Jan. 21, the tour is sponsored by Thermador, which will host a lunch and demonstration at the close of the event.
• Living-in-place topics. The Living In Place Institute is hosting more than 25 talks, roundtables, tours and experiential events to educate all kitchen and bath industry professionals on the benefits of designing safe, secure and beautiful homes for all persons—whether aged 8 or 80.
Presented by a mix of Certified Living in Place Professional graduates, the topics include bathroom designs for living-in-place, living-in-place—the solution, and working with living-in-place veterans. Visit www.kbis.com/think for scheduled programs.
• Wellness topics. From bioadaptive lighting to living in place and ergonomics in the kitchen and bath, the issues of health and wellness in design is at a pivotal moment. With the continued graying of the country’s population, there is a need to design houses—and in particular, kitchens and baths—that meet the physical and mental requirements of their residents. To meet this growing demand, the NKBA has scheduled 10 CEU presentations on the topic of health and wellness in design.
• DesignBites. Ten of the most innovative kitchen and bath brands take the stage for a rapid-fire introduction of their newest product launches. Plus, where are they now? Host Kelli Ellis celebrates the fifth anniversary of DesignBites with a look back at some of the program’s most successful participants.
• NKBA Voices from the Industry. Attendees can register to attend 74 education sessions (www.kbis.com/conference/voices-from-the-industry-conference).
• Awards. The NKBA kicks off KBIS 2020 with the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Design + Industry Awards show Jan. 20. Among the awards presented will be the Innovative Showroom Awards, the Best of KBIS Awards and the Best Booth Awards.
IBS 2020
Attendees of IBS 2020 (www.buildersshow.com) with a full conference registration will have access to more than 130 education sessions led by experts on a wide range of industry topics. New this year, Master Workshops, previously known as Master Sessions, will be held Jan. 20, the day before the show officially kicks off as part of pre-show education and will be open to all registered show attendees for an additional fee.
Download the IBS 2020 mobile app from the Apple App Store and Google Play and have the show schedule and your favorite exhibitors’ booth numbers at your fingertips.
• The 2020 Housing & Economic Outlook. As the market suffers from affordability constraints and lack of inventory, due to ongoing shortages of labor and lots, this advanced session will present both challenges and opportunities for builders and suppliers over the next year. Nationally-recognized economists will discuss the outlook for employment, housing prices and construction starts (for single-family and multifamily) and remodeling.
• The New American Home 2020. Now in its 37th year, the New American Home is the official show home of the annual International Builders Show. Sun West Custom Homes is again the design/build firm for this year’s edition, and when completed, it will be 7,623 sq. ft. The home is designed and constructed to achieve National Green Building Standards “Emerald” certification, Energy Star and net-zero status. This year’s approach is to apply a greener building methodology to every phase of the building schedule.
• The New American Remodel 2020. This exhibition home reflects new housing and lifestyle trends, demonstrating how remodeling professionals have embraced green building, aging-in-place and sustainability. The original 2,170 sq. ft., one-level home was built in 1977. Element Building Company and Architecture by Phil Kean were tasked with transforming this property into a two-story home totaling 7,523 sq. ft., with 4,802 sq. ft. of living space. The house is designed and built to achieve National Green Building Standard “Emerald” certification, Energy Star and net-zero status.
• Home tours. Various Las Vegas home tours are available to DCW attendees, such as the 55+ Housing Community Tour, the Custom Home Tour and the Green Home Tour. To register and buy tickets, visit www.buildersshow.com/generic.aspx?sectionID=3123.
• nextBUILD. Showcasing the latest home and business technologies, nextBUILD is located on the show floor. Learn about home automation advances, as well as construction technologies to use in your business. Learn more at www.buildersshow.com/generic.aspx?sectionID=2899.
• Cedia Technology Solutions Pavilion. Explicitly designed to showcase exhibitors who specialize in tech solutions for the home, the Cedia Technology Solutions Pavilion will help you connect your customers to better kitchens, baths and home automation. Learn more at www.buildersshow.com/focus/focus.aspx?showpageID=37805.
• High-Performance Building Zone. Nationally acclaimed instructors and building science experts will show attendees the practical, real-world side of why building science and high-performance building are transforming the housing industry. Also, the lab will feature various cutaways and see-through sections a small, finished model home, giving an inside look at how high-performance wall systems, floors, HVAC, insulation and more are constructed. Visit www.buildersshow.com/centrals/central.aspx?showPageID=21226 for scheduled demonstrations.
• Awards. The Best of IBS Awards are scheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 23. With more than 350 entries in nine categories, the 28 industry and media judges considered the products' innovation, functionality, design and builder/consumer friendliness to make the 2020 list. View the finalists at www.buildersshow.com/Home/Page.aspx?genericContentID=269299. Many other builder and remodeler awards will be presented over the three-day show.