Research and Inspiration Lead Pella Corporation to Refine Products

Exceptional details and performance, along with meticulous craftsmanship, are all hallmarks of Pella’s Architect Series wood window and patio door line, first introduced in 1990. Today, Pella Corporation, a leading manufacturer of artfully-crafted windows and doors, introduces the Architect Series Collection.

“Our drive in evolving our Architect Series products into a distinct collection is about being a total solution — a source for architects and custom builders who want a supplier who can deliver on the demands of their clients and their design without compromising and sacrificing performance or craftsmanship,” said Alan Pickett, architectural business development director, Pella Corporation.

After multiple months of research with architects, designers and homeowners about their pain points and needs, the collection includes two new lines — Architect Series Reserve and Architect Series Contemporary. The two new lines join the classic designs of Pella’s Architect Series Traditional line already in use today by architects around the country. The new Architect Series Reserve and Architect Series Contemporary products are engineered with the performance and craftsmanship for which Pella Architect Series products are known for but now offer even more design and performance options.

Architect Series Reserve products: Historically Authentic

“From our research, architects continued to say: ‘Attention to detail is a hallmark of an exceptionally designed home or building,’” added Matt Kiernan, director of innovation for Pella. “With the addition of Architect Series Reserve to the collection, architects now have the historical details they crave while also having the performance and convenience their end-customer expect.”

Pella Architect Series Reserve windows and patio doors intertwine historical authenticity with modern-day convenience. The line has design elements from historic homes and buildings, including:

• Putty Glaze profile grilles and sashes are reflective of how windows used to be made
• Archival butt joinery that reflects historical window designs
• Engineered vertical through-stile construction
• Thick sash and grille profiles with authentic sightlines
• Sash lugs that turn and tilt to maintain the wash feature of windows

“During our research process, we met with the National Park Service and many regional historic preservation groups to gain their insights and feedback on the details we designed into the Reserve line,” added Kiernan.

Available in hung, casement, and awning windows and hinged patio doors, Architect Series Reserve products are sold exclusively through Pella Showrooms across the country.

Architect Series contemporary products: Smart Styling and Clean Sightlines

The Pella Architect Series Contemporary line of wood windows and patio doors feature smart styling and clean sightlines, proving less is more. Stylish hardware enhances the sleek frame to complement expansive views.

“Yes, contemporary design is a huge trend and many other manufacturers have modern lines, but I go back to our research where architects and builders repeatedly said, ‘Stop telling me my design needs to change to fit your product specifications,’ said Pickett. “That was key to all the details we engineered into the Architect Series Collection, including our contemporary designs.”

Architects, builders, and homeowners no longer need to sacrifice performance for design because Pella has maintained the exceptional performance expected from its product lines.

Modern aesthetics that are part of the Architect Series Contemporary line include:

• Black interior stain prefinished from the factory
• Pella’s complete exterior palette of more than 27 colors and custom colors

· Custom-designed modern hardware

· Square grille profile to create geometric patterns and shapes

Available in casement, awning, and direct set windows and hinged patio doors, Architect Series contemporary products include expansive glass, sleek profiles, and complementary hardware. This new product line is available through Pella Showrooms across the country and home improvement stores where Pella products are sold, including Lowe’s, McCoys and others.

Improvements in Hardware

“Hardware can be ugly,” said Pickett. “That is a direct quote from several of the architects in our research as it is one of the biggest areas of frustration we hear time and time again.”

“And this topic spans beyond windows and patio doors. It’s lighting, cabinetry, and bathroom fixtures,” said Kiernan. “Architects and homeowners expect to be able to select a finish that fits their home’s interior.”

Pella now has an industrial designer in-house as well as worked with Baldwin Hardware, a leading brand of the Hardware & Home Improvement (HHI) division of Spectrum Brands, Inc. (NYSE: SPB) to rethink the hardware for the entire Architect Series Collection. Four hardware styles – Classic, Modern, Rustic and Essential – give architects a total of 28 different options.

The new hardware collection also includes SmartKey™ Re-Key technology, allowing homeowners to re-key compatible key locks without removing the lock from the door.

“This new Architect Series Collection represents the new products and evolutionary thinking coming from Pella,” said Kiernan. “That includes the new limited lifetime warranty on Pella wood windows and wood patio doors that stands behind these new products.”

For more inspiration or to learn more, visit pella.com/architect-series/.