1. The key to building in space may just be… urine? (BD+C)
"Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, and Dutch scientists, together with the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT) of the European Space Agency (ESA), have conducted experiments using urea from urine as a superplasticizer for lunar geopolymer mixtures that can then be used to 3D print structures. The scientists presented their findings in the Journal of Cleaner Production."
2. Climate-informed HVAC increases in relative humidity may fight pandemic viruses (SmithGroup)
"Research links air between 40% and 60% relative humidity (RH) with less-effective aerosol travel, shorter airborne and surface survival times, lower transmission rates (Noti et al., 2013; Marr et al., 2019; Wang et al. 2020), and more effective patient lung repair functions (Kudo, 2019). Patient respiratory benefits include less-viscous mucous membranes, more effective cilia-related and other antiviral actions in the lungs, and a more productive cough."
3. How to turn a high school into a patient care center in 15 days (BD+C)
"Between five million and nine million Americans are expected to become infected with the coronavirus, one-third of whom might need intensive care. But there are only 920,000 staffed hospital beds in the U.S., according to the American Hospital Association."
4. Rents Are Late, and ‘It’s Only Going to Get Worse’ (The New York Times)
“As the economic shutdown pares tenants’ incomes, April payments have been reduced, deferred or withheld. Some landlords see their property at risk.”
5. Empty hotels ‘keep the lights on’ by converting into coronavirus quarantines, emergency housing for first responders (CNBC)
“Cash-strapped and empty hotels across the country are finding ways to keep the lights on by converting themselves into coronavirus wards or temporary housing for the National Guard or exhausted doctors and nurses.”
6. How to work with a remote design team (Fanning Howey)
"Remote teams are most successful when they prioritize project milestones and time efficiencies. Keep side conversations in team meetings to a minimum. Encourage non-pertinent or non-time-sensitive discussions to happen offline."
7. Most multifamily contractors experiencing delays in projects due to coronavirus pandemic
"More than half of respondents (55%) to a new survey on multifamily construction by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) said that they were experiencing construction delays in the jurisdictions where they operate."
For more top stories from BD+C,
sign up for the BD+C Daily 5 newsletter
Related Stories
Market Data | Apr 30, 2020
The U.S. Hotel Construction pipeline continued to expand year-over-year despite COVID-19 in the first quarter of 2020
Many open or temporarily closed hotels have already begun or are in the planning stages of renovating and repositioning their assets while occupancy is low or non-existent.
Market Data | Apr 29, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 29, 2020
A new Human performance Center and Construction employment declines in 99 metro areas.
Market Data | Apr 29, 2020
Construction employment declines in 99 metro areas in March from 2019
Industry officials call for new state and federal funding to add jobs.
Market Data | Apr 28, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 28, 2020
A virtual 'city-forest' to help solve population density challenges and planning for life in cities after the pandemic.
Market Data | Apr 27, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 27, 2020
Colleges begin building campus eSports arenas and PCL Construction rolls out portable coronavirus testing centers.
Market Data | Apr 24, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 24, 2020
Take a virtual tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and Construction Contractor Confidence plummets.
Market Data | Apr 23, 2020
Construction Contractor Confidence plummets in February
As of February 2020, fewer than 30% of contractors expected their sales to increase over the next six months.
Market Data | Apr 23, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 23, 2020
The death of the department store and how to return to work when the time comes.
Market Data | Apr 22, 2020
6 must reads for the AEC industry today: April 22, 2020
Repurposed containers can be used as rapid response airborne infection isolation rooms and virtual site visits help control infection on project sites.
Market Data | Apr 21, 2020
ABC's Construction Backlog Indicator down in February
Backlog for firms working in the infrastructure segment rose by 1.3 months in February while backlog for commercial and institutional and heavy industrial firms declined by 0.6 months and 0.7 months, respectively.