CSI will provide the latest information on commercial building products, practices and technology at the 48th Annual CSI Show™ & Convention, April 21-23 in Chicago.

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) will provide architects, specifiers, engineers, contractors and building owners with the latest information on commercial building products, practices and technology at the 48th Annual CSI Show™ & Convention, April 21-23 in Chicago at McCormick Place. The event features hundreds of building product exhibits, 70 continuing education sessions (doubling last year's number), and the CEO of the world's second largest architectural firm as keynote speaker.

Co-locating with the CSI Show & Convention will be The TFM Show™. Registrants for one show can view the other's exhibits.

The CSI Show & Convention will feature hundreds of companies displaying products and services representing the expanded structural and architectural divisions of MasterFormat™. Continuing education sessions begin April 20 and extend through April 24. The exhibit hall opens April 21. Exhibit hours are:

  • April 21--10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.;
  • April 22--12:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; and
  • April 23--9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Among the exhibit floor's added features this year will be the New Products Showcase. It will feature building products representing significant advancements or innovations. Another new feature will be the Product Demonstration Area. It will enable attendees to evaluate selected products close up and hands-on.

There will also be 70 continuing education sessions organized in 12 tracks. Topics include basic skills and advanced training in construction documents and specifications, as well as mold, security and green construction.

The continuing education program is designed so attendees can acquire at one event a year's worth of Continuing Education Units, Education Contact Hours, or American Institute of Architects Learning Units, to maintain licenses or certifications. The program includes Expo Education, where attendees can get continuing education credits on the exhibit floor.

Patrick MacLeamy, AIA, chief executive officer of HOK Group, Inc. (Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc.), the world's second largest architectural firm, will deliver the keynote address during the April 21 opening general session (10 a.m. to noon).

MacLeamy's address will build a compelling case that the nation's fragmented construction industry, which is based on 19th century techniques, is not delivering overall value to building owners, operators and end-users. He will discuss a new building standard based on the vertically integrated process widely used in the manufacturing industry.

The opening general session also will include a roundtable discussion among industry luminaries. It will be led by Howard M. Mager, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill Construction and general manager of the Sweets building products directory. MacLeamy will be among the panelists.

Co-locating for a second year with The CSI Show & Convention will be The TFM Show. It is the most comprehensive conference and exhibition for facility professionals. Registration for one show includes free admission to the other show's exhibits. For more information on The TFM Show, go to www.tfmshow.com.

Registration information for the CSI show can be found at www.thecsishow.com or call CSI at 800-689-2900.