The commercial real estate industry has learnt to adapt to a constant changing regulatory environment due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases both in the UK and globally. The way that buildings, and physical real estate, such as offices and construction sites, are owned managed and occupied during the crisis has been particularly impacted. Work from home has been a consistent message across the world for the office sector, and those construction sites which have been allowed to open are applying strict social distancing measures. There has been a raft of new legislation and regulations in relation to how buildings are owned, occupied and managed, often implemented at very short notice, to ensure safety and compliance during the peak stages of the lockdown.

The UK government has just released its draft plan to ease restrictions, and an increasing number of jurisdictions are taking small steps to consider what the return to work might look like in a COVID-19 environment.

Many of the return to work issues and questions the real estate industry are facing are the same, irrespective of jurisdiction. In this alert we will particularly focus on PropTech and how technology might assist the real estate sector in its return to work.

There are different definitions of PropTech, but for the purposes of this alert it is a simple definition to mean technology that can be applied to any part of the lifecycle of real estate. It can be applied to new technologies, but broadly it is any technology which encompasses the construction, investment, sustainability, management and occupation of real estate assets.

Irrespective of the regulations and/or legislation which will undoubtedly need to go alongside any return to work guidance, such as social distancing, a major factor in how smooth the return is will depend on how individuals feel about their own safety and work place wellbeing, both on the journey to work, and at the actual physical office/site environment. We wont be focussing on the aspects of travel to and from the office in this alert.

PropTech Measures Owners/Managers/Occupiers Might Consider Putting in Place to Minimise Risk and Enhance Wellbeing

We have all read about the various Apps being used by different jurisdictions which create an alert system to track suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. The UK Government is also looking at one such App for the population as a whole. There has been some discussion as to whether workplaces can implement a whole building type App, which operates on more of a micro model, identifying cases and exposure in a particular building Whether or not this assists on the return to work, or potentially creates a more anxious environment is questionable. Particularly in buildings which are mixed use, the technology might operate to disrupt rather than enhance the return. There are also legal issues such as data collection and privacy.

Tech which avoids the need for business travel to affected countries and uses video conferencing, where possible is mainstream in many offices. Enhancing and updating this tech could operate to reassure those who potentially travel widely as part of their employment. As employees have adapted to, and potentially enjoyed, home working, going forward it is likely that an office will need to offer much more than desks and meeting rooms. Augmented reality, 3D printers, environmentally sustainable spaces, with enhanced conference facilities, all utilising the best technologies, that offer much more than a home working environment could better incentivise a return. Whilst this form of PropTech is more about "enhancing" the workplace rather than dealing with "reassuring returners it is nevertheless technology which would be likely to be here to stay.

Products which collect data and monitor movements, such as the number of tenants frequenting an office buildings canteen or gym, could be helpful, without violating privacy issues. Its all about helping occupiers feel and stay safe, so data which can help with social distancing could be very useful tech.

Thermometer screenings, already used at airports in places like Singapore, can relatively easily be installed in reception entrances of office buildings in particular. Again the legal issues around data and privacy are an issue. There are also the questions as to who bears the cost, and that would likely be governed by the lease wording.

Technology which provides contactless entry into and throughout a building already exists. Questions around who should bear the cost of enhancements, where existing building owners install new technology, will depend on the wording of leases and service charge clauses. PropTech does not have to come at an additional cost, but for existing buildings that may need some enhancements to help people feel safe in their return, it is likely that some of the costs can be recouped through service charge lease provisions. Our lawyers can help with particular questions on this.

Internet connectivity has been an issue for many of those working from home. An office that makes best use of enhanced connectivity will be more attractive than those offices which dont.

Reduced hot-desking and alternatives to social distancing where it is not possible, are among measures reportedly being considered by the UK government, to let workplaces reopen. Those operators of co-working spaces are more likely to really benefit from the not just nice to have but need to have technologies, which would enable the co-working model to operate. Hygiene will likely become part of a wider wellness agenda and PropTech which monitors and demonstrates hygiene ratings, identifies areas which need cleaning, and potentially even picks up and identifies virus could be essential in a co-working COVID-19 environment.

Just as we have seen with the sustainability agenda parties often seem to need financial stimulus or government intervention to drive new initiatives. Digitising a property asset, allowing data analytics for example to better operate a building and make it more sustainable, is technology which we already have, but is not always as widespread in the non trophy asset type properties.

It might be that in the future we see more incentives offered to owners and occupiers to tech up a building, just as we have seen with the carrot and stick type approach in making buildings greener. We already know that building owners and managers can save money on energy consumption within a building that is more smart and can respond to lower occupation rates. Technologies which can monitor occupants and respond accordingly, are able to manage an asset more dynamically. Improving the quality of the air for example is something which occupants of a building are much more likely to be interested in during COVID-19. When a building saves energy it reduces CO2 so it also enhances the green credentials of the building. Sustainable buildings have long since been seen as an attractive proposition, particularly in light of the legislation, but in a pandemic environment, those technologies are more likely to be seen as must haves. When it comes to who bears the cost, then as with many of these technologies it will come down to a number of factors, and the legal drafting.

We have referred to some existing PropTech solutions which might operate to aid all those involved in the real estate lifecycle to feel safe on their return to work. Looking forward, many have commented that the COVID-19 pandemic could have changed how and why we choose to work in a physical office environment.

In a post COVID-19 world, collaboration between owners, occupiers and managers is likely to be the best way forward in creating sustainable long term solutions for all. The office of tomorrow could look very different as a result of COVID-19, but real estate fundamentals are likely to remain the same.

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UK PropTech and Returning to Normal in Real Estate - The National Law Review

Swedish National Courts Administration Building. Image courtesy of Henning Larsen Architects

With a building permit now in hand, Swedish real estate company Castellum AB is primed to commence construction of the new Swedish National Courts Administration building in Malm, Sweden. Construction of the 285,200-square-foot office project, which carries a development cost of 1.3 billion Kronor, or approximately $131.7 million, will get underway during the second quarter of 2020.

