Starbucks’ latest store design reflects the brand’s effort to revive café culture in stores. CEO Brian Niccol wants to revitalize the “third space” between work and home with changes that provide a more comfortable experience that makes guests want to stay longer. The company is introducing free refills, ceramic mugs, and an expanded variety of…
If you’ve worked in construction or commercial real estate development over the past few years, you’ve felt it firsthand: the price of materials isn’t just going up – it’s staying there. From lumber and copper to concrete and fasteners, nearly every line item on a construction budget has been affected by steady, and sometimes unpredictable,…
by Nathan Morse KFC’s new spin-off restaurant Saucy (stylized as SAUCY!) is the brand’s latest experiment and an attempt to capture the attention of Gen-Z consumers. The first store opened in December in Orlando, FL with a design that incorporates bold, bright colors and blends contemporary materials with nostalgic elements to attract young customers. The…
The devastating fires in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2025 serve as a reminder of our communities’ vulnerability to these destructive forces. Homes and businesses were reduced to ashes, leaving countless people displaced and traumatized. While the immediate focus remains on recovery and support for those affected, this tragedy highlights our built environment and…
by Nick Law Let’s be honest—construction isn’t the most glamorous of topics for most people. But throw in some cutting-edge tech, and suddenly it gets a lot more interesting. Enter Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a tool that’s shaking up the construction world and turning it into something a bit more futuristic (and way more efficient).…
Arizona and Texas are two of the fastest-growing states in the United States, and the tech sector is a major driver of that growth. In both states, there is a significant amount of new commercial construction underway to support the growing tech industry. Arizona In Arizona, some of the most notable new commercial construction projects…
The COVID-19 pandemic (the “Pandemic”) triggered a series of events that turned the commercial construction industry upside down. Nationwide government lockdowns that started in March of 2020 yielded increased demand for materials, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and a long inflationary period, sending construction costs through the roof. This perfect storm caused unprecedented construction prices…