Archinect - News

Demand for construction workers remains high as overall U.S. labor demand dips

2023-09-01T17:47:00-04:00

The nationwide demand for labor is dulling, but construction still faces a shortage of workers. Construction counted 363,000 job openings at the end of July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a decrease of 23,000 jobs from June.

As noted by the chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), Anirban Basu, job openings, across all industries, are at the lowest level since March 2021, and the rate at which workers are quitting their jobs has returned to the pre-pandemic norm. The demand for construction workers, however, still remains high. Last month's 363,000 job openings are still 10,000 more than the amount during the same period last year.

The recent dip in labor demand has been attributed to continued inflation and higher interest rates. According to Construction Dive, ABC members have indicated that they will still increase hiring efforts and are unlikely to lay off workers. Money entering the construction industry through legislation aiming to spur major projects is straining the pool of labor as contractors are competing for the same skilled workers.

To browse the latest architecture career opportunities, head to Archinect Jobs.

Outdoor dining in New York City to become permanent — and stricter

2023-08-07T17:18:00-04:00

Outdoor dining along New York City streets, one of the rare pandemic-era accommodations that proved popular, is set to become permanent — but in a way that could drive many restaurant owners to take down their streetside sheds for good.

A New York City Council bill introduced in February that will make outdoor dining structures in roadways permanent through a licensing system was passed last week. The move aims to preserve the popular program while being able to exert more control over it. One stipulation is that roadway structures can only stand from April through November, which would be followed by their deconstruction and storage during the winter. This aspect of the bill has seen blowback from restaurant owners who claim it will be a costly task that also impacts dining options for patrons and the employment of restaurant workers.

Previously on Archinect: Third wave Open Streets: Open for whom?

With the bill, New York City’s Transportation Department is set to establish basic design guidelines for outdoor dining. Restaurants will now be required to pay fees based on their location and square footage. Establishments in historic districts or landmark sites will also need to acquire approval from the city’s Landm...

Gensler survey reveals the ways Gen Z workers are being drawn back to the office

2023-06-23T18:03:00-04:00

Remote work is second nature for Generation Z, many of whom graduated college and started careers during the pandemic. And yet, many are now transitioning to in-person work as they look for more workplace connections, learning opportunities and socialization with coworkers. That means figuring out what kind of workspace environment will keep Gen Z workers interested, is becoming a higher priority.

According to the 2023 Global Workplace Survey Comparison by Gensler, there has been a sudden split, spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic, in the workplace preferences for Gen Z workers compared to older generations.

To start, the findings reveal that Gen Z workers place more value on learning and socializing at work, along with flexibility. Essentially this means that younger workers value having a variety of experiences in the workplace. These experiences include having both private and collaborative spaces, made possible by open, changeable layouts, access to more amenities, and having more in-person, social interactions.

The survey has found that younger workers are being drawn towards offices and away from remote work due to the accessibility of leadership and continued education that could help drive career growth. Some companies looking to adapt to meet these evo...

LMN Architects announces progress of its new Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts expansion and remodel

2023-04-11T11:36:00-04:00

LMN Architects is celebrating the near completion of its expansion and renovation of The Buxton Center for Bainbridge Performing Arts in Washington.

Located on Bainbridge Island, the new Buxton Center will create a stronger connection to the island by "reorienting its entry sequence to the axial plan of the island’s town square." The Center will have a wood and glass curtain wall that encloses a two-story lobby space. The lobby will serve as a way to immerse visitors within the surrounding woodland landscape. Adjacent to the center is a studio that will operate as a separate performance venue and will be the primary home of the Bainbridge Performing Arts Theatre School program.

“The original theater was a civic treasure for the island and a vital gathering space to celebrate the arts in the local community,” said LMN Architects Associate Erik Perka. “Throughout the design of the new building, our main goal was to preserve the intimacy of the theater while strengthening the connectio...

The billion dollar Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is finally on course towards completion

2023-03-17T09:10:00-04:00

But even in the haze of construction, a seemingly endless swirl of workers, cranes and girders, the enormous scope of the project is coming into focus as its futuristic new home rises in Exposition Park: a grand homage to one of the nation’s best-known filmmakers, and a massive repository for an eclectic collection of 100,000 paintings, photographs, book illustrations and comic book drawings.

