Design solutions for hotel development

Developers: Apartment Fresh Air 101

Reading Time: 5 minutes Providing proper ventilation is a crucial component of multifamily building design due to its effects on occupant health and comfort. Ventilation ties the whole HVAC system together. Without ventilation, there is no way for the indoor air to refresh and re-oxygenate itself. What’s the right set of “lungs” to put in your building? A Breath of
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Developers: 2022 HVAC System Options

Reading Time: 4 minutes Today we expand on the previous article about HVAC systems and discuss the pros and cons of the three most common ones for multifamily developments. Knowing which system to install can be confusing, so let’s answer some of your questions. It is important to choose the right HVAC system for your project. Picking the wrong HVAC system for
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HVAC 101 for Multifamily Developers

Reading Time: 4 minutes People are spending more time indoors, so it’s important to provide good quality ventilation and air conditioning systems for them. With the development of a multifamily project, you need to decide on the type of HVAC system to install before the project starts. Knowing that this decision will have long-term effects, it’s important you know
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Multifamily Development | GAS vs. ELECTRIC HEAT

Reading Time: 3 minutes The residential industry accounts for one-fifth of America’s energy consumption with the largest part of that consumption going toward the project’s heating. Most buildings run on multiple fuels such as natural gas or propane to power furnaces, boilers, and water heaters. What if the project’s heating could be done with a more efficient and economical option
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Developers—Do I need sprinklers everywhere?

Reading Time: 3 minutes The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) has a complex code structure to regulate fire safety according to different categories of occupancies. As you know, multifamily projects are trending, and developers need to know how these complex codes affect the project. When it comes to fire safety codes, there’s one thing that all developers ask, “Do I
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Developers: Multifamily Construction on The Move!

Reading Time: 4 minutes Homebuyer migration patterns continue to change. We are aware that affordability and job opportunities have always been important factors of migration. Now, according to the latest Home Building Geography Index (HBGI) released by NAHB, Residential construction continues to shift toward the suburbs and lower-cost markets, especially in the multifamily sector. Multifamily residential construction grew by
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2022: The year offsite construction goes mainstream?

Reading Time: 3 minutes The pandemic has shifted builders’ views toward offsite construction, but there’s more to the story! The increase in builder interest in offsite construction methods has also been driven by supply chain challenges and the shortages and rising costs of skilled labor. Offsite construction is here to stay, so don’t miss the chance to jump in on
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Developers: Get your permits faster!

Reading Time: 3 minutes “My architect is too slow to respond!” “My design schedule just got extended!” “Three more months to permit!” Developers, constructors, and builders hear about delays every day, and we understand your pain. After all, time is money, and in today’s high cost environment, unnecessary delays are not an option! Conventional thinking only increases costs, schedules,
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Developers: A new extended stay hotel brand is coming!

Reading Time: 3 minutes With the increase of hotel projects in the last few months, we kept a close eye on what is happening in the hospitality industry. Today, we discuss the latest talk for hotel developers—the apartment-style hotel brand, stayAPT Suites. stayAPT Suites: Redefining Long-Term Lodging This brand was launched in 2020, and it has already opened five hotels
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Multifamily Is Booming — Is Modular The Answer?

Reading Time: 4 minutes The housing crisis is not slowing down, and developers continue to focus on the multifamily market! Multifamily investment volume increased by 34% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 to reach $52.7 billion, according to CBRE. Apartments accounted for 36.6% of commercial real estate transactions in the first half, making it the top performer. To accommodate for the demand, developers are choosing
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2022 Trend To Watch: Live/Work Apartments

Reading Time: 3 minutes The world is changing! Apartment complexes with community ground-floor work areas have been trending, especially since the onset of the pandemic. This booming multifamily trend is called the Live/Work Apartment!   Let’s Talk about Live/Work apartments!   A live/work unit is defined as a single unit (studio, loft, or one or two-bedroom) consisting of both a
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Construction Costs 101: Stay ahead of price changes

Reading Time: 3 minutes We’ve all seen lumber prices make major news, but what’s happening with other material prices might surprise you as well. Building materials costs are rising at a record pace this year. As lumber prices begin to decline, builders face some of the steepest materials price increases in history. Nonresidential construction input prices are up 23.4%
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BASE4 | Helping Developers Build Faster

