6 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 20, 2020

1. The continent’s tallest living wall could soon sprout in Dallas (BD+C)
"The exterior of the building at 1899 McKinley will be augmented by more than 40,000 plants that are expected to capture over 1,600 lbs of CO2 and produce 1,200 lbs of oxygen annually."

2. NMHC Multifamily Construction Survey shows significant delays in apartment construction (NMHC)
"The percent of apartment developers reporting construction delays remained essentially the same in the second iteration of the National Multifamily Housing Council’s (NMHC) Construction Survey--56% compared to 55% in the April 3 survey." 

3. A COVID-19 task force focuses on crisis communications (BD+C)
"In forming this task force, The Castle Group collaborated with Dr. David Shulkin, FACP, the former Secretary of the U.S. Department if Veterans Affairs, who is currently president of a consulting firm that works with healthcare organizations and companies to innovate and improve wellbeing for patients."

4. Construction employment declines in 20 states and D.C. in March, in line with industry survey showing growing job losses for the sector (AGC)
The association released an analysis of new government data that showed construction employment decreased in 20 states and the District of Columbia. from February to March, held steady in six states and increased in 25 states.

5. John Marx, AIA, on potential economic impacts of COVID-19 (AIA)
"John Marx, AIA, is the Chief Artistic Officer and a design principal at Form4 Architecture, a 32-person, San Francisco-based firm that specializes in, among other things, workplace architecture and interiors."

6. ‘There’s A Wave Coming’: CRE Debt Players Think May Will Be Worse Than April (Bisnow)
"Much of the commercial real estate industry was fretting over the fallout of destroyed businesses and unpaid rents during the month of April. But some of the country’s biggest debt players are bracing themselves for far worse in May."