Let me begin by saying, on behalf of all of us at Multifamily Design+Construction and our parent company, SGC Horizon, that I wish you and your family, friends, and coworkers well amid the turmoil of this terrible pandemic.
Turning to more mundane matters, multifamily seems to be one sector in the construction industry that’s holding its own. The AIA’s Architectural Billing Index for August showed multifamily at a three-month rolling index of 47.5—not great (a score above 50 indicates positive growth), but well above mixed-practice (44.0), institutional (39.5), and commercial/industrial (35.4). AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA, ventured so far as to say that multifamily “came close to seeing billings growth for July” (the last month measured).
Some positives for multifamily housing
Baker’s opinion was confirmed by Brad Hunter, former Managing Director at RCLCO (now Principal at Hunter Housing Economics), in a segment (https://bit.ly/3lVZ1QM) of “The Weekly” (horizontv.bdcnetwork.com), our new streaming service (Thursdays, 1pm Eastern).
Citing RCLCO’s Mid-Year 2020 Sentiment Survey, Hunter said most analysts believed multifamily rental and active-adult housing had “already hit bottom,” although independent living and assisted living/memory care were “still in full downturn mode.”
In speaking to many multifamily architects and contractors over the summer I came away with the feeling that, while their businesses had suffered a huge hit in March, April, and early May, conditions had started to brighten in late May and June—not gangbusters, to be sure, but steady improvement that continued into the Labor Day weekend.
Student housing in turmoil
I interviewed Mitch Dalton, Chief Director of Design at Core Spaces, in early July for “The Weekly” (https://bit.ly/3i6zzFB) about his company’s survey of 2,500 of its tenants—students who live in Core Spaces’ off-campus housing. Ninety percent said they wanted to come back to campus. Most (73%) said they would return to their off-campus apartments even if their institutions offered only online instruction. Most (60%) said they were dissatisfied with remote learning. Even so, four in five (80%) said they would rather study remotely in their college apartments than at home.
A month after my chat with Dalton, many of the nation’s more than 4,000 colleges and universities were still struggling with whether to open for in-person instruction, go fully remote, or try some sort of hybrid scheme. Most eventually went 100% online, but some, notably the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, opened up the campus, only to have to shut down a week later when clusters of Tar Heels started testing positive for the virus. What a mess. Let’s hope for a proven vaccine soon. Meanwhile, please keep safe, wear your mask (and PPE on the job site), wash your hands, and maintain a safe distance.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Jun 15, 2023
Arizona limits housing projects in Phoenix area over groundwater supply concerns
Arizona will no longer grant certifications for new residential developments in Phoenix, it’s largest city, due to concerns over groundwater supply. The announcement indicates that the Phoenix area, currently the nation’s fastest-growing region in terms of population growth, will not be able to sustain its rapid growth because of limited freshwater resources.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 15, 2023
Alliance of Pittsburgh building owners slashes carbon emissions by 45%
The Pittsburgh 2030 District, an alliance of property owners in the Pittsburgh area, says that it has reduced carbon emissions by 44.8% below baseline. Begun in 2012 under the guidance of the Green Building Alliance (GBA), the Pittsburgh 2030 District encompasses more than 86 million sf of space within 556 buildings.
Industry Research | Jun 15, 2023
Exurbs and emerging suburbs having fastest population growth, says Cushman & Wakefield
Recently released county and metro-level population growth data by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the fastest growing areas are found in exurbs and emerging suburbs.
Engineers | Jun 14, 2023
The high cost of low maintenance
Walter P Moore’s Javier Balma, PhD, PE, SE, and Webb Wright, PE, identify the primary causes of engineering failures, define proactive versus reactive maintenance, recognize the reasons for deferred maintenance, and identify the financial and safety risks related to deferred maintenance.
Mixed-Use | Jun 12, 2023
Goettsch Partners completes its largest China project to date: a mixed-used, five-tower complex
Chicago-based global architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) recently announced the completion of its largest project in China to date: the China Resources Qianhai Center, a mixed-use complex in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen. Developed by CR Land, the project includes five towers totaling almost 472,000 square meters (4.6 million sf).
Mixed-Use | Jun 6, 2023
Public-private partnerships crucial to central business district revitalization
Central Business Districts are under pressure to keep themselves relevant as they face competition from new, vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods emerging across the world’s largest cities.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 6, 2023
Minnesota expected to adopt building code that would cut energy use by 80%
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to soon sign a bill that would change the state’s commercial building code so that new structures would use 80% less energy when compared to a 2004 baseline standard. The legislation aims for full implementation of the new code by 2036.
Student Housing | Jun 5, 2023
The power of student engagement: How on-campus student housing can increase enrollment
Studies have confirmed that students are more likely to graduate when they live on campus, particularly when the on-campus experience encourages student learning and engagement, writes Design Collaborative's Nathan Woods, AIA.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 1, 2023
Income-based electric bills spark debate on whether they would harm or hurt EV and heat pump adoption
Starting in 2024, the electric bills of most Californians could be based not only on how much power they use, but also on how much money they make. Those who have higher incomes would pay more; those with lower incomes would see their electric bills decline - a concept known as income-based electric bills.
Multifamily Housing | May 30, 2023
Boston’s new stretch code requires new multifamily structures to meet Passive House building requirements
Phius certifications are expected to become more common as states and cities boost green building standards. The City of Boston recently adopted Massachusetts’s so-called opt-in building code, a set of sustainability standards that goes beyond the standard state code.