Reading Time: 3 minutes We are architects & engineers rethinking the way buildings get built.   We at BASE4 believe in a PRODUCT mindset—bringing standardization and manufacturing principles. With the product-centered approach, we continually optimize the build process to be faster, cheaper, and more efficient. BASE4 | Helping Developers Build Faster I have a project I want to discuss!  
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Prefab Training | Become a future construction leader

Reading Time: 4 minutes Due to the pandemic, the construction sector lost more than 1 million workers, and almost all areas of the construction industry are experiencing project delays. According to the Labor Department, the industry is still down 238,000 workers from pre-pandemic levels as of June. Also, the Associated General Contractors of America have noted that many contractors
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Developers | Is it time to start building with wood again?

Reading Time: 4 minutes We have all seen the headlines! Lumber prices have dropped 50% in the last two months, reassuring everyone in the building sector. Does this mean the lumber packages for your next project will be 50% cheaper? The answer might surprise you; read on. Lumber dropped about 5% week-over-week in July, trading at $650 per thousand board feet. Following
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Let’s Talk About Three Hotels on One Site

Reading Time: 3 minutes Hotel developers are looking for a way to attract new customers while cutting costs. We have seen it before with dual-branded hotels, but is it possible with three hotels on one site? The answer is “Yes, it is!” The use of the multi-brand strategy has gradually grown in popularity in the U.S. over the past decade.
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FOB | A critical acronym every developer should know

Reading Time: 3 minutes One of the most significant details that many developers overlook when diving into offsite delivery is transportation liability. Read below and get to know a term that will help you save millions in damages. There are several key processes needed to get a modular unit from the factory to the finish line. The modular box is assembled in a
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Bathroom Pods 101 | A Developer’s Guide

Reading Time: 3 minutes When you think “prefab,” you often think of prefabricated parts like walls and trusses. Prefabricated bathrooms offer a more developed solution that can increase your speed-to-market. A bathroom pod is a factory-made bathroom unit that comes pre-installed with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Once manufactured, it is shipped to an end construction site, ready to use.
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Developers: Keep building through material shortages

Reading Time: 4 minutes The pandemic slowed sawmill production, supply chains, and factory operations, causing a shortage of construction materials in the United Stated. Now, with the reopening of the economy, builders have returned to the job site following months of lockdown to encounter an alarming materials shortage. What can be done about this? Shortages of materials are now more widespread
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LIHTC 101 | A tax incentive program for developers

Reading Time: 3 minutes The demand for new housing products right now is strong, but aside from traditional financing challenges, there’s a factor stopping developers—and that is rising construction costs. As a developer, you need to take advantage of every opportunity to make a project profitable—LIHTC might be that opportunity. Read on! LIHTC stands for Low Income Housing Tax Credits. It provides
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Developers | Is HUD Financing A Good Option?

Reading Time: 3 minutes You want to start a new project; however, the current economic situation is making you rethink which direction to go. Financing could be a solution, but which type? Today we talk about HUD financing. When you hear of a ‘HUD PROJECT,’ this typically means the HUD Section 221 (D4) Program is being used. HUD is an acronym
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Developers: How to Tackle The High Cost of Housing

Reading Time: 3 minutes We are currently facing an imbalance between supply and demand. Rising building materials costs and low inventory have caused the price of an average, new single-family home to increase by $62,300 since April of last year. Skyrocketing prices mean people cannot afford to buy homes, driving down the pace of recent home sales. Will this alarming trend continue? Read on? According
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Developers | Trending Amenities For Horizontal Apartments

Reading Time: 3 minutes If you are thinking of developing a Horizontal Apartment, you have probably thought about which community amenities to include for the overall project. It’s the era of change in multifamily housing design, and a few updates to the standard multifamily formula could drive up rent, increase occupancy, and lease-up, and ultimately get you the best return on investment (ROI). A
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Developers | 2020 Changes That Are Here to Stay

Reading Time: 3 minutes For the past year, developers have innovated to stay afloat during the economic standstill and pandemic-related production challenges. 2020 accelerated the need for the AEC sector to make better use of available technology. Now that we are coming out of crisis mode, which of these revenue-boosting Tech Trends should you keep in your toolbox? Two
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Developers: Rental Rates are on the rise!

