The International Code Council (ICC) and the National Environmental Health Association have established a new task force on pandemics. The task force will analyze all aspects of the built environment to find solutions that reduce the risks posed by pandemics. The group will complete a comprehensive review of current code requirements, guides, and regulations related... Continue Reading →
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which passed both houses of Congress on December 21st and was signed into law on December 27th, includes support for energy efficient design. The 179D energy efficient commercial buildings federal tax deduction (179D), which had been scheduled to expire at the end of 2020, was made permanent. Since 2006,... Continue Reading →
Cushman & Wakefield, the Chicago-based global commercial real estate services firm, has published a series of resources to help offices adapt to the constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and look to the future in planning and operating office space. In September, we published a blog post on the company’s “Recovery Readiness Guide,” which provided... Continue Reading →
The FDA’s approval of COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use will result in employers considering the adoption of mandatory vaccination policies for their employees. Firms operating remotely may attempt to require employees to return to an office location by relying on a mandatory vaccination policy. However, the FDA’s position is that federal law prohibits mandatory use... Continue Reading →
The New York City Fire Department (FDNY) adopted a rule effective December 1, 2020, which allows licensed professionals to certify correction of certain fire alarm system defects. The certification program eliminates the need for FDNY re-inspection in specific instances, and is intended to reduce delays. The FDNY is responsible for approving the installation of fire... Continue Reading →
An astonishing amount of research on the vectors for transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that leads to Covid-19 infection) is available. Recent research may seem overwhelming to design professionals, but it can serve as a source for the prudent design or redesign of indoor spaces. At some point, the standard of care for... Continue Reading →
The contract documents program of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released updated residential contracts for both single-family residential and multi-family residential or mixed-use projects. It also published an updated version of their Condominium Project Guide, which is available for free without a documents subscription.Revised Residential Documents The revised residential documents are B107-2020, Standard... Continue Reading →
(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 →
