Updates on the broader world of construction

The past decade or so has been absolutely wonderful for the world of Tall Buildings and cutting edge architecture. Certainly the wide availability of loans and new wealth in emerging markets coupled with rising real estate speculation has made this possible. With the inevitable economic contraction after our recent boom, we are now faced with a different environment, one where clients and owners need to justify their spending instead of building to impress.


Don't get me wrong, the buildings that have gone up over the past few years have been great and probably worth the high costs. They will become emblematic of an era, and will continue to serve as icons of economic power for the countries and companies they represent. However, the recent pace of construction was unsustainable, and now we are entering a new period where iconic projects are less common. Read all the bad news in this article by Spiegel.

Now that clients and owners are focusing on the actual costs and maintenance of a building in addition to its marketability, building designers have an opportunity to sell sustainable development. This is more than providing a wind turbine to power a few exterior lights. It's a complete and systematic view of the building and its environment.