6 must reads for the AEC industry today: August 6, 2020

1. New Shenzhen Children’s Hospital will be covered in sky gardens (BD+C)
"The new hospital will be built to the west of the existing Shenzhen Children’s Hospital campus. It will take design cues from the surrounding mountains and adopt a gently terracing approach with the upper floors stepping back to allow the building to be covered in multiple sky gardens."

2. Designing, redeveloping communities for zero energy needed to address climate change (BD+C) 
"Tackling building energy use at the district level provides economies of scale in heating and cooling. Used on some U.S. college and other campuses, systems with a central plant that burns natural gas to heat water, which then is circulated to the various buildings, are more efficient than dedicated systems for each building."

3. Oklahoma State University’s North Academic Building begins construction (BD+C)
"Initial programming and conceptual design for the building was completed in 2018. Once complete, the ME office will be one of only a few in the country that is directly and physically connected with an academic health center. "

4. Can smart buildings outsmart coronavirus? (Bisnow)
"Does the latest approach to master-systems integration really offer the chance to make the post-pandemic workplace hum with life, or is it just another big upfront risk for landlords?"

5. Suburban garden-style apartments will be the future of the multifamily sector (National Real Estate Investor)
"With their exterior access and outdoor common areas, garden-style apartments hold greater appeal for virus-wary renters."

6. Hotels: Occupancy rate declined 38% year-over-year (HotelNewsNow.com via Calculated Risk)
"U.S. hotel performance data for the week ending 25 July showed slightly higher occupancy and room rates from the previous week, according to STR."