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Amsterdam Schiphol expansion proposed as Lelystad delayed
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveAmsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands needs to find creative ways to cope with capacity issues and is hoping further expansion could give it breathing space as it awaits the opening of Lelystad as a sister airport. Proposals to develop Lelystad, some 30 miles east of the city, into a commercial airport to handle Schiphol’s low-cost and leisure flights have been delayed to 2020 instead of next year to allow more time to consult with users and local residents. In the short term, this gives Schiphol a headache.
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Biophilic hotel design is going mainstream
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesBeachfront properties, mountain lake resorts, luxury forest cabins, jungle hideaways, atrium lobbies — the hospitality industry has long known the value of attracting visitors with views of nature. Recently, though, more hotels and hotel designers have been employing principles of biophilia to enhance guests’ connection to nature within their properties. What once seemed just an extension of eco-design is fast becoming a must-have feature to compete for the custom of discerning travelers.
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Amazon announces controversial HQ2 locations
Michelle R. Matisons Science & TechnologyWhen Amazon announced that it was searching for a new second headquarters location, speculation began to swirl as hundreds of cities competed. Finally, on Nov. 13, the company announced it will be splitting HQ2 between two locations: Arlington, Virginia; and Long Island City in Queens, New York. It will also build an "Operations Center of Excellence" in Nashville that will provide 5,000 jobs. Immediately after the announcement, debates kicked into motion about the tax breaks given to Amazon and how HQ2 will affect the communities chosen.
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Remodeling growth levels out but remains strong
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesFor the past several quarters, the remodeling industry has experienced exceptional growth. That trend may have run its course, though. Industry indicators reveal activity during the third quarter of this year remained relatively flat. Experts project that demand is likely to remain strong, but that the rate of growth will taper off in 2019. According to the latest BuildFax Housing Health Report, data from the past three months indicate the pace of remodeling is leveling out after several years of steep increases.
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Study: Push for smart-building transitions seems obvious based on the benefits
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsA recent study seems to suggest that converting to smart building technology allows organizations to cut energy costs, meet air quality regulations and provide the best environments for occupants, visitors and staff. So says Siemens Financial Services, which estimates that the potential for "self-financing" smart-building conversion may cross 13 countries in three sectors: commercial buildings; government buildings; and hospitals. In other words, there’s plenty of potential for innovation.
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Home sales weaken as buyers back off
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsIncreased inventory and declining prices were not enough to seal the deal for some prospective homebuyers in September. Sales of both new and existing homes were down from August’s rather lackluster performance. Although demand remains high, concerns about rising mortgage rates and a shortage of entry-level properties kept buyers at bay. After a modest gain in August, sales of new single-family homes dropped 5.5 percent in September, the lowest month-over-month decline since December 2016, and were down 13.2 percent from the same period last year.
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‘Lego building’: Can modular housing disrupt the US housing…
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsDaily headlines carry news of technologies "disrupting the market." One of the latest stories is that of pre-fabricated, "modular housing" and what it could do to transform the way the construction industry operates. If there was ever an industry in need of disruption, it is homebuilding. Modular housing promises to take much of the risk and complication out of that process by performing most of the construction work in a weathertight plant. Panels are manufactured in a factory and slotted together on site, often in a matter of hours — a true "plug and play" model.
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Using design to curb aggression
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWithin the past five years, American society has become increasingly angry, belligerent and aggressive. It may be due to the intense stress of daily life, to fallout from the last recession, to income or racial inequality, to political and regional polarization, to the nature of much popular entertainment, to the fractured news media, to the no-holds barred invective popular on social media — or due to all of them. Whatever the reasons, as a society we need to look for ways to alleviate and prevent aggression, especially in public spaces. Research shows design can help.
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Designing in many shades of green
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesGreen, or eco-friendly, is now widely accepted as a responsible way to design. Yet, in practice, designing green can take many forms. You need to consider your own as well as your clients’ values when offering green solutions. Even among clients who consider themselves to be eco-conscious and responsible, being green may translate into conserving utilities and faithfully recycling. These individuals want energy-efficient appliances and heating and lighting systems, water-saving fixtures, and well-insulated walls and attics. They also have their eye on another kind of green — money.
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Land assembly: Solving the land puzzle in American cities
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsWe see lots of seductive grand visions for how our cities might look, laid out on master plans that make anything seem possible. But the reality is that these plans generally do not start with a blank canvas. Indeed, the largest obstacle to the reshaping of our cities — whether that is for economic development, smart growth or housing delivery goals — is something much less sexy. The not-so-simple task of land assembly. Land assembly is the process of taking on a plot of land with high potential but highly fragmented ownership, and making it work as a whole.
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