California: It ain’t easy being a green builder (but there are some real opportunities)

San Diego's Building Industry Association played host to an outstanding and dynamic presentation earlier this morning on the topic of energy and the 2016 California building codes that went into effect at the beginning of this year. The panelists included a great mix of building professionals and thought leaders that don't merely speculate on the … Continue reading California: It ain’t easy being a green builder (but there are some real opportunities) →

Some applications of virtual reality (VR) technology in construction

Jason Vander Griendt, founder of Render3DQuickly, posted a pretty decent roundup of some current applications for VR in the construction industry: Humans are emotional and the more you connect with them emotionally the easier you can communicate, and this is what virtual reality helps you to achieve. Giving an immersive experience whereby your prospective clients … Continue reading Some applications of virtual reality (VR) technology in construction →

First Pre-Stressed, Steel-Reinforced 3D-Printed Bridge To Be Put Into Service

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) in Netherlands reports the following: Today the Built Environment department’s concrete printer starts printing the world’s first 3D printed reinforced, pre-stressed concrete bridge. The cycle bridge will be part of a new section of ring road around Gemert in which the BAM Infra construction company is using innovative techniques. One of … Continue reading First Pre-Stressed, Steel-Reinforced 3D-Printed Bridge To Be Put Into Service →

Should BIM become part of the standard of care for the building industry?

Procore, an all-encompassing software suite for managing construction projects, is a tool I use daily, and have become quite fond of. Moreover, the company is extremely forward-thinking in its approach to business, and the software development team is a fully Agile shop that, as I know from personal experience, is committed to constant improvement of … Continue reading Should BIM become part of the standard of care for the building industry? →

Should buildings keep weather out, or let it in?

Kevin Nute, writing for the Washington Post: A building’s primary purpose may be to keep the weather out, but most of them do such an effective job of this that they also inadvertently deprive us of contact with two key requirements for our well-being and effectiveness: nature and change. In the 1950s, Donald Hebb’s “arousal … Continue reading Should buildings keep weather out, or let it in? →