READ ALSO: Pandemic Unlikely to End Construction in 2020

The Courts building will sprout up near a rail station within the flourishing Nyhamnen district, one of Malmos most important development regions. Designed by architectural firm Henning Larsen, the property will meet the courts essential criteria for security and accessibility. The building will also adhere to high sustainability standards with Miljbyggnad Gold certification for energy efficiency and sound material usage. The build-to-suit will be home to more than 600 employees, which will make it one of the largest workplaces for lawyers in northern Europe. Interpreters, the Swedish Police and staff of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service will also have accommodations in the new facility, which, in addition to administrative offices, will feature negotiation areas and public spaces.

As lead tenant, the National Courts Administration will occupy approximately 258,300 square feet of the new office property under a 20-year lease agreement with Castellum to commence upon occupancy. Castellum expects to develop the Courts building over a two-and-a-half-year period, with a scheduled delivery near the close of 2022.

Sunny Sweden has not escaped the ravages of COVID-19. The health-care capacity is under pressure and the number of new people infected has not decreased, as noted in a Cushman & Wakefield market update released April 30. And while the real estate transaction market is mostly on hold across the country, the office sector is seeing some indications of life. Office occupiers have moved from crisis mode to planning mode. For the past two weeks some have undertaken viewings again; previous ongoing projects are now moving along, and new ones are starting, according to the Cushman & Wakefield report. The National Courts Administration building will have roughly 26,900 square feet of office space available for lease to other businesses. Castellum is presently conducting discussions with potential tenants.

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Castellum to Break Ground on $131M Swedish National Courts Building - Commercial Property Executive

The last industry likely to experience any type of reopening is the event business. That includes Broadway shows, museums, art galleries and professional sports.

"I think they'll be among the last to open," said Mark Conrad, director of the sports business program at Fordham University. "There are inherent society safety situations when you're dealing with public performances, and you can't easily control crowds."

"Cultural institutions were not built for social distancing," said Taryn Sacramone, executive director of the Queens Theater. "There have been incredible financial losses to cultural institutions."

Sacramone said so much of any predicted opening depends on when the public will feel ready to reengage with arts institutions.

International travel plays a huge role in the sphere, she noted, as does when schools reopen for field trips.

"There are a lot of different angles as to what this is going to look like," she said.

Conrad said he believes it could be months before Broadway shows are able to continue, as even 3,000 people separated by 6 feet in a theater would still be dangerous. He said he doesn't think concerts will start in New York anytime soon, mainly because of the nature of the venues and the density of the people in them, creating the potential for the virus to spread.

The entire business of professional sports could be altered, he added. There have been talks of the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball starting to play games again, but Conrad said that is unlikely.

"Any solution or any idea has risks, and we're all faced with bad choices," he told Crain's. "If no games are played, that is going to be catastrophic. If some games are played with this risk, what happens if this risk occurs? Do you cancel or do you not cancel?"

Conrad estimates 40% of MLB revenues come from gate receipts. The possibility of games played in empty stadiums could radically damage the sport's finances, he said.

Other leagues are in better shape. The National Football League's TV contract is ironclad, and the NBA already played 75% of its regular-season games. Additionally, a clause in NBA contracts says that in the event of a pandemic, if games are not played, players are not paid.

A cycle of no games and no revenue is likely to create a downward economic spiral. Municipalities will be affected by the lack of parking receipts and the loss of stadium concessions.

"You may see certain owners being forced to sell teams if they get into a liquidity crunch," Conrad said.

The loss of professional sports also would destroy a sector the city has relied upon for decades as a consistent source of revenue: tourism.

"Yankee Stadium is not filled on a Tuesday night because of New Yorkers," said David King, assistant professor of urban planning at Arizona State University. "It's filled because people are visiting the city and going to a baseball game."

The decline in tourism would have far-reaching effects not just on the city's live events but also on retail shopping and nightlife.

"It's underappreciated how many bars and restaurants and theaters are supported by tourism," King said. "New Yorkers go occasionally, but it's tourists who go frequently."

The hospitality industry has already been damaged by a drop in tourism. Hotel occupancy levels are down 80%, and some analysts expect it will take years for hospitality groups to recover.

Excerpt from:
How New York City business will navigate the post-Covid-19 world - Crain's New York Business

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Years in the making, the deal has officially been signed on the dotted line for the Top of the Hill project.

City officials took the final step today (May 5) with the closing on the financial package, essentially turning the project over for construction of the $83 million catalytic gateway development that could get under way this month, beginning with a 550-space parking garage.

The developer, Flaherty & Collins of Indianapolis, and contractor Cleveland Construction anticipate an 18- to 24-month single-phase building cycle that should be nearing completion by the first half of 2022.

While the city remains focused on the challenges the COVID-19 crisis has created for our entire community in the weeks and months ahead, we are excited to be able to move forward with this project, City Manager Tanisha Briley announced.

It represents a major new investment and positions the city for additional growth and development in the future.

The closing includes a ground lease structure in which the city retains ownership of the 4-acre project site and the junction of Cedar Road and Euclid Heights Boulevard, just up the hill from University Circle, while the developer has the right to construct and own the buildings and other improvements to be made.

Those will include 261 market-rate luxury apartments, over 11,000 square feet of first-floor commercial-retail-restaurant space and close to 25,000 square feet of green space.

The development is expected to offer luxury-style living with unmatched amenities in a high-demand area, a city press release stated, citing amenities such as a first-floor co-working space, pet spa, dog park, indoor bicycle parking with a bike-wash station, fitness center, and a 10th-floor pool, terrace and common space for socializing.

The city selected F&C as its development partner three years ago after parting ways with the original candidate, Fairmount Properties, which had been in negotiations that started in October 2016.

The realization of this catalytic and transformative mixed-use redevelopment project at the western gateway to the city is a game changer for our community, City Economic Development Director Tim Boland stated in the release.

School district benefits

Boland added that the project will bring new residents, jobs, businesses, vibrancy and increased economic activity, as well as new tax revenue, to our city.

The same goes for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools -- a tax increment financing agreement (TIF) is expected to generate over $12.3 million in new revenues for the district over 30 years.

This works out to about $421,000 a year, up from the roughly $21,000 that the CH-UH Schools have received up to now in taxes on City Parking Lot 9, which closed at the beginning of April in anticipation of construction.

The city stands to make a projected $14.3 million in net new revenue over a 32-year timeframe after the development agreement was amended in December.

"Earlier this year, City Council unanimously approved the final financing pieces for the mixed-use project, funded through private construction loan financing and TIF bonds, together accounting for roughly 90 percent of the project sources of funds," the city press release noted.

About $51 million was being sought by F&C through Goldman-Sachs, and while the coronavirus global pandemic wreaked havoc on the stock market in the interceding months, Briley said earlier that the private financing component was never in doubt.

Meanwhile, the city agreed to kick in $1.85 million -- about 2 percent of the project cost -- in low-interest economic development non-tax revenue bond anticipation notes as F&C provided the remaining equity and overhead.

At the prominent gateway between the Heights and University Circle, the Top of the Hills development has been a long-time goal of the city, the press release stated, noting that it was originally home to the 11-story Doctors Hospital, with the city acquiring the property in the 1960s and building the municipal surface parking lot.

Buckingham nix

Throughout the process, there has been opposition on numerous fronts, ranging from derision for the proposed architecture to the removal of original components that were considered selling points to the public, such as a boutique hotel, office space and for-sale town homes.

The latest resistance effort comes from residents of The Buckingham condominiums next door on Euclid Heights Boulevard, who contend that they have been overlooked or ignored throughout the process, which will result in their property values declining and their quality of life affected by a 10-story building blocking sunlight, as well as amenities such as the dog park right outside their windows.

Buckingham spokesman Don King said earlier that a group of residents has retained an attorney to assist in mounting a petition initiative to get what appears to amount to a no confidence vote against the city on an upcoming ballot, which will be the subject of an upcoming story.

More information is also available on the citys website at http://www.clevelandheights.com/toh.

Read more from the Sun Press.

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Top of the Hill real estate closing sets stage for start of construction at gateway to Cleveland Heights - cleveland.com

In the span of two months, the coronavirus crisis has demanded sweeping changes from the U.S. construction industry, and experts say many of them will remain in place even after the outbreak recedes.

As contractors prepare to return to work on sites that have been shut down by shelter-in-place initiatives, they will face an industry that has been drastically changed by the both public health and economic effects of the pandemic.

There are new factors coming into play now that you or I never thought about, said Joe Natarelli,leader of Marcum LLP's national Construction Industry Group.And people need to plan now to be prepared for the long term.

From a renewed emphasis on jobsite safety to longer project delivery times and the increased influence of organized labor, the virus has upended many facets of the industry. Companies that try to return to a business-as-usual mentality will face a harsh new reality, Natarelli said.

Theres been a paradigm shift in many areas of construction that is leading contractors to do many things differently than they did in the past, he said.

Here are eight ways that COVID-19 has altered the construction industry for the near future and beyond.

The virus put a spotlight on the importance of worker health and safety, and U.S. contractors responded by implementing new jobsite policies such as staggered shifts, employee temperature checks and top-to-bottom disinfections of jobsites, tools and machinery.

Superintendents at Bridgewater, Massachusetts-based Callahan Construction Managers have implemented a variety of protocols to promote social distancing and employee health, including a ban on carpooling, a 100% mask and glove policy and well-stocked handwashing stations, according topresident Pat Callahan. In addition, the company's safety team made 200 gallons of sanitizing soap that has been distributed across jobsites.

This emphasis on cleaner, less crowded work areas is one that wont recede after the virus does, Natarelli said.

Contractors cant be thinking that they can bring workers back after all this dies down and it will be the same as always, he said. Theyll have to include a lot more health and safety measures so that employees are comfortable returning to work.

The new normal will be reinforced by state, local and federal regulations, such as the ones recently proposed in Washington and Pennsylvania, and in the near future, OSHA could require employers to develop written infectious disease preparedness and response plans, said attorney Michael Rubin, chair of Goldberg Segallas national OSHA and Worksite Safety practice group.

Medical experts' belief that outbreaks across the world will come in waves for months or even years to come make safety plans important now and into the future.

Employers can no longer conduct business the same way as they did in the past, he said.Especially now, they need to be flexible and in many instances, creative, as they think of new ways to perform certain tasks that they have performed in the same way for many years in the past.

The current emphasis on social distancing on jobsiteswill likely continue even after the current health threat passes,Rubin told Construction Dive.We can expect to see less group activities and more clearly defined procedures and protocols for even some of the most routine work tasks, he said.

Even as the current outbreak subsides in many areas, state and local officials are putting measures in place to mitigate risk on construction sites going forward. For instance, new guidance in Washington state requires that jobsite employees keep 6 feet away from each other and non-compliance could lead to a project shutdown.

The need for social distancing has also changed how contractors interact with project teams and with customers and companies have developed unique solutions to stay in touch. Los Angeles-based AECOM has launched an interactive web-based toolthat allows clients to hold virtual public meetings, a crucial component in the process of creating public projects such as town halls, stadiums and concert venues. The platform allows AECOMemployees and customers to engage with the public about the impact and benefits of proposed projects without leaving their homes.

"It's exactly like a real public meeting, but without the in-person element," Kevin Carlson,AECOMsglobal lead for digital transformation, told Construction Dive.

In addition, in some areas of the country,building departments are implementing remote technology for inspections, a trend that will continue after the health crisis is over, according to Stephen Poposki, a building official in Cape Coral, Florida.

For instance, when faced with a recent inspection delay on a project in Nashville, Tennessee, general contractor DPRsubmitted 360-degree photos and videos to the local fire marshal for a virtual inspection, allowing it to turn the project over on time.

"I think we're going to come up with some really efficient ways of doing business," said Poposki. "And because people are also very aware of what's going on in the news, they're really more willing to accept change right now, and this is the perfect time to do it."

Many of the major safety changes on construction sites will add to the time it takes to complete projects. While crucial to keeping workers healthy, techniques such suiting up with PPE, only allowing one trade on a site at a time and staggering work shifts will slow down progress and the days of fast-tracking a project may be over at least for now, experts say.

Construction schedules will not be the same as they used to be, said Mike Benike, executive vice president at Rochester, Minnesota-based Benike Construction, duringa recent COVID-19 webinar sponsored by Destination Medical Center, a public-private economic initiative in Rochester, Minnesota.Things will take a little longer because we wont be able to have lots of people in the same place at the same time.

Natarelli advises contractors to consider time constraints when bidding out new jobs to make sure the contract reflects a reasonable construction schedule. The entire project team, including owners, architects, subs and other partners, needs to understand that at least in the near term,projects will take longer than before.