Reading Time: 4 minutes Much has changed in the multifamily market due to COVID-19, including apartment sizes, amenities, and moving trends, but how do rental rates continue to change? Now four months into 2021, we notice the fluctuation of rental rates even within the same city. Apartments experienced an unprecedented bifurcation of rental rates over the past year, showing extreme differences among
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Developers: Increase ROI with Opportunity Zones

Reading Time: 4 minutes Keeping up with trends and updates of 2021, today I talk about a term used in development—Opportunity Zones. Not sure what it is and how you can benefit from it—read on! What is an Opportunity Zone? An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.  Localities
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With Skyrocketing Lumber Prices—Consider Steel

Reading Time: 3 minutes Material shortages are a widespread concern for all U.S. industries—the multifamily building industry being one. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the rise in lumber prices in the past year has added $35,872 to the price of an average new single-family home and $12,966 to the market value of an average new multifamily home.
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Developers: Good signs for the hotel sector

Reading Time: 5 minutes Lately, we’ve talked a lot about multifamily products–this is where most of our work has been in the last year. We see an interesting trend popping up–over the last 4 weeks: a dramatic increase in the number of hotel projects moving again! It was certainly a rough 12 months for hotel development, but we see some great signs
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Developers: Robots can build your next project

Reading Time: 3 minutes As you already know, we are engaged in the 4th Industrial Revolution, and it’s hard to keep up with the many innovations in the construction industry. We know you can’t afford to fall behind on this—that is why this week, I give you a brief overview of robotics and how you can leverage automated modular methods to
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A Solution | The Modular Elevator

Reading Time: 4 minutes For the past two weeks, I have discussed elevators—if you need one and what type? Now for the fun part! Today I download everything you need to know about Modular Elevators. What is a Modular Elevator? Modular elevators are turn-key, commercial-grade elevators that are manufactured offsite for speed and quality. They arrive on-site with a prefabricated structural body containing a
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Developers: Make sure you pick the right elevator!

Reading Time: 4 minutes Last week we spoke about elevators—if they were needed or not! Since projects often require elevators, today we are going to describe the different types. Elevators are designed and fitted according to the building’s population capacity and code requirements. In the past, most elevators had to be controlled through a centralized machine room. Today, most elevators
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Developers: Do you really need an elevator?

Reading Time: 3 minutes Lately, I have discussed amenities for multifamily projects. Now it’s time to talk about elevators! Does your project need one?  If so, how do you select one? I am here to help. Do I Need an Elevator? Elevators are the most common way to provide inclusive access to multistory buildings. They are often the only way residents with
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2021 Multifamily Trend to Watch | Horizontal Apartments

Reading Time: 5 minutes Builders are struggling right now to put up entry-level homes at a reasonable price. The high costs of land, labor, materials, and regulation make building low-cost homes less lucrative for developers, shifting the market towards rental properties and apartment communities. With the current migration to the suburbs, renters are looking for additional space and a
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Developers: Here is where to build in 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes As discussed in a previous week’s newsletter about trending amenities, many aspects of American life have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, changing the way we live and work. Due to the shifting economy, rise in remote work opportunities, and desire to relocate to less densely populated areas, people have decided to move. Where is everybody going? Around
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Developers: Amenities to include in your 2021 projects

Reading Time: 4 minutes The world of multifamily amenities has significantly changed in the past year and renters are willing to pay more if it means living in a unit that has premium amenities and upgrades that make their day-to-day lives easier and more enjoyable. In a Schlage and Wakefield Research survey of 1,000 U.S. multifamily renters, 86% of millennials say they
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Developers: Let the robots do the parking!

Reading Time: 4 minutes As an avid AEC futurist, I frequently address the need to move from archaic construction methods to embrace all forms of construction technology. Enter Robots—perhaps the coolest technology of them all!  But can they help you? A Robot That Parks My Car? With an automated parking system, it is possible! An automated parking system is a
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Construction Costs are up 40% | Here’s what to do

Reading Time: 3 minutes Due to the challenges of the pandemic, the prices of construction materials are skyrocketing, and developers are trying to find safer and better ways to build. Back in a 2019 newsletter, I reported that construction costs had increased OVER 40% since 2013. While last year saw a less dramatic increase, the cost of construction continues to rise. COVID-19 has
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Developers: Get More Apartments on Your Land

