6 must reads for the AEC industry today: October 8, 2020

1. First rendering of the National Medal of Honor Museum unveiled (BD+C) 
"The design features a steel slab that “floats” above the rest of the structure. It is connected to the spaces below, which feature large expanses of glass overlooking a reflecting pool, by two spiraling pathways."

2. More energy efficiency programs are encouraging zero-energy projects (BD+C) 
"According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), these programs have an annual budget of about $65 million. They have collectively completed nearly 200 single-family homes, about 900 apartments in multifamily buildings, and 74 commercial totaling more than two million square feet of floor area. Affordable housing accounts for a significant portion of the multifamily projects."

3. AIA releases 3D models, strategies for reducing risk of COVID-19 in polling places (AIA) 
"Developed in an effort to protect voters and polling place workers on Election Day, the resource provides architectural, engineering, operational and administrative strategies that election administrators and polling place workers can employ—as well as modify—for polling places and voting centers."

4. Seven urgent changes needed to fix senior living (Market Watch)
"Some perceive ‘senior living’ as ‘senior dying.’ The strategies a task force says will better serve residents, staff and families."

5. Almost 90% of NYC bars and restaurants couldn’t pay August rent (New York Post)
"Nearly 90 percent of New York City bar and restaurant owners couldn’t pay their rent in August, heightening the continued crush the coronavirus shutdown has inflicted on Gotham’s economy."

6. Pandemic exacerbates already severe U.S. housing shortage (Bisnow)
"Americans in the market for housing are facing a shortage of affordable rental properties to choose from. Scarcity and affordability were in place before 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic seems to have tightened residential markets even more."