Principal Janis LaDouceur explains the critical role that the windows played in the design of the 1,000-square-foot facility. "Operable windows connect people to the outside and encourage sensitivity of the environment," she says. "Double-hung windows where both sash operate are the best. Air flows in and out of the rooms and through the top and bottom of the units."

This design also invites inspection. It causes the visitor to stop and consider how the building is put together. For the center, the architects, working with a manufacturer, took custom window design far beyond the task of typical specifying. The majority of the window frames and sash are made of a proprietary product - a composite material of pine fibers saved from milling operations and a thermoplastic polymer. In a creative move, the architects also clad the ceiling within the building and the deck surrounding it with the same material. The result is a consistency of finish and material that further integrates interior and exterior space.

This leads back to our original question: What should a window look like?

The word window itself derives from "wind-holes," as early openings in buildings served primarily to supply draft, and emit smoke, from eternal fires. Metaphorically, the word windows represent ways to see the world. Television sets have been compared to windows, and we all are familiar with the popular computer program carrying that name. We anticipate a certain type of window in our home and at the office, for view, light, and, at least in the domestic setting, ventilation.

The design discussion needs to be expanded to include doors and roof windows as well as the traditional window. Merging technologies allow glass and other building components to perform multiple functions. Universal design principles suggest improved ways to interact with the glazed openings and the definition of the window evolves with our culture.

The challenge to contemporary designers of the built environment is to question the status quo and seek a greater interpretation of this ubiquitous architectural element. New construction and renovation each have unique challenges and opportunities for creativity, to define or recognize the design potential in the fenestration system. The window can continue to play a leading role in a dramatically changed architectural vocabulary, recognizing social, cultural, aesthetic, and environmental design determinants in their own right.

About Andersen Windows Andersen Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of wood windows, patio doors, and storm doors, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2003. The company is privately owned and has a strong history of commitment to its business partners, employees, community and environmental stewardship. Andersen introduced the nation's first factory-produced window frames 100 years ago. In the ensuing years, the company has built one of the strongest brands in the window and door industry known for its superior performance, reliability, and integrity. Located along the St. Croix River in Bayport, Minn. since 1913, Andersen was founded in 1903 across the river in Hudson, Wis., by Danish immigrant Hans Andersen and his family, who named the new business Andersen Lumber Company. The name was changed to Andersen Corporation in 1937. In 1904, the company began mass-producing window frames in standardized sizes on an assembly line, nine years ahead of Henry Ford's similar system for automobiles. Andersen has grown to be an international enterprise employing more than 8,000 people in 32 locations across the country. The company's ability to design and manufacture windows and doors quickly and to turn houses into homes has earned Andersen a worldwide reputation as the window of choice among homeowners. In its 100 years of leadership, Andersen has earned its reputation as a principled company that stands on its promise to deliver beautiful, enduring solutions. Andersen Corporation manufactures affordable and reliable windows and doors for residential home construction, high-end products for executive-level homebuilders, and products for light commercial building construction. For more information call 1-800-426-4261 (reference #3018) or go towww.andersenwindows.com.

800.426.4261 www.andersenwindows.com