Following a series of legal issues, criticism, construction delays, and the pandemic, the long-awaited MAD Architects-designed $1 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art finally seems to be on track to complete.

Since breaking ground in 2018, the project’s opening has been pushed back twice to 2023 and then 2025. Aside from external setbacks, the project’s slowed progress can be attributed to its complex and ambitious design.

Previously on Archinect: Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening date pushed back again to 2025 due to supply chain issues

As noted by The New York Times, the museum includes over 1,500 individually fabricated curved panels of fiberglass-reinforced polymer, three curved-glass elevators, an elliptical oculus, a rooftop garden, and two 299-seat theaters atop 281 seismic base isolators.

With the five-story, 300,000-square-foot museum, akin to a "low-lying spaceship," set to become a reality, the focus has shifted towards whether this site can draw the attendance tha...

Chicago unveils Climate Infrastructure Fund for nonprofits and small businesses

2022-12-28T17:31:00-05:00

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced a new grant program that aims to spur climate action across the city through nonprofit organizations and small businesses.

Designed in partnership with the Department of Planning and Development’s Chicago Recovery Plan Initiative, the Climate Infrastructure Fund will back renewable energy and energy-efficiency improvements in buildings, support the purchase of electric vehicles and installation of charging stations, and develop green infrastructure solutions to capture stormwater and reduce flooding. Applications for the grant will be evaluated based on climate mitigation and resilience factors, equity impact, and project readiness.

The $5 million Fund is part of a series of climate and environmental initiatives under the Chicago Recovery Plan, which was formed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The City of Chicago was granted $1.887 billion in federal funds to invest in the well-being of people and communities and drive economic recove...

San Francisco planning to build $1.7 million single-toilet public restroom

2022-10-31T11:49:00-04:00

A single-toilet public restroom planned for San Francisco’s Noe Valley Town Square is expected to take two years to build, but it’s already causing a stink. The reason: its $1.7 million price tag.

The proposed restroom would sit within a 150-square-foot enclosure within the town square, located in central San Francisco. While there are no designs for the project available, it is expected to be delivered by 2025. According to the city, the high price tag is meant to account for unexpected costs, including the rise of construction costs due to the pandemic, inflation, and global supply chain issues. This is in addition to being located in the most expensive city in the world to build in. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco is also wary of costs from utility company PG&E, which owns the power lines used by the city’s public utility. The company has a history of stalling projects, forcing customers to buy specialized equipment to handle large amounts of electricity.

The project's massive cost and the lengthy timeline were met with outcry, which led California Assemblyman Matt Haney, who secured state funding for the project, to cancel a planned ceremony for the t...

Nearly half of Manhattan employees have returned to the office according to new study

2022-09-16T14:18:00-04:00

The Partnership for New York City has surveyed more than 160 major Manhattan office employers over the past two weeks to get a sense of the number of employees that have returned to office work or are still working remotely.

They found that 49% of workers were at their office workplace on an average weekday, with the share of fully-remote employees dropping from 28% in April to 16% in mid-September. According to the survey, the share of Manhattan workers in the office is expected to gradually increase through 2022 reaching 54% by January 2023.

The number of employees working on a hybrid office schedule sits at 77%, with 55% of surveyed responses indicating that at least three days a week are spent at the office.

The researchers found that 54% of employers expect their office employee headcount to increase or stay the same over the next five years, with 10% expecting...

Construction costs projected to see largest increase in years due to supply and demand pressures

2022-08-29T15:44:00-04:00

According to CBRE's new 2022 U.S. Construction Cost Trends report, nationwide industry price levels have posted the largest increase in years, driven by labor shortages, inflation, supply chain disruptions, the ongoing impact of the pandemic, and the war in Ukraine.

CBRE forecasts a 14.1 percent year-over-year increase in construction costs by the end of the year, an increase from last year’s 11.5 percent gain. This 2022 figure is the largest increase since CBRE began tracking cost projections in 2007, exceeding the average rise of 2 percent to 4 percent per year. Following 2022, CBRE predicts cost increases to decline back to their historical range at 4.3 percent next year and 2.9 percent in 2024 as supply chain issues, inflation, and material production difficulties ease.

