Building Dimensions
Why design-build contractors are growing in popularity
And how to identify an authentic design-build contractor The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) recently released a study providing an overview of the design-build industry, including trends, growth and the market forecast. The study includes modeling and research based on industry expertise, data mining and interviews with 46 design-build contractors and industry stakeholders and electronic…
This vs. that: leasing vs. owning commercial space
Here are the pros and cons of leasing vs. owning When considering commercial space for your business, you may wonder which is better: leasing vs. owning. Whether you are considering office space, a retail storefront, distribution facility, a factory or other commercial endeavors, it’s often not an easy decision. There are pros and cons to…
What’s trending: garden style apartments
La Crosse general contractors predict uptick in this design-build movement Increased interest in garden-style apartments is keeping builders in La Crosse, WI, Rochester, MN and the Upper Midwest beyond busy these days. And what’s old is new again as far as this trend is concerned. Garden apartments gained popularity in the U.S. in the wake…
Designing for senior housing staff retention
To solve senior housing’s biggest challenge, go back to the drawing board The headlines in senior housing news say it all: recruiting and retaining staff in senior housing is a huge challenge these days. Competition for the limited pool of applicants can be fierce. Competitive salaries can tilt the scales, but sometimes there simply isn’t…
Design-build office trends in 2022
Office trends in 2022 reflect pandemic influence As more businesses developed return-to-work strategies, office space use trended up in 2021. And economists expect occupancy to continue improving in 2022, mainly in the latter half of the year and particularly in medical offices and suburban areas. In its 2022 U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook, CBRE says…
Material lead times and cost increases impact commercial construction
Owner/builders should plan projects earlier than ever Equipment and material lead times and cost increases continue to impact the commercial construction industry. The good news is you can mitigate some of these increases by thoughtful planning in the very early project stages. How early? Earlier than ever, say our design-build experts. That means if you’re…
Understanding grants and incentives for sustainable construction
Sustainable construction gaining traction with commercial projects Increasingly, Earth Day is every day as developers seek opportunities to design and build commercial construction projects in a more earth-friendly manner. Eco-friendly practices used to be a consideration only for those on the fringes of commercial construction even a couple of decades ago, and these days it’s…
Design-build trends for hospitality and restaurants in 2022
Design-build outlook for hotels looks promising After taking big pandemic hits alongside the rest of the travel industry in 2020, the hotel sector improved in 2021. At this writing, CBRE is forecasting 2021 will close with a national occupancy rate of 54%, followed by 62% in 2022. But the commercial real estate services and investment…
Retail and grocery trends for 2022
Pandemic proves to be big influencer in retail and grocery trends In 2021, Verizon, with global research company Morning Consult, combined its network data and a survey of 3,000 Americans to study how people adjusted to life one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. It found that almost two in three Americans shopped mostly in person…
Construction technology: shaping the future of building
The future of construction may be built by these innovations Innovation has always played an essential role in construction. These days, innovative construction technology is shaping the future of the building industry, improving everything from efficiencies and productivity to safety and more. Even amid the pandemic when much of the world came to a pause,…