5 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 13, 2020

1. Apple Central World welcomes first visitors in Bangkok (BD+C)
"The building itself comprises an 80-foot diameter two-story glass drum that features a conical support with a concave vertical surface that stands on its apex. The central support is clad in timber formed of 1,461 European white oak profiles. The oak timber is split into individual lamellas and bonded onto a spruce core for stability."

2. Document provides guidance for mass timber construction (BD+C)
"The document provides an overview of requirements for mass timber construction as found in the 2015, 2018, and 2021 International Building Code (IBC)."

3. Only 37% of hotels have brought back half of their employees (Small Business Trends)
"Only 37% of hotels have brought back half of their employees according to a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Furthermore, 9 in 10 hotels have been forced to either lay off or furlough their employees due to COVID-19."

4. How the pandemic hastened tech adoption in the multifamily space (Reality Times)
"In many important ways the multifamily real estate sector, in its zeal to provide its residents with the best possible amenities, anticipated the coronavirus pandemic. Such things as virtual tours, smart technology and online payments made social distancing possible before it became a necessity."

5. 7-Eleven to buy marathon petroleum’s Speedway stores for $21B (Globe St)
"In what is one of the biggest global acquisitions to be announced this year, Marathon Petroleum Corp. has agreed to sell its chain of Speedway convenience stores and gas stations to 7-Eleven for $21 billion in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals."