In May, the Biden Administration issued its Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk to establish a policy framework for maintaining the integrity of the US financial system as it relates to climate change. The Order was aimed at prioritizing climate change from an economic standpoint and raising the flag for the continued risks of physical... Continue Reading →
Design firms have to be aware of the changing climate and variable weather patterns when providing services for new capital assets. Such awareness is especially vital when designing facilities in coastal areas. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) annually publishes information on “high-tide flooding.” That refers to tides that reach anywhere from 1.75 to 2 feet... Continue Reading →
Clients are increasingly using text messages to provide direction and relay important project information. This can be problematic for design firms that want to document such communications in their project files. Firms find that following up via email takes additional time, and the client may not respond to the email, which creates ambiguity. Firms that... Continue Reading →
Although most design firms are privately owned, they, too, are dramatically impacted by the demand for businesses to address and disclose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns. Firms face increasing pressure not only from environmentalists and human rights activists, but also from elected officials, regulators, and even their lenders. ESG disclosure is becoming necessary because... Continue Reading →
As the US emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased demand for construction materials—a demand that will surge if Congress ever passes infrastructure revitalization investment legislation. Limited product inventory and ongoing supply change disruptions only compound the issue of swelling demand as this leads to increased construction costs and longer lead times for obtaining materials. In... Continue Reading →
Once again, economic factors have been pushing up the price of construction materials. In some cases, the increase means the costs of materials are soaring, and that means that construction contractors and subcontractors who submit a fixed-price bid are subject to the impact of escalating costs due to material shortages, snarled supply chains, continued tariffs... Continue Reading →
Websites are an integral part of the business of providing professional services. Often, architecture firms exhibit graphic creativity and challenge site visitors to spend time exploring and learning from the site. Engineering firms typically display accomplishments, document client satisfaction, and promote client interaction through their website's interface. However, websites can create problems for businesses ranging... Continue Reading →
The DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) recently introduced a rating system for architects, interior designers, general contractors, and home improvement contractors who submit applications to the DCRA. DCRA assigns a rating from one to five stars. For architects and interior designers, the rating is based on the quality of their plans that... Continue Reading →
Having read through the American Jobs Plan, it’s clear that federal funding and capacity-building proposals for infrastructure and climate are transformational, once-in-a-lifetime, and good for business. However, if the design and construction industry views the proposed policy framework through the lens of just the project flow opportunities, it could miss a massive opportunity to address... Continue Reading →
The White House will release the first part of their multi-trillion-dollar economic recovery package this week. This initiative is focused on rebuilding roads, bridges, and other infrastructure that will be of interest to design and construction firms. The White House's hope is that a bill that is solely focused on roads and bridges will get... Continue Reading →
