A Look at 7 Incredible Feats in Modern Construction History

Throughout history, there have been many incredible feats of construction. From the building of the pyramids to the mysterious construction of Stonehenge, one-of-a-kind structures have come to life in different time periods that still impress us today. These marvels of the modern world deserve to be recognized for their size,

Urban Planning – Creating a Culturally Diverse Experience

Urban planning trends are constantly changing. Cities and suburbs grow, adjust, and update based on the needs and wants of the population. Syracuse is no different; it continues to see a growing interest in living downtown with an occupancy rate hovering well over 95%. Our fully integrated design-build team is

Biophilic Design Creates Healthy, Stress-Free Environments

It is rare to find a design strategy that benefits the natural environment, human health, and our mental state. A big trend in the design-build and aesthetics of a building revolves around better integrating environment and health into the workplace. These are items space consultants and design-build firms look to

The Future of BIM: Leveraging Powerful Generative Design

Building information modeling (BIM) is not just a tool. It’s the first stepping stone in what will likely be labeled a paradigm shift for building design in the future. For a brief refresher, BIM is almost universally used in design, construction, and engineering. In fact, over 80% of all construction

Multifamily Housing: 5 Trends in Apartment Building Design

The coming of age of millennials and Gen Z is redefining the design of multifamily housing and apartment buildings. These generations are seeking living environments that address their values and lifestyle preferences such as co-living arrangements, emphasis on social space, rise of the sharing economy, and the prioritization of convenience.

4 Examples of Successful BIM Projects in the U.S.

The landscape for construction is evolving with more commercial projects moving to design-build models that use cutting-edge technology like drones, integrated software, the internet of things (IoT), clash detection, and 3D laser scanning. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is one of those tools that, as we have seen in many projects

How Mixed-Use Design Is Revitalizing Urban Development

The development of mixed-use spaces has become the focus of many architects and developers since urbanization and increased demand for downtown conduction is taking place in many cities. This trend is remaking the fabric of urban areas and bringing many neighborhoods back to life with social and economic activities. What

4 Tips to Enhance Visibility of Your Office or Building

It is a common mistake when designing for a new commercial space to overlook the design of the exterior of your building. Focusing on updating your office space to fit your growing needs or improving your store layout to better attract customers is definitely important, but overlooking your building’s exterior

3 Benefits of Using Wood in Commercial Building

Heavy timber construction is a traditional building style that uses large heavy sawn timbers for structural framing. This building style has been around for quite some time. In fact, some timber framed buildings in Europe were constructed over 500 years ago and are still standing today. Until recently, the role

What the Alignment of the 2018 IgCC and LEED Could Mean for Construction

The move to greener methods of building engineering in recent decades caused major changes in construction, from materials to methods. Leaner processes designed to reduce carbon footprints have led to the addition of new technologies and designs. Positive results in both energy conservation and environmental impact have spurred new policies.

5 Game-Changing Materials to Create a Better Way to Build and Design

The design-build and construction industry is always evolving. Both processes and the materials that go into those processes are constantly being evaluated to create more effective and efficient outcomes. “Super materials” have multifunctional traits, meaning they can give a building the power to clean the environment, repair itself, and much

The Future of Lightweight Structures in Construction

Recent technological innovations have allowed academic researchers and cutting-edge manufacturers to utilize the science (and art) of biomimicry to its fullest potential. It might just hold the key to unlocking a vastly improved, sustainably built environment for commercial construction. Before diving into the applications and benefits for the design-build and

Here’s Why You Should Choose a Self-Performing Contractor

What is “Self-Performing”? Buzzwords abound, and “self-performing” is one to become familiar with. When a contractor is hired to self-perform, it means that they will provide their direct employees to complete a portion of the construction (e.g. concrete work, steel framing, carpentry, or another specialty). Hiring a contractor to self-perform

3D Laser Scanning in Engineering

High-definition surveying (HDS), or “laser scanning,” is a new method used by integrated design-build firms to capture a highly detailed 3D image of a construction project. Instead of using cameras to capture this virtual image, lasers (which are much more accurate) are employed. Companies such as Faro and Leica Geosystems

Workplace Environment Trends

Employees spend the majority of their days in the office and as a result, the office environment has a big impact on well-being and productivity. It’s important that companies invest in workplace designs that enhance the employee experience, which can help improve the quality of their work while increasing employee