Metal Construction News, January 2021

SPECIAL FEATURE The response of some mall owners to the dangers presented by rents slipping into arrears has been to take equity positions in key lessees Another answer has been to fill hollowed out square footage in non typical ways Vacant retail space is being converted to residential units car dealerships and most logical of all medical clinics Doctors nurses support staff and patients all add to foot traffic past storefronts Theres an interesting retail related aside to construction activity being judged essential nearly everywhere in America throughout the pandemic Yearover year sales by building material suppliers unlike what has occurred in most other shopkeeper categories have never gone into decline Warehouse and Data Center Work Speeding Ahead The flip side of challenges in the retail sector has been tremendous opportunities with accompanying capital spending in fulfillment and warehousing activity The biggest high tech firms with plenty of cash to draw on have been rapidly expanding their distribution reach If a mega project is defined as a million square feet or more as opposed to a billion dollars then the volume of such starts in 2020 has been more than level with 2019 Through October 2019 there were start ups on 20 projects of a million square feet or more adding to 46 million square feet Through the first 10 months of 2020 there have been 23 such project initiations summing to 49 million square feet Alphabet Google Amazon Apple Facebook and Microsoft as a grouping FAAMG are not just the backbone of stock market advances Contrary to the hesitancy being displayed by many other owners they are hurrying ahead not just with warehousing projects but also sprawling data center and campus complexes In the process they are becoming some of the largest real estate holders in the land The value of property owned by Alphabet and Amazon has been estimated at 40 billion each and growing Furthermore when a large tech company moves into a neighborhood theres a pod effect whereby other supplier companies and ancillary service firms gravitate nearby Hikes in rent meet the disapproval of anti gentrification advocates Source of actuals U S Census Bureau Forcasts ConstructConnect Chart ConstructConnect CanaData The Future of Architecture is Resilience and Nature in Design By Rick Harlan Schneider AIA APA LEED AP Principal ISTUDIO Architects Washington D C Emulating nature in design is the key to a more resilient future Designing buildings and cities this way requires understanding powerful forces like the sun wind and rain then harnessing them to create healthier built places and improve ecosystems When its done right this form of biomimicry helps to mitigate climate change as it gives us strategies for climate adaption Buildings that Breathe Were relearning how to make our buildings breathe combining the best of new smart building technology and age old principles of nature Two case studies in Washington D C provide examples of solar chimneys and building automated natural ventilation External conditions are measured with a rooftop weather station that communicates with the building systems When conditions are right temperature humidity wind speed and direction the building HVAC automatically goes into passive mode Windows and wall mounted louvers on the first floor open to let in cooler air and expel it through rooftop solar powered exhaust fans on the second floor The building takes in a breath of fresh air and lets it out Hot air rises naturally a well known and powerful force of nature Natural ventilation harnesses this power to save money cut back on fossil fuels and thereby help mitigate climate change It also allows the building to be more energy independent a great benefit during power outages After half a century of forgetting our near future may involve remembering how to open windows The Porous City Reconstructed wetlands are a lesson in how to emulate the cycles of nature for resilience They mitigate flooding filter water and increase biodiversity greater protection from harsh climate conditions and dangers like wildfire As homeowners settle in these areas they must adjust by using long lasting and lowmaintenance materials designed to hold up under extremes Shifting Workplaces Sadly the pandemic has displaced many in the workforce but it also has opened up new possibilities For the construction industry commercial real estate may slow as the demand for office space softens while the housing industry remains hot Skilled tradespeople are in high demand and the opportunity to make a solid living wage in industries like residential metal roofing is perhaps greater than it has ever been And given the rising costs of traditional universities the changing nature of remote learning and the job market many young people are discovering opportunities in the trades giving them the freedom flexibility and chance to build their own business benefits that are especially appealing in todays uncertain market Forever Homes Historically low interest rates have sparked a flurry of home sales in many parts of the country For homeowners who have found their forever home their focus will now be on investing in long lasting improvements and renovations It is yet another reason why the demand for experienced skilled tradespeople like metal roofing installers who service the residential repair and remodeling market will remain high Online All the Time Social distancing has changed how we interact and that trend is here to stay for the foreseeable future Contractors and installers who proactively set up online systems safety measures and processes to make it easy for homeowners will continue to have an advantage even in a post COVID world If 2020 showed us anything it is that no matter what the predictions or forecasts it is in all of our best interests to advocate educate train and promote the industry through steady collective and cohesive efforts Even in the face of unpredictable circumstances the more we work to overcome challenges together the stronger and more resilient the industry will be in 2021 and beyond Renee Ramey is the executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance MRA where she is responsible for the daily management of the MRAs ongoing marketing programs aimed at increasing metal roofings residential market share Ramey brings more than 20 years of marketing and management experience to MRA 24 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS January 2021