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Urban regeneration: The takeover of ‘cappuccino urbanism’
Lucy Wallwork Construction & Building MaterialsCitizens of "regenerated" districts will find the sight of yet another boutique café opening up on their local main street familiar. But as the pavements in the "thriving" cities of the West fill up simultaneously with cappuccino vendors and a growing homeless population, the cognitive dissonance becomes hard to ignore. Some are starting to ask if what has become known as "cappuccino urbanism" papers over a shallow approach to urban regeneration and belies a crucial lack of imagination.
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The importance of door maintenance: Tips and notes
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsIn and out, all day long, nearly every day of the year. Doors. You may take the barriers that keep the outside out and the inside in for granted. But your facility’s doors are nothing to overlook. Kind of like the roof above, they keep your buildings protected, safe and secure, and the unsavory elements — both weather and humans — out. Proper maintenance is a must, but in many cases these most mobile pieces of your building probably only get attention if something isn't right.
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Home construction recoups as sales slump
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsAfter taking a tumble in June, housing construction got back on its feet in July, with both the number of new starts and permit requests ticking upward. Home sales, on the other hand, continued to slip as prices in many markets approach record highs. Demand for housing remains high, but would-be buyers are having difficulty finding homes they can afford. Throughout the year so far, home construction numbers have yo-yoed up and down from month to month.
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Caribbean comeback: Tourism returns to the islands a year after the storms
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementBarring any more hurricanes this season, the Caribbean is back. That was the word at this year’s Virtuoso Week, where Karolin Troubetzkoy, immediate past president of the Caribbean Hotel Association, addressed travel industry advisors and media about the state of tourism in the Caribbean one year after hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria wreaked havoc on the region in nearly consecutive high-intensity storms. "The region lost three percent of arrivals, but it’s coming back even better," she said. "There is a certain spirit of enthusiasm in the Caribbean. It's been really tough, but we are going to come back really strong from the experience."
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Workplace design: Where play gets serious
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesBy now, the notion of designing playful workspaces or spaces at work for play is no longer novel. Some of the world’s top companies are renowned for providing playful environments for their workers and have testified to the many ways they benefit the company by enhancing employee satisfaction and encouraging creativity and camaraderie. But, as recent research shows, there is also a serious side to play at work that is embedded in these designs, tying them closely to the bottom line.
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McDonald’s flagship: An example of newly renovated space
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe advance of technology has transformed the way restaurants and hotels operate their businesses. When almost everything, from reservations, productions, and service delivery, to the collection of payments, can be performed by machines, restaurants and hotels must also reconsider how they may better utilize the space for smooth operations. McDonald’s, for example, recently revealed a flagship store that looks like an Apple Store in Chicago, roughly two months after the company opened a brand-new, $250 million headquarters in an up-and-coming Windy City neighborhood known for its trendy restaurants.
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Nanotechnology: The new frontier for plastics
Don Rosato EngineeringNot since the discovery of the silicon chip has there been this much excitement in the field of physics and material sciences. Innumerable universities have established nanocenters, with many receiving industrial funding and sponsorship, and a large number of these spawning nanomaterial-related entrepreneurial businesses spun out as the fruits of academic research. Private industry and governments around the world are investing billions of dollars, rushing to exploit the small world that has been defined as materials under 100 nanometers in size.
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The benefits of a white roof
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsIs your organization too cool for a cool white roof? Probably not, but there’s a pretty good chance such an office amenity is one of the furthest things from your mind. It’s never too late for a look at the top of your organization’s home base to do the world a little good, though. If management is looking for innovations to bring more sustainability to the organization, a little white paint may go a long way.
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It’s time for the energy industry to think like Apple
Shawn Smajstrla Science & TechnologyWhen the iPhone debuted in 2007, its impact was immediate. Since then, the iPhone and other smart devices like it, have changed the way we work, play, shop, communicate — the way we live. What made the iPhone so revolutionary, though, wasn’t its touchscreen, camera or user interface. What truly made the iPhone a breakthrough was how it utilized a convergence of digital technologies. Meanwhile, the energy grid that powers our connected lives continues to function largely as it has for more than a century.
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The politics of bringing bullet trains to the US
Lucy Wallwork Transportation Technology & AutomotiveThe Shinkansen "bullet trains" in Japan and France’s extensive TGV network are testament to the commitment of some countries to high-speed rail. The U.K. has recently realized it is falling behind and is trying to catch up, but is causing a furor in the process. Even Uzbekistan is in on the game. The U.S., meanwhile, is still making baby steps. Now, investors who have built on experience on other international projects are now rushing into the U.S. to try their changes. But who is willing to pay for these pricey projects?
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