“The construction industry thrives on predictability, but we continue to grapple this year with nume...

New York City projected to construct the most apartments nationwide in 2022

2022-08-26T14:08:00-04:00

According to a new report by apartment search website RentCafe, New York City is projected to deliver the most newly-built apartments in 2022, claiming the top position for the first time since 2018.

Despite pandemic-induced setbacks in the last two years, New York City is expected to provide a record 28,153 brand new rental apartments by the end of the year. This figure is out of the 420,000 new rental units projected to be completed this year nationwide. It is also nearly 50% higher than the number of apartments that were completed throughout the city in 2021.

Across the United States, the projected new rental units to be built this year represented a historic 50-year peak. According to RentCafe, this construction boom is driven by greater demand for apartments as renters hold off on purchasing homes due to soaring inflation and rising interest rates.

Previously on Archinect: America's largest cities have seen a spike in commercial and multifamily construction starts during fir...

Covid-era bubbles and today's inflation driving heavy volatility of lumber prices

2022-08-22T10:41:00-04:00

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, multifamily developers and builders have had their work cut out for them as they try to budget for their lumber needs. After months of wild fluctuations, lumber futures fell to their lowest level in a year earlier this month, according to lumber price data from NASDAQ. They have since reversed course, and currently stand at just under $600.

As reported by Multifamily Dive, two pandemic-induced bubbles, in which lumber futures rose to record highs in the thousands of dollars, popped, dropping to below $500. The producer price index, a measure of the average changes in prices received by producers, for softwood lumber fell 22.6% in June of this year and 35% overall between March and July 2022. Measured by the U.S. Bureau of Statistics, prices for the material have never exhibited more than 10% volatility in a given month until early 2020, when lumber costs jumped 20%. Since then, the price volatility for lumber, at its higher points, has ranged from 25% to 30%.

It is believed that one of the reasons behind these recent decreased lumber prices is the impact of inflation on industries that depend on lumber. Specifically, the housing industry has been hit by higher interest rates and costs, which has affected the demand for lumber.

The New York City Rent Guidelines Board approves the largest rent hikes in nearly a decade

2022-06-23T14:20:00-04:00

Roughly 2.4 million New York City tenants will face the biggest rent hikes they’ve seen in nearly a decade after the Rent Guidelines Board approved the increases in a split vote Tuesday night at Cooper Union.

The mayor-appointed nine-person panel, which determines rent adjustments for the approximately one million rent-stabilized apartments in New York City, voted five to four to increase rents by 3.25% for one-year leases and 5% for two-year leases. The rates fall in the middle of ranges approved by the board in May, 2 and 4% for one-year leases and 4 and 6% for two-year leases. This represents a compromise as landlords sought even higher increases, arguing that building maintenance and insurance costs have soared. At the same time, many tenants pushed for rent freezes and rollbacks, noting the rising cost of living in New York City amidst pre-existing poor building conditions. And rising inflation has impacted both sides.

This is the first vote under Mayor Adams’ administration, exhibiting a departure from the approach of his predecessor. Throughout former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s tenure, the board kept rent increases at historic lows, with the highest annual increases at 1.5% on one-ye...

MoMA PS1 Director Kate Fowle resigns after just three years in the role

2022-06-14T17:13:00-04:00

Kate Fowle, who became director of MoMA PS1 in 2019 and barely had the chance to lead the museum as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, abruptly announced on Friday that she was stepping down as of July 15 from the museum in Long Island City, Queens.

“This has been an extraordinary opportunity to lead MoMA PS1 over the last (nearly) three years and to work with all of you alongside our Board, patrons, and funders,” Fowle said in an email to museum staff according to The New York Times. “I want you to know that I have deep respect and admiration for you all, and that I am incredibly proud of all the work we have achieved together.”

Fowle hasn’t provided any reasoning behind her departure, however, an unnamed source told The New York Times that she had expressed difficulty managing her job during a meeting with MoMA PS1’s chair Sarah Arison and MoMA’s director Glenn D. Lowry.

