New name, new venue, same great experience... that's ABX 2012. The new tradeshow and conference produced by the Boston Society of Architects, long-time co-producer of Build Boston and Residential Design & Construction, hosts the largest marketplace in New England for the design and construction industry.
In addition to the 400 building product and service vendors, the tradeshow floor will host hands-on attractions - a full scale micro-unit by ADD Inc, an interactive Accessibility Exhibit and a bamboo dome by Architects for Humanity Boston. The Innovation Pavilion will showcase cutting edge products from stalwarts and start-ups alike. Attendees are encouraged to partake in free 20-minute presentations on the Learning Stage and show off their social media prowess in the Social Media Café with "Get Published" Tweet Chats and a Cocktail Tweet-up.
The show will kick off its inaugural year with an Opening Plenary session, Speaking of Architecture, featuring some of Boston's top design talent, on Wednesday, November 14 from 10:30 am to noon.
Moderated by Renée Loth, editor of ArchitectureBoston magazine and Robert Campbell FAIA, architecture critic at The Boston Globe, the panel includes Peter Kuttner FAIA, David Lee FAIA, Andrea Leers FAIA, William Rawn FAIA and Nader Tehrani.
The Plenary brings together a diverse set of Boston-area architects for a wide-ranging discussion on design for Boston and the world. "This panel at ABX will offer multiple perspectives on the evolution of the collaborative process, civic engagement, technological advancements, the architecture profession and the building industry as a whole," said BSA president Laura Wernick AIA. "The industry is stronger when collaboration happens organically and we hope that this dialog starts this year's tradeshow off on that note."
Peter Kuttner FAIA is the president of Cambridge Seven Associates (C7A), a multidisciplinary firm whose work includes museums, education, transportation, and hospitality design around the world. C7A received the 1993 AIA Architecture Firm Award. Peter specializes in informal and formal learning in museums and college facilities, with a particular focus on interactive and participatory experiences in the sciences.
David Lee FAIA is a partner at Stull and Lee, Boston, and a past president of the BSA. Currently an adjunct professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Lee has served on the faculties of the Rhode Island School of Design and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Andrea Leers FAIA is a principal of Leers Weinzapfel Associates, Boston, the 2007 AIA Architecture Firm Award. The firm's award-winning projects include the expansion of the Harvard Science Center, the Harvard New College Theatre/Farkas Hall (formerly Hasty Pudding), the MBTA's Operations Control Center in Boston and the Taunton Trial Court in Taunton, Mass.
William Rawn FAIA is the founding principal of William Rawn Associates, Architects, Boston, which has developed a national reputation for the design of public buildings, cultural facilities, and college and university projects.
Nader Tehrani, head of the department of architecture at MIT School of Architecture and Planning, is also principal and founder of NADAAA. Previously a principal and founder of Office dA, Nader designed award-winning projects such as the Fleet Library at Rhode Island School of Design, the Multi-faith Spiritual Center at Northeastern University, and the LEED-Gold certified Macallen Building in Boston.
Speaking of Architecture, like the conference overall, will appeal to architects, engineers, contractors and other building industry professionals from all firm sizes and professional levels.
Attendees will gather on the BCEC Skybridge overlooking the ABX Exhibit Hall on Wednesday at 6:00 pm for the Opening Night Party - a festive night of dinner, music from famed Boston DJ D'hana Perry and a raffle by Boston radio-station 98.5 The Sports Hub. Guests can enjoy a drink with friends and colleagues while looking out over the show floor or checking out site-specific installations from deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum's Corporate Art Loan Program lending artists Joey Asal, Mika Gilmore and Corey Corcoran. For conference program speakers, exhibitors, young professionals, seasoned veterans and everyone in between, the Opening Night Party is the social event to attend at ABX.

ABX 2012 is November 14 - 16 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. For more information, visit www.abexpo.com.