7 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 4, 2020

1. 71-unit 100% affordable housing development breaks ground in Mountain View, Calif. (BD+C)
"The 100% affordable housing project will comprise independent living for a mix of single- and two-person households earning between 50% and 70% of the area median income. Fifteen of the units are reserved for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities."

2. Construction spending decreases for fourth consecutive month in June (AGC)
"Association officials warn further contraction is likely unless federal government enacts prompt, major investment in infrastructure as state and local governments face deficits."

3. Report aids local governments on policy options, pathways to electrify new buildings (BD+C)
"This strategy is a way to improve energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and climate emissions in the built environment. It is a key to meeting climate and public health goals, according to a SWEEP press release."

4. Exploring the airborne transmission of the coronavirus and strategies for mitigating risk (Stantec)
"In a recently published article, international health authorities—including WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—are confronted in regards to their lack of action in acknowledging mounting evidence as to the airborne spread of the virus. The article pleads for the immediate recognition and issuing of suitable advice on mitigating control measures."

5. ‘We’re in a world of hurt,’ Sands President says of Las Vegas (Bloomberg via National Real Estate Investor)
"Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s two Las Vegas properties, the Venetian and the Palazzo, generated just $36 million in business during the second quarter."

6. ‘Recession proof’ apartment buildings set for $12 billion test (Bloomberg via National Real Estate Investor)
"Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. is marketing $12 billion worth of apartment buildings for sale amid a 70 percent plunge in transactions."

7. Once considered expensive and unnecessary, touchless tech tools are catching on (Bisnow)
"Just a few months ago, touchless tools like app-controlled or voice-controlled doors, elevators and lighting seemed too fanciful or expensive for all but the highest-tiered Class-A luxury buildings, but the coronavirus has turned the commercial real estate industry's view of these amenities on its head."

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Multifamily Housing | Feb 7, 2023

Multifamily housing rents flat in January, developers remain optimistic

Multifamily rents were flat in January 2023 as a strong jobs report indicated that fears of a significant economic recession may be overblown. U.S. asking rents averaged $1,701, unchanged from the prior month, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Multifamily Report.

Market Data | Feb 6, 2023

Nonresidential construction spending dips 0.5% in December 2022

National nonresidential construction spending decreased by 0.5% in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $943.5 billion for the month.

Architects | Jan 23, 2023

PSMJ report: The fed’s wrecking ball is hitting the private construction sector

Inflation may be starting to show some signs of cooling, but the Fed isn’t backing down anytime soon and the impact is becoming more noticeable in the architecture, engineering, and construction (A/E/C) space. The overall A/E/C outlook continues a downward trend and this is driven largely by the freefall happening in key private-sector markets.

Hotel Facilities | Jan 23, 2023

U.S. hotel construction pipeline up 14% to close out 2022

At the end of 2022’s fourth quarter, the U.S. construction pipeline was up 14% by projects and 12% by rooms year-over-year, according to Lodging Econometrics.

Products and Materials | Jan 18, 2023

Is inflation easing? Construction input prices drop 2.7% in December 2022

Softwood lumber and steel mill products saw the biggest decline among building construction materials, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index.

Market Data | Jan 10, 2023

Construction backlogs at highest level since Q2 2019, says ABC

Associated Builders and Contractors reports today that its Construction Backlog Indicator remained unchanged at 9.2 months in December 2022, according to an ABC member survey conducted Dec. 20, 2022, to Jan. 5, 2023. The reading is one month higher than in December 2021.

Market Data | Jan 6, 2023

Nonresidential construction spending rises in November 2022

Spending on nonresidential construction work in the U.S. was up 0.9% in November versus the previous month, and 11.8% versus the previous year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Industry Research | Dec 28, 2022

Following a strong year, design and construction firms view 2023 cautiously

The economy and inflation are the biggest concerns for U.S. architecture, construction, and engineering firms in 2023, according to a recent survey of AEC professionals by the editors of Building Design+Construction.