Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay

Bridging the gap: How early architect involvement can revolutionize a city’s capital improvement plans

Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) typically span three to five years and outline future city projects and their costs. While they set the stage, the design and construction of these projects often extend beyond the CIP window, leading to a disconnect between the initial budget and evolving project scope. This can result in financial shortfalls, forcing cities to cut back on critical project features.

MFPRO+ New Projects

Luxury waterfront tower in Brooklyn features East River and Manhattan skyline views

Leasing recently began for The Dupont, a 41-story luxury rental property along the Brooklyn, N.Y., waterfront. Located within the 22-acre Greenpoint Landing, where it overlooks the newly constructed Newtown Barge Park, the high-rise features East River and Manhattan skyline views along with 20,000 sf of indoor and outdoor communal space.

Resiliency

Climate change degrades buildings slowly but steadily

While natural disasters such as hurricanes and wildfires can destroy buildings in minutes, other factors exacerbated by climate change degrade buildings more slowly but still cause costly damage.

Healthcare Facilities

New surgical tower is largest addition to UNC Health campus in Chapel Hill

Construction on UNC Health’s North Carolina Surgical Hospital, the largest addition to the Chapel Hill campus since it was built in 1952, was recently completed. The seven-story, 375,000-sf structure houses 26 operating rooms, four of which are hybrid size to accommodate additional equipment and technology for newly developed procedures.

Retail Centers | Apr 28, 2022

Cannabis dispensary Beyond-Hello debuts ‘glass-box’ design for Culver City facility

Los Angeles’ Culver City will open its first cannabis dispensary with Beyond/Hello.

Office Buildings | Apr 28, 2022

A 48-story office tower to rise over boomtown Austin

In downtown Austin, Texas, a planned 48-story office tower, The Republic, recently secured its first major tenant—allowing for the groundbreaking by midyear.

Codes and Standards | Apr 27, 2022

White House guidance on Buy American for infrastructure includes waiver process

Recently released guidance on the Buy American provision within the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act released by the Office of Management and Budget includes a waiver process.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 27, 2022

New Univ. of Texas Moody Center houses men’s and women’s basketball, other events

The recently completed 530,000 sf University of Texas Moody Center is the new home for men’s and women’s basketball at the Austin campus.

Architects | Apr 26, 2022

Low-tech skills architects need to keep in a high-tech world

As architects continue to lean into learning and mastering the latest technologies, let us not forget the foundational, fundamental skills that are still expected by clients. RS&H National Design Director Philip Robbie explains.

TNC-benefits-of-trees-used-with-permission

Green | Apr 26, 2022

Climate justice is the design challenge of our lives

As climate change accelerates, poor nations and disadvantaged communities are suffering the first and worst impacts.

Multifamily Housing | Apr 26, 2022

Fitness centers for multifamily housing: Advice from 'Dr. Fitness,' Karl Smith

In this episode for HorizonTV, Cortland's Karl Smith shares best practices for designing, siting, and operating fitness centers in apartment communities.

Mixed-Use | Apr 26, 2022

Downtown Phoenix to get hundreds of residential and student housing units

In fast-growing Phoenix, Arizona, a transit-oriented development called Central Station will sit adjacent to Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix campus.

Hotel Facilities | Apr 25, 2022

U.S. hotel construction pipeline up 2%, with 5,090 projects in the works

The total U.S. hotel construction pipeline stands at 5,090 projects and 606,302 rooms at the end of the first quarter of 2022, up 2% by projects, but down 3% by rooms, according to the Q1 2022 Construction Pipeline Trend Report for the United States from Lodging Econometrics (LE).

Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2022

Supply chain constraints, shifting consumer demands adding cost pressures to office fit-outs

Cushman & Wakefield’s 2022 Americas Office Fit-Out Cost Guide found supply chain constraints and shifting consumer demands will continue to add pressure to costs, both in materials and labor.