GSA to invest $80 million on smart building technologies at federal properties

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) will invest $80 million from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into smart building technologies within 560 federal buildings. GSA intends to enhance operations through granular controls, expand available reporting with more advanced metering sources, and optimize the operator experience.

Products and Materials

Top products from AIA 2024

This month, Building Design+Construction editors are bringing you the top products displayed at the 2024 AIA Conference on Architecture & Design. Nearly 550 building product manufacturers showcased their products—here are 17 that caught our eye.

Mass Timber

Oregon State University builds a first-of-its-kind mass timber research lab

In Corvallis, Oreg., the Jen-Hsun Huang and Lori Mills Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex at Oregon State University aims to achieve a distinction among the world’s experimental research labs: It will be the first all-mass-timber lab meeting rigorous vibration criteria (2000 micro-inches per second, or MIPS).

Lighting

LEDs were nearly half of the installed base of lighting products in the U.S. in 2020

Federal government research shows a huge leap in the penetration of LEDs in the lighting market from 2010 to 2020. In 2010 and 2015, LED installations represented 1% and 8% of overall lighting inventory, respectively.

Aug 11, 2010

Senators introduce energy-efficiency renovations program for commercial buildings

WASHINGTON, DC - Last week, Senators Jeff Merkley Mark Pryor, Debbie Stabenow, Sherrod Brown,…

Aug 11, 2010

Air Barrier Systems

Part 1 - Introduction BySean M. O’Brien, P.E., LEED AP Michael B. Waite, LEED AP1. Introduction…

Aug 11, 2010

Retail construction recession to end later in 2010

The recession reduced retail construction spending early and deeply, but now most of the decline should be behind us. Construction spending is down 48% over the last two-and-a-half years, and the value of retail construction starts reported by Reed Construction Data fell 41% in 2009 vs. 2008. Construction spending is expected to drop 5-6% more by late 2010; the decline will be close to 10% afte...

Aug 11, 2010

A few bright spots for AEC firms in 2010

The AEC industry is heading into 2010 in better shape than was the case a year ago, according to the 2010 AEC Industry Outlook: Strategy and Insight for Design & Construction Firms, a new forecast released by ZweigWhite this month. A significant turnaround for the commercial market isn't anticipated until 2011, but a modest pickup is expected in late 2010.

Aug 11, 2010

Earthquake engineering keeps airport grounded

Istanbul, Turkey's new 2.15 million-sf Sabiha Gökçen International Airport opened on October 31, 2009, becoming the world's largest seismically isolated building. Arup's global airport planning and engineering team, in collaboration with architects Dogan Tekeli Sami Sisa Mimarlik Ofisi and contractor LIMAK-GMR JV, working within an 18-month timeline, designed and built the facility wi...

Aug 11, 2010

Embassy's dual façades add security and beauty

The British government's new 46,285-sf embassy building in Warsaw, Poland's diplomatic quarter houses the ambassador's offices, the consulate, and visa services on three floors. The $20 million Modernist design by London-based Tony Fretton Architects features a double façade—an inner concrete super structure and an outer curtain wall.

Aug 11, 2010

Healthcare construction weathers the recession

Healthcare construction spending grew at a compound rate of more than 10% for seven years through mid-2008, but has stalled since then. The stall, however, still represents better growth than almost any other construction market during the recession, which deepened as a result of the fall 2008 credit freeze.

Aug 11, 2010

New Ways to Improve Water Efficiency

In the U.S. and most of the industrialized world, building occupants take for granted the simple convenience of filling a glass with clean, drinkable water at the kitchen sink. Yet worldwide, nearly a billion people globally have no access to safe drinking water, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Aug 11, 2010

Cost of HVAC equipment to remain flat in 2009, says Turner

While some manufacturers have announced slight increases in facilities equipment pricing for 2009, the average cost of equipment is expected to remain flat in 2009, according to the 2009 Turner Logistics Equipment Cost Index. However, equipment pricing could face increased pressure if there is a further decline in market demand.

Aug 11, 2010

Citizenship building in Texas targets LEED Silver

The Department of Homeland Security's new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services facility in Irving, Texas, was designed by 4240 Architecture and developed by JDL Castle Corporation. The focal point of the two-story, 56,000-sf building is the double-height, glass-walled Ceremony Room where new citizens take the oath.