Author: Fabien Reille

Tokyo 2020: an engineering view of the Olympics

When you watch the Tokyo Games, it\’s easy to see why the Olympic motto is \”Citius, Altius, Fortius,\” (or \”faster, higher, stronger\” for those of who skipped Latin in high school). Don Lincoln is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is the author of several science books for general audiences, including the best-selling audio book \”The Theory of Everything: The Quest to Explain All Reality.\” He also produces a series of science education […]

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This is the first house to be 3D printed from raw earth

We are strong believers in sustainability and technology. This Construction project is a perfect example where great mindsets delivered an amazing product. Article read on : It\’s Nice That. Multiple printers constructed the building in 200 hours using local soil, meaning it’s zero-waste and needed no materials to be transported to the site. Mario Cucinella Architects and Wasp, Italy’s leading 3D printing company, have completed the first house to be 3D-printed from raw earth. The process coined […]

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GM, Ford are all-in on EVs. Here’s how their dealers feel about it

(Note from the team: OK Fabien. Time to upgrade your F150!! 😉) Source: CNBC. KEY POINTS General Motors is aiming to produce only EVs by 2035, with 30 new plug-in models arriving by 2025, a $27 billion investment. Ford, which is investing $22 billion in EVs and announced that 40% of its vehicles will be electrified by 2030, generated excitement with the recent debut of the F-150 Lightning all-electric pickup. Many auto dealerships are embracing the electric […]

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Warehouse Rents Surge on Bidding Wars for Scarce Space (WSJ article)

Another great read from WSJ.com – By Jennifer Smith Competition for warehouse space is driving up industrial rents as retailers and logistics providers race to move goods closer to population centers, with some engaging in bidding wars for the most coveted sites. The competition is driving up industrial rents as retailers and logistics providers race to move goods closer to population centers, with some engaging in bidding wars for the most coveted sites. Businesses are pushing to […]

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Improving ROI while expanding CMMS use

Great advice published by JLL – we strongly believe and support centralized and automated computerized maintenance management systems. We are using CMMS capabilities ourselves, with great results. If you’re like a lot of facilities managers, you using your computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) to transmit the work order from the person requesting service to the person who will do the work. But there’s so much more than a smart, powerful CMMS can do for your facilities management […]

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Volkswagen reportedly adopting \’Voltswagen\’ name scheme for EVs

So here\’s a very funny joke from VW. They claimed a corporate name change to Voltswagen to show their commitment to Electric Vehicles (EV). Then 24hrs later, the company issued a second statement, joking about how much they fooled us! Some details below, as read on Yahoo News Earlier today, reports came out from CNBC and USA Today that Volkswagen would be rolling out some new branding under the name Voltswagen. It was all detailed in a […]

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2021 and beyond: Top predictions for smart building technology by a smart building provider.

Very thoughtful article by Laurent Bataille from Schneider Electric. Reposting as everybody should read this: smart buildings predictions seen by a leader in smart building solutions. The term ‘smart buildings’ has become popularized in recent years. So much so, that it may have started to become somewhat diluted in its meaning. However, smart building technology is extremely important for real estate executives, building operators, and occupants. It includes a digitized infrastructure of smart devices, energy assets, and integrated […]

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Hiring a contractor for consulting or preconstruction services

Pre construction services, sometimes associated to consulting services, are used before any actual construction begins. These services are part of a necessary planning stages of any construction project and are critical to ensure any project can be successfully completed. Preconstruction is typically the initial phase of the overall planning, risk assessment, coordination, and control of a construction project. Pre-construction objective is to identify and outline project planning and give the owner a clear picture for what their […]

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What are Pre Construction Services?

We preach that pre construction services are critical to any construction project and go well beyond just estimating what a project could cost. They include a lot of things, from understanding initial customer requirements to plans, schedules, studies, permitting, land acquisition, value engineering, and more. Let’s take a look at several different component of pre construction services. Meetings and Follow-ups The contractor or consulting or design team will go over the owners’ objectives and initial requirements.  . In […]

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Preconstruction Services: Project management is your key to success

Any successful commercial or residential construction project requires a road map, and a schedule with a detailed plan to track expenses and budgets. For construction projects a detailed pre-construction plan led by a pre-construction manager is the best way to provide owners or facilities managers with a standardized methodology that includes preliminary costing,  planning and engineering review to define the project scope of work, identify potential conflicts, prepare timing and analyze project material, equipment and labor costs. Preconstruction […]

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Consulting and Project Planning: asking all those difficult questions

With the pandemic going on, construction firms and competitors we are talking to are often wondering about the strength of their pipeline.  When this problem has been solved (we have very successful competitors, creating a healthy business activity), another question comes quickly in mind: will the project remain on budget despite social distancing, covid related protocols, personnel safety requirements, etc.  The ability to position an operational team for success (and safety!) should be our common, highest priority as […]

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A Blueprint for Green Buildings Struggles to Catch On

A Blueprint for Green Buildings Struggles to Catch On Article from WSJ.com 12/25/2020. Excellent article describing the current state of the industry. The American Institute of Architects has for years challenged its members to design buildings to combat climate change, setting a goal to hit “net zero” edifices by 2030. The architects have a ways to go. Last year, 27 of the 19,000 building-design firms owned by AIA members reported meeting their annual mark. That figure was […]

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Winter is coming back!

We keep repeating ourselves year after year, but remember, building owners, that you should keep an eye on the following components of your building: Windows Windows include multiple parts working together: frame, stool, sash, sill, pane, seal, cross member, track and apron. Various window types include: slider, double hung, picture, garden, casement, bay, skylight, and awning. Common window problems include: rotten sills, moisture and water damages, broken seals. When windows start falling apart, repairs can be almost […]

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Remodels for Retail Space, Corporate Office or Residential

Commercial remodels or build-outs are typically fast-paced projects, as occupying the space is directly linked with the owners’ ability to create revenue. The sooner you can move in, the sooner you can start generating revenue. A commercial remodel can be an extensive project that many businesses choose to take on instead of building a new facility. A business that doesn’t have the property to expand may choose a remodel to increase the efficiency of the space they […]

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