Austin, Texas, adopts AI-driven building permit software

After a successful pilot program, Austin has adopted AI-driven building permit software to speed up the building permitting process.

Calif. governor signs limited extension to hospital seismic retrofit mandate

Some California hospitals will have three additional years to comply with the state’s seismic retrofit mandate, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill extending the 2030 deadline.

San Francisco unveils guidelines to streamline office-to-residential conversions

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection announced a series of new building code guidelines clarifying adaptive reuse code provisions and exceptions for converting office-to-residential buildings. Developed in response to the Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse program established in July 2023, the guidelines aim to increase the viability of converting underutilized office buildings into housing by reducing regulatory barriers in specific zoning districts downtown.

Codes and Standards

Navigating the intricacies of code compliance and authorities having jurisdiction

The construction of a building entails navigating through a maze of regulations, permits, and codes. Architects are more than mere designers; we are stewards of safety and navigators of code compliance.

Codes and Standards | Mar 10, 2015

Real estate interests push Congress for Census funding

The groups have joined forces to urge Congress to fully fund the 2020 Census and the annual American Community Survey in its 2016 budget.

Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2015

Charlotte, N.C., considers rule for gender-neutral public bathrooms

A few other cities, including Philadelphia, Austin, Texas, and Washington D.C., already have gender-neutral bathroom regulations.

Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2015

FEMA cuts off funding to Indiana after Kokomo continues building stadium in flood zone

FEMA will withhold funding on $5.5 million worth of projects such as building tornado safe rooms in schools.

Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2015

Construction problems at prison spur support to quash non-traditional project delivery in Iowa

Iowa lawmakers are investigating construction problems at the Fort Madison prison project and are scrutinizing rules regarding project delivery on state projects.

Codes and Standards | Mar 5, 2015

AEC industry groups look to harmonize green building standards, codes

The USGBC, ASHRAE, ICC, IES, and AIA are collaborating on a single green code.

Codes and Standards | Mar 2, 2015

Nevada moves to suspend prevailing wage rules on school projects

The Nevada Senate approved a bill that would suspend prevailing wage rules on school projects.

Codes and Standards | Feb 22, 2015

Louisiana officials critical of stricter building standards in flood-prone areas

Buildings would have to be built either two or three feet above the base flood elevation for a 100-year flood or above the base elevation for a 500-year flood.

Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2015

Buildings with rocking steel-braced frames are advantageous in earthquakes

Research at Case Western Reserve University has found that buildings that rock during an earthquake and return to plumb would withstand seismic shaking better than structural designs commonly used today in vulnerable zones of California and elsewhere.

Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2015

USGBC concerned about developers using LEED registration in marketing

LEED administrators are concerned about a small group of developers or project owners who tout their projects as “LEED pre-certified” and then fail to follow through with certification.