How About Green Renovations in Existing U.S. Schools?
from Science Daily
Going green with new construction is a good idea, but what about renovating existing structures? Like, say, the 20 billion square feet of existing U.S. public schools, 40 percent of which have 15 million students in poor environmental conditions? These are questions at the heart of research by a professor of architecture at the University of Oregon who has is creating a Green Classroom Toolbox for architects and planners to use in their energy retrofits and modernization plans. More

This Is Your Brain on Architecture
from Fast Company
Neuroscientists are uncovering how the design of your home or office can make you smarter, faster, happier. Is brain science the next big design trend? More

For New Hotels, Art Isn’t Merely Decoration
from The New York Times
Today’s hoteliers are thinking outside the frame, installing art in the most unexpected of ways and challenging guests to think more deeply about their experience. Art has become a fundamental, rather than ornamental, element of hotel design. More

What Owners Want
from Design Intelligence
Barbara White Bryson, a building owner who has shepherded more than $1.5 billion worth of design and construction projects, has a few things to share about marketing to potential clients. In sum, if you are making cold calls now to gain new clients, you are two years too late. You need to think about marketing in this economic environment in a different and creative manner. More

Construction Confidence is Low, Firms Anticipate a Slow Recovery
from Facilities Net
Confidence in the construction market is at 25 on a scale of 100, according to a new quarterly Construction Confidence Index. When assessing the construction market, 86 percent of survey responders, including general contractors, subcontractors and designers, see it currently declining, and most believe the market turnaround is at least 12 to 18 months away. More

Engaging the 21st Century Multi-Generational Workforce
from MetLife
A new study from the MetLife Mature Market Institute and Sloan Center on Aging and Work at Boston College details the most important factors for engaging different segments of the workforce. The study indicates that employers can maximize the strength of their workforces and optimize worker productivity by using best practices, geared to the various generations. Identifying the values of the groups, the report reflects the "hot buttons" that are most effective in producing the desired motivation. More

Downsizing Is on the Upswing
from HousingZone.com
Downsizing and "right" sizing are no longer terms we hear only in the workplace. They're becoming the buzzwords we use when talking about where we live. No longer is a bigger home better. We want to live smarter and that means smaller. Advocates of this pared-down philosophy range from empty nesters and seniors who want less maintenance to folks of all ages who want to reduce expenses in a sour economy. In response, designers are offering services that help downsizers decide which items will fit in their new homes and which they should eliminate. More

InformeDesign Releases Implications on Lighting’s Influence on Health
from Interiors & Sources
Recent research has uncovered new knowledge about the influence of light exposure on human physical and mental health, as well as behavior and performance. Design professionals should consider these evidence-based findings when creating architectural and lighting solutions in built environments, reports the latest issue of Implications, a monthly research newsletter about design and human behavior produced by InformeDesign®. More

Hotels Placing Renovations on Hold
from The New York Times
All over the country, hotels are halting or postponing renovations in numbers not seen since 2001, when the terrorist attacks led to a retrenchment in the travel industry, according to Chad Crandell, the president of Capital Hotel Management. This time, the cause is a decline in revenue — both occupancy and room rates are down in most cities — coupled with the difficulty of obtaining credit. More