Well be planning jobs differently going forward, he said. These longer completion times aren't going to go away anytime soon and we need to be prepared going forward that if another wave of the virus does come back were in much better shape and were much better prepared.

The coronavirus has also brought major changes to constructions back offices. Forced to stay at home, many office employees have kept business operations running via remote work, relying on technology like videoconferencing, emailing and texting to stay in touch.

This nationwide experiment in telework will likely cause many leaders to think about making the practice permanent. A recent Gartner study found that 74% of American companies will move at least 5% of their office workforce to permanently remote and nearly a quarter of respondents said they will move at least 20%to permanently remote positions, according to a survey of the company's chief financial officers.

CFOs, already under pressure to tightly manage costs, clearly sense an opportunity to realize the cost benefits of a remote workforce, said Alexander Bant, practice vice president, research for the Gartner Finance Practice.

While the trend toward remote work will lead to a dramatic reduction in the need for office space for many companies,others may think about expanding, Ross Forman, managing director of business advisory firm BDO, told Construction Dive.

These firms may seek to take advantage of lower rents to expand their office space to allow for greater social distancing in the workplace. This could mean a move away from the popular open office space layouts to allow for additional private space to reassure skittish staff long after the worst of COVID-19 infections have passed, he said.

Since World War II,the percentage of the U.S. construction industry involved in union memberships has steadily declined, from about 87%of the workforce in 1947 to 12.8% in 2018.Nevertheless, since the pandemic began, trade unions have taken on renewed influence in many areas of the country by advocating for members best interests in keeping sites operational and safe.

Trade unions in New York state were instrumental last month in persuading government officials to shut down projects that were previously allowed to continue,and in Massachusetts, two unions staged walkouts earlier this month in protest of what they deemed to be unsanitary working conditions.

Other unions have wielded their influence to keep members on the job. Last month, North America's Building Trade Unions teamed up with the Associated General Contractors of America to ask government officials at all levels to make construction an essential service and exempt it from regional, state and local shutdowns.

During the crisis, unions have provided a voice for workers who are struggling to decide whether they should stay home or go to work, said Mark Erlich, a fellow at Harvard Universitys Labor and Worklife Program. Unions also help laborers find new work after a layoff.

Clearly, being a union member has been enormously beneficial in the past few weeks, he said.

The appeal of unions will be stronger than ever going forward, Erlich said, a trend that will likely come into conflict with cost-cutting measures that construction employers will inevitably be considering once they reckon with the financial losses from the crisis.

To get ready for this trend, general contractors should be prepared to collaborate with unions and ensure they create work environments that meet their high standards for jobsite health and safety, even if they operate in traditionally open shop states.

Its going to cost more money and not going to be as efficient as in the past, but the market is going to force those types of changes, Natarelli said.

There are new factors coming into play now that you or I never thought about. And people need to plan now to be prepared for the long term.

The coronavirus outbreak has reshaped the types of projects that will be built this year and for many years to come. Hospitality, retail and entertainment projects are likely to be in less demand while healthcare construction and healthcare-related manufacturing projects could see more activity, according to Charles Hewlett,RCLCOReal Estate Advisors' director of strategic planning.

In addition, demand for distribution and warehouse space may likely increase as U.S. companies favor higher inventory levels and emphasize supply chain resiliency over efficiency, Hewlett said.

In the long run, expect more manufacturing facilities to locate in North America to ensure supply and access to markets during episodes like this one, a boon to economic growth and industrial and logistics facilities in the U.S. and Mexico, he said.

Keith Prather, market intelligence expert for Olathe, Kansas-based business management consulting firm Pioneer IQ,agreed, saying that less reliance on Chinese-made building products will create a surge of new manufacturing- and supply chain-related construction projects such as factories and warehouses.

Experts are divided on how infrastructure initiatives will fare in the near future, with some noting that projects like road and bridge construction could suffer as state DOT revenue declines because of decreased fuel tax revenues and that federal infrastructure funding may be waylaid as Congress turns its attention to COVID-19 mitigation measures for business and unemployed Americans.

Nevertheless, some public works projects have received a shot in the arm because of the pandemic. The Airport Improvement Program will invest $3.2 billion in the development and modernization of aviation facilities across the country, and the governors of some states, including Florida and Minnesota, have accelerated billions of dollars of transportation projects in an effort to lessen the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and to take advantage of fewer vehicles on the road.

Even before the outbreak hit the U.S., the coronavirus created major global supply chain disruptions, especially of goods from China, the source of about 30% of U.S. building materials last year.Government containment efforts and quarantines in China slowed or shut down factories in dozens of cities and provinces, leading to a falloff in production of everything from cars to smartphones. U.S. builders have noted delays and shortages in items like steel, surfacing and case goods.

Wendy Cohen, vice president of operations for Sacramento, California, construction management firm Kitchell CEM, said she has experienced some delays in material availability since the crisis began. Kitchell project teams are working with clients, architects, contractors and trade partners to identify shortages and develop creative solutions for the projects that the company continues to build for essential clients such as schools, colleges and the Los Angeles Department of Public Works.

With so many sourcing challenges on the horizon, many American construction firms will be hesitant to resume orders from Chinese suppliers, according to Prather.

How we source projects has a lot of weaknesses, he said.We believe that going forward there will be a lot of reshoring back in the U.S., where well see an increase in our manufacturing ability here as well as heading into Mexico.

Natarelli said many of his large contractor clients that are bidding out jobs include clauses in their contracts that call for as many as five backup sources for materials. Many are willing to pay higher prices for supplies coming from less risky locations.

Alternative suppliers are very big right now, and contractors are weighing the risks with the rewards, he said.

An enhanced focus on worker safety will help accelerate the industrys move to offsite construction methods. While contractors like PCL, Clark and Mortenson have relied on prefabrication for many years, Natarelli said the coronavirus pandemic will motivate more firms to investigate the benefits of offsite building.

The assembly-line efficiency and climate-controlled environment of factory production can save on labor costs and shorten project schedules, but other advantages will take center stage in post-pandemic construction, according to Natarelli, including increased site safety and reduced congestion.

It reduces the amount of time youre in the field, and keeping the labor force in a controlled environment is good from a health standpoint, too, he said. So maybe now you have a job that went from six months to nine months and maybe this can shave that to eight months while youre also promoting social distancing, too.