While a lot of Fowle’s time has been spent mitigating the challenges brought by the pandemic throughout her brief tenure as director, there seemed to be a lot of optimism over her progressive vision for the museum. Shortly after her appointment in 2019, MoMA PS1 started a program called “Homeroom”, an exhibition space curated by community groups. Fowle also...

New arts initiative by SITU and Design Trust for Public Space builds architectural kit-of-parts for public cultural venues

2022-05-26T16:12:00-04:00

Brooklyn-based architectural design practice SITU and the Design Trust for Public Space have announced the launch of Turnout NYC, a community-oriented initiative that aims to transform underutilized spaces into vibrant and accessible venues for arts and culture, while highlighting underrepresented New York City-based artists.

The venture, supported by a $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, sets out to assist small arts organizations produce public programming despite the ongoing impacts of the pandemic. It will establish flexible and semi-permanent outdoor performance venues, one in each borough, in collaboration with cultural partners within each community. Set to launch this summer, Turnout NYC will host 150-200 events, featuring up to 1,500 artists throughout the season.

“Prior to the pandemic, people living in vulnerable areas already had limited access to cultural opportunities. Today, those scarce opportunities are at a higher risk of disappearing,” said Design Trust f...

New report shows the architecture industry's resilience in California throughout the pandemic

2022-05-13T14:54:00-04:00

When a recession hits, architects often take it in the gut. The design sector has traditionally been one of the losers of a market downturn, with big real estate developments being put on hold and the need for architectural design services kicked down the road. But during the economic downturn brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, architecture has been surprisingly robust.

According to the 2022 Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, an annual report by Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles that tracks the economic health of creative industries in California, architecture has been the most resilient sector. This is compared to creative goods and products, entertainment and digital media, fashion, fine arts, and performing arts. Between 2019 and 2020, architecture saw only a 2.2 percent decrease in employment. And nationwide, the industry added 670,000 jobs in 2021, the largest amount since before the pandemic-induced global financial crisis. The number of businesses also expanded during this period, increasing by 8 percent.

Economist Adam Fowler, a partner at CVL Economics, who authored the report, attributes the industry’s strength to the high demand for architectural services in areas experiencing robust job growth. He also notes the heightened demand for affordable housing. In addition, the pandemic resulted in the reconsideration of h...

A stretch of JFK Drive in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to become permanently car-free

2022-05-04T17:52:00-04:00

Golden Gate Park's John F. Kennedy Drive has been blocked off to vehicle traffic since the start of the pandemic, and on Tuesday night San Francisco's Board of Supervisors voted to keep it that way.

A meeting with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency last week resulted in the board voting 7-4 in favor of Mayor London Breed’s legislation to permanently close off a 1.5-mile-long stretch of the roadway to car traffic.

In April 2020, the section of JFK Drive was closed to private vehicles to create a safe space for people to walk, run, and bike, while social distancing. The vote followed a meeting with nine hours of public comment in person at City Hall and over the phone.

Critics of the move argue that a permanent closure would prevent park access to individuals who are disabled, elderly, or live farther away, and only benefit active users. Some have called for closing the road to vehicle traffic only on weekends, claiming that drivers commuting to work or transporting kids to school needed access.

A notable opponent is the de Young Museum, which has recorded a decline in atte...

Shopping malls are being reimagined as health care centers across the country

2022-04-14T15:11:00-04:00

The hulking Hickory Hollow Mall — a full 1.1 million square feet of retail space in southeast Nashville — was once the largest shopping center in Tennessee. But like dozens of malls, it’s been in a downward death spiral for more than a decade — despite a scrappy revival effort. Now, the mammoth complex surrounded by acres of parking is on track to join the ranks of malls making a transition into medicine.

According to a national database kept by Georgia Tech urban design professor Ellen Dunham-Jones, a total of 32 enclosed malls have shifted to housing health care services, with nearly a third established at the start of the pandemic. Covid lockdowns had a tremendous impact on brick-and-mortar retailers who were already struggling to stay afloat. As noted by Marketplace.org, the rise of telemedicine and push to outpatient procedures will make malls increasingly attractive sites for healthcare services.

