News

Casual, Impromptu Meeting Spaces Are a Convention Center Design Trend

04/24/2020

Global design firms such as Populous and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill are seeing an increased demand for casual, impromptu meeting spaces in new and renovated convention centers. Read about the growing design trend now.

An Earth Day Sustainability Checklist for Green Buildings

04/22/2020

How does your building’s sustainability effort measure up? Read this checklist, compiled in honor of Earth Day 2020, to see if your green game is up to the challenge, or how to catch up if you’re behind the sustainable buildings curve. Read more.

What Will Hotels and Conferences Look Like Post COVID-19?

04/21/2020

After COVID-19 is in the rear-view mirror, what will be the proverbial “new normal?” BUILDINGS Chief Content Director Robert Nieminen discussed what this new world may look like with top designer Michael Suomi, founder of Suomi Design Works, for this BUILDINGS podcast.

How Local Touches Create a Sense of Place in an Office

04/20/2020

When renovating a space, consider what makes its location—whether it’s the city, state or the building itself—unique and inspiring to occupants.

4 Lighting Strategies for Energy Efficiency

04/20/2020

Watts per square foot have dropped thanks to the adoption of LEDs, but there’s more progress to be made. Learn more about 4 long-term savings strategies. 
 

Renovated Offices Show Health and Wellness Spaces are Here to Stay

04/20/2020

Design has a major impact on employee health and wellbeing. Learn from these renovated offices on how to incorporate wellness into your next project.

Healthy and Unique Office Renovations

04/20/2020

Have an upcoming office renovation planned? Find out what details, healthy initiatives and local elements are being brought into current renovations.

Benefits of Using 5G Technology in a Commercial Building

04/20/2020

Still possibly a few years away, 5G technology can provide Internet of Things and data support in commercial spaces. Find out how.

Creative Details for Office Renovations

04/20/2020

Renovating your office? See how other projects use special details to set spaces apart.

How Biophilic Design Can Boost Productivity in Hospitality Meeting Spaces

04/17/2020

How you design a space can profoundly impact the meeting experience. And in hospitality, where the trend is to create a more unique space for each venue, bringing the outside in is becoming more common. Learn more. 

COVID-19: What Happens to Piping in Unused Buildings?

04/17/2020

When closed buildings reopen, occupants may face contaminated drinking water. That's because piping is at risk for corrosion, as well as the growth of microorganisms that can happen when chlorine dissipates in stagnant water and becomes less effective. Erica Walker, director of environmental policy and programs for 120Water, chats with editor-in-chief Janelle Penny about the steps facilities professionals can take now and when facilities are ready to reopen.

Why Mass Notification Systems Improve Communication with Remote Workers

04/16/2020

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, many facilities are shutting down and employees are working from their homes. These mass notification strategies make communication with them easier. Read more.

3 Tips for Managing an Empty Building During COVID-19

04/06/2020

As the spread of COVID-19 continues in the U.S., here are three things you can do to ensure your building runs smoothly while adapting to little or no occupancy.

COVID-19 and Roofing

04/03/2020

Roofing is open for business, and roof projects can continue safely. That's the message roofing associations are emphasizing in these uncertain times. Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the EPDM Roofing Association, joins BUILDINGS editor-in-chief Janelle Penny to discuss what facilities professionals should know if they need a roof repair or replacement during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also touch on the industry's letter to the White House asking President Trump to protect roofing as an essential industry.

How to Design for Acoustic Sensitivity

04/02/2020

Does a one-size-fits-all approach to acoustic comfort work for every occupant? What about people who are more sensitive to noise than others?  Guests Reetika Vijay and Grzegory Kosmal from IA Interior Architects join writer Robert Nieminen to discuss acoustics and how to tailor it to occupant comfort. 

Solving Key Washroom Design Issues

04/01/2020

Today’s washrooms must address hand hygiene, slips and falls, and providing stability for people of all sizes. Learn how your facility can address these issues.

How Atlanta Conquered Its Better Buildings Challenge Goals Two Years Early

03/31/2020

Atlanta met its 20% energy reduction goal for the Better Buildings Challenge two years early. Learn more about how their public-private partnership achieved success.

How the Commercial Building Community Comes Together During COVID-19

03/27/2020

Highlights of uplifting stories and actions from the commercial building, facilities management and building owner community as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

45 Money-Saving Products for Facilities Management 2020

03/25/2020

Money-saving products cut down on costs, time investment and hassles for facilities managers who need to maintain high performance in their buildings while keeping budgets in check. Learn more about this year’s top money-saving facilities management products.

 

Are Privacy Pods the Answer to the Problem of Noisy Offices?

03/25/2020

Privacy pods have been popping up all across open offices to help solve the problem of unwanted noise and lack of space for focus work. Join writer Robert Nieminen as he talks to Jim Abraham, Steelcase director for Orangebox Americas Business, and Adrian Welch, global key account manager with Orangebox, about this trend and whether it's just a bandage or a viable solution for workplace design.