CategoryBuilding & Construction
DHI conNextions - Door & Hardware Institute
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About this event
DHI conNextions - Door & Hardware Institute
DHI conNextions is a focused conference and trade show serving the non-residential door and hardware industry across North America. The event is designed to bring together door security and safety professionals through a mix of high-quality education, hands-on training, and facilitated networking with demonstrations of the latest products and technology.
Event basics
- Dates: October 21-22, 2026
- Venue: Hyatt Regency – Riverside Center
- City & State: Chicago, IL
- Address: 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
- Country: United States
- Event type: Industry conference + trade show (door security and safety)
Why attend
DHI conNextions positions attendees to advance their careers and grow their businesses by staying current on today’s rapidly evolving door security and safety landscape. The program blends dynamic education sessions with hands-on training and in-person demonstrations, helping professionals connect practical industry knowledge with what’s being deployed in real-world settings.
The event emphasizes CONNECTING DOOR SECURITY + SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, supported by face-to-face interactions intended to foster meaningful professional relationships and enable participants to learn about the newest products, technologies, and solutions.
What to expect
- Two days of education: Conference-style education sessions geared to industry professionals.
- Hands-on training: Practical learning experiences that support skill development.
- Product and technology demonstrations: Exhibitor and industry demonstrations highlighting the latest tools, products, and innovations.
- Facilitated networking: Structured opportunities to meet peers and build relationships across the door and hardware ecosystem.
Future event dates (for planning)
- 2027: October 19-20, 2027 — Savannah Convention Center, Savannah, Georgia
- 2028: October 4-5, 2028 — Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Official event positioning
The event is described as the only conference and trade show serving the non-residential door and hardware industry in North America. It brings together professionals focused on door security and safety to develop expertise, discover new technology, and strengthen professional connections within the industry.
Data sheet
DHI conNextions - Door & Hardware Institute – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: October 21-22, 2026
Location: Chicago, IL, United States
Event Status: Upcoming
Research Date: July 1, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | DHI conNextions - Door & Hardware Institute |
| Event Date | October 21-22, 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Hyatt Regency Chicago, Riverside Center |
| City | Chicago |
| State / Region | Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Door and Hardware Institute (DHI) in partnership with IRONMARKETS |
| Official Event Website | dhiconnextions.com |
| Event Type | Conference and trade show |
| Primary Category | Building & Construction |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Security & Defense; Industrial Engineering; Business Services |
| Audience Reach | National with selective North American industry reach |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Low to medium; current-year attendance total not publicly disclosed on the official page reviewed. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect non-residential door and hardware professionals through education, networking, and demonstrations of products, technology, safety, and security solutions. |
About the Event
DHI conNextions is positioned as a specialized North American event for the non-residential door and hardware industry. The official website emphasizes secure-by-design solutions, hands-on training, demonstrations of the latest products and technology, and facilitated networking for door security and safety professionals. That combination makes the event highly relevant to suppliers serving commercial construction, building security, and life-safety applications.
The show is commercially important because it attracts a focused audience with buying influence across specification, procurement, installation, maintenance, facilities, and project delivery. For exhibitors and lead-generation teams, this is a strong B2B environment for reaching decision-makers involved in doors, frames, hardware, access control adjacent solutions, code compliance, and building security upgrades.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractors / project delivery teams | General contractors, construction managers, design-build firms | Specify and procure door/hardware packages for projects | High-value buyers for commercial door, frame, and hardware suppliers |
| Door and hardware distributors | Regional and national distributors | Buy, stock, and resell product lines | Core channel partners for manufacturers and OEMs |
| Facility and operations teams | Corporate campuses, hospitals, universities, public buildings | Maintain building access, safety, and lifecycle replacement decisions | Relevant for replacement hardware, service, and compliance solutions |
| Architects / specifiers | Architectural firms, spec consultants | Define product specifications and standards | Influential for product approval and bid inclusion |
| Security professionals | Physical security teams, integrators, life-safety specialists | Influence secure access and safety-related purchases | Strong fit for access-control-adjacent and secure hardware vendors |
| Code / compliance stakeholders | Plan review, compliance, code consulting, inspection teams | Ensure fire, egress, and accessibility compliance | Important for code-compliant product positioning |
| Government buyers | Municipal, state, and federal facility teams | Procurement and facility upgrades | Opportunities tied to public buildings and renovation cycles |
| Consultants and trainers | Industry consultants, educators, association leaders | Influence best practices and buying standards | Useful for thought leadership and relationship-building |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Chicago | Local contractors, distributors, specifiers, facilities teams | High | Chicago is a major construction and commercial real estate hub |
| Host state / region: Illinois and Midwest | Regional building product buyers, subcontractors, facility managers | High | Strong concentration of non-residential construction demand |