In addition, some disused malls are located in diverse neighborhoods that are in need of increased access to healthcare. Malls can also offer more convenient access compared to traditional hospitals as they’re equipped with large amounts of parking spots and are near major highways and interstates.

MTA's fare-capping pilot program proves to be successful after first month

2022-04-05T15:10:00-04:00

In its first month, the MTA’s OMNY fare capping pilot had more than 168,000 people hit a 13th ride, earning an unlimited pass for the rest of that week. The agency said this group of straphangers had gone on to ride enough to save more than $1 million in fares. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said at last week’s monthly MTA board meeting that these were the kind of results that could ensure the program sticks around after the four-month pilot is over.

Launched towards the end of February, the pilot fare program seems to be a win for both the MTA and its riders, which could prompt making it permanent. Data collected by the agency shows that 86% of people who got the bonus were subway riders, with the remaining reaching the 13th ride on buses.

More than half of the riders who got the bonus received it from a tap originating in Manhattan. The second and third most popular boroughs are Brooklyn and Queens, respectively. Riders in Staten Island only accounted for just 0.5% of the people who earned the weekly bonus, and the Bronx accounted for 5%.

Previously on Archinect: MTA announces the launch of fare cap to increase ridership

In addition, recent data shows that weekend subway ridership has hovered just above 60% pre-pandemic levels, with weekday ridership being a little below 60%. Bus ridership is also around 60% of what it was before 2020. The weekly fare-capping pilot program is set to end in July and would need widespread appro...

Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute will continue their Neighborhoods Now pandemic recovery initiative for 2022

2022-03-24T11:52:00-04:00

The Urban Design Forum and Van Alen Institute have announced a new cycle of Neighborhoods Now, their initiative launched in the Spring of 2020 that pairs leading architecture, design, economic development, legal, and planning firms with local New York City organizations to help drive their communities’ pandemic recovery.

As detailed in a statement by the Van Alen Institute, “Under the heading Neighborhoods Now: Forward, the initiative will extend through the end of 2022 and transition from rapid, tactical responses to long-term recovery strategies on a wider scale. Led by community organizations, seven interdisciplinary teams will enliven and program public space, provide technical support to small businesses, and strengthen cultural activities.”

Previously on Archinect: Van Alen and Urban Design Forum partner with four New York communities to develop reopening strategies

The teams are led by: 82nd Street Partnership, Asian Americans for Equality and Think!Chinatown; Bed-Stuy Gatewa...

Winning projects of USC's 2022 architectural design charrette tackle healthcare pop-ups as community amenities

2022-03-09T19:32:00-05:00

The USC Architectural Guild has announced the winners of the 11th annual Design Charrette.

Past challenges have addressed pressing issues such as homelessness, climate change, and the need for the city to rapidly adapt ahead of its bid as host of the 2028 Summer Olympics, among other themes. Each entry in this year’s Charrette had the unique opportunity to create an important piece of infrastructure which could serve as a weapon in the fight against one of the greatest public health challenges in the past century.

Responding to the 2022 theme of Catalytic Community Space, entries from fourth-year, fifth-year, and graduate students answered a two-fold challenge to design a pop-up Covid-19 testing site that can later be repurposed into a community-oriented amenity.

Twenty teams of three each had five days to complete a concept and video presentation which demonstrated both an elevation of the overall experience of the facility and the ability to prioritize diversity and inclusion, s...

Dodge Momentum Index recovers in February following 3-month stretch of decline

2022-03-08T15:37:00-05:00

In February, the Dodge Momentum Index increased 4% to 158.2 from the revised January reading of 151.9, marking a rebound from three consecutive monthly declines that followed a 14-year high in October 2021. Last month, institutional planning rose 9% and commercial planning moved 1% higher.

The Dodge Construction Network attributes much of February’s gain to the sizable jump in the institutional sectors, in which more education and healthcare projects entered planning. Gains in commercial planning are due to office and warehouse projects. Compared to February 2021, the overall Momentum Index was 11% higher during the same time this year. Institutional planning was up 37%, while commercial planning was down 1% on a year-over-year basis.

Previously on Archinect: Dodge Momentum Index continues to fall into January

A total of 22 projects with a value of $100 million or more entered planning in February. The leading institutional projects were a $500 million first phase of the OC Vibe rec...

