Architizer is excited to announce a new and improved search engine for architects to browse, bookmark and reference building-product manufacturers for their projects. This comprehensive directory of brands is the largest, most up-to-date database of building-product manufacturers online. It includes more than 25,000 companies, each with a set of tags that enable architects to search the database quickly and easily.
The new Directory is accessible by typing directly into the search bar on Architizer’s homepage, or by clicking on the “Manufacturers” tab. Here, we take a brief look at the key features aimed at making specification smoother for architects:
An example of the new manufacturer search engine, accessible via the Manufacturer tab on Architizer’s homepage.
Manufacturer Search
What makes a search engine ideal for a specialized profession, one that’s more useful to architects than google? It’s all about keywords. The listed manufacturers are associated with more than 10,000 industry-specific keywords relevant to their brand. This means that anything architects search for — from SIPs and steelwork to windows and wood flooring — will surface exactly the right information for their needs.
Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? Begin typing in the search bar and a number of pre-defined options will appear in a drop-down menu, allowing you to identify the right terminology for your search.
Bookmarks allow architects to save favorite manufacturers to their personal profile.
Bookmarks
Perhaps the most compelling new feature of the search engine is Bookmarks. With a single click of the Bookmarks icon on any brand, architects can save a manufacturer to their personal profile for future reference. It is also possible to save manufacturers according to which of your projects they were used in.
Over time, you and the other architects in your firm will be able to build up a record of products and materials used for each project that can be accessed all in one place. This invaluable record can then be referenced for future projects, allowing you to quickly identify trusted brands used by your peers. It’s the first step on the way to a comprehensive, firm-wide resource for project specifications.
Project connections show how many completed buildings feature a brand and its products.
Project Connections
For each manufacturer listed, the number of Project connections are clearly displayed. Each Project Connection represents a verified use of a material or product in a completed building — the more Project Connections a manufacturer has, the more you can trust them. For more on how to create project connections for existing projects, click here.
On the Projects tab of each Manufacturer Profile, you can also click through to see exactly how a brand’s products or materials were used within the context of a project. Using these case studies, you can easily understand if that product could be applicable to your design.
In-House Expertise
While cutting-edge technology helps to power this tool, it’s backed up with real architectural expertise. Architizer’s team of specialists is constantly researching the latest brands and building-products to ensure the directory is kept up-to-date. If you know of a great building-product manufacturer that isn’t in the Directory, we invite you to click the +Add a Manufacturer button and help the database grow!
Tools for researching and organizing building-products are crucial to every design professional, but for years, they have not been improved in the way that CAD and BIM have helped other parts of the architectural workflow. Architizer’s mission is to provide architects with a one-stop-shop to quickly and easily find all the manufacturers and materials they need.
Explore the new Manufacturer Directory today, and if you any have feedback on the process, we’d be glad to hear from you — email support@architizer.com with your thoughts and suggestions.