Read more here:
The new normal: 8 ways the coronavirus crisis is changing construction - Construction Dive

Minnesotas builders were bustling in 2019 as they remodeled or built hotels, libraries and a soccer stadium, among many other projects. From among this impressive collection of projects, an independent panel selected 50 honorees for Finance & Commerces annual Top Projects awards.

Projects honored this year include Allianz Field, home of Major League Soccers Minnesota United FC; One Discovery Square, part of Rochesters Destination Medical Center effort; and the new headquarters of construction company McGough in Roseville.

One Discovery Square in Rochester is one of the projects being honored as a Top Project of 2019. (File photo: DMC Corp.)

A panel of judges looked at the degree of difficulty, creativity in design, innovative construction techniques, cooperation among contractors and management, and sustainability efforts.

The projects will be featured in a magazine and in a series of stories and photos in the Finance & Commerce daily newspaper and on the F&C website starting in July. The people and companies behind the projects also will be honored at a July 23 event (with an Oct. 15 alternate date) at the Nicollet Island Pavilion.

The Top Projects of 2019 are:

3701 Wayzata Boulevard Multi-Tenant Repositioned Office

3701 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis

Owner: The Opus Group

Contractor: Opus Group

Architect: Perkins and Will

Engineer: Faith Group LLC

Allianz Field

400 Snelling Ave. N, St. Paul

Owner: Minnesota United FC

Contractor: Mortenson

Architect: Populous

Engineer: Walter P Moore, ME Engineers, Loucks Associates Inc.

Amplifon

Fifth Street Towers, 150 S. Fifth St. No. 2300, Minneapolis

Owner: Amplifon

Contractor: Crawford Merz

Architect: ESG Architecture & Design

Engineer: Meyer, Borgman Johnson

The Andrus Building

500 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Owner: TriCostal Group, The Davis Companies

Contractor: Mortenson

Architect: RSP Architects

Anoka County Library Centennial Renovation and Expansion

100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines

Contractor: ICS

Architect: Leo A Daly

Engineer: Leo A Daly

Arvonne Fraser Library

1222 Fourth St. SE, Minneapolis

Owner: Hennepin County Facility Services

Contractor: Shaw-Lundquist Construction

Architect: MacDonald & Mack Architects, Quinn Evans Architects

Engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young Inc., Nelson-Rudie & Associates

Bluff View Elementary

1156 W. Lakewood Ave., Lake City

Owner: Lake City Public Schools

Contractor: Kraus-Anderson

Architect: MLA Architects

Engineer: LSEngineers, Larson Engineering of Minnesota

Celeste Hotel of St. Paul

26 E. Exchange St., St. Paul

Owner: Rebound Hospitality

Contractor: Flannery Construction

Architect: LJA Minnesota

Engineer: ERA, Elan Design Lab, Faircon Service Co.

Central Lutheran Church

333 S. 12th St., Minneapolis

Owner: Central Lutheran Church

Contractor: Jorgenson Construction

Architect: Kodet Architectural Group Ltd.

Engineer: Cain Thomas Associates, Mattson MacDonald Young, Hansen Thorp Pellinen Olson Inc.

City Club Apartments,

95 S. 10th St., Minneapolis

Owner: City Club Apartments

Contractor: Frana Cos., USAquatics

Architect: BKV Group

Engineer: BKV Group, Odeh Engineers, Loucks

Commission House

282 E. Sixth St., St. Paul

Owner: Ackerberg, Northland Real Estate Group

Contractor: Weis Builders Inc. Weis Builders, Inc.

Architect: Pope Architects

Engineer: Mattson Macdonald Young, Cain Thomas Associates Inc.

Delta Dental Bemidji Operations Center

2017 Net Way NW Technology Park, Bemiji

Owner: Stratacor

Contractor: Kraus-Anderson

Architect: ESG Architects

Engineer: Meyer Borgman Johnson, Hunt Electric Corp.

Eden Prairie Senior Living

8480 Franlo Road, Eden Prairie

Owner: Southview Senior Communities

Contractor: Eagle Building Co.

Architect: Kaas Wilson Architects

Engineer: Civil Site Group, BKBM Engineers, J-Berd Mechanical Contractors

Elevate at Southwest Station

12900 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie

Owner: Timberland Partners, Carlston Developments

Contractor: Frana Cos.

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Finance & Commerce announces Top Projects of 2019 honorees - Finance and Commerce

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW-TV) Over the past few years, there has been a trend toward 'open-air' office space that puts employees closer together without barriers between them. Those designs are thought, by some, to improve the interaction and communication of employees.

M&T Bank touted the benefits of the open-environment work space in February 2020 when it shared renderings of its new Tech Hub under construction in the Seneca One Tower. The bank felt the modern design with its communal spaces would inspire conversation, innovation, and collaboration.

Will Covid-19 change that?

M&T Bank sent us the following statement:

"Regarding the Tech Hub, we temporarily paused construction back in late March. We have a task force working to determine the best approach to ensure the safety of our employees, suppliers and customers, and construction will resume as soon as it is deemed safe for workers to return to the job site."

7 Eyewitness News asked Jake Schneider, CEO of the Schneider Family of Services in Buffalo, what impact he thought the pandemic would have on office design going forward?

"Nobody really knows, yet, how the Covid pandemic will play out," explained Schneider. He said no drastic long-term design changes are being undertaken by architects because they "could be obsolete" if the crisis continues.

However, companies are asking what they should do to keep employees and customers safe.

There is a big focus on cleaning, explained Schneider. "Some companies are requiring place mats and table cloths on work surfaces." Building designers are looking at things that are easier to clean, such as bathroom fixtures, and ways to minimize 'tough points,' such as doors without knobs," added Schneider.

The prominent Buffalo businessman said he has questions about how effective some of the measures being considered will actually be because there are still too many unanswered questions. "Will people be required to wear masks? Will there be reduced occupancy in the office going forward?," commented Schneider. In particular, he doesn't know how successful it will be to keep people properly spaced apart in lobbies.

Construction continues on Schneider projects and that has been affected by new job site rules. Workers must have their temperature checked when starting a shift, otherwise, they are sent home to avoid infecting co-workers.

