Gainesville, Fla., lawmakers moved to end single-family zoning

The Gainesville City Commission recently voted to advance zoning changes that would allow duplexes, triplexes, and quadplexes to be built on land currently zoned for single-family homes.

The move makes Gainesville, home of the University of Florida, on the verge of becoming the first community in the state to end single-family zoning. This development could have significant implications for other college towns, particularly in Republican-led states, according to a Bloomberg report.

The commission’s decision has some strong opposition. Dozens of residents in a nearly seven-hour meeting provided public comments, so supporters of zoning changes seem to have tough battles ahead.

Supporters say allowing denser housing to be built in more of the city will boost supply and cut housing costs while fighting racial and economic segregation. But some requirements, such as minimum lot sizes, density limits, and height restrictions, could limit how much new housing would actually be built under the new rules.

DPR Construction, PCL Construction Enterprises, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Skanska USA, and Power Construction top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest outpatient facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes construction revenue for work related to outpatient medical buildings, including cancer centers, heart centers, urgent care facilities, and other medical centers.

Construction Costs | Jan 22, 2024

Construction material prices continue to normalize despite ongoing challenges

Gordian’s most recent Quarterly Construction Cost Insights Report for Q4 2023 describes an industry still attempting to recover from the impact of COVID. This was complicated by inflation, weather, and geopolitical factors that resulted in widespread pricing adjustments throughout the construction materials industries.

Transit Facilities | Jan 22, 2024

Top 25 Transit Facility Construction Firms for 2023

The Walsh Group, Clark Group, Hensel Phelps, Skanska USA, and Hill International top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest transit facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report. Note: This ranking includes construction revenue for work related to bus terminals, rail terminals, and transit stations.

Hotel Facilities | Jan 22, 2024

U.S. hotel construction is booming, with a record-high 5,964 projects in the pipeline

The hotel construction pipeline hit record project counts at Q4, with the addition of 260 projects and 21,287 rooms over last quarter, according to Lodging Econometrics.

Modular Building | Jan 19, 2024

Virginia is first state to adopt ICC/MBI offsite construction standards

Virginia recently became the first state to adopt International Code Council/Modular Building Institute off-site construction standards.

Modular Building | Jan 19, 2024

Building with shipping containers not as eco-friendly as it seems

With millions of shipping containers lying empty at ports around the world, it may seem like repurposing them to construct buildings would be a clear environmental winner. The reality of building with shipping containers is complicated, though, and in many cases isn’t a net-positive for the environment, critics charge, according to a report by NPR's Chloe Veltman.

Pre-applied blindside waterproofing installed prior to pouring of concrete wall. Photo courtesy Walter P Moore

Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction

This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.

The new theater at the expanded Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas, designed by DLR Group. Photo: Michael Robinson Photography, courtesy DLR Group

Performance-based facilities for performing arts boost the bottom line

A look at design trends for “budget-wise” performing arts facilities reveals ways in which well-planned and well-built facilities help performers and audiences get the most out of the arts. This continuing education course is worth 1.0 AIA learning unit.