Cities are leading the way toward a sustainable and resilient future

Cities are leading the way toward a sustainable and resilient future

Climate change continues to affect the U.S., with record-setting heat waves, wildfires, winter storms and hurricanes causing billions in damages and affecting the lives of millions of Americans. In response to the growing frequency and severity of these events, governments at the local level are working on strategies to reduce their environmental impact and prepare…

Digital Twins Advancements can help Improve Facility Operations

Digital Twins Advancements can help Improve Facility Operations

  Approach can revolutionize the way facility managers can evaluate building performance. Buildings account for 40 percent of the world’s energy consumption, and according to the Environmental Protection Agency, 30 percent of the energy consumed within a building is wasted through inefficiency. There has been an iterative approach to how various agencies have been trying…

First and second order effects of artificial intelligence on the A&E industry

First and second order effects of artificial intelligence on the A&E industry

  A&E Insights: AI-powered digital twins are being used as models of a building before its construction has even begun in order to quickly evaluate how certain changes may affect cost, environmental performance, or any other aspect. The use of AI for predictive maintenance is projected to result in a 40% decrease in costs. OpenAI—the…

NYC Firehouses Install ‘Resilient’ Solar Projects to Protect Against Blackouts

NYC Firehouses Install ‘Resilient’ Solar Projects to Protect Against Blackouts

City officials have announced completion of a $2.4 million project to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems atop six New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firehouses in Queens and Brooklyn. In addition to generating emissions-free energy, these systems will use battery storage to ensure that the firehouses remain operational during blackouts, brownouts, or storms if electric…

How regenerative design is driving AEC industry innovation

How regenerative design is driving AEC industry innovation

Regenerative design examines how buildings and products can be designed to minimize their environmental impact and improve the health of ecosystems. It is the next step in sustainability and was the topic of a recent LinkedIn Live with Sean Quinn, HOK’s director of Regenerative Design, and Microsoft’s JoAnn Garbin, director of Innovation within CO+I Advanced…