Reading Time: 3 minutes The demand for suburban multifamily dwellings, along with the rising costs of materials, have motivated developers to look for ways to build more units at a cheaper cost. It’s time to consider your building density! What is housing density? It’s the number of housing or dwelling units per acre of land. Different housing types require different densities,
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Developers’ Update – Multifamily Apartment Size Trends

Reading Time: 4 minutes The high demand for multifamily buildings right now coincides with rising construction costs. What are some ways developers can mitigate the high cost of building? The answer might be in smartly sizing your units! Developers want to build a great building with lots of amenities and large units, but at a certain point, all that extra space results in
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High Wood Prices = Opportunities In Steel

Reading Time: 4 minutes Back in my August newsletter, I stated that wood prices were up 140%. Since then, the numbers have gone up and down, and then back up again! Lumber prices that were around $600/tbf five months ago are now over $900/tbf. Commodity prices are three times higher than before the pandemic. The pandemic is upsetting global supply chains in
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Latest Changes to the Housing Market: Migration to The Suburbs

Reading Time: 3 minutes The pandemic shook up how we live and boosted migration from the cities to the suburbs. Therefore, the multifamily market is set to drastically improve in 2021. But how can you build apartments and mitigate rising construction costs? After several months of shelter-in-place orders, the desire to have more space and the potential for more people to work remotely
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Virtual Reality | A Gamechanger For Developers

Reading Time: 3 minutes Today we dive into one amazing technological advancement that can help rent out your apartments before they are built and keep everyone safe while doing it!   Virtual Reality Increases Pre-Leasing Speed.   Virtual Reality (VR) is a Game Changer! VR is not just for video games—this technology has huge potential for getting your apartments leased even before
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BASE4 | Helping Developers Build Cheaper

Reading Time: 4 minutes What does BASE4 Do? There are very few days that go by that I don’t get this question, so I guess this explanation is long overdue! Here’s the short answer: We are architects & engineers rethinking the way buildings get built.   Our team works with developers and general contractors to rethink traditional building methods
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2021 Forecast | Multifamily Outlook Looks Good!

Reading Time: 4 minutes 2020 was a tough year for the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) sector with Office, Retail, and Hotel capital markets getting hit especially hard. However, there is some good news—today I want to tell you about the opportunities for 2021! Yardi Improves Their Forecast for 2021 Supply Source: Yardi Matrix Several weeks ago, CBRE and Yardi Matrix
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Build faster like Chick-fil-A

Reading Time: 4 minutes In the past few months, I have talked about modular and offsite construction. Still, when people think about “modular” construction, they imagine one of two things: man-camp temporary structures or multi-story stacked apartment and hotel projects. The truth is that an offsite delivery method can be effective for nearly any type of building product depending on
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Jobsite Robots = Building Faster

Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s not just in the movies—robots are now a reality. Until recently, construction was one of the least digitized and automated industries in the world—but times may be changing. Robots, drones, autonomous vehicles, and 3D printing are some of the new technologies being lauded in the media. While exciting, many of these inventions are not
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Developers Decide: Podiums vs Wraps

Reading Time: 4 minutes The growing demand for mid-rise apartment buildings is creating both challenges and opportunities for developers. Land keeps getting more expensive which means maximizing densities is more important than ever! When multifamily developers evaluate a new potential apartment site, they must assess what type of building will be the most efficient based on density, parking, and unit count.
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Rising Housing Costs = Apartment Opportunities

Reading Time: 4 minutes Housing prices are skyrocketing right now, and developers have an opportunity to meet the need. But with high construction costs and fewer skilled workers, what’s your next move? In this article we discuss the potential in the multifamily market and how industrialized construction can get you building faster, cheaper, and better than ever before. Supply
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Get Your Online Masters in Modular

Reading Time: 3 minutes Industrialized Construction is the future. It is the only way to address the major problems in construction right now—the never-ending project cost increases, systematic labor crisis, consistent schedule overruns, and rampant inefficiency. Get My Masters in Prefab   Regardless of what people say, construction is not an easy sector to “jump into.” To be successful and
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Quieter Apartments = Higher Rents, Pt3

Reading Time: 4 minutes Your apartment has great STC wall ratings, so why are you still getting lots of noise complaints from tenants? The STC of a wall is only as good as its weakest link. Today in our 3-part series on Keeping Apartments Quiet, we’ll highlight a few of the most common causes of hidden noise pollution and what you can
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Stop Noise Pollution in Apartments, Pt2