RIBA unveils shortlisted firms to lead 66 Portland Place HQ refurbishment

2022-03-03T13:45:00-05:00

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has revealed a shortlist of seven teams in the running to lead the refurbishment and modernization of its 66 Portland Place headquarters in London.

RIBA announced the planned redesign in October in a move that aims to reimagine the use of its buildings as a majority of its workers report that they prefer to work from home due to the pandemic. In January, RIBA Chartered Practices formally issued a tender for practices to submit expressions of interest to help develop a brief, including design options and budget proposals to create a fully accessible, more flexible, and sustainable building. RIBA also wants to establish three new gallery spaces. The winning team is expected to lead the project and coordinate the design team appointed to deliver the refurbishment.

Previously on Archinect: RIBA is officially looking for architects to overhaul its aging 66 Portland Place headquarters

The project forms part of RIBA’s House of Architecture ...

New York City plans to raise crosswalks to make hazardous intersections safer

2022-03-02T14:56:00-05:00

The white-striped crosswalk sits on top of a hump of asphalt. Pedestrians barely notice as they rush across, but drivers are in for a bumpy ride if they do not slow down. The crosswalk in northern Manhattan was raised four inches in the fall to try to slow traffic and make pedestrians more visible as they navigate a busy intersection where 26 people — including 14 pedestrians — have been injured in motor vehicle crashes in the past five years.

Following a surge in traffic deaths in New York, in which a total of 273 people, citywide, were killed in crashes last year, the highest since 2013, Mayor Eric Adams wants to raise hundreds of crosswalks across the city. With more people on the streets, occupying outdoor spaces opened up due to the pandemic, the return of traffic has increased safety risks. There are currently only 17 raised crosswalks out of the roughly 40,000 intersections across the city, which is a part of the streetscape where most injuries and deaths occur.

Starting this year, New York plans to add 100 raised crosswalks every year. This type of intervention has proven to be effective in improving safety and is relatively quick and inexpensive to install. The city also plans to redesign 1,000 dangerous intersections this year and will additionally target other problem spots such as parking lots and gas stations. The new crosswalks will be financed by city and federal funding.

MTA announces the launch of fare cap to increase ridership

2022-02-08T14:59:00-05:00

In an effort to encourage New Yorkers to get back on subways, buses, and trains -- particularly following the sharp decline in ridership due to the pandemic -- the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced a pilot fare program that is "more affordable, more flexible and more fair."

The fare capping pilot will feature free, unlimited rides after 12 OMNY taps, New York’s contactless fare payment system that will replace the MetroCard on the New York City subway in 2023. Under this program, no OMNY user would pay more than $33 per week, which is the current price of a seven-day unlimited-ride MetroCard. The pilot will last for at least four months starting February 25th for commuter rail tickets and the 28th for New York City Transit.

Previously on Archinect: Newly signed infrastructure bill halts MTA fare increases and service cuts

This move is a major shift from a beleaguered MTA, which has faced service cuts and proposed fare increases throughout the pandemic. The MTA will evaluate the program’s impact and customer experience, and if successful, the agency may extend or even make the fare cap permanent.

Commercial and multifamily construction starts reflect nationwide recovery in 2021

2022-01-26T16:56:00-05:00

According to a new Dodge Construction Network report, the value of commercial and multifamily construction starts in the top 20 metropolitan areas of the United States has increased 18% from 2020 to 2021. Nationally, commercial and multifamily construction starts increased 16% in 2021. The commercial and multifamily total comprises office buildings, stores, hotels, warehouses, commercial garages, and multifamily housing.

Despite the industry’s recovery in 2021, following stalled projects and uncertainties in 2020, commercial and multifamily construction starts still remain below 2019 levels. The report notes that, in fact, larger metro areas have struggled to gain momentum as demand for construction is shifting away from denser urban areas.

Commercial and multifamily starts both nationally and in the top 20 metro areas in 2021, overall, were below 2019 levels. In the top 10 metro areas, starts were 9% below their 2019 level, however in the metro areas ranked 11–20, starts were up 5...

