6 must reads for the AEC industry today: September 24, 2020

1. SOM-designed waterfront neighborhood will include 1,045-foot-tall tower (BD+C) 
"Designed by SOM, the new neighborhood will feature a robust transportation hub that offers connections to land, sea, and rail across more than 40 acres; five modular canopies that envelop three sides of a 1.8 million-sf port, weaving together a landscape of towers behind it and creating a series of covered pedestrian alleyways; a retail environment; and interlinked courtyards along the waterfront promenade."

2. A new portable restroom is designed for mobility (BD+C) 
"In the annals of jobsite productivity, the portable restroom—better known as a porta potty or Porta John—has played a prominent, if underappreciated, role."

3. Intl. Code Council aims to stay ahead of new tech, efficiency trends, and resiliency (ICC) 
"The group is paying particular attention to housing resiliency in light of the growing threat of climate change. Codes can address the intersection of resilience and sustainability, such as enabling people to stay in their homes longer in the event of power outages during extreme hot or cold weather."

4. Architectural billings in August still show little sign of improvement (AIA) 
"The pace of decline during August remained at about the same level as in July and June."

5. Landlords and tenants can agree on one thing: The multifamily industry needs rental assistance (Bisnow)
"After the “skinny” relief bill proposed by Republicans failed in a vote on the Senate floor on Thursday, there is no clear path to a meaningful economic stimulus package before Election Day."

6. Ikea is trying to follow in the footsteps of Sears Roebuck in building its own mixed-use centers (National Real Estate Investor)
"The retailer’s shopping center arm just bought a building in downtown San Francisco. It’s on the lookout for more of the same."