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Fortress America: Why is the US still building gated communities?
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsGated communities go against most of what is currently in vogue in progressive urbanist thought. They turn their backs on an inclusive public realm, starving public streets of their vibrancy and withdraw a whole community from the theatre of our streets. But still, by the year 2009 almost 11 million people in the U.S. were reported to be living in gated communities. We might be familiar with super-elite gated communities, but gated communities now span the whole spectrum of housing across the U.S. So, what is driving this broader process of "residential fortification?"
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The cities of the future, here today
Dave G. Houser Construction & Building MaterialsAbout 12,000 years ago, the Neolithic Revolution marked the transition in human history from nomadic hunting and gathering to settling in permanent communities. In all probability, from that time forward mankind has fantasized about a city of the future. Today, we've discovered a number of real-life brick-and-mortar — or rather, glass, steel, ashcrete and carbon fiber — developments that suggest that the cities of the future may be nearer at hand than we think.
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Mixed expectations for interior design businesses at year’s end
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesInterior design activity in the third quarter of the year was by and large mixed, with some sectors and some regions faring better than others. That trend is expected to continue throughout the fourth quarter, based on recent surveys of designer sentiment. Rising costs of products and materials, along with growing uncertainty about the health of the economy, have put a damper on client demand for new projects and larger projects. On the whole, residential firms experienced only a modest decline in activity during the summer.
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5 effective strategies to boost your engagement-based email marketing
Lisa Mulcahy MarketingWhen it comes to digital marketing, engagement-based email can be a gold mine for your company. The key is to look beyond the obvious when it comes to your subscriber base. Simply checking to see who opens your targeted messages and who doesn't won't get you sales, but the following research-driven, richly targeted strategies can do the trick. Try these tips to boost your bottom line.
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Home sales lose momentum despite falling prices
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsHousing activity in September softened across the board and across the country. Low mortgage rates and reductions in home prices were not enough to offset a shortage of more affordable properties. Sales of both new and existing homes slid from the previous month. New home starts and completions dropped substantially. While inventory of existing homes remained stable, those at lower price points were harder to find.
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Infographic: Optimizing reputation management with AI
Brian Wallace Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementCustomers read the reviews, but it's not enough to have good reviews. Those reviews also have to be believable. Your company's online reputation can make or break your business, and your ratings even influence your ranking in searches. Increasing your company's ratings from three to five stars can increase your visibility on Google by up to 25%. Learn more with this infographic.
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A new way to improve your health: Move to a wellness community
Victoria Fann Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesGiven that the average person spends 90% of their time indoors and loneliness has become epidemic, it makes sense that real estate is responding by changing the way it builds. In addition, the attention given to wellness is growing, so health-conscious homebuyers want to live in a place that supports their values. Also known as wellness lifestyle real estate and wellness communities, this new trend will be a $180 billion industry worldwide in 2022, according to a report by the Global Wellness Institute.
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Quality of work begins with quality of life
Lloyd Princeton Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementTwo of the biggest challenges employers face today are retaining employees and keeping them engaged at work. To address these challenges, firms have sought to incentivize employees with additional financial rewards, such as profit-sharing and commissions. They also have increased their benefits offerings to include wellness programs, financial counseling and assistance with student debt. But what most employees really want is a better quality of life.
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Is it time to put ‘senior living’ out to pasture?
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesBack in the day, when you reached a certain age and had no one to care for you, you’d be sent to the "old folks’ home" to live out your remaining years. Then, "retirement villages" came along, replacing the stigma of the old folks’ home. Over time, these age-restricted communities have evolved into today’s "senior living" model, offering a wide range of activities, support services, and a continuum of elder care, often in a residential-like setting. Several reports released this year suggest, however, that the concept of "senior living" may have run its course, too.
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The latest in meeting room design trends
Edward Belleville Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementIt’s 2019 and, still, meetings are seen as a necessary evil, and the rooms where they take place are regarded as being in a vacuum. Apart from the parts of our day we are forced to sit inside one, we avoid thinking about meeting rooms. They are like the storage room nobody wants to tidy. But meetings, whether long or short, big or small, are crucial to any business. To function well, companies must provide employees with well-designed daily spaces for collaboration. Here is an overview of the key trends in meeting room design.
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