7 must reads for the AEC industry today: June 23, 2020

1. Natl. Renewable Energy Labs, Cold Climate Research Ctr. team up on extreme weather research (BD+C) 
"The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has expanded its collaboration with Alaska’s Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC)."

2. New House infrastructure package will provide needed investments in aging infrastructure, support economic recovery, and create jobs (AGC)
"The Moving Forward Act’s proposed $1.5 trillion in new investments will improve range of public infrastructure, creating needed demand for construction while making the economy more efficient."

3. 7 choices for work environments that underscore the need to respond, not react (NBBJ) 
"During a time of unknown, humans desperately want answers. When we’re inundated with information and anxious about the world around us, we often look for quick solutions."

4. Gyms were the belle of the retail ball. Now they're going bankrupt and leaving gaps in shopping centers (Bisnow)
"Before the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, fitness gyms across the U.S. served as consistent traffic drivers for shopping centers that could no longer rely solely on traditional retailers to attract patrons."

5. 89% of apartment households paid rent as of June 13 (The National Multifamily Housing Council)
"The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC)’s Rent Payment Tracker found 89.0 percent of apartment households made a full or partial rent payment by June 13 in its survey of 11.4 million units of professionally managed apartment units across the country. This is a 0.1-percentage point increase from the share who paid rent through June 13, 2019 and compares to 87.7 percent that had paid by May 13, 2020."

6. How hotels are trying to keep guests and employees safe (National Real Estate Investor) 
"Guidelines are in the market, although not all properties seem to be applying best practices."

7. Low office occupancy delays hard choices about elevators and stairwells (Bisnow) 
"Though many of the country’s stay-at-home orders have begun to lift, the return to the workplace has been slow for many employees. Property management companies are finding that many office tenants are being cautious in their return, with building occupancy rarely surpassing 25%."