Development
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Plan for lower water temperatures when replacing traditional HVAC systems with heat pumps
Fossil fuel-based systems supply water at higher temperatures than heat pumps. Operators that want to electrify their systems must look at coil sizes, piping and other elements, specialists say.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 16, 2025 -
Gorodenkoff via Getty Images
Life sciences markets hit vacancy rate highs, deflating rents
Landlords are offering concessions like free rent and improvement allowances as rents fall, but the space still commands a premium over office space, Cushman & Wakefield says.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 12, 2025 -
Permission granted by Joe Burns
University of Illinois-Chicago tackles deferred maintenance at no upfront cost
The institution is using an energy performance contract with Ameresco to capture energy savings from mechanical system upgrades. The savings make it possible to do upgrades faster, a facility engineer says.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 10, 2025 -
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Generational, gender differences key to workplace experience: reports
With employee experience playing more of a role in office performance, operators must monitor feedback to ensure workplaces are successful, firms say.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 5, 2025 -
t_kimura via Getty Images
Energy savings contracts, backed by data, enable smarter facility upgrades
As electricity costs rise and federal incentives drop, building operators are tapping the contracts to improve efficiency and boost resilience.
By Joe Burns • Sept. 2, 2025 -
Jarama via Getty Images
Relocatable modular buildings are efficient but pose logistics challenges
The units offer a way to add space quickly, but using them comes with a learning curve.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 28, 2025 -
Imaginima via Getty Images
Coworking growth slows, but companies still value flex space, reports show
Most organizations still want to grow their use of alternative space to reduce capital expenditures and improve employee experience.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 13, 2025 -
miniseries via Getty Images
Office occupiers seek ways to improve vibrancy of space: CBRE
Workers that go into the office when it’s only partially full don’t find the environment appealing and are less likely to return the next day, the firm reports.
By Joe Burns • Aug. 11, 2025 -
Retrieved from The White House.
It’s not the addition, it’s the size, say critics of White House ballroom
Construction of the structure is scheduled to start in September to replace a tent and walkway that facility staff put up when the president hosts events of more than 200 people.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 5, 2025 -
Courtesy of Suffolk
As higher ed ramps up modular construction, easier maintenance could follow
Standardization and a factory-like quality control process could lead to fewer problems once buildings are put into service, a general contractor executive says.
By Robert Freedman • Aug. 4, 2025 -
AndreyKrav via Getty Images
Charging station at Denver arena spotlights ‘lease-deployment’ infrastructure model
The sports complex is partnering with Flash Parking to install the city’s largest electric vehicle charging hub. Building owners are increasingly looking to partnerships to meet infrastructure demand.
By Joe Burns • July 28, 2025 -
Nathan Howard via Getty Images
Data centers seek flexible power solutions for resilience, sustainability
Flexible battery or generator solutions can help data centers power up faster, reduce grid impacts and keep their owners’ sustainability goals within reach, experts say.
By Brian Martucci • July 23, 2025 -
Bonnie Cash via Getty Images
Trump officials using building renovation costs to go after Fed chair, WSJ says
High-profile criticism of some $700 million in cost overruns is said to be an effort to pressure Jerome Powell to quit.
By Robert Freedman • July 18, 2025 -
Wasan Tita via Getty Images
New budget law includes property renovation incentives
Restoration of 100% bonus depreciation and two other provisions give building owners a reason to fund improvements now rather than wait until later, according to a tax attorney.
By Robert Freedman • July 11, 2025 -
JuliaMag via Getty Images
Office conversions accelerate, but many older buildings face demolition: reports
High vacancy rates have driven building owners to repurpose space, which should help the U.S. office market’s recovery. But high costs and incompatible structural designs remain challenges, CBRE says.
By Joe Burns • June 25, 2025 -
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Senate Finance Committee reduces House IRA cuts, but few changes for wind and solar
Wind and solar projects must begin construction by the end of 2025 to qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act’s full 45Y and 48E tax credits in the Finance Committee's proposed budget bill.
By Diana DiGangi • June 25, 2025 -
Jacoblund via Getty Images
Office downsizing has peaked: Cushman & Wakefield
Economic and geopolitical uncertainties are delaying some restructuring plans, but only temporarily, as pressure to reduce and control commercial real estate spending remains “as strong as ever,” the firm says.
By Joe Burns • June 23, 2025 -
adamkaz via Getty Images
Municipalities tap AI for permitting
Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, are using the tech to cleave wait times, while Honolulu promises big upgrades and faster responses.
By Matthew Thibault • June 20, 2025 -
Permission granted by Suffolk
On site: Checking in at the Waldorf Astoria’s $2B renovation
Boston-based Suffolk plans to complete the hotel portion of the restoration at the iconic New York City landmark later this year, according to the contractor.
By Sebastian Obando • June 20, 2025 -
Gorodenkoff via Getty Images
Life sciences struggles with oversupply in Q1, but upsides exist, experts say
Building owners with higher vacancy rates are increasingly shifting their attention to alternative end users, like AI firms. Downsizing and more efficient space use could help alleviate oversupply, CBRE and JLL reports say.
By Joe Burns • June 18, 2025 -
The Bold Bureau via Getty Images
11 federal buildings tapped for sale by reform board
Conditions are good to sell the properties, which could generate $346 milion in proceeds and save billions in operating, maintenance and upgrade costs, the Public Buildings Reform Board says.
By Robert Freedman • June 5, 2025 -
Retrieved from Princeton University, Sideline Photos LLC on May 30, 2025
Higher ed invests in athletic facilities, recreation and retail
Colleges and universities are bolstering sports and other recreational facilities to attract students, with some also adding retail and student housing.
By Joe Burns • May 30, 2025 -
Jacus via Getty Images
Building obsolescence risks can help guide renovation planning: JLL
Deep retrofits of central business district office assets can generate well over $3,500 per square meter while saving upwards of 60% on energy costs, the company says.
By Joe Burns • May 12, 2025 -
Pixdeluxe via Getty Images
Office demand hits bumps, but Q1 finishes up year over year: VTS, CBRE
The national market faced harsh conditions in the first two months of 2025, erasing year-over-year gains in 2024. A cooling labor market and return-to-office trends make future conditions unclear, the firms say.
By Joe Burns • May 2, 2025 -
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Coworking space grows nationwide, but prices and size trends vary
Demand for space from hybrid teams, solo workers and enterprise clients will likely continue to drive expansion in top-tier cities as well as previously overlooked metro areas, CoworkingCafe says.
By Joe Burns • April 29, 2025
