-
Human-centered design is the secret sauce for open-plan success
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesOpen-plan workspaces have been given quite a thrashing in recent years. The more ubiquitous they become, the more employees and critics complain about how awful they are to work in. What makes the difference? Designers will not be surprised to learn that, according to recent research, the major factor is the quality of the interior design. Drawing on what is now an extensive body of research, most workspaces now are designed to promote certain kinds of employee behaviors found to be linked to important business goals, such as more rapid innovation and increased productivity.
-
Changing consumer needs in food and beverage will impact real estate
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageCBRE recently reported that massive shifts in the food and beverage industry will impact the real estate market in a big way. Millennial consumers are pushing for prepared food and ready-made, convenient meals that they can pick off the shelves. U.S. restaurants and grocery operators are reinventing themselves to meet these new demands. The real estate these businesses occupy will be revisited as well.
-
Urban farming in the US: Breaching the urban-rural divide
Lucy Wallwork Waste Management & EnvironmentalFarming is one of the oldest professions there is. But as society has urbanized, we have gradually lost our connection with the industry that puts food on our plates. One jarring survey in the U.K. found that nearly 1 in 10 elementary school children think that tomatoes grow under the ground. In parallel with urbanization has come the severing of our relationship with the people and land that grows our food. But now we are hearing that a new urban revolution in food is apparently sweeping through our city centers… so, can urban farming change our relationship with food?
-
Climate science’s growing bipartisan appeal
Michelle R. Matisons Civil & GovernmentFlorida became embroiled in an interesting controversy a few years back. It was widely reported that then-Gov. Rick Scott placed a cabinetwide moratorium on using climate change terminology. Now, in an informative about-face, the Sunshine State’s current governor, Ron DeSantis, has instituted a new climate science position held by Florida Chief Science Officer Dr. Tom Frazer. This position is just one example of the growing appeal of climate science across party lines.
-
Successful leaders in real estate and development embrace these soft skills
Catherine Iste Construction & Building MaterialsReal estate development and construction project managers excel at multitasking. Impeccable attention to detail, budget adherence and the ability to manage multiple timelines are all fundamental aspects of the job. However, to continue to advance in their fields, real estate leaders need to embrace soft skills as well. Interpersonal and communication skills are essential for successful leaders. In the case of real estate development, what often got us here — the ability to make and implement tough decisions — is not enough to advance.
-
Rising prices dampen home sales
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesDeclining mortgage rates and increased inventory of lower-priced homes sent prospective buyers — especially first-time, entry-level buyers — flocking into the housing market in March. But as those homes were snatched up and the average selling price again began to rise, demand receded. Month-over-month sales of both new and existing homes dipped in April, as did consumer sentiment that now is a good time to buy a home.
-
What’s your office’s air pollution level?
Lisa Mulcahy Facilities & GroundsYou probably figure you don't need to worry about air pollution unless you're sitting in traffic. Think again — the way you go about daily tasks in your office can actually create unhealthy levels of harmful air, putting you and your team at risk for respiratory diseases and other health issues. What can you do to stop the problem?
-
American consumers, businesses set to suffer as trade war escalates
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentIt took three days for the Chinese government to retaliate against President Trump imposing new import tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion of goods earlier this month. U.S. imports in China will face retaliatory tariffs, according to China’s Finance Ministry, rising from 10% to 20 or 25% on thousands of goods, from alcoholic beverages to apparel. What does this latest move in the two nations’ escalating trade war mean for American businesses and consumers?
-
New York-area pipeline halted, Keystone XL persists
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalPipelines have become one of the biggest issues in U.S. environmental politics since the 2016 Standing Rock protests against Energy Transfer's Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). The main issues opponents raise are groundwater contamination and spills. These concerns can be found across the country, as pipeline opponents in the Northeast recently defeated a 37-mile, $1 billion natural gas project, the Williams Companies’ proposed Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Pipeline. Intended to connect natural gas fields from Pennsylvania through New Jersey to New York, the pipeline application has been rejected on a technicality, citing potential copper and mercury contamination in water.
-
How will US manufacturing be affected by the trade war with China?
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingThe U.S. trade war with China has heated up, and now there is much speculation about daily life for American manufacturers and their employees. The logic is that higher tariffs on Chinese goods will increase trading with non-tariffed countries, and even better is Trump’s "best idea" of higher tariffs resulting in a logical move to buy American. We are quickly reminded that it’s not so simple to do that. Why not? For one, it’s difficult to find products made with solely U.S. parts.
All Construction & Building Materials Articles