Hotel Design and Engineering: BASE4’s Expertise and Projects

Design solutions for hotel development

With Skyrocketing Lumber Prices—Consider Steel

Reading Time: 3 minutesMaterial 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 minutesLately, 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 minutesAs 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 minutesFor 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 minutesLast 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 minutesLately, 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 minutesBuilders 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 minutesAs 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 minutesThe 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 minutesAs 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 minutesDue 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 minutesThe 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 minutesThe 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 minutesBack 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 minutesThe 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 minutesToday 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 minutesWhat 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 minutes2020 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 minutesIn 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 minutesIt’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 minutesThe 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 minutesHousing 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 minutesIndustrialized 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 minutesYour 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 minutesDon’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 minutesKeeping 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 minutes12 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 minutesWe’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 minutesCold-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 minutesNew 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 minutesThanks 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 minutesOffsite 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 minutesThe 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 minutesStaying 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 minutesThe 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 minutesWe 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 minutesSo, 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 minutesOffsite 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 minutesVolumetric 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 minutesThe 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 minutesRight 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 minutesBASE4’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 minutesGo 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 minutesWhen 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 minutesHave 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 minutesHear 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 minutesVolumetric 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 minutesBonus: 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 minutesLET’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 minutesBreaking 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 minutesSpace 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 minutesYes, 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 minutesHow 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 minutesLet’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 minutesThe 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 minutesMarch 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 minutesConstruction 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 minutesDeveloping 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. Discover

An Economical (and Better) Way to Block Noise

Reading Time: 5 minutesHere’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 minutesOver 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 minutesHere 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 minutesLighting 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 minutesBASE4 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 minutesHere’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 minutesZoom 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 minutesAre 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 minutesGiven 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 minutesHere’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 minutesThe 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 minutesHow 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 minutesSwitching 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 minutesOur 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: 7 minutesHow 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 minutesSmart 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

Building Hurricane-resilient Projects

Reading Time: 5 minutesWith practical tips for your next development The hurricane season is upon us, and our first instinct during storms is to find a shelter. But the house, building, or hotel we are relying on to shelter us experience the winds with a much higher impact. So, when designing building projects, we need to account for

A closer look at WoodSpring Suites development

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe extended-stay market has been hot among developers. This segment has many contenders, ranging from midscale to upscale, catering to different guest demographics. Featuring one of the most straightforward prototypes, WoodSpring Suites sticks to a no-frills approach. The brand is designed to take less than 12 months to build and does the basics right. After
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Exclusive: Designing a 17-story Modular Boutique Hotel

Reading Time: 6 minutesLuxury Hospitality, Academia, Athletics, and Modular Designing one of the tallest modular hotels + quick tips for first-time developers Leading design development for one of the tallest modular hotels in the U.S. has taught me a thing or two about the ins and outs of large-scale prefab projects. Many developers are concerned about venturing into
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Have you considered a high-rise?

Reading Time: 6 minutesWhen to Choose a High-rise over a Mid-rise Land is not getting cheaper, and urbanization is on the rise! As land costs continue to rise, hotel developers are looking for new ways to maximize density on new projects. One way to increase guest capacity is to add stories to the hotel. Zoning restrictions limit the
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How to Customize Your Interiors While Maintaining Timelines and Budget

Reading Time: 6 minutesHow to Customize Your Interiors While Maintaining Timelines and Budget “Let’s just go prototype.” How many times have you said this to your team? Many hoteliers choose an ID-light package because they want to save time and money—thinking that prototype interiors work just fine. While prototypes are designed to deliver optimized guest experience, custom interior
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Are Modular Elevators a Good Investment?

Reading Time: 5 minutesPrefabricated, Turnkey Elevators In five minutes, find out whether your next construction project can use a modular elevator Modular components can slash timelines for traditional builds. After looking into prefabricated bathroom pods last week, our modular expert Nate Loeffelholz concludes the series with another modular solution—modular elevators. Whether it’s the faster turnaround time for your
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How Bathroom Pods may benefit your traditional build

Reading Time: 6 minutesReady-to-use Bathrooms Find out if prefabricated bathroom pods can be a good fit for your traditionally built project. Modular units can be a great time- and budget-saving tool for owners and developers. In our previous modular series, we focused on factory manufactured guestroom boxes, also known as volumetric modular units. In this article—which kicks off
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Keeping Up with Hotel Prototype Design Trends

Reading Time: 6 minutesA hotelier’s quick guide to what’s trending in prototype design Pivoting toward technology and younger generations, the hospitality industry is seeing frequent changes in the various prototype designs. Today, these design trends are easily recognizable and appreciated by not only individuals working in the A/E industry, but also your hotel guests. In this article, our
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR HVAC OPTIONS: HOTEL GUESTROOMS

Reading Time: 4 minutesIt’s summer, and it’s hot! More than ever, the efficiency, quality, and cost of your HVAC system matters! As one of Base4’s senior MEP engineers, Hoang Le understands and engineers for the right system for your hotel. Here are his thoughts, and some links to helpful notes on this subject. Your hotel’s heating, ventilation, and
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The Rooftop Pool: Is it Right for Your Hotel?

