Check back here for our thoughts on the latest developments in our industry.
Aug 06, 2021
Modular building is a trend that has ebbed and flowed with new ideas and technology since the 19th century. Recently there has been renewed interest in prefabrication for its modern aesthetic, perceived cost and time savings, and ease of construction. “While some architects have avoided it because...
May 03, 2021
There are some very interesting post-pandemic shifts in the office space market. One significant trend to watch is the impact of niche industries like entertainment, technology, healthcare and biotech/life sciences. The Los Angeles office market, much of Southern California, the Bay Area and Boston,...
Mar 25, 2021
The Biden administration has outlined an aggressive approach to mitigating climate change, and recently the House Committee on Ways and Means introduced the Growing Renewable Energy and Efficiency Now (GREEN) Act of 2021. But some states and many cities have been or are moving forward with policies...
Mar 11, 2021
As the world has turned upside-down, building owners are facing new and unprecedented challenges in protecting and leveraging their business assets. We’ll cover some of the most common questions we are seeing right here. Ultimately we hope that finding common ground with other property owners,...
Feb 04, 2021
As those of us working with multifamily housing projects know, some of the greatest challenges we experience are related to ensuring that design and construction teams are using the most stringent of both Federal law and local code. On December 8, 2020, HUD published a final rule in the Federal...
Dec 22, 2020
At a recent Certified Access Specialist Institute (CASI) presentation, three presenters—Janis Kent, Terry McClean and Rachelle Golden—discussed how they are seeing detailed accessibility work being performed. Janis Kent is an architect and CASp, and Founding President of CASI. Terry McClean, an...
Oct 21, 2020
The winter months are especially hard on the built environment. Once minimal concerns over rain and drainage can manifest as troublesome, costly repairs as freeze-thaw cycles work their magic on debris-filled roof drains, clogged gutters and drainage inlets, open sealant joints and cracks in...
Sep 16, 2020
It’s been 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed. So why are design and construction errors still so prevalent in new and existing construction? The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. So,...
Sep 03, 2020
We’ve covered the latest mandates coming out of California that will guide Zero Net Energy (ZNE) building around the country. But what does ZNE look like in the real world? One common misconception is that different climate zones will impact ZNE applications. But so far that has not been the case...