Magazine

Price hikes from last year’s tariffs, in addition to energy spikes caused by the ongoing conflict in Iran, remain cause for concern as the second quarter of the year comes to a close. “The sense of optimism for 2026 has waned,” says Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “Military actions in…

Frontier was launched in 2022 with a commitment from Google, Stripe and others to spend $1 billion on carbon removal by 2030. Since then, members have signed contracts worth almost $700 million for 1.8 million tons of removals from 53 projects. The initiative is based on an Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) model, which is designed to…

Facilities managers know the drill. The thermostat complaint arrives before the morning coffee gets cold. Someone is always too hot, someone else is always too cold, and the ticketing system fills up with grievances about stuffy air and odd smells. It can feel like an endless, unwinnable battle. A new national survey suggests those complaints…

The rapid growth of remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased social isolation and worsening mental health among workers, according to a major new study published in the journal Science. Researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the University of Virginia and Harvard University analysed data from five nationally representative…

A satirical architecture award has drawn attention to what its organisers describe as some of the UK’s most problematic recent property developments, with judges arguing that concerns about design quality are increasingly linked to broader issues around procurement, construction standards and development priorities. The Carbuncle Cup 2026, organised by cultural magazine The Fence [subscription], named…

  Quaternary ammonium compounds are a popular disinfectant choice, but they may be causing more harm than good. A review outlines the problems with QACs and offers a solution. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are some of the most common active ingredients found in healthcare-use disinfectants. They are highly effective at neutralizing several bacteria and viruses,…