America’s crumbling roads, decrepit bridges, aged water systems. Our deficient dams, underserved levees, and woeful wastewater treatment plants. For nearly three decades, the American public has heard ad nauseam about the dreadful condition of the nation’s infrastructure—from airports to railways to hazardous waste facilities.
Since 1988, the American Society of Civil Engineers, through its Infrastructure Report Card, has shone a spotlight on the alarming shortfall in funding and resources to operate, maintain, and modernize the country’s infrastructure network. ASCE’s latest report card, released in March, scores the nation’s overall infrastructure at a D+ (it’s never scored higher than C). The price tag to modernize the country’s infrastructure systems: a whopping $4.59 trillion over 10 years, more than triple the cost from the 2001 report.
Of the 16 infrastructure sectors that ASCE evaluates quadrennially, only one—K-12 schools—is buildings-focused. The trade group scored the nation’s 100,000 public school buildings at a collective D+, citing an annual investment shortfall of $38 billion to maintain and upgrade facilities and a backlog of necessary improvements (53% of schools require upgrades to reach “good” condition).
Left out of this ongoing national debate over infrastructure—and the trillions of dollars of public funding that is expected over the next few decades—are the nation’s other public buildings: the libraries, community centers, courthouses, community college buildings, affordable housing developments, and justice facilities.
These, too, are critical to the safety, security, and vibrancy of cities and communities. And as is the case with the nation’s public schools and major infrastructure sectors, these so-called “social infrastructure” buildings are being neglected, with years of deferred maintenance, patchwork repairs, dwindling CapEx and OpEx budgets, and even the weakening and repeal of building codes—especially those related to resiliency and sustainability.
Thrusting the nation’s social infrastructure into the spotlight has been a recent crusade of the leadership at the American Institute of Architects. AIA kicked off this initiative in November 2016 with a national poll of 2,108 U.S. adults to assess the importance of public buildings to their communities. The findings: more than 80% see public buildings as part of the nation’s infrastructure, and 94% agree that well-supported buildings are important to their communities (whether they’re willing to open their wallets to help fund such
efforts is another question).
AIA has had its share of controversy during the past 12 months, most notably the post-election statements that riled some of its members. But AIA leadership deserves a pat on the back for its efforts with this campaign. Let’s just hope their proclamation resonates with the nation’s policymakers.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Dec 5, 2022
Florida Polytechnic University unveils its Applied Research Center, furthering its mission to provide STEM education
In Lakeland, Fla., located between Orlando and Tampa, Florida Polytechnic University unveiled its new Applied Research Center (ARC). Designed by HOK and built by Skanska, the 90,000-sf academic building houses research and teaching laboratories, student design spaces, conference rooms, and faculty offices—furthering the school’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) mission.
Mass Timber | Dec 1, 2022
Cross laminated timber market forecast to more than triple by end of decade
Cross laminated timber (CLT) is gaining acceptance as an eco-friendly building material, a trend that will propel its growth through the end of the 2020s. The CLT market is projected to more than triple from $1.11 billion in 2021 to $3.72 billion by 2030, according to a report from Polaris Market Research.
Giants 400 | Dec 1, 2022
Top 50 Parking Structure Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Choate Parking Consultants, Gensler, Clark Nexsen, and Solomon Cordwell Buenz top the ranking of the nation's largest parking structure architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Education Facilities | Nov 30, 2022
10 ways to achieve therapeutic learning environments
Today’s school should be much more than a place to learn—it should be a nurturing setting that celebrates achievements and responds to the challenges of many different users.
75 Top Building Products | Nov 30, 2022
75 top building products for 2022
Each year, the Building Design+Construction editorial team evaluates the vast universe of new and updated products, materials, and systems for the U.S. building design and construction market. The best-of-the-best products make up our annual 75 Top Products report.
K-12 Schools | Nov 30, 2022
School districts are prioritizing federal funds for air filtration, HVAC upgrades
U.S. school districts are widely planning to use funds from last year’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) to upgrade or improve air filtration and heating/cooling systems, according to a report from the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council. The report, “School Facilities Funding in the Pandemic,” says air filtration and HVAC upgrades are the top facility improvement choice for the 5,004 school districts included in the analysis.
Architects | Nov 29, 2022
Three decades and counting, Tinkelman Architecture has helped reshape New York’s Hudson Valley
The full-service firm has designed more than 100 projects in this region, including several multifamily buildings currently in the works
Retail Centers | Nov 29, 2022
'Social' tenants play a vital role in the health of the retail center market
After a long Covid-induced period when the public avoided large gatherings, owners of malls and retail lifestyle centers are increasingly focused on attracting tenants that provide opportunities for socialization. Pent-up demand for experiences involving gatherings of people is fueling renovations and redesigns of large retail developments.
Giants 400 | Nov 28, 2022
Top 200 Office Sector Architecture and AE Firms for 2022
Gensler, Perkins and Will, Stantec, and HOK top the ranking of the nation's largest office sector architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Legislation | Nov 23, 2022
7 ways the Inflation Reduction Act will impact the building sector
HOK’s Anica Landreneau and Stephanie Miller and Smart Surfaces Coalition’s Greg Kats reveal multiple ways the IRA will benefit the built environment.