Mike Plotnick

Building Design & Construction — The era of unbearably long waits in cramped, impersonal emergency rooms may be drawing to a close. In response to the far-reaching requirements of the Affordable Care Act, cutthroat competition from a flood of new healthcare providers, and the demands of an increasingly discerning patient population, hospital systems are reformulating their emergency departments into more welcoming, more efficient environments.

Architect Magazine — The growing recognition that design can and should play a central role in addressing today's complex health challenges has catalyzed architects and public health officials to explore potential solutions.

Building Operating Management — Any green interior renovation or design project is going to face a number of challenges ranging from cost to sustainability requirements. Here's how facility managers can sell and implement those green interiors projects. Whether an organization is embarking on a lighting retrofit or a full-scale interior renovation, the factors that drive a successful green initiative are consistent.

Building Design & Construction — The $12.2 billion merger of Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts reflects an industrywide consolidation that has placed the keys to millions of the world's hotel rooms into the hands of a few hospitality companies. But rather than narrowing consumer options, this consolidation has actually had the opposite effect.

constructutopia.com — A doctoral degree in education is an unconventional credential for a homebuilding career, but it served as a gateway for Nicole Tysvaer, Ph.D., to discover her passion for expanding sustainable living options. Tysvaer spent the first 20 years of her career working in youth development and job training programming, with a heavy emphasis on the construction trades.

constructutopia.com — Pushed by new realities that restrict face-to-face interaction, home builders and developers are embracing innovation and getting creative. "The industry has just gotten extremely efficient," says John Burns, Founder and CEO at John Burns Real Estate Consulting. "Virtual tours, chatbots, and online sales agents are helping people get smart on homes from their own living room."

Multifamily Design & Construction — After sitting vacant for nearly three decades, the former home of Texaco, Inc. has been converted into a 17-story, 286-unit apartment building in the heart of downtown Houston. Dallas-based Provident Realty Advisors, which led the $99.5 million enterprise, renamed the property "The Star" as a tribute to the oil giant's logo-"the big bright Texaco star!"

Multifamily Design & Construction — In the 1920s, the King Cole Hotel helped put Miami Beach on the map as a popular tourist destination. Automotive industry pioneer and entrepreneur Carl Fisher developed the three-story, 60-room hotel to fulfill his vision of turning vacant land into an oceanfront winter getaway.

Multifamily Design & Construction — A growing appetite for outdoor living spaces is fueling an expansion of outdoor kitchens on roof decks, terraces, and courtyards. "In the last few years, we've seen an enormous increase in demand as high-end rental properties, condos, and townhomes take advantage of the indoor-outdoor living phenomenon," said Mitch Slater, Founder/President, Danver Stainless Outdoor Kitchens (danver.com).

Multifamily Design & Construction — A shortage of rental housing in the bustling Kendall Square neighborhood of Cambridge, Mass.-a hub of top-tier universities, research centers, and tech companies-prompted the development of Proto Kendall Square. Boston Properties commissioned the 22-story, 280-unit apartment tower to help diversify the neighborhood's office-centric property mix and expand its own multifamily portfolio.

Multifamily Design + Construction — Mass timber is poised to join concrete, steel, and light-wood framing as a primary structural material for multifamily projects. In this feature article, several experts share practical advice on how prefabricated wood systems can reach new heights on apartment and condominium projects.