Materials prices rise 20% in 2021 according to new report

2022-01-18T16:54:00-05:00

Although the prices of some raw materials fell in December, costs are still sky high for contractors looking to purchase them, according to a new analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Overall, the price of construction materials jumped nearly 20% in 2021, the group said Thursday.

In addition, according to the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) 2022 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook Survey, material costs were listed as a top concern for contractors this year.

Though prices moderated for some construction materials in December, they still ended the year with large gains. For example, the price index for steel mill products rose 0.2 percent in December, its smallest rise in 15 months, but soared 127.2 percent over 12 months. The index for diesel fuel declined 5.3 percent for December but increased 54.9 percent for the year. Prices for other materials, such as plastic construction products and lumber and plywood, yielded accelerated price hikes in December.

The Association believes that rising materials prices are threatening to set back a strong outlook of economic recovery in 2022. They’ve urged the Biden administration to reconsider its plans to double tariffs on Canadian lumber and to remove other trade barriers that are driving infl...

Double profits for Foster + Partners amidst a year of economic recovery

2022-01-13T15:13:00-05:00

The architecture practice run by Sir Norman Foster almost doubled its profits as it expanded in the Middle East and gained new business despite pandemic lockdowns. Total revenues fell by £33m to £200m in the year ending 30 April 2021, accounts for Foster + Partners, the practice’s main trading company, show. But profits before tax almost doubled to £36.2m during the year, compared with £19.8m in the previous year.

New projects included a planned luxury tower development in Greece and a new tourist destination on an artificial island in the Red Sea (although notably, the Tulip Tower did come off the books due to environmental concerns).

Foster himself is worth well into the nine-figure range and has recently sold a significant portion of his shares to a Canadian investment firm. The firm reported earnings for the past four years that combined are over £900 million ($1.24 billion) in spite of the considerable forces at play economically during the pandemic. Foster + Partners also reported that a £500,000 ($686,000) government loan taken out for their 2020 furlough was repaid.

New study reveals that pandemic-related absences cost employers nearly $1 billion per week

2022-01-13T14:52:00-05:00

In the last 22 months, workers' pandemic-related absences have cost employers more than $78.4 billion — nearly $1 billion each week — according to a Dec. 20 analysis from the Integrated Benefits Institute.

The Integrated Benefits Institute used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics along with its own dataset to analyze disability wage payments, state disability insurance, sick leave wages, and employee benefits for its calculation. The states of California, Texas, New York, along with the metropolitan areas of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago exhibited the highest lost work time.

Construction Dive notes that many costs due to the pandemic lie in more intangible areas that aren’t as easy to track. This includes productivity issues due to increased levels of stress, which can take away time spent on work. One suggestion made is for employers to emphasize and implement preventative mental health care in order to assist individuals before conditions become severe.

The Louvre's attendance in 2021 dropped to 1986 levels

2022-01-07T16:55:00-05:00

The Musée du Louvre welcomed only 2.8 million visitors last year, less than 30% of its pre-Covid record levels when it received around ten million. The Louvre has not seen such low figures since 1986, before the opening of the glass pyramid and the Grand Louvre project which steadily boosted attendance over the past four decades.

This level of attendance is nearly the same as the previous year, however French museums were closed for one month less in 2021 than in 2020. According to an official source at the culture ministry, general attendance at French museums dropped by 60-70% for the second year compared to pre-covid levels. The current omicron surge stifles hope for a comeback in museum attendance in 2022.

This comes as museums across Europe, specifically those in Denmark, the Netherlands, and London, have closed due to new covid lockdown measures in response to omicron.

Previously on Archinect: Museums are closing across Europe as Omicron variant rapidly spreads

MTA service is cut as more than 1,000 workers are out sick due to omicron spread

2022-01-05T17:52:00-05:00

Get set for delays on many subway lines and bus routes. At least 1,000 workers for the MTA are out sick with COVID as the omicron variant continues to surge throughout New York City. With those absences, there will be subway and bus delays across the city as commuters return to work and school Monday.

Amidst the rapid spread of the omicron variant, the MTA has suspended service on the B, W, and Z lines, the express service on the Number 6 train in the Bronx, express service on the Number 7 train in Queens, and partial suspension of the A train in Far Rockaway, Queens.