December 29 - As 2023 comes to a close, this period is characterized by significant changes that empower us to deliver more value than ever to landscape architects. We take a moment to reflect on the milestones that have defined the past year as one of the most transformative chapters in our company's history, focusing on additions to our standard product line.
Commencing the year with a major announcement—our acquisition of the Canterbury Designs line of site furnishings expanded our offerings, introducing steel and wood into our repertoire. Building on our enduring commitment to craftsmanship and innovation with concrete, we extend this dedication to our new materials. Guided by our Design Director, Matthew Gilio-Tenan, our foray into steel and wood product additions and continued concrete designs has been a collaborative journey alongside esteemed designers like John Cook, Lisa Chestnut, Cliff Garten, and the visionary team at Linespace.
The most notable evolution this past year lies in the enhancements to our line of standard products. While our dedication to custom capabilities for design firms remains unwavering and rewarding, this overview aims to acquaint you with the expanded offerings of the past year, presenting a diverse array of choices now at your fingertips.
Upgrading our commercial-grade fire features, we partnered with Warming Trends to enhance your outdoor experience with top-quality innovation. Now, you can find new shapes and sizes and dramatic improvements. We also released the Ember, which we developed with industrial designer John Cook.
Explore the enhanced value in our expanded planter collection, showcasing diverse shapes, textures, and a multicolor offering for our Tumbler planter. A highlight among these additions is the upgraded Levus, a 54-piece collection of our acclaimed lightweight planters, providing you the flexibility to design your ideal layout. Crafted from our weight-conscious glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC), they offer an ideal solution for rooftops, balconies, and beyond.
Our acquisition of Canterbury Designs has empowered us to expand our offerings in site furniture. Recognized as an industry leader in concrete site furnishings, we now present a versatile range of metal seating options in various colors, as well as jatoba wood. With this expanded bench collection, we provide a diverse range of materials that seamlessly harmonize with your projects.
Other impactful seating additions include the Vega Easy chair, a modern take on the classic Adirondack chair, and the Unity, designed as a modular furniture system with seats and planters, allowing designers the freedom to arrange their designs creatively.
Incorporating steel and wood into our table lineup, the Bowery Table features a sleek design with bench seating, complements its respective site furnishing collection flawlessly, and we look forward to adding the Bowery Chair in 2024. Meanwhile, our 'depot-styled' table, the Embarcadero, is a great addition and illustration of our wood and steel capabilities.
From shopping center waste containers to streetscape trash receptacles, we have a style that will suit any project. Now that we have added other materials to our arsenal, you can expect to see innovations such as the Merge Mono, which was QCP’s first foray into combining concrete, wood, and metal in a waste container.
QCP has a greater variety of outdoor bollard solutions than ever before. Whether your goal is to provide traffic control or perimeter security protection, we now offer steel options along with our concrete lineup.
Did you know that we offer tree grates with different styles that enhance your streetscape and protect your landscaping at the same time?
As a landscape architect, you'll appreciate the additions to our Bike Rack collection, featuring two steel options that expand your design possibilities.
Fun that lasts—these precast concrete gaming features are not only durable but also add style to the ambiance of any gaming environment.
For the first time, we offer drinking fountains, with both modern and traditional designs that will suit your needs.
Honors and Initiatives
Stelaris Site Lighting: Our Stelaris site lighting, made in partnership with Linespace designer Max Beach and SPJ Lighting, Inc., was given an honorable mention at the 2023 SIT Furniture Design Awards in Baar, Switzerland.
Sustainability Initiatives: Earlier this year, we also shared our plans to reduce our carbon footprint. One of our latest innovations is reducing our cement usage by 20 percent by using VCAS (vitrified calcium aluminosilicate) pozzolan as a cement substitute.
New Sample Box: As we revised our concrete color palette and added steel and wood, showcasing all our colors and finishes, we have also created a sample box. Ask your local sales rep for more information. This is a great tool to help you make choices that impact your design.
As we bid farewell to the remarkable year that was 2023, filled with milestones, innovations, and enriching collaborations, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for being a part of the QCP community. Looking ahead to 2024, we are excited about the opportunities to continue serving you with exceptional products and solutions that elevate your projects. The entire QCP team wishes you a happy and healthy new year! May the coming year bring prosperity, success, and continued partnership. Here's to another year of shared achievements!