I n d u s t r y O u t l o o k : G l a s s U s a g e
Where’s All the Glazing Going?
Glass Usage Growing with Nonresidential Construction
y early indications, construction growth will
continue through this coming year—and that
means more glass for architects to specify.
segment will see gains of 9 percent, led by office
and institutional construction. Residential—led by
multifamily—will be up 16 percent.
b
Dodge Data & Analytics predicts that total
U.S. construction starts for 2016 will rise 6 per-
cent to $712 billion, following gains of 9 percent
in 2014 and an estimated 13 percent in 2015.
According to Dodge, nonresidential plateaued
USGlass magazine, sister publication of Architects’
Guide to Glass & Metal, also projects increases on the
horizon for commercial construction, according to
its fifth annual glass usage forecast.
Commercial office building construction in par-
in 2015, but will re-gain momentum this year. The ticular is poised to see significant growth as 2016
rolls on. This segment is expected to see 22 million
Square Footage of Glass used in
Square Footage of Glass used in
U.S. Commercial Buildings – Stores
(millions of square feet)
square feet of glass usage—a 17.3 percent increase
compared to 18.75 million square feet in 2015.
Store construction is forecast to see a 16.7 per-
cent increase in glass usage, from 69.5 million
square feet in 2015 to 80.5 million in 2016.
Glass usage in hotel construction is predicted to
see nearly a 5-percent increase compared to 2015,
from 10.2 million to 10.7 million square feet.
Two institutional segments, educational and
amusement and recreation, will also likely see gains.
Glass usage in educational facilities should be near-
ly 13 million square feet, a 9.2 percent increase
compared to last year. Also, data forecasts amuse-
ment and recreation to be at 6.4 million square feet
of glass usage, up 16.4 percent compared to 2015.
Glass used in store construction will be up
more than 9 percent to 30 million square feet,
compared to 27.5 million in 2015. AGG
U.S. Commercial Buildings – Offices
(
millions of square feet)
3
0
2
2
1
1
5
0
5
0
5
0
30
25
20
29
29
2
7.5
2
2
2
0.4
1
8.75
1
5.8
1
1
5
0
5
0
2
projected
013
2014
2015
2016*
2013
2014
2015
2016*
*
*projected
Square Footage of Glass used in
U.S. Institutional – Educational Buildings
Square Footage of Glass used in
U.S. Commercial Buildings – Hotels
(millions of square feet)
Square Footage of Glass Usage,
Percent Increases by Construction Segment
(projected, 2016 increase compared to 2015)
(
millions of square feet)
1
5
2
9
6
3
0
12
10
8
1
0.7
1
3
Educational
Commercial
Residential
Manufacturing
Commercial
Amusement
Hotels
+9.2%
+9.1%
1
0.2
1
1.9
1
1.75
1
8
.7
1
0.4
+16.7%
+16.4%
6
.5
+5.6%
+8.2%
6
4
+4.9%
2
Offices
+17.3%
20%
0
2
013
2014
2015
2016*
2013
2014
2015
2016*
0%
5%
10%
15%
*
projected
*projected
10
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Architects’ Guide to Glass & Metal