Reading Time: 4 minutes Don’t we all want to learn how to keep tenant noise complaints to a minimum? Today’s Part 2 of Keeping Apartments Quiet will show you how! Wall Composition to Reduce Noise Pollution Sound waves travel through walls, infiltrating the adjacent rooms. Wall composition is critical to absorb sound and dampen the volume heard on the
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Quieter Apartments = Higher Rents

Reading Time: 4 minutes Keeping The Noise Out When you live in an apartment, noise is everywhere. Noise reflects from hard surfaces, like walls, floors, and ceilings—adding to the overall noise level inside a room. With all the turmoil in our world, a safe and quiet apartment home is vital. Follow me in this 3-part series of How to
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BASE4 CEO’s Tell-All Memoir – Launches Today!

Reading Time: 3 minutes 12 Children. Four Countries. Two Capitalists. One Story. Discounted for You only this Week on Other booksellers and more information can be found at our website. Get Money Do Good explores capitalism at its finest while confronting the issues of orphan advocacy, autism, human trafficking, and conventional methods of “doing good.” Spanning the past decade
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Cold-Formed Steel vs Structural Steel

Reading Time: 5 minutes We’ve recently discussed cold-formed steel and how it can be utilized with Industrialized Construction. With lumber prices soaring, developers are looking for steel solutions. The term “Steel” is one of those broad terms that gets thrown around a lot. Today we are going to take a deep dive into what we mean when we say
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Rising Lumber Prices = Time To Consider Steel

Reading Time: 4 minutes Cold-formed steel framing is outperforming wood framing in the construction industry right now. With a rising demand for improved standards in quality, security, and performance in construction—cold-formed steel framing can be considered one of the best construction methods. Lumber prices are too high—what can I do? Lumber prices increased rapidly in 2020 due to significant
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Covid is Changing Apartment Design

Reading Time: 3 minutes New apartment designs for a new era We’re living in a whole new world, and your next multifamily project must follow the new rules of living. People are living, working, and schooling in their homes with the need to keep spaces sanitized, separate, and convenient for living healthy and well. Multifamily designs for the new
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Spacious Modular Apartments

Reading Time: 2 minutes Thanks to technology today, developers are finding new ways to build using prefabricated, offsite, and modular solutions. Unfortunately, a lot of developers hesitate to go modular due to fears of room-size limitations or a “boxy” design, but volumetric modular design does way more than micro-apartments! Here’s the great news: Multi-bedroom units are still an option
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Double Time Your Build: Podium + Modular

Reading Time: 3 minutes Offsite construction is considered the future of the construction industry. Still, you might be wondering if it fits your next project. One very popular offsite delivery method for urban apartment projects is modular over podium. This is a great option for many locations. Find out more below! Podium Design in Brief Podium buildings are comprised
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Wood Prices Are Up 140%

Reading Time: 4 minutes The pandemic is upsetting global supply chains in every industry—especially the construction industry. This alarming trend is most obvious when looking at the cost of lumber.   Lumber prices are now 140% higher than they were in August of last year. It’s never been more expensive to build with wood.   This drastic price shift
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Let’s Bend Some Metal

Reading Time: 4 minutes Staying on the cutting-edge of the building market is hard, especially with the rapid onset of industrialized construction (IC). Of the five cornerstones of IC shown below, one very overlooked pillar is Vendors and Products—and keeping up to speed with all new ones on the market. That’s why we’ll be taking the opportunity over the next couple of months to
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Pandemic Proof Your HVAC System

Reading Time: 3 minutes The pandemic has shifted people’s thinking about the future, especially in building design. 2020 has shown us the importance of designing for healthier spaces. People want their homes, offices, and hotels to be sanitized and free from hidden germs that get recirculated in HVAC systems. Does this mean it is time to rethink your HVAC
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Elevators Installed and Ready in 1 Week

Reading Time: 4 minutes We have spent the last month digging into prefabrication, offsite, and modular solutions, including volumetric modular, bathroom pods, and panelization. Still, you might be thinking that you want to use offsite construction to solve some very specific problems. No problem! Sub-assemblies and components can be designed to fit your needs, manufactured offsite, and delivered to your next multi-family
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Build Apartment Walls in a Factory

