1. As cities scramble for hospital beds to treat COVID-19 patients, Leo A Daly offers a hotel-to-hospital solution (BD+C)
Leo A Daly is currently negotiating with several hoteliers about converting large portfolios of hotels into healthcare facilities that follow the firm’s Hotel2Hospital prototype, which would conform with design guidelines released last week to state governments by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which relax some of the hospital safety standards.
2. New South Korean retail building looks like a molting insect (BD+C)
The building, Galleria’s sixth branch, has a very unique design to say the least. The facade combines multifaceted glass that appears to be breaking out from within opaque stone, as if the building was shedding its old skin and revealing the new.
3. How to convert college dorms to support the coronavirus crisis (NBBJ)
With the number of global coronavirus cases increasing each day, health centers are more burdened than ever before, witnessing severe bed shortages for critically-ill patients. At the same time, housing at many higher education institutions now stands mostly vacant — with hundreds of thousands of students home for social distancing and instruction now delivered online.
4. COVID-19's impact on the multifamily sector (BD+C)
COVID-19 is taking its toll on the U.S. vertical construction market. In a March 23-26 survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, 20% of the 659 respondents from "buildings contractors" reported projects being shut down or delayed by government officials, while 45% of those surveyed said an owner had instructed them to halt or cancel construction on a current or planned project.
5. Number of confirmed delayed projects reaches 2,550 in the U.S., 1,350 in Canada (ConstructConnect)
ConstructConnect's Delayed Project Tracker is updated daily.
6. Climate-informed HVAC increases in relative humidity may fight pandemic viruses (SmithGroup)
Indoor relative humidity is a function of seasonal climate and building HVAC. The range of 40% to 60% RH may reduce contagion and help those who are infected.
7. Construction completed on first phase of Chicago's McCormick Place into Alternate Care Facility (Walsh Construction)
"Walsh Construction is leading the temporary conversion of a portion of the McCormick Place Convention Center into an Alternate Care Facility for novel coronavirus patients."
For more top stories from BD+C,
sign up for the BD+C Daily 5 newsletter
Related Stories
Market Data | Mar 25, 2020
Engineering and construction materials prices fall for first time in 40 months on coronavirus impacts, IHS Markit says
Survey respondents reported falling prices for five out of the 12 components within the materials and equipment sub-index.
Market Data | Mar 23, 2020
Coronavirus will reshape UAE construction
The impact of the virus has been felt in the UAE, where precautionary measures have been implemented to combat the spread of the virus through social distancing.
Coronavirus | Mar 20, 2020
Pandemic has halted or delayed projects for 28% of contractors
Coronavirus-caused slowdown contrasts with January figures showing a majority of metro areas added construction jobs; Officials note New infrastructure funding and paid family leave fixes are needed.
Market Data | Mar 17, 2020
Construction spending to grow modestly in 2020, predicts JLL’s annual outlook
But the coronavirus has made economic forecasting perilous.
Market Data | Mar 16, 2020
Grumman/Butkus Associates publishes 2019 edition of Hospital Benchmarking Survey
Report examines electricity, fossil fuel, water/sewer, and carbon footprint.
Market Data | Mar 12, 2020
New study from FMI and Autodesk finds construction organizations with the highest levels of trust perform twice as well on crucial business metrics
Higher levels of trust within organizations and across project teams correlate with increased profit margins, employee retention and repeat business that can all add up to millions of dollars of profitability annually.
Market Data | Mar 11, 2020
The global hotel construction pipeline hits record high at 2019 year-end
Projects currently under construction stand at a record 991 projects with 224,354 rooms.
Market Data | Mar 6, 2020
Construction employment increases by 43,000 in February and 223,000 over 12 months
Average hourly earnings in construction top private sector average by 9.9% as construction firms continue to boost pay and benefits in effort to attract and retain qualified hourly craft workers.
Market Data | Mar 4, 2020
Nonresidential construction spending attains all-time high in January
Private nonresidential spending rose 0.8% on a monthly basis and is up 0.5% compared to the same time last year.
Market Data | Feb 21, 2020
Construction contractor confidence remains steady
70% of contractors expect their sales to increase over the first half of 2020.