| Nearby business hubs | Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, Minneapolis | Medium to high | Short-haul regional attendance likely for channel and spec professionals |
| National reach | U.S. manufacturers, distributors, contractors, institutional buyers | High | Event is positioned as North America’s only conference and trade show for this niche |
| International reach | Select Canadian and other North American industry participants | Low to medium | Potential cross-border interest from suppliers and distributors |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event serves a specialized North American niche and is expected to attract attendees from multiple U.S. regions, especially commercial construction and distribution markets. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turner Construction Company | General contractor | Specifies and buys commercial door/hardware packages across large projects | turnerconstruction.com | Procurement Director, Project Executive, MEP/Envelope PM, Preconstruction Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Skanska USA | General contractor / developer | Commercial and infrastructure projects often require compliant hardware and security solutions | skanska.com | Procurement Manager, Preconstruction Director, Project Manager, Estimator | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Hensel Phelps | Construction manager / GC | Major non-residential builder with recurring hardware procurement needs | henselphelps.com | Project Executive, Procurement Lead, Senior Superintendent, Preconstruction Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| CBRE | Commercial real estate / facilities services | Portfolio facilities and property operations often source replacement hardware and access-related upgrades | cbre.com | Facilities Director, Property Manager, Procurement Manager, Operations Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| JLL | Commercial real estate / workplace services | Manages buildings and workplace environments that require door, hardware, and security lifecycle purchases | jll.com | Facilities Manager, Workplace Director, Procurement Lead, Operations Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Chicago Public Schools | Public sector owner / operator | Schools frequently need compliant, secure, and durable doors and hardware | cps.edu | Procurement Officer, Facilities Director, Capital Projects Manager, Safety Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| City of Chicago | Government buyer | Municipal facilities require code-compliant hardware, security, and maintenance solutions | chicago.gov | Contracting Officer, Facilities Director, Purchasing Manager, Capital Projects Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Northwestern Medicine | Healthcare operator | Hospitals require fire-rated, secure, and durable door hardware for patient and staff areas | nm.org | Facilities Director, Procurement Manager, Security Director, Project Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Mayo Clinic | Healthcare operator | Large healthcare campuses are high-volume buyers of compliant access and safety products | mayoclinic.org | Facilities Manager, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Security Manager, Capital Projects Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| University of Chicago | Higher education | Campus buildings require ongoing maintenance, safety, and modernization of door systems | uchicago.edu | Facilities Director, Procurement Specialist, Project Manager, Campus Safety Officer | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago | Public infrastructure agency | Public facilities and infrastructure sites require heavy-duty hardware and security products | mwrd.org | Procurement Officer, Facilities Manager, Capital Program Manager, Operations Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| United Airlines | Transportation operator | Large facilities and terminals create demand for secure, code-compliant hardware | united.com | Facilities Director, Procurement Manager, Security Director, Operations Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director of Procurement / Procurement Manager | Procurement | Manager to Director | Controls sourcing decisions for door, hardware, and related building products |
| 2 | Strategic Sourcing Manager | Sourcing | Manager | Evaluates vendors, pricing, compliance, and supply continuity |
| 3 | Facilities Director / Facilities Manager | Facilities | Manager to Director | Responsible for lifecycle replacement, maintenance, and code compliance |
| 4 | Project Executive / Preconstruction Manager | Project Delivery | Manager to Executive | Influences specifications, subcontractor selection, and package buyout |
| 5 | Architect / Specifier / Specifications Manager | Design / Specification | Professional to Senior | Defines acceptable products and standards early in the project cycle |
| 6 | Security Director / Physical Security Manager | Security | Manager to Director | Influences secure access and life-safety hardware requirements |
| 7 | Contracting Officer / Purchasing Manager | Government / Procurement | Manager to Senior | Relevant for public-sector purchases and bid-driven buying cycles |
| 8 | Operations Director / Operations Manager | Operations | Manager to Director | Owns building uptime, service response, and asset reliability |
| 9 | Supplier Diversity Manager / Small Business Liaison Officer | Supplier Diversity / Procurement | Manager | Relevant where public or enterprise buyers have supplier diversity requirements |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction | Core buyer ecosystem for commercial door and hardware packages | GCs, CM firms, subcontractors, preconstruction teams |
| 2 | Building Materials | Direct product category alignment | Manufacturers, distributors, and spec-driven buyers |
| 3 | Commercial Real Estate | Building owners and property managers buy lifecycle hardware upgrades | Portfolio facilities and renovation teams |
| 4 | Facilities Services | Strong fit for maintenance and compliance-related purchasing | Facility managers, building operations teams |
| 5 | Architecture & Planning | Speakers/specifiers influence product inclusion | Architects, specs writers, code consultants |
| 6 | Government Administration | Public buildings require code-compliant and secure door systems | Municipal, state, and federal procurement |
| 7 | Hospital & Health Care | Hospitals are high-compliance, high-security facility buyers | Facilities, security, capital projects teams |
| 8 | Higher Education | Campus modernization and safety upgrades | Procurement, facilities, campus safety |
| 9 | Security & Investigations | Event theme includes secure-by-design and safety solutions | Physical security decision-makers |
