Kensington Glass Arts, Inc. Introduces Director of Building Envelope, Ray Buchheister

For 16+ years now, Ray has effectively managed the design, fabrication and installation of building envelope systems in the Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia markets.

Prior to starting his career in the glass industry at Emmitsburg Glass Company, Ray was a co-inventor of not one, not two, but three U.S. patents. Ray’s energy, enthusiasm, and expertise is nothing short of topnotch.

Ray is always up for tackling the next obstacle, no matter the size: “I enjoy the challenge. To overcome project hurdles in order to bring the Architect’s vision to a reality… I love the sense of accomplishment my work provides in transforming a steel and concrete structure into a work of art, something beautiful for the eye to behold, and functional, for a purpose.”

Ray’s innate creativity, artistic nature, attention to detail and intrinsic motivation is a deeply rooted passion that has help pave the way to his successful career in the glass industry.

Beginning as a CAD Designer, he worked his way up the ladder by accruing knowledge and taking on countless projects including; curtain wall and window projects, blast mitigation projects, high-end interior fit-outs, spiral glass staircases with bent glass, dielectric aluminum and glass installations, rain screens, metal panel walls, point supported glass walls, sunshade, skylight and canopy systems.

It doesn’t stop there. Ray spends his free time outside of work drawing, painting and even teaching the arts in his own private studio. “I enjoy mentoring young adults, and I have a particular interest in shaping the future of our Millennials.” In 2009, Ray was presented with a Teachers Recognition Award by the U.S. Department of Education for his work with U.S. Presidential Scholar of the Arts, Peter Ferguson.

Alongside his ability to think outside of the box, Ray possess the skills necessary to work in the fast paced, ever evolving world of Project Management.

“Managing stress, bringing suggestions for solutions to the table and keeping cool under pressure is a necessity to maintaining project schedules and client relationships, something that isn’t always easy to do. Professionalism is a required necessity.”

Ray stands with KGa in their commitment to improving practices while understanding that change is critical in order to grow and embracing innovation and new technology to make things happen.

Ray will be working with his Building Envelope Team to expand their base and provide a broader range of services to meet all their clients’ growing architectural needs, with both interior and exterior applications.

He provides management and leadership, technical advisement, top and bottom line responsibility, and strategic direction for the company’s design, fabrication and installation of exterior building façade products.