Long-deferred projects move forward as Chicagoland communities build for the future
Communities are starting to build again, moving beyond incremental upgrades toward investments designed for the long haul. Identifying the need hasn’t been the issue. Finding a path forward has. Years of deferred maintenance, rising construction costs and uncertainty around funding all play into why projects stall, perpetuating a costly cycle of short-term fixes.
Stronger Schools Start With Smarter Materials: Why Charlotte Is Building Safety Into the Walls
Early in design, decisions can often feel isolated. A wall system here. A detail there. But over time, those decisions ultimately define how a building performs — what it costs to construct, maintain and how much embodied carbon it carries.
Designing for Less: How System Efficiency Connects Cost and Carbon
Early in design, decisions can often feel isolated. A wall system here. A detail there. But over time, those decisions ultimately define how a building performs — what it costs to construct, maintain and how much embodied carbon it carries.
Chester County’s new special needs campus balances inclusive design and safety
Development across the region remains strong as multifamily housing, mixed-use developments and educational facilities continue to move forward. In Malvern, construction is underway on the Chester County Intermediate Unit’s new Child and Career Development Center (CCDC) Great Valley campus, designed to better serve students with special needs across the county.
What Residents Don’t Notice Matters Most
In senior living environments, the most successful design decisions are often the ones residents never have to think about. A stable indoor temperature. A quiet unit. A day that unfolds without interruption. These conditions stem from early design decisions that quietly pay off over time.
The Quiet Return of Masonry in School Design
When Svigals + Partners began work on the new Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the job was more than simply replacing a building. The original school had been demolished following the events of 2012, and the campus was reimagined to help restore communal trust while creating a place where students and staff could feel supported and at ease
In Boston’s high-cost construction market, affordability means more than first cost
Construction costs here already run about 18% higher than in markets like Chicago, Seattle and Washington, D.C., according to market analysis from Cresa. When the starting price of building is that elevated, design decisions carry a ripple effect that extends well beyond construction.
The Most Important School Safety Decision May Be the Walls
Across the country, conversations about school safety often focus on policies, surveillance technology and emergency procedures. Those measures matter. But one of the most important safety decisions happens much earlier — when architects and school districts choose what the building itself will be made of.
Building for a Competitive Renter-Led Housing Market
For generations, homeownership was considered the cornerstone of the American housing market. That dynamic has shifted. Rising home prices, higher interest rates and escalating construction costs have pushed ownership further out of reach for many households, while demand for rental housing continues to soar.
Building a Home? 5 Must-Have Features for Fire Resistance
The looming threat of wildfire is now a reality for many Americans. Despite our best efforts to take precautions, it often feels as though we’re at the mercy of Mother Nature. However, homeowners absolutely have a say in how their homes will fare against future disasters. This starts with insisting on durable, noncombustible materials that can stand up to evolving climate challenges.