about us

Shading systems have transformed - nearly overnight - from a simple manual device to a fully automated daylight control system. This rapid increase in complexity has created a vacuum in the construction industry; modern Div.12 companies must evolve to function like a design-build firm, understanding the vast cross-trade implications of these complex systems.

We are your partner in translating an owner's vision into a functioning and integrated shading system that works in harmony with mechanical, lighting, and life-safety systems.

Together, let's rewrite shading design.

the story

During our founders’ careers as professional building design engineers, it was clear that neither the architect nor engineering teams had a full grasp on the specification and coordination of Div.12 systems. All too often, contractors were left without answers when trying to quantify shading performance, how motorized shades impacted our mechanical loads, or how they would interact - if at all - with lighting systems.

Contractors experienced headache after headache with seemingly every aspect of a motorized shading system. We turned to our contacts in the industry – interior designers, architects, general contractors, and engineers – to discuss potential solutions.

Shading systems fill a similar niche in the industry as door hardware, where there are often too many specification divisions, designers, and contractors involved to properly deliver these systems in the current AEC environment. Looking at interior shading systems, many projects have Division 12 dictating physical properties, Division 23 responsible for mechanical integration, Division 26 responsible for electrical scope and lighting integration, and Division 27 responsible for additional infrastructure – there are simply too many parties covering too many disjointed parts of the system to avoid errors.

Due to the tightening of project schedules increasing the pressures on design teams coupled with complexity of shading systems we saw all too often architects and engineers relying on cut-and-paste solutions from past projects in an effort to get the project out the door (we get it, roller shades are one of the last products installed on a project).

This was fundamentally against our principles as professional engineers and passionate designers. This was clearly not the way to properly deliver a cost-effective system to an owner, one that realized the true vision of their building. NCSS leverages this technical experience to deliver any project from the custom-fabricated solutions to large-scale quantities on time and on budget.

NCSS is your partner in Div.12 construction.