No one does research quite like Google. I recently read an article about the company’s thorough approach to discovering the traits that make managers great. They started on a mission to find the algorithm for a better boss back in 2009, implementing their findings into the hiring process three years later. They now have more …
Since the pandemic, much has been said about the office market being in flux. Some have shifted back to a physical space, others have opted for a hybrid model and some choose to remain 100% virtual. For us, it works best for us all to be together in a physical space. In a large part, …
One of the best things about a long-term customer relationship is the opportunity to grow, change and adapt with them. We’ve been building with the Target team for more 3 decades now and during this time, our retail division has built many of their store formats. There have been Super Targets, one-of-kind stores, remodels and …
As most know, the Federal Reserve has several goals, with two being keeping inflation at 2% and maximum employment. The two main tools in the tool box are the discount rate and buying or selling of Fed-held securities. When it comes to the current state of inflation, many have wondered why the Feds did not …
Residential construction is continuing to morph in ways I never would’ve expected a few years ago, but as I think about things, it makes sense with the present state of existing commercial developments. Where department stores, office buildings and retail sit empty, we are seeing the space converted to multifamily, often adding restaurants, food stores …
While we believe the supply chain is getting better, and we are turning a corner with shortages of construction materials, several on our team have been faced a new challenge this week regarding electrical panels. It seems that electrical gear, breakers and panel boards are running a 6-8 month lead time. GFCI breakers are averaging …
To me, enjoying some form of art should be part of life, in balance with everything else we think that is important. It was not that long ago that I met Trés Taylor and his wife Helene, folk artists who paint using tarpaper and acrylics as their medium. I got a chance to work with them on a …
Over the years, I’ve learned this truth: Nothing is ever as good or as bad as it seems at first. Most people tend to exaggerate in one direction, especially in the evening. I have also discovered that a few days of waiting on either side of the equation is a good practice. That little bit …
We are in the “final approach” stage of a year-long project that’s set to open before Thanksgiving. It’s fairly substantial, high-profile and covers about 20 acres. As we all know, building this year is full of unknowns. To mention a few, we’ve had delayed packages, electrical panels shipped without interior guts, late refrigeration equipment, along …
Last weekend, I saw a 60 Minutes segment featuring MASS Design Group, a non-profit architecture firm with a focus on communities and wholistic design, who gained international notoriety for their work in Rwanda. Their name is familiar to us, as we have been working with them on the initial planning phase of a new project …
Maintaining the historical integrity of a building will mean extra work, but the results are invaluable. We’ve recently started a new one, The Hardwick, a century old building with deep roots in the heavy steel fabricating industry. We are converting it to a mixed use development of office, restaurants and retail. Because of the new design and use, …
Do you remember that old expression, “The customer is always right?” Sometimes, it’s a hard pill to swallow. In any business, there will be times when you know you are right, but you have to back down a little for the sake of a relationship. It may be that you are quibbling over a detail …