Reading Time: 5 minutes So, you want to dive into offsite, prefabricated, and modular, but your project doesn’t seem to fit. This article is dedicated to you—and how panelized construction can be the prefab solution to match your project’s unique spaces and size requirements. As you can tell from our previous columns on DfMA for multifamily, volumetric modular construction,
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Saving Time and Money With Bathroom Pods

Reading Time: 4 minutes Offsite construction is a timely solution for multifamily developers. Last week I showed you how Volumetric Modular Construction could work for your next multifamily project. As a continuation of this series, today we look at how a bathroom pod can solve multiple problems. Modular bathrooms are becoming increasingly popular with architects, developers, and builders for
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Open Apartments Faster with Modular

Reading Time: 5 minutes Volumetric Modular Construction for Your Next Multifamily Project Last week, I laid out the benefits of modular and prefabricated construction to increase quality and efficiency for your next MF–as well as the main types of offsite construction that might fit the specific needs of your next project. As a continuation of this series, today we
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Multifamily and the New Normal

Reading Time: 5 minutes The world is changing, and we need to keep up! As the AEC industry is finding its “new normal,” industrialized construction (IC) is the way to go. Multifamily developers who plan to build affordable housing will notice that traditional build is too slow and unreliable right now; IC can help, but it is important to
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How Industrialized Construction Can Improve the Housing Market

Reading Time: 4 minutes Right now, the news is dominated by reports about the need for simple and affordable housing. In particular, the multi-family market continues to be the talk of the town. Try as it might, the construction industry is having a hard time building at a price point that makes sense for developers who want to meet
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BASE4 Launches Construction College

Reading Time: 3 minutes BASE4’s Next Invention Introducing Stonepile Stonepile Highlights Over ten years ago, four partners launched BASE4 as a technology firm in the AE space. Right from the start, we understood the need for disruption in the AEC industry and need to attract the next generation of young, vibrant leaders to the field. To accomplish these goals,

Save Millions in Construction

Reading Time: 4 minutes Go Lean with Design & Labor Distribution Many of you may be running a lean business—and are doing great at it. It’s all about trimming the fat. But there are still a few places with savings potential where most don’t go lean: construction design, operations, and labor distribution. Because these factors largely depend on third
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Wood Modular 101

Reading Time: 9 minutes When to Choose Wood Modular There are a lot of questions around modular construction. After covering some basic frequently asked questions in my last email, let’s explore further. After choosing to go modular, you must decide between wood and steel modular boxes. Typically, 4- to 5-story buildings utilize wood boxes but you can go higher
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Rethinking Operations to Prevent Delays in Construction

Reading Time: 4 minutes Have you ever faced construction delays? Over 90% of major projects run overtime and over-budget.1 It’s true; we are all too familiar with projects running behind schedule. The dreaded delays directly affect revenue and increase overheads. And you likely know the usual culprits–labor problems, weather delays, sociopolitical factors, and coordination errors. But there’s no point
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Not All Construction Lending has Stopped

Reading Time: 4 minutes Hear it from a Lender AVANA Capital shares what they want developers to know Lending issues cause developers great concern—especially for projects in the early stages. What do investors and lenders think? It’s important to know that projects are still being funded with the lenders getting more selective. Still open for business, AVANA Capital is
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9 Common Questions About Modular, Answered

Reading Time: 7 minutes Volumetric modular construction is probably the most popular one of the modern methods of construction (MMC). But when discussing modular construction, I often get more questions than answers. I get it, even some of the seasonal developers could use some guidance sometime. So first of all, is modular construction worth investigating–or is it just a
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Dealing with Mid-Design Construction Projects in Economic Slowdown

Reading Time: 6 minutes Bonus: Tim Flacke of Midas Construction shares how they’re moving ahead with projects Resilience is in the DNA of developers. Simply giving up when the going gets tough isn’t how they roll. But it’s natural to feel stuck. After all, choosing what to do with your ongoing projects isn’t an easy job. Things become especially
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DfMA-IC Benefits Series

Reading Time: 3 minutes LET’S FIX COST OVERRUNS. Cost is arguably the strongest determiner of the construction process. When projects start going over budget–many compromises have to be made, often leading to unwanted schedule delays. Relative to original budget, average cost overruns of construction projects were at 70%–found McKinsey & Company.1 That’s incredible! What’s the Problem? Poor communication among designers,
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All You Need to Know About Securing Modular Construction Permit

