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Construction Industry Optimistic for 2025, but Concerns Remain

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — New survey data reveals that Florida contractors are preparing for increased demand in 2025, with optimism for the future despite lingering concerns.

Brian Turmail, the National Spokesman for the Associated General Contractors of America, shared insights from the annual survey, highlighting a positive outlook in the industry.

“With the election behind us and with the rates dropping a couple of quarter points down to like 1%, our phones are blowing up—not just in WPB but throughout the state,” said Kirby, President & CEO of Verdex Construction.

Despite this optimism, 46% of Florida respondents cited material costs as a top concern.

“Given that they’re not worried about supply chains, what that’s telling us is that they’re worried about the potential impact of tariffs and possible trade wars on the prices they pay for certain materials essential to construction,” said Turmail.

Though the supply chain issues from 2021 and 2022 have eased, there are still concerns about potential price hikes.

According to the survey, workforce issues remain the leading concern: 71% of respondents mentioned worker quality, 64% noted an insufficient supply of workers and subcontractors, and 61% pointed to rising labor costs.

“They’re worried they won’t have enough workers, primarily the craft construction workforce—the men and women who do the bulk of the construction work—to be able to keep pace with demands for all sector projects,” Turmail said.

Industry leaders are calling on President-elect Donald Trump and Congress to pass the Stronger Workforce for America Act, which would increase funding for post-secondary and high-school construction training programs.

“Congress needs to act and do more about the Perkins, the Carl Perkins Act because that would push dollars down through the states to fund local high school technical training,” said Michelle DePotter, CEO of Florida East Coast AGC. “I think our youth are missing out on that. Source: “https://www.constructionowners.com/news/survey-construction-industry-optimistic-for-2025-but-concerns-remain

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Technology and design for complex ecosystems at the Salone del Mobile.Milano 2024

When it meets technology, design creates unique systems and products capable of improving and simplifying everyday life. The 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano, as in a photograph, presents a synthesis of the state of the art of collaboration between technology and design that looks at smart objects, artificial intelligence and innovative systems.

It connects, simplifies, collects and exchanges data, managing it for us and with us. This is the technology that this year is featured in the Salone del Mobile.Milano 2024 in EuroCucina / FTK, Technology For the Kitchen. In the kitchen, technology meets design to create pure innovation capable of simplifying, improving, and innovating, not only the preparation of food but also the room itself, which can be experienced as a place of pleasure rather than a service space. Integration of technology marks the turning point, and design acts as a mediator. Because, after all, this is what designers have been doing for almost 200 years, ever since the first industrial revolution. They look and try to understand technology, to domesticate it and transform it into innovation, to return it to the world in practical and exciting forms and ways. In the kitchen and especially home appliances, design manages to give its best by designing technology. It does so by adding functionality where it did not exist. 

The innovations presented at this 62nd edition of the Salone del Mobile.Milano follow two main directions. The theme of AI is central, being present in the products and stands at the event, combined with the connections between household appliances, which are becoming increasingly intelligent, together with the theme of technology used to simplify and improve work and our lives. Read more here: https://www.salonemilano.it/en/articles/technology-and-design-complex-ecosystems-salone-del-mobilemilano-2024

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5 Sustainable Home Designs That Are Trending in 2024

Homeowners are gravitating toward the efficiency of green homes that minimize their environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort.

Most homeowners think of simple eco-friendly changes when it comes to sustainable home design: using LED lighting, investing in energy-efficient appliances or adding solar panels to the roof. While these are fantastic sustainable swaps to make in your home, the world of sustainable home design extends far beyond these common practices.

Many homeowners are gravitating toward green homes that prioritize efficiency and comfort while minimizing their environmental footprint. Thanks to things like 3D printing, alternative homebuilding materials and innovative green architecture designs, sustainable homes are easier and cheaper to build than ever before.

Here are five developments shaping the sustainability scene right now.

1. Using Renewable Eco-Friendly Materials

2. Intentional Architecture

3. Passive Heating and Cooling

4. 3D Home Printing

5. Water Catchment and Water Recycling

Keep reading here

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5 Design Tips to Design like an Architect

1. Develop a Concept
A concept is likely one of the first things you will learn about in architecture or design school. It serves as the basis for all of your design decisions. It can be literal or abstract. For example, if you use a literal apple as your concept, your building may look like an apple. If you abstract the apple, your design may focus on how an apple is formed or grown. As you can see with the design of the Seattle Public Library, the form is intriguing but also functional. The design was based around arranging core components of the library in the most logical way, and the form was then generated from the interior layout. The most ideal library would be completely linear to easily locate books, but that isn’t very practical. The architects (OMA) of this library decided to make a ramp that travels up all of the floors instead. This is a great example of how a concept informed the entire design of a structure.

2. Focus on Alignment
The second, and possibly the most important of design tips, is alignment. The first image represents an example of poor alignment. You can see by just being off by a small amount, the alignment of the ceiling and walls creates a bit of an eyesore. If each point were to come together at the same point, it would create a symmetrical and intentional alignment.

3. Be conscious of scale
Scale can sometimes be easily overlooked, which makes it just as important as other design tips. You have to keep in mind the function of the space when you are designing to use an appropriate scale. For example, this house featured on Architectural Digest includes an over-sized front door, large stairs, and super high ceilings. These features may be neat for a gallery or large event, but they’re not practical for everyday use for one person.

4. Maintain proportions
Possibly the second most important design tips are proportions. It really comes down to the unification of alignment and scale. Similarly to how the scale is relative to the user, the proportion is relative to the other pieces of the building. When looking at a proportional building, one side may be twice as long or the same size as the first side. The Parthenon is a perfect example of proportion. The capital of the column is the same length as the space between each column. The details in the frieze are proportional to each other as well.

5. Don’t forget the details
Details are essentially the culmination of all of the previous design tips. If you keep each one of them in consideration when designing, you can create beautiful details. The façade of this building was clearly well-thought. The geometric pattern is recessed and aligns perfectly with the reveals. Because of the attention to detail, the overall appearance and concept can shine through. Keep Reading