Cubicles are one office item that could see a resurgence. Schneider said the now under-construction Evans Bank headquarters in Williamsville (scheduled to open in September) includes cubicle spaces for the employees - which makes it safer from a health perspective. "The cubicle is still a very affordable way of providing a semi-private work space," explained Schneider.

For businesses with open-air office layouts; "You may see more six and seven-foot workstations defined with partitions to help with that social separation."

While it is unknown which office changes will be long-lasting, Schneider thinks the way people do their job will be drastically changed by those who effectively worked from home. "I think that is a paradigm shift that we are going to see. There are a lot more people and companies that are more comfortable having their employees work at home."

The downside, said Schneider, is it could make it harder for landlords to find tenants to rent office space in downtown Buffalo - an area where there is a wealth of office space.

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Rebound Will Covid-19 change the design of your workspace? Ed Reilly 6:15 PM, May - WKBW-TV

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, "memory care is a form of senior living that provides intensive, specialized care for people with memory issues." Memory care faciltiies are often combined with assisted living communities.Here are five recent projects that define some of the best in memory care communities in the U.S.

ATRIA ENGLEWOOD | ENGLEWOOD, COLO.

BRINKMANN CONSTRUCTORS BUILTthis six-story, 150,000-sf structure over a parking garage. The 106 assisted living apartments and 24 memory care units are detailed with crisp colors, modern finishes, and natural wood elements to create a contemporary yet warm environment that has become increasingly popular among the boomer set.

Memory care residents, whose units are on the first floor, have a dedicated community space with a serving kitchen, dining room, activities room, salon, and private garden.

Atria Englewood was designed by OZ Architecture and built by Brinkmann Constructions for CA Ventures (developer) and Atria Senior Living (owner). Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

Generously sized independent/assisted living units, located on floors two through six, range from 379-sf studios to 1,161-sf one-bed- room apartments.

Denvers OZ Architecture (design architect/AOR) made the bold decision to locate all the amenities from their customary spot at ground level to the top floor so that residents could take in the sweeping vistas of the Rocky Mountains.

The Fourteener Restaurant on the sixth floor. Other amenities: a demo kitchen, caf, theater room, and clubroom, as well as two separate rooftop terraces. Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

A two-story lobby has a grand fireplace and a bistro where breakfast is served; it becomes a full-service bar in the evening. Theres also an outdoor garden and courtyard.

Fortis Structural (structural engineer), PE Services (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), and Brinkmann Constructors (general contractor) also participated in the enterprise.

The beauty salon in Atria Englewood. Photo: Steve Mohlenkamp

HUNTERS WOODS AT TRAILS EDGE | RESTON, VA.

MORE AND MORE, DEVELOPERS of senior living centers are selecting sites and demanding designs that connect and engage residents with their neighborhoodsa goal that is being fulfilled at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, which abuts Restons Turquoise Nature Trail.

The 210-unit community is accessible to the Reston Community Center, which offers residents an aquatic center, theater arts, and communal spaces. Walking trails feature age-appropriate workout stations.

Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, Reston, Va., a 210-unit community providing memory care as well asindependent and assisted living. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

Moseley Architects was charged by developer Atlantic Realty Companies and operator IntegraCare Corporation with preserving views to the forest that surrounds the property. Working with civil engineer Urban Engineering and general contractor Balfour Beatty Construction, the team organized Hunters Woods as two connected buildings over a subterranean parking garage with more than 200 spaces.

A pergola creates a landscape focal point at Hunters Woods at Trails Edge, designed by Moseley Architects for Atlantic Realty Companies. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

In addition to independent and assisted living and memory care, Hunters Woods offers much-needed short-term/respite care for abbreviated stays. Its high-end amenities include restaurant-style dining, a fully equipped fitness center, a surround-sound movie theater, and an art studio. A state-of-the-art security and call system uses smart keys and automatic apartment door openers for ease of entry.

Moseley Architects (designer) led a project team consisting of Urban Engineering (civil engineer), Direct Supply Aptura (interior design). Lilker EMO Energy Consulting (building commissioning), and Balfour Beatty Construction (general contractor).

Owner IntegraCare Corporation included abarber shop in itsHunters Woods at Trails Edge. Photo: Kevin Weber Photography

ARBOR TERRACE AT FULTON | FULTON, MD.

THE MISSION OF THE DESIGN TEAM for this 72,486-sf assisted living/memory care community in Howard County, Md.,was to emulate a boutique-style hotel. BCT Architects design, created for developer and owner Capitol Seniors Housing, reflects the view that more and more seniors are looking for the kinds of amenities demanded by younger renters.

Arbor Terrace at Fulton memory care/assisted living complex in Fulton, Md., about 20 miles north of the District of Columbia. Photo: Green Sofa Productions

BCT incorporated open common areas, natural light, and warm, modern architecture into the 86-unit complex. A floor-to-ceiling glass wall and grand staircase in the lobby adds dramatic effect. Interior designer Faulkner Design Group used sleek finishes with the look of marble and dark wood, natural materials, and a soft color palette.

A coffee bar/casual dining space at Arbor Terrace at Fulton. Photo: Green Sofa Productions

Residents, guests, and employees can walk to shopping opportunities via the pathways connecting the community to the stores and restaurants next door at the Maple Lawn development.

Carroll Engineering (structural engineer), Gutschick, Little & Weber (civil engineer/landscape architect), SRBR Engineers (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), Faulkner Design Group (interiors), Food Strategy Inc. (kitchens), and Forrester Construction (general contractor) contributed to the enterprise.

The dining room in the Arbor Terrace at Fulton facility, designed by BCT Architects and Faulkner Design Group (interior designer). Photo: Green Sofa Productions

YOURLIFE OF PALM BEACH GARDENS | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA.

YOURLIFE PALM BEACH GARDENS FUSES the South Florida resort lifestyle with a physical environment that promotes healthy living for seniors. The 234,000-sf, four-story community consists of two interconnected buildings with 143 assisted living and 91 memory care units. The buildings share a common core of support spaces and amenities.

YourLife offers 91 memory care units and 143 assisted living residences intheluxury setting of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Photo: Island Studio Productions

Taking cues from hospitality design, architecture/engineering firm LEO A DALY blurred the lines between interior and exterior to create a sense of openness and luxury. The designer incorporated the eyebrows from neighboring roof lines to fashion a sculpted massing that frames the front entrance, which enhances a sense of arrival and helps residents and guests with wayfinding.