| 10 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Distribution and inventory flow are central to this channel market | Distribution, inventory, sourcing, operations teams |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website reviewed | No attendance total published on the reviewed official page |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official exhibitor list/floorplan referenced, but no count published in reviewed text | Use the floorplan or directory if a count is later needed |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official website reviewed | No buyer count published |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Conference schedule page referenced | Speaker roster not provided in the copied official text |
| Historical attendance | Not verified in the provided official text | Historical / prior-year evidence not supplied | Organizer website text reviewed | Attendance figures should be treated as undisclosed unless the organizer publishes them |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door security | Safe, secure, code-compliant access systems | Demonstrate locksets, closers, exit devices, and secure hardware | Security hardware, access solutions, spec support |
| Life safety and code compliance | Products that meet fire, egress, and accessibility requirements | Position products around compliance and inspection readiness | Certified hardware, training, documentation |
| Product innovation | New materials, designs, and installation efficiency | Use live demos and hands-on comparisons | New product introductions, retrofit kits |
| Training and education | Skill development for installers, specifiers, and service teams | Sponsor training sessions, workshops, and certifications | Education programs, technical literature, CEU support |
| Distribution and sourcing | Reliable supply, availability, and pricing | Meet distributors and sourcing teams face to face | Channel programs, pricing, inventory support |
| Facility maintenance | Lifecycle replacement and service reliability | Target owners/operators with replacement needs | Maintenance programs, service contracts, spare parts |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event is tightly aligned to door, hardware, and security buying behavior. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Likely to include procurement, facilities, contractors, specifiers, and security professionals. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Strong if exhibitor list, floorplan, or registration data is accessible; current attendance totals are not public. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear target industries and job titles map well to Apollo filters. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Chicago/Midwest location supports regional outreach plus national supplier targeting. |
| Best outreach approach | Direct B2B outbound, exhibitor prospecting, account-based marketing | Use role-based messaging around safety, compliance, sourcing, and lifecycle replacement. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Strong niche event with commercially relevant buying roles and clear product-category fit. |
| Best use case | Targeted attendee list building and channel sales development | Best for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and service providers in the door/hardware ecosystem. |
| Limitations / risks | Limited public attendee data | Without a public attendee list, prospecting should rely on exhibitor directories, speaker lists, and Apollo segmentation. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Construction, Building Materials, Commercial Real Estate, Facilities Services, Architecture & Planning, Government Administration, Hospital & Health Care, Higher Education, Security & Investigations, Logistics & Supply Chain | Align buyer search with the event’s core audience |
| Departments | Procurement, Operations, Facilities, Construction, Project Management, Security, Real Estate, Engineering | Reach the functional teams that influence or approve purchases |
| Seniority | Manager, Director, VP, CXO, Owner, Principal | Prioritize decision-makers and budget owners |
| Job titles | Procurement Manager, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Facilities Director, Operations Director, Project Executive, Preconstruction Manager, Specification Manager, Security Director, Purchasing Manager, Contracting Officer | Capture high-intent buyers and influencers |
| Geography | United States, especially Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Texas, California | Focus on major construction and facilities spending markets |
| Employee size | 51-200, 201-500, 501-1,000, 1,001-5,000, 5,001+ | Capture both mid-market distributors and enterprise owners/operators |
| Keywords | doors, door hardware, access control, security hardware, fire-rated, specifier, facilities, construction, commercial building, lockset, exit device | Refine for event-specific commercial intent |
| Company type | Public companies, private companies, government entities, educational institutions, healthcare systems | Match the most likely buyer organizations at this event |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: combine industry and title filters with keywords such as (doors OR "door hardware" OR "access control" OR "fire-rated" OR specifier OR facilities) and prioritize contacts in procurement, facilities, construction, project management, and security functions within U.S.-based organizations.
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
This event is well suited to B2B attendee list building because it concentrates a niche set of commercial buyers, influencers, and channel partners around procurement, specification, installation, compliance, and security-related purchasing.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHI conNextions official website | Official organizer website | Event name, dates, venue, city, event purpose, conference/trade show format, future event details, sponsor reference, hotel/location details | Very high |
| DHI conNextions registration and event pages | Official event navigation / agenda references | Confirmed presence of exhibitor list/floorplan, schedule at a glance, conference schedule, speaker and exhibitor sections | High |
| DHI conNextions venue details on official site | Official venue/location reference | Hyatt Regency Chicago, Riverside Center, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601 | Very high |
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to DHI conNextions - Door & Hardware Institute — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
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