Last month I had the opportunity to visit Chicago where I gave three talks for the “Design for Durability: Performance and Preservation” workshop series put on by the Wood Products Council. While taking in the architectural sights of Chicago I was inspired by the stainless steel rail at a pedestrian bridge in Millennium Park. This walkway railing, fabricated from panels of stainless steel, became a shimmering sculpture while still serving a basic function. Wonderful! Seeing this creative use of sheet metal drives me to continue to think about innovative ways to turn the ordinary in to inspirational.