Reading Time: 4 minutes Breaking Down Permitting For Modular Projects The building permitting process is already excruciating, and it can be even more overwhelming when trying out new building methods. Currently, modular construction is becoming increasingly important in the AEC field. So today, I address a common question: What’s the permitting process like for modular builds? For most modular
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Property Improvements Amid the Economic Slowdown

Reading Time: 5 minutes Space for Change Everyone is coming together to brainstorm productive things to do during this time. Here’s a window of opportunity for hoteliers. The hotel industry is hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, with RevPAR and occupancy levels at an all-time low. But there’s a silver lining for those wanting to make the best out
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Offsite Factory: Why You Should Consider Opening One

Reading Time: 5 minutes Yes, it’s not too far-fetched an idea, and I’ll tell you why. The Problems are not New We can all agree that a typical construction site of our times looks eerily similar to one from 50+ years back. Traditional construction practices–while sustained through the years–are not very efficient, to no fault of a single party.
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Emergency Modular Units Ready Now

Reading Time: 6 minutes How can Emergency Medical Utilize Prefabricated and Modular Construction? Highlights: Calls for Action Contact us immediately if you want us to find a hotel for you to convert, or if you have a hotel to convert. Instant emergency medical triage units available now. Contact us if you are considering modular hospital rooms. We’re open to forming innovative partnerships
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Pushing Forward amid the Slowdown

Reading Time: 3 minutes Let’s Slow Down a Little… and Keep Pushing Forward Yet another Covid-19 article—you’ve had enough of them. I can relate! If you’re still optimistically reading, I thank you. Consider this our small effort to provide some emotional relief during this unfair crisis. Stay healthy, stay indoors, and slow down a little! Pajamas and Kids! Many

Improve Schedules & Budget with Industrialized Construction

Reading Time: 4 minutes The Manufacturing of Construction Offering lucrative benefits and proven productivity, every developer can benefit from prefabrication If you have ever used mass timber, wall or roof panels, or other pre-assembled items in your project, then you are an adopter of industrialized construction—better known as offsite, prefabricated, or manufactured construction. There seems to be some gray area
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Meet us at Hunter and World of Modular

Reading Time: 2 minutes March Brings a Networking Boost! This month, BASE4 is attending two industry events—the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference and World of Modular. By way of this email, I invite you to connect with us in-person! Connect with us Let’s Meet at the Hunter Conference in Atlanta March 18–20, 2020 Not only are we exhibiting at the

(Almost) 40% Hike in Construction Costs—What to Do?

Reading Time: 5 minutes Construction costs have increased by nearly 5% each year for the last 5 years⁠—a nearly 40% cumulative increase!! This trend most likely will continue to climb in 2020. So, how can developers keep construction costs in check? In this article, we’ll explore the contributing factors to rising construction costs and good practices for developers to

Major Hotel Prototype Upgrades

Reading Time: 5 minutes Developing a hotel? Check out these upgraded brand prototypes Hotel prototypes–these well-researched designs drive a majority of the hospitality business. Hotel brands continuously evolve their prototypes to optimize revenue channels while enhancing guest experience. This article presents a few of the major prototype upgrades of reputed hotel brands. Click on individual cards for more details. Prototype

An Economical (and Better) Way to Block Noise

Reading Time: 5 minutes Here’s how modular construction automatically fixes the noise problem Hearing the neighbors’ conversation in the next room is only good for movie plots! In reality, noise complaints hurt business. This much-discussed topic deserves more attention—and modular gives it a whole new outlook. So today, we’ll discuss how modular construction stacks up against traditional wall assemblies

DfMA: A Design Approach for Better Construction

Reading Time: 4 minutes Over the past two decades, the construction sector’s annual productivity growth has merely increased 1% on average compared to 3.6% for the manufacturing industry.1 An efficiency boost has become crucial for this trillion-dollar industry in this day and age. Good news is, modular construction is quickly emerging as a winning method to build. So, every developer should understand and make the
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A Productive Fourth Quarter

Reading Time: 8 minutes Here are our new and completed projects Happy New Year! As we bid adieu to 2019, I can’t help but share how monumental a year it was for us at BASE4. Quickly emerging as a trusted design partner in modular construction and expanding into multifamily & mixed-use design are just a couple of highlights. With

