Hardscape North America: Active in 2014

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It’s another big lineup here for learning and buying this year, with Hardscape North America on Oct. 22-24, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

200 HNAClick photo to enlargeThis year’s edition offers old favorites, including the Installer Championship and HNA Hardscape Project Award breakfast, as well as new workshops and hands-on hardscape demonstrations.

HNA 2014 is again running concurrently with GIE+EXPO (Green Industry & Equipment Expo) and all HNA 2014 attendees receive free access to the indoor and outdoor areas at GIE+EXPO. Offering more than 750 exhibits and a 19-acre Outdoor Area, access to GIE+EXPO allows HNA 2014 attendees to browse the latest in outdoor power equipment, excavation equipment, trucks, trailers, landscaping products and tools.

Hardscapers can see best-practice techniques first-hand during the six Hardscape Demonstrations set for the HNA Outdoor Arena on Oct. 23-24. The live demonstrations are designed to meet a variety of skill levels from basic concrete-paver installation to fire pit/outdoor fireplace construction to LED lighting.

The Hardscape North America Installer Championships returns for its second year, as top North American contractors challenge each other to find the best-of-the-best in the industry. Up to 24 teams will start in a preliminary round, with only the best four moving on to the championship round – and one will remain as this year’s champion and win $1,000.

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) will host its annual conference sessions approved for continuing-education credits for ICPI Certified Installers. The six sessions, plus two hardscape-themed GIE+EXPO workshops, will be Oct. 23-24 at the expo center.

The Hardscape Contractor Executive Workshop will also return for a third year on Oct. 23 at the downtown Hyatt Regency. The 7 a.m. session includes breakfast, along with roundtable discussions on estimating tips for paver projects, social-media use, employee incentive plans, industry trends and OSHA’s silica regulations/hardscaping safety.

The HNA Hardscape Project Awards will take place on Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency. Guests will enjoy breakfast and see the best of quality construction with walkways, patios, plazas, driveways, parking lots, roadway projects and more.

There’s also education offered before HNA begins, with two days of ICPI and National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) paver and wall installation courses at the Hyatt Regency Louisville on Oct. 21-Oct. 22. Courses include classroom training, a student manual, and exam and are approved for continuing education credits.

On the lighter side, three free concerts will rock the Nissan Commercial stage at Fourth Street Live in downtown Louisville:

  • Montgomery Gentry and Jenni Carr/TwangTown, Oct. 22;
  • The Crashers and Jamie Lynn Spears, Oct. 23;
  • Olivia Henken( finalist on The Voice) and Josh Logan, Oct. 24.

For more information, and for online registration, go to http://www.hardscapena.com.