Project Spotlight
Sustainable building practices are on the rise and that’s good news because buildings account for almost 40 percent of all carbon emissions. LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. It is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and is available for virtually all building, community, and home project types. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
Like many higher education institutions, Humber College is committed to sustainability. But at Humber, they take that commitment to the highest level. The Toronto College instills sustainability across every facet of the school and has had numerous accomplishments from their projects and partnerships that link community engagement and academics. One impressive result is that Humber has been named one of Canada's Greenest Employers for four consecutive years (2016-2019).
Smart Building IoT solutions have been touted as the Holy Grail for commercial real estate (CRE) owners and managers with many seeking the benefits of data-driven, real-time applications that will modernize a business or learning space. What building owner or manager doesn’t want to delight a tenant, streamline facility operations, optimize the square footage charged monthly, or create a more productive, healthier, ‘green’ space that warrants a premium?
St. Ann’s skilled nursing facility in Rochester, New York undertook a major renovation to transform every resident floor into a household model, creating a community that elders would recognize as home. Several goals were set for the project including optimizing the comfort levels of residents and staff and reducing energy consumption. A centrally-managed, flexible lighting system that leveraged the latest technologies was identified as a renovation requirement.
Higher education institutions across the globe have embarked on sustainability initiatives with great success. As part of their campus philosophy, sustainability concerns are being integrated into curriculum, policies, programs and campus design. By fostering sustainable student lifestyles, the hope of these institutions is that these enlightened young men and women will carry those behaviors and attitudes into the world to support positive environmental change.
In the age of online shopping, brick and motor retail needs to be an exceptional destination in order to thrive. Victoria Gate with its eye-catching architecture, high-end restaurants and boutique shops certainly fits the bill. Opened in October 2016, as part of Victoria Leeds, one of the premier shopping districts in northern England, Victoria Gate includes a glass-covered shopping mall with a mix of fashion, home and beauty shops and restaurants, and a multi-story parking garage. Victoria Gate was named ‘Best Shopping Centre in the World’ at the 2017 MIPIM Awards, an international property event hosted in Cannes, France.
The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to more than double from 46 million in 2016 to over 98 million by 2060, and the 65-and-older age group’s share of the total population will rise to nearly 24 percent from 15 percent. This aging population creates a growing demand for compassionate care options for seniors including independent living, rehab/transitional care, assisted living, memory care, and nursing home care.
Guest experience is everything in the hotel industry and every touchpoint counts. From checking in at the front desk to walking through a common area, or riding the elevator to a guest room floor and taking in the view from the room, the experience is critical. The complete stay experience or even one individual touchpoint can affect how a guest feels about the hotel brand and whether they believe it has delivered on its well-communicated brand promise.
Driving in a 24-hour car race surely tests a driver’s fortitude. These day and night racing events are grueling. Weather is unpredictable and the pace of the cars can exceed over 200 mph. When darkness comes, the drivers don’t slow down—they continue to rocket through the track.
A major medical center in Lincoln, Nebraska with facilities totaling approximately 3 million square feet across two campuses, recently upgraded its lighting system as part of a remodeling project. In addition to the common requirements of reducing energy usage and the related operating expenses, the facilities staff required a centrally-managed and forward-thinking system that could support a wide range of environments including patient care rooms, diagnostics labs, office space and more. In addition, the medical center staff was concerned about the direct impact the lighting system could have on patient care and comfort, as well as staff productivity and ease of use.
