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How construction can contribute to a recovering economy

Patrick Hogan Construction & Building Materials

The construction industry could be a means for the economy to recover after the outbreak of COVID-19, as history has shown that construction has been relied upon in the past to help improve the economy. The federal government has usually driven the upswing by increasing investments in building and infrastructure. Construction will also indirectly benefit local businesses when they supply food, shelter, raw materials, transport and other services to workers for the duration of the projects. To kick-start the economy and employment, sound principles and pledges are required.

8 great Florida botanical gardens

Dave G. Houser Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Although most tourists flock to Florida for its gorgeous beaches and fun-filled theme parks, the Sunshine State is also home to a number of the nation’s most lush and exotic public gardens. Horticulturists, gardeners and ordinary nature lovers alike will find these enticing green oases the answer to a vacation dream come true. From Jacksonville to Coral Gables to Sarasota — here are eight of Florida’s finest botanical gardens.

Key safety tips for real estate pros returning to the office during COVID-19

Sam Radbil Facilities & Grounds

The health of staff and clients is paramount for the real estate industry. Here are some key safety tips for real estate professionals who may be returning to the office. For example, though many real estate professionals, from attorneys to salespeople, determine their own schedules, it will be important to provide specific times that staff members can be in office to maintain social distancing and sanitizing schedules. Consider dividing the workforce into A and B groups.

Reimagining airport parking to support the travel industry

Jeremy Zuker Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

With a decrease in air travel activity, all aspects of the airport experience, from eating at restaurants in terminals to shopping and parking, are currently underused. This has resulted in massive revenue losses for airports and associated businesses. The largest loss for airports has been in airport parking. From 2015 to 2018, airport parking revenue rose by an average of 13.6%. And even as airport parking declined, revenue increased: at San Francisco International Airport, parking was down by 7.5% from 2014 to 2017, yet parking revenue increased over the same period.

Untethered affluents fueling booming home sales

Michael J. Berens Construction & Building Materials

Back in the spring when the housing market plummeted practically overnight, no one expected that homes would be flying off the shelf in September. Although the boom in home sales that began last May has slowed in recent months, demand still far exceeds supply, with the majority of homes last month selling in less than 30 days. For the most part, those homes are being bought by affluent homeowners who, no longer bound to their office commutes and urban lifestyles, are snapping up single-family suburban homes, vacation homes and luxury homes.

Groundbreaking takes place on Tucson International Airport’s biggest…

Matt Falcus Travel, Hospitality & Event Management

Tucson International Airport is about to enter a new phase as it begins development of a major infrastructure upgrade that will improve facilities for operators, bringing the airfield in line with the latest FAA safety standards. Ground was broken on the new project — the largest in the airport’s 72-year history — on October 15 by representatives from across Southern Arizona and the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA). The present airport layout dates from the 1960s and is in need of modernization. The new works will center around a new runway parallel to the current main strip.

Tax this: California’s Proposition 15

Seth Sandronsky Civil & Government

There is a fiscal-political story heating up in the world's fifth biggest economy this election season. Proposition 15 on the California state ballot Nov. 3 would tax commercial and industrial properties, except commercial agriculture, at their market value. Property taxes on residential properties would continue to be calculated on the purchase price, also known as the split roll valuation. "Upon full implementation," according to the California Legislative Analyst’s Office, "the measure’s shift of most commercial and industrial properties to market value assessment would increase annual property taxes paid for these properties by $8 billion to $12.5 billion in most years."

Infographic: How mask waste is hurting the planet

Maggie Kimberl Waste Management & Environmental

Masks have become a part of our daily lives. However, little thought often goes into their sustainability and where we get them from, resulting in mask waste. By one estimate, they will contribute 120,000 metric tons of waste in the U.K. alone by next year. This infographic outlines the problems with disposable masks as well as the benefits of reusable masks, especially those made from renewable resources.

Go low (tech) to make your building more COVID-safe

Andrew Witkin Facilities & Grounds

For the last five years, it seems that every conversation that I’ve had has included the word "disruptive." At one point, the term may have actually had some meaning, but today it’s so overused that it has pretty much faded into background noise. The thinking behind it is sound: old ways of dealing with problems need to evolve into new approaches. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, operators of commercial properties are faced with unprecedented challenges — and in many cases, the bright, shiny, new solution is not the best way to solve problems.

Improving senior care by mimicking natural light cycles with LED technology

Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & Fixtures

Numerous studies have identified the need for better lighting conditions in senior care facilities. Residents often have too little exposure to natural light during the day and are subjected to leaks from artificial lighting during the night. This can lead to a range of health problems, from erratic sleep patterns to impaired cognition to listlessness and depression. Recent developments in LED technology may provide a solution by creating interior lighting conditions that change throughout the day and night, mimicking the natural light cycle to which the body is attuned.

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