(Above photo by the Bureau of Land Management) There is great uncertainty for state agencies in the upcoming year as finances are battered by the current recession. It is unclear whether there will be meaningful support from the federal government. As states decide what programs to cut, it is likely that capital improvement projects will... Continue Reading →
What is a National Climate Bank? Despite the name, it isn’t really a bank in the traditional sense of the word because it isn’t a depository institution. Rather, it’s a non-profit 501(c)(3) created for the sole purpose of leveraging limited public funding (through financing instruments such as market term loans, soft loans, equity investments, and... Continue Reading →
Cushman & Wakefield is a global commercial real estate services firm. While headquartered in Chicago, the company operates from approximately 400 offices in 60 countries. Its 53,000 employees manage about 4.1 billion square feet of commercial space. As part of its services, the firm has published information to help offices adapt to the constraints caused... Continue Reading →
Design firms vary in how they treat “side gig” or “moonlighting” efforts by professional service employees. Most firms simply prohibit such services. The activity may not stop, but the firm must state its policy and, if it becomes aware of such activity, go on record as not supporting or condoning it in any manner. But... Continue Reading →
After COVID-19 restrictions on the construction industry were put in place, the International Code Council surveyed code departments across the US to better understand their capabilities and to collect best practices that could help inform procedures in other departments. The survey results were published in a previous blog post about industry trends and emerging issues.... Continue Reading →
To a remarkable degree, consulting firms have adjusted to the new norm under COVID-19 fairly well. The adage that “Necessity is the mother of invention” has been proven true in the last few months. All consulting firms were forced to reimagine and reorganize their business operations when the pandemic forced firms to shut down office... Continue Reading →
While we wait for federal lawmakers to pass a comprehensive infrastructure package that may integrate clean energy infrastructure and a sustainable framework for climate change and resilience in the face of continued severe natural disasters, there’s another federal resource worthy of attention. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) launched a new program, Building Resilient Infrastructures... Continue Reading →
Because of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the new normal for many design firms means using online video conferencing software. Most conferencing programs allow for easy recording and sharing of videos, creating an innovative tool for bringing others in on the conversation. But this function also raises a host of potential confidentiality, discovery,... Continue Reading →
Audits of disbursements from public programs ensure that the funds have been used appropriately. Because the first round of funding in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was depleted so quickly—and many large businesses were approved for loans that were not needed or that were provided outside of the required processing—the Small Business Administration (SBA) is... Continue Reading →
Some firms worry that their professional liability insurance might not cover them for drone usage. The Victor and CNA professional liability program provides coverage when professionals use drones as tools to perform their professional obligations. Firms using unmanned aerial vehicles, such as the drones often used to document new construction for evaluation by the design... Continue Reading →