Reading Time: 5 minutesIt’s summertime and we are thinking about the outdoor spaces of your hotel. Last week, we kicked off our Rooftop series with practical tips for an awesome hotel rooftop. Today one of our senior engineers discusses rooftop pools. In this newsletter, Seon Jack, P.E., walks you through structural design considerations for supporting a rooftop pool
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TOP 12 IDEAS FOR AN INCREDIBLE HOTEL ROOFTOP

Reading Time: 7 minutesAs the summer season begins, we thought of sharing some outdoor ideas to inspire your design choices. As a natural first step, we couldn’t resist the charms of a perfect rooftop design. In this newsletter, Base4 Senior Interior Designer, Luci Thompson, kicks off our two-part series on Rooftop Design. An effective rooftop design attracts travelers
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HILTON HOSPITALITY SHOWS OFF BAVARIAN-STYLE ARCHITECTURE

Reading Time: 3 minutesAs hotel designers, we love to see months of design coordination come together. While getting creative with prototypes can be thrilling, some projects are really a highlight of our design portfolio—here’s one of our standout projects. (This Hyatt Place in Jacksonville also made the cut!) In the summer of 2015, we were awarded one of our most

HOW TO CHOOSE WORKSTATIONS IN GUESTROOM AND PUBLIC AREAS

Reading Time: 5 minutesHow important is a guestroom work desk? It’s been debated for a while now. A few years back, some hotels tried eliminating this staple and ended up receiving mixed responses from business and leisure travelers. Guest feedback shows that the preferred desk would be strategically designed and well-placed in the room, allowing multiple purposes beyond
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GOING MODULAR SERIES: FINAL NOTES AND EASY REFERENCE

Reading Time: 5 minutesFor the past month, we have dedicated our writings to inform you about the modular industry and how it could work for you. In this final newsletter, we provide an overview of these instructional guides, so you can save this email for easy-access reference when questions arise in the future. Below are overviews of the
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USING STEEL MODULES FOR YOUR MID- TO HIGH-RISE STRUCTURES

Reading Time: 11 minutesUsing Steel Modules for Your Mid- to High-Rise Structures If you’re planning a mid- or high-rise construction, this piece is for you. Modular construction, as you know, is picking up everywhere. But what’s the catch? Is it safe for a high-rise? Should you consider prefab over stick-built? You may have had these questions for a
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MODULAR SOLUTIONS FOR HOTELS: QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Reading Time: 9 minutesBuilding Modular for Low- to Mid-Rise Structures: Next Steps Let’s assume you’ve decided to go modular with your next project. Now what? This third article in our series on modular explains your next steps. After choosing to go modular, you must decide whether to use wood or steel modular boxes. Typically, hotels of 4-5 stories
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STACK YOUR NEXT HOTEL IN TWO WEEKS!

Reading Time: 7 minutesTiming, Coordination, Quality, Budget: How Can Modular Work for You? Off-Site Construction is Trending Hoteliers have a lot on their plate right now! Here are just some of the current challenges in today’s AEC industry: Coordination problems among the various teams, like AEC professionals, vendors, contractors, subcontractors, permitting officials Speed-to-market concerns during this current skilled
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PRACTICAL GUIDE TO HOTEL ENERGY SAVINGS FOR THIS SUMMER AND BEYOND

Reading Time: 5 minutesAfter reviewing the practical points about thermal insulation from last week, let’s jump to real-world solutions that you can implement for your next hotel. Design Considerations An expert design team can design your hotel to conserve energy over time. Certain building materials, insulation practices, and design considerations may reduce your hotel’s energy consumption when understood
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REAL-WORLD OPTIONS FOR REDUCING HOTEL ENERGY CONSUMPTION

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe average hotel room costs $2196 per year in energy expenses.1 Nearly half of the energy bill relates to HVAC and lighting costs. But costs will increase if your hotel experiences heating and cooling leakages in vulnerable areas. In this two-part newsletter series, I explore some practical ways hoteliers may optimize thermal insulation to reduce
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The AEC Industry is Ripe for Change: How to Keep Up

Reading Time: 4 minutesThe construction industry is antiquated. It is inefficient. So, what can we do about it?To answer this question, our Base4 CEO, Dr. Garry Vermaas, delivered an address to 500 participants of the Hotel Point 2019 conference last week. In a charged up 60-minute session, Garry discussed innovative and practical ways to stabilize your business in

OPEN4BUSINESS: INTRODUCING HYATT PLACE JACKSONVILLE

Reading Time: 4 minutesOpen4Business: Introducing Hyatt Place Jacksonville Today marks the beginning of a new series: Open4Business. In this monthly newsletter, we will share some of our completed projects that stand out as unique and worth celebrating. Complete with images and storyline, the newsletters will share industry wins and appreciate our clients and project partners across the nation.

PARTNERING UP!

Reading Time: 3 minutes Seamlessly pursue collaborative infomediaries through market-driven core competencies...
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WE’RE EMBRACING THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION!

Reading Time: 5 minutesWhat is modular construction all about? We are frequently asked this question. The simple answer is: it’s a revolutionary construction method using prefabricated units for building faster and smarter. Also known as manufactured or off-site construction, modular units are produced in a controlled factory setting and shipped to construction sites—raising the construction industry to a
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SHOULD YOU GO MODULAR? – FAQs

Reading Time: 9 minutes Seamlessly pursue collaborative infomediaries through market-driven core competencies...
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Accelerate and Simplify Construction With Modular Units

Reading Time: 5 minutes Seamlessly pursue collaborative infomediaries through market-driven core competencies...
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CAN’T WAIT TO MEET YOU IN ATLANTA!

Reading Time: < 1 minuteA few hospitality events are just unmissable! Along with Base4 CEO Dr. Garry Vermaas, I am attending next week’s Hunter Hotel Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Taking this opportunity to interact with many of our clients and acquaintances, Garry and I invite you to come say hello. Looking forward to awesome conversations with both
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