Mid-year special: Top 13 stories for 2013 (so far)

Every six months, we like to take a look back at the stories that generated the most interest from our readers. For the first half of 2013, hot topics on BDCnetwork.com included high-rise projects in the works around the world, senior housing trends, 40 Under 40 winners, a BIM-related lawsuit, and the top trends in kitchen and bath design.

Here's a roundup of the top 13 articles on BDCnetwork.com for the first six months of 2013:

1. 7 hip high-rise developments on the drawing board

We feature a collection of recently profiled high-rise projects in the works around the world. They include Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill's whimsical Dancing Dragons tower in Seoul and a 1,312-foot-tall finance and trade center under construction in Nanning, China. READ THE ARTICLE

2. 8 trends shaping today’s senior housing

The ranks of those age 65 and older are swelling by the thousands every day. Is there an opportunity for your firm in the seniors housing market? READ THE ARTICLE

3. Meet BD+C's 40 Under 40 class of 2013

We’re pleased to present our Class of 2013 “40 Under 40” honorees. Along with the 280 previous recipients of this honor, dating from 2006, they represent the next generation of leadership in the AEC industry. READ THE ARTICLE

4. Top 10 kitchen and bath design trends for 2013

Gray color schemes and transitional styles are among the top trends identified by more than 300 kitchen and bath design experts. READ THE ARTICLE

5. Lawsuit teaches valuable lesson on BIM and communication

BDCnetwork blogger Sasha Reed offers a cautionary tale about one of the first BIM-related lawsuits. The parties involved in this university building project kept their identities private, but it’s been reported that they settled out of court for millions of dollars. READ THE ARTICLE

6. Extreme LEGO: Wondrous micro city built out of 200,000 blocks

Master LEGO builder Mike Doyle unveils his latest creation, an out-of-this-world micro city that celebrates peaceful alien contact. READ THE ARTICLE

7. Will Google Glass revolutionize the construction process?

An Australian architect is exploring the benefits of augmented reality in the design and construction process. READ THE ARTICLE

8. A LEGO lover's dream: Guide to building the world's iconic structures with LEGO

A new book from LEGO master builder Warren Elsmore offers instructions for creating scale models of buildings and landmarks with LEGO. READ THE ARTICLE

9. 8 eye-popping wood building projects

WoodWorks announces the winners of the 2013 National Wood Design Awards. READ THE ARTICLE

10. Supertall 'Sky City' will house 4,400 families in Changsha, China

Up to 30,000 people could be accommodated in planned 'world's tallest building,' at 2,749 feet. READ THE ARTICLE

11. Calatrava projects encounter issues with water, structure

Alleged maintenance, safety problems with several iconic Santiago Calatrava projects give rise to financial claims. READ THE ARTICLE

12. 13 structural steel buildings that dazzle

The American Institute of Steel Construction names its 2013 IDEAS2 winners. READ THE ARTICLE

13. Walgreens to build first net-zero energy retail store

Evanston, Ill., location will utilize solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal. READ THE ARTICLE

The number of adaptive reuse projects in the pipeline grew to a record 122,000 in 2023 from 77,000 registered last year, according to RentCafe’s annual Adaptive Reuse Report. Of the 122,000 apartments currently undergoing conversion, 45,000 are the result of office repurposing, representing 37% of the total, followed by hotels (23% of future projects).

Hotel Facilities | Jul 26, 2023

Hospitality building construction costs for 2023

Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for 15-story hotels, restaurants, fast food restaurants, and movie theaters across 10 U.S. cities: Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Sustainability | Jul 26, 2023

Carbon Neutrality at HKS, with Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer

Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer at HKS Inc., discusses the firm's decarbonization strategy and carbon footprint assessment.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jul 26, 2023

10 ways public aquatic centers and recreation centers benefit community health

A new report from HMC Architects explores the critical role aquatic centers and recreation centers play in society and how they can make a lasting, positive impact on the people they serve.

Multifamily Housing | Jul 25, 2023

San Francisco seeks proposals for adaptive reuse of underutilized downtown office buildings

The City of San Francisco released a Request For Interest to identify office building conversions that city officials could help expedite with zoning changes, regulatory measures, and financial incentives.

Woman on treadmill in healthcare facility

Designers | Jul 25, 2023

The latest 'five in focus' healthcare interior design trends

HMC Architects’ Five in Focus blog series explores the latest trends, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of healthcare design.

Urban Planning | Jul 24, 2023

New York’s new ‘czar of public space’ ramps up pedestrian and bike-friendly projects

Having made considerable strides to make streets more accessible to pedestrians and bikers in recent years, New York City is continuing to build on that momentum. Ya-Ting Liu, the city’s first public realm officer, is shepherding $375 million in funding earmarked for projects intended to make the city more environmentally friendly and boost quality of life.

Market Data | Jul 24, 2023

Leading economists call for 2% increase in building construction spending in 2024

Following a 19.7% surge in spending for commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings in 2023, leading construction industry economists expect spending growth to come back to earth in 2024, according to the July 2023 AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel.

In Phoenix, a former motel transforms into The Egyptian Motor Hotel, a boutique hotel with a midcentury vibe

Hotel Facilities | Jul 21, 2023

In Phoenix, a former motel transforms into a boutique hotel with a midcentury vibe

The Egyptian Motor Hotel’s 48 guest rooms come with midcentury furnishings ranging from egg chairs to Bluetooth speakers that look like Marshall amplifiers.

Office Buildings | Jul 20, 2023

The co-worker as the new office amenity

Incentivizing, rather than mandating the return to the office, is the key to bringing back happy employees that want to work from the office. Spaces that are designed and curated for human-centric experiences will attract employees back into the workplace, and in turn, make office buildings thrive once again. Perkins&Will’s Wyatt Frantom offers a macro to micro view of the office market and the impact of employees on the future of work.

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