Unique Lighting Needs for Senior Living Facilities

Reading Time: 4 minutes Lighting is essential in every building, but its importance takes a central role when residents are seniors. Call it science, strategy, or creativity, but lighting design can make a world of difference to aging eyes. Today, I focus on a niche market, which has its own challenges and special lighting needs —senior living facilities. Lighting

Meet John Morefield, Our New Modular Expert

Reading Time: 6 minutes BASE4 strengthens its modular expertise As we strengthen our foothold in modular construction design at Modz4, we wanted yet another modular expert to join our awesome team. After months of searching, all paths led to none other than John Morefield, who joins BASE4 as an architectural construction manager and multifamily modular expert. Meet John Morefield 

BASE4 is Now a Preferred Best Western Design Partner

Reading Time: 3 minutes Here’s what we bring to the table Over the years, leading hotel chains have placed us among their preferred design firms. And now, we are thrilled to be a Best Western preferred architecture, engineering, and design firm. We thank and appreciate the Best Western team for this recognition! Here’s what BASE4 brings to the table

Inside the Next Generation Prototype from Staybridge Suites

Reading Time: 4 minutes Zoom into the new design features The extended-stay segment has shown to be increasingly popular. Between January and November last year, the extended-stay occupancy was 10 percentage points higher than the total hotel occupancy in the U.S. Twenty-eight thousand rooms were added to the inventory, with 6.9% demand growth. 1 Hotel brands have good reasons

A Closer Look at Water Heaters for Hotels

Reading Time: 10 minutes Are you prepared for the winter? Hotels increasingly have turned away from bathtubs and toward showers. This shift means every guest expects a hot shower—fast. And with winter just around the corner, this demand will only increase. So today, I discuss water heaters and answer your questions about selecting the most efficient water heater for your

Why Senior Living Facilities Need LED Lighting

Reading Time: 3 minutes Given the importance of lighting design in senior living facilities, we move on to discuss the best type lights for the job—LEDs. Most of us already prefer LED lights over the alternatives, read on to understand why you should choose Why LEDs LEDs have proven to be the most efficient lighting solution. In addition to
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Meet Our Senior Living Division, Vida4

Reading Time: 3 minutes Here’s to the generation born into the aftermath of World War II, who witnessed the Space Race, participated in the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War, danced along to disco, raised children through the age of Reaganomics, witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, and then raged into the birth of the internet, cellular phones,

Can Cross-Laminated Timber Change Construction for Good?

Reading Time: 5 minutes The reportedly sustainable prefab panels can be highly versatile By Rob Baker, Senior Project Manager If you look up cross-laminated timber on the internet, you’ll get pages worth of rather recent headlines suggesting its many uses in construction. A type of mass timber, CLT is emerging as a new-age construction material. In addition to roofing

Visually Immersive Senior Living Design

Reading Time: 3 minutes How can you ensure that your upcoming senior living facility lives up to your expectations? Architectural visualization would be your first step. You probably know about high-quality, digitally created images and videos that portray a project. Today, I dive into the various types and advancements in the technology. The Advancements It is faster and more
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Convert Traditional Project Plans into Modular Ones

Reading Time: 5 minutes Switching to Modular Here are some considerations and solutions You’ve been hearing a lot about modular these days. But when exactly is a good time to go modular—if at all? We recently had a dual-branded Marriott convert to modular from traditional design. Taking this opportunity, today I share considerations about when to go modular in

A Third Quarter Project Roundup

Reading Time: 7 minutes Our recent groundbreakings and completed hotel projects It’s been a busy and productive year so far at Base4. First of all, Base4 introduced a mixed-use and multifamily design division Casa4, which has been received well! Paired with our modular expertise at Modz4, we are now stronger and bigger than ever. With that, the third quarter

What to Expect from Hotel PIPs & Renovations

Reading Time: 6 minutes How you do it is more important than what you do Hotel renovations are big business. Whether it’s to stay ahead in a competitive market or to lengthen the property lifespan, most hotels undergo property improvements every few years. A survey by Choice Hotels stated that 2/3rds of their properties that accomplished renovations this year

Save Space with Efficient Stairs & Exits Placement in Your Hotel

Reading Time: 7 minutes Smart Space Planning with Stairs & Exits Can you have just one stairwell? Today, when elevators are an integral part of any multi-story building, no such development is complete without staircases. Our clients often come to us trying to decode the complex building drawings of stair towers and exits placement in a hotel. It’s important