Resort-style pool at YourLife of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., designed by architecture/engineering firm LEO A DALY for owner YourLife Senior Living. Photo: Island Studio Productions

The designer partnered with MT Fuller Functional Arts to fulfill a municipal requirement for art in public places, leading to the creation of a striking, lighted metal-and-glass pyramid sculpture set on the front lawn.

Interior designer Mosaic Design Studio amped up the resort feel in the lobby with a dramatic, curved wooden ceiling that frames boldly colored light fixtures.

Michael B. Schorah & Associates (structural/civil engineer), TLC Engineering Solutions (mechanical-electrical-plumbing engineer), Mosaic Design Studios (interiors), Cotleur & Hearing (landscape architect), and KAST Construction (general contractor) added their expertise to the enterprise for owner YourLife Senior Living.

REGENCY PALMS | LONG BEACH, CALIF.

MANY SENIORS PREFER TO BE close to shopping, dining, and transportation, but land that fits the bill is expensive, if it is even available. As a result, developers are looking at sites for 55+ communities that they once would have dismissed out of hand.

One such case is Regency Palms, which offers 32 assisted living units (52 beds) and 24 memory care units (30 beds) in the Long Beach Professional Building, a restored 1929 Art Deco office building. The eight-story edifice has a cafe and urgent care clinic on the ground level that create a connection to the highly walkable, transit-oriented neighborhood.

This eight-story professional building from the 1920s was converted into Regency Palms assisted living/memory care, Long Beach, Calif. Photo: Paul Turang

Former office spaces were redesigned into residential units fitted out with kitchenettes. Two office spaces on every floor were converted into great rooms with enhanced natural light. The basement was made into an activity room, fitness center, and salon.

Because the building was on the National Register of Historic Places, changes to the exterior were severely restricted. The original windows were no longer being made, so the design team worked with manufacturers to match the windows and facade as closely as possible to their originals.The building takes up the entire site, leaving no room for an outdoor memory care patio. The team found the perfect spot on the roof, which became an inviting space for residents to enjoy the views from the tallest building in the neighborhood.

Lobby at the Regency Palms memory care/assisted living center, designed by KTGY Architecture + Planning. Photo: Paul Turang

KTGY Architecture + Planning, along with Studio Six5 (interiors) and Urban Community Builders (general contractor), performed the work for client Global Premier Development.

The Regency Palms won Best 55+ Repositioned Project at the 2020 NAHB International Builders Show.

Amenities deck at Regency Palms. The restoration won an award at the 2020 International Builders' Show. Photo: Paul Turang

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5 memory care communities with a strong sense of mission - Building Design + Construction

Embattled coworking giant WeWork isin talks todrop out of a West Midtown Atlanta development before its planned opening later this year.

Rendering for SJ Collins Enterprises' The Interlock mixed-use project in West Midtown.

Armada Hoffler Properties is in talks to either shrink or kill WeWork locations at two properties in which it has invested, at The Interlock in Atlantaandits planned location at the Wills Wharf development in Baltimore, CEO Louis Haddad said during the firm's Q1earnings calllast week.

We opened discussions with WeWork early this year to reduce or eliminate their leases in these two locations in order to limit our exposure to this tenant. WeWork is also interested in reducing their exposure to us, Haddad said. We expect to announce the results of these discussions within the current quarter.

Armada Hoffler agreed toinvestup to $65M inThe Interlock, which is being developedby S.J. Collins Enterprises, as part of a mezzanine loan in December 2018. AWeWork spokesperson declined to comment.

S.J. Collins partner Jeff Garrison said WeWork signed a lease in December 2018 to occupy 120K SFof the mainoffice and retail building at the Interlock mixed-use project and is still on track to move in in the late third quarter.

We are not having any conversations with WeWork about changing their lease at all, Garrison toldBisnow. We don't expect any change.

The Interlock is located off Howell Mill Road in West Midtown, near the corner of 14th Street. The $750M project's first phase includes 200K SF of office, 100K SF of retail, 350 apartments, a 160-room hotel and a smattering of single-family houses and vacation rental homes.

Aside from WeWork, which Garrison expectsto account for30% of the project's total revenue, business incubatorGeorgia Tech VentureLab agreed to fill 50K SF in the office building, and Marriott International's boutique hotel chain Tribute Portfolio isslated to operate the hotel.

WeWork's location at Wills Wharf, being developed by Beatty Development Group, was set to become the company's first location in Baltimore. It signed a 60K SF anchor lease for a 330K SF office tower, a piece of a mixed-use project, and originally expected to open in the beginning of the year, the Baltimore Business Journal reported. WeWork's website now lists the locationas due to open in October.

Bisnow

S.J. Collins partner Jeff Garrison

On Dec. 21, 2018, S.J. Collins secured a mezzanine loan with Armada Hoffler for The Interlock with a maximum principal of $67M, charging a 15% annual interest rate, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Including collateral, the loan could fund up to $95M.

The loan matures at the end of this year, but S.J. Collins has the right to extend the maturity date for an additional five years, according to the filing.

Terwilliger Pappas, the developer of the apartment buildingat The Interlock, also received a mezzanine loan from Armada Hoffler for its piece of the project: $25.2M that charges a 13% interest rate and matures at the end of 2021, according to SEC filings.

Haddad said the risks of making these loans are low for Armada Hoffler, given the quality of the project.

We believe in the long-term value of these assets, as we've said every quarter for the last several, we'd be happy to own them, Haddad said. We don't wish ill of our partners, but I mean, I think it's important to note, you don't build real estate for what you think is going to happen over the next few months. That's a fool's errand."

"We underwrite projects for the long haul, long-term value in good locations, which is why we decided to undertake those as well as our development projects," Haddad continued."We've been right for 40 years. We expect to be right this time.

WeWork is in the midst of renegotiating leaseswith landlords across the country. Columbia Property Trustleases three spaces to WeWork,including the entirety of an under-construction Manhattan development where the coworkinggiant is scheduled to open this summer. WeWork occupies250K SF inCXP's buildings, according to the REIT's April 30 earnings call.

