Home buyers are becoming more discerning about quality and aesthetics. And Construction Architecture and Interiors — CAI 2015, a three-day exhibition organised by BusinessLine , which opens at the Chennai Trade Centre here on Friday, may be just the place for them to get a glimpse of the latest trends in the industry.

The third edition of the exhibition was formally launched on Thursday. “The event is centred around the contribution of architects and builders whose creativity and passion help us make a statement of good living,” said Mukund Padmanabhan, Editor, BusinessLine , in his welcome speech.

Chief guest Ksheer Vasudha Kumar, Director of Navins and Managing Director of House No 22 Café, in her keynote address, said: “The expo is a wonderful platform for all brands and an invaluable tool to everyone from the industry.” The event is sponsored by JSW Cement and JSW Steel. Co-sponsors include Kamai Elevators, Jayasri Tiles and Plywood, Asian Paints and Metal Craft.

At the launch event today, industry stakeholders, including developers, real estate consultants, interior designers and architects, had a chance to exchange thoughts. Guests were also treated to soulful music by Saxophone Sisters MS Lavanya and MS Subbalaxmi.

The expo, which provides a dynamic platform for the industry to interact with builders, architects and construction equipment manufacturers, saw 12,000 walk-ins last year. This year, over 120 participants are expected to showcase their products and cater to the most demanding of home buyers.

JSW Cement, with interests across various core economic sectors, and JSW Steel, India’s leading private sector steel producer, are the title sponsors. JSW Cement stands out for its eco-friendly systems and is a pioneer in the green cement industry.

JSW Steel is a $9-billion global conglomerate spread over six locations in India and has a footprint that extends to the US, South America and Africa.

The event is powered by Kamai Elevators, manufacturer of high-quality and reliable passenger elevators.

The participants

Other exhibitors include Jayasri Tiles & Ply World, which has evolved into a leading supplier of premium products in the construction sector including sanitary-ware.

Asian Paints, India’s largest paint company and ranked among the top 10 decorative coatings companies in the world with a consolidated turnover of ₹14,183 crore, is also one of the participants at the expo.

Metal Craft, another exhibitor, is a household name for gates and grills in Chennai. It is the first gates and grills manufacturing company to obtain ISO certification.