Stantec illustrates the benefits of prefab multi-trade racking.

Contractors expect to spend more time on prefabrication, according to FMI study

Get ready for a surge in prefabrication activity by contractors. FMI, the consulting and investment banking firm, recently polled contractors about how much time they were spending, in craft labor hours, on prefabrication for construction projects. More than 250 contractors participated in the survey, and the average response to that question was 18%. More revealing, however, was the participants’ anticipation that craft hours dedicated to prefab would essentially double, to 34%, within the next five years.

Building Tech

In a world first, load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer

A Germany-based construction engineering company says it has constructed the world’s first load-bearing concrete walls built with a 3D printer. Züblin built a new warehouse from a single 3D print for Strabag Baumaschinentechnik International in Stuttgart, Germany using a Putzmeister 3D printer.

Adaptive Reuse

Modular adaptive reuse of parking structure grants future flexibility

The shift away from excessive parking requirements aligns with a broader movement, encouraging development of more sustainable and affordable housing.

Healthcare Facilities

A modular construction solution to the mental healthcare crisis

Maria Ionescu, Senior Medical Planner, Stantec, shares a tested solution for the overburdened emergency department: Modular hub-and-spoke design.

Modular Building

Modular building is the growing trend of assembling structures from prefabricated, interchangeable components. After being constructed in a controlled environment away from the building site—such as a factory—the components are then transported to the final location and assembled on-site.

This growing collection of news, trends, case studies, white papers, and innovative projects bring you the latest in modular design and construction.

May 11, 2014

Final call for entries: 2014 Giants 300 survey

BD+C's 2014 Giants 300 survey forms are due Wednesday, May 21. Survey results will be published in our July 2014 issue. The annual Giants 300 Report ranks the top AEC firms in commercial construction, by revenue.

The free tool provides real-time data visualization for each state. Here is the

Apr 29, 2014

USGBC launches real-time green building data dashboard

The online data visualization resource highlights green building data for each state and Washington, D.C.

The Hive-Inn was designed as an entry in the 2014 Radical Innovation Awards comp

Apr 28, 2014

Welcome to the Hive: OVA designs wild shipping container hotel for competition

Hong Kong-based OVA envisions a shipping-container hotel, where rooms could be removed at will and designed by advertisers.

Bob Zabcik | Apr 25, 2014

A radiant barrier FAQ: Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask

There are many examples of materials developed for the space program making their way into everyday life and radiant barriers are just that. SPONSORED CONTENT

Apr 23, 2014

Developers change gears at Atlantic Yards after high-rise modular proves difficult

At 32 stories, the B2 residential tower at Atlantic Yards has been widely lauded as a bellwether for modular construction. But only five floors have been completed in 18 months.

Stacy Milford | Apr 17, 2014

6 details that can throw off your schedule

In 1997, Apple told us to “Think Different.” So we did. We thought about what could happen if the world went mobile, if information was boundless, if we could carry our office in our back pocket. We’ve grown to love different and to expect change. And when it comes to Apple products, that’s not such a bad thing. When it comes to your building order, however, it’s not nearly as appealing.

Installation of steel deck (here, from manufacturer New Millennium Building Syst

Apr 9, 2014

Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C

Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.

The rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Old Naval Hospital, Washington, D.C

Apr 2, 2014

8 tips for avoiding thermal bridges in window applications

Aligning thermal breaks and applying air barriers are among the top design and installation tricks recommended by building enclosure experts.

Bryan Arlington | Mar 31, 2014

Tips for creating a competitive bid using codes and loads

Landing a project feels like winning a prize, sort of like finding that forgotten $20 bill in the pocket of a pair of jeans you haven’t worn in a while. But living on the “chance” of winning a job isn’t a great way to pay your electric bill. So, how do you swing the chances in your favor?