They did pay 90% [of its rent] for the month of April. We are in discussions with them about the future and working with them just on various options, CXPCEO Nelson Mills said onthe call. They paid that 90% in good faith as those discussions continue, so we're very optimistic that we'll maintain at least that number.

Piedmont Office Realty Trust also has three WeWork locations in its portfolio, but the company isonly paying rent for one of them. Another location is in its free-rent window and a third in Orlando, Florida, is still under construction, Piedmont Office Trust CEO Brent Smithsaid last weekduring an earnings call.

We have been very pleased with their performance and working with them as a customer and tenant, Smith said. "They continue to pay rent and meet all their obligations."

Office landlords in Metro Atlanta had a strong start to 2020, but few expect thatmomentum to continue in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. While some deals that were close to being done did go through completion, most companies placed talks on ice until shelter-in-place orders are lifted and businesses are allowed to gear up again.

Georgia is among the very first states to do that with Gov. Brian Kemplifting restrictions on many residents and a host of retailers, including restaurants, gyms and nail and hair salons.

But for Atlanta's office market, vast shelter-in-place orders have alreadyimpacted the brokerage business.

The consensus from brokers was everything is on pause. Nothing's died. It's just a re-evaluation of what their world looks like and what the new world looks like, Newmark Knight Frank Executive Vice President Sean Moynihan said. I think we're a good 30 days away from knowing. But I also said that 30 days ago.

Transwestern Vice President of Research Keith Pierce said the firm expects corporate office space searches to fully resume bythe end of the year.

If you're looking at delivering in '21 and '22, you're talking to your lenders and you're staying the course with your fingers crossed, Pierce said.

But Pierce said he expects companies to focus more on renewals instead of moving to new projects.

My hunch is that anybody who has a lease-up in the next six to nine months, maybe longer, is very interested in maybe a straight-up renewal or an extension so they don't have to contemplate the move, he said. They'd rather kind of keep their powder dry and wait until more data is available.

Garrison said S.J. Collinsis in talks with two other companies to lease the remaining 30K SF in the office building. At the same time,the firmhas fielded interest from larger potential tenants and has been referring them to WeWork as possible enterprise customers, Garrison said.

Garrison also said he expects that the low interest rates will play in the firm's favor when it comes time to pay off the Armada Hoffler loan. That will come by either refinancing the loan or selling the project within the next three years, Garrison said.

We are so substantially leased and in a good financial position, and we continue to get leasing interest in the office and the retail, he said. "We see no concern at all going forward."

Read more here:
Lender In Talks With WeWork To Drop Out Of 2 Major Developments - Bisnow

At least three construction workers who are renovating the Smithsonians prized Air and Space Museumin Washington, D.C., have contracted COVID-19, stirring fears among the workforce that they are risking their health for a project that could wait until the pandemic passes.

The general contractor on the job a joint venture between the construction firms Clark, Smoot, and Consigli informed its subcontractors of the COVID-19 cases in recent days and confirmed them to HuffPost. A fourth worker also received a positive result from a so-called rapid test, and has been asked to undergo a more reliable lab test.

The illnesses have prompted the general contractor to temporarily close portions of the site for deep cleaning, and required workers whove been in close contact with the sick to self-quarantine. A spokesperson said all the workers who contracted the virus were asymptomatic while working, and none of have been onsite since April 30.

One worker on the project,who spoke on the condition of anonymity because employees arent allowed to talk to the press,said the anxiety has led some crews to call out sick rather than risk contracting the virus, with some workers out for days at a time. The majority of his colleagues, he said, believe they should not be working at a time when the U.S. death count due to COVID-19 has surpassed 70,000.

The Smithsonian and construction firms have continued with the years-long revitalization project even though the entire Smithsonian system is closed to the public due to the pandemic.

Were talking about a few months here in a very long project, said the worker. There are 400 working people on this job. Are they willing to risk all their lives and their families lives? Thats a really unnecessary risk in my opinion.

He added, They just dont understand why theyre working in a museum thats shut down to the public.

Paul Morigi via Getty ImagesThe Smithsonian is closed, unless you happen to be a construction worker.

A Smithsonian spokesperson said the project was allowed to continue because construction has been deemed essential under the District of Columbias stay-home order, and provided a legal memo from the Smithsonian declaring the project mission critical.

A spokesperson for the three construction firms told HuffPost the companies have done contact tracing to identify any other workers who may have been put at risk. They have also done regular cleanings, installed hand-washing stations, and required the use of masks on site.

The health and safety of our team members, their families, and our communities is [our] highest priority, the spokesperson said. We are working closely with the Smithsonian Institution and our trade partners to share accurate information as it becomes available and remain committed to safely operating in accordance with guidance from government and public health officials.

The COVID-19 cases among the Smithsonian crew highlight the dangers steelworkers, ironworkers, steamfitters and other laborers face across the country as they continue to work through the pandemic. Many work in close proximity to one another and often travel through the same choke points to access construction sites.

In many states and D.C., construction workers have been declared essential even on projects that dont appear time-sensitive or critical for the public, like condominiums and long-term renovations. The stay-home order put in effect by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser includes a blanket carveout for the industry, declaring it part of the essential infrastructure.

WAMU and DCist have tracked the predictable results of that policy, reporting that more than a dozen COVID-19 cases turned up among workers on a residential construction site in the citys booming Navy Yard neighborhood. Clark also helms that project. The possibility of other confirmed cases prompted the temporary closure of a construction project at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill.

The Air and Space Museum renovations have been underway since late 2018. The facilitys doors remained open to the public during that work until the Smithsonian closed all its properties to guests on March 14 due to the pandemic.

According to the Smithsonian, the Air and Space revitalization project includes refacing the museums outdoor cladding and updating old mechanical systems. Congress is funding the renovations through appropriations.

Big projects involve a number of employees working under different subcontractors, who rely on the general contractor and other firms to let them know about infections among their crews; there are more than a dozen subcontractors working at the Air and Space site. Clark, Smoot, and Consigli have asked their subcontractors to notify them about any workers who are tested for COVID-19.

The worker who spoke to HuffPost said working through the pandemic has fostered a climate of mistrust on the site. Before the coronavirus, it had been one of the best jobs hed experienced in years.

That has completely changed since this all went down, he said. Its turned into one of the more hostile jobs Ive ever been on.

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