JL Architects

nationally licensed architect

How Can 3D Renderings Help Communicate Your Design Intent?

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Architects use 3D rendering software to create photo realistic images of their design intent, allowing others to thoroughly picture the proposed project. 3D renderings can be used to capture any scene, location, time, or option within the design. The opportunities for what can be shown are endless and can benefit a project in many ways.

Options:

If a client or designer is unsure of what they want to implement in a space or aspect of the project design, options can easily be created digitally and viewed pre-construction. This supports the design process, allowing it to progress forward with the input of the client. This also allows the design team and client to view and consider alternative options and designs that may not have been thought about for the project.

Lighting:

Whether it is the interior or the exterior space, realistic and consistent lighting can be rendered. The direction and angle of the sun at the site and proposed building may be considered, impacting both exterior and interior lighting needs and placement of walls/space. In the interior space, artificial lighting can be rendered to help determine needed lumens and the expected lighting aesthetic. Rendering natural and artificial light helps avoid costly ordering mistakes, allows for best use of natural light, and is an effective tool for containing energy use costs.

Streamlined Branding:

Like choosing lighting and options, 3D rendering for your branding can help decide best placement, and allow for tweaking of the branding as, and if needed. Your project is your brand and with 3D rendering you can make sure of the symbiotic relationship you are working to achieve.

The final renderings allow for the marketing of your new project before construction has even begun. Pre-leasing, pre-sales, leaseholder engagement, and employee pride will all benefit.

The benefits of 3D renderings are many, and I have just touched the surface! How can JL Architects help you visualize your next project?

-Sydney Hitchens, Architectural Designer

The Importance of Acoustic Flooring in Your Commercial Property

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Have you ever been in a hotel or lived in an apartment where you heard people stomping around above you? How about working in an office and hearing all the chairs moving and feeling doors slamming on different floors? Turns out, there is a way to lessen that noise and vibration to allow for peace and comfort on every floor. It all comes down to the flooring.

Acoustic flooring is a great way to control noise and vibration in commercial properties. Whether from foot traffic, carts or vibrating machinery, floors bear the brunt of impact within your building. The sound and vibration generated by this impact can be transmitted through the structure of your building, disturbing its occupants. Acoustic flooring is designed to insulate noise, preventing its transmission from your flooring into the rooms below. Airborne sound typically stems from people, speakers, and instruments. Like impact sound, airborne sound can transmit through your flooring into other parts of your structure. Depending on the material, acoustic flooring can absorb airborne noise and prevent its transmission.

While acoustic flooring materials are not one-size-fits-all, there are some materials that are better at preventing sound transmission than others.

• Carpet is known for mitigating impact sound, making it a perfect choice for hotels, classrooms, and offices. Higher pile carpets or carpets with a thick pad underneath, are especially good at absorbing sound and reducing transmission.

• Cork flooring is a sustainable, comfortable, and sound-absorbent flooring option perfect for many commercial applications. It is often used as an underlay to provide acoustic insulation.

• Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) is durable, waterproof, easy to maintain and provides great acoustic benefits, especially when it comes to mitigating the impact noise such as high foot traffic. Its acoustic benefits are largely drawn from its backing layer, which not only provides sound insulation, but also protects against mold and mildew.

• Commercial rubber flooring is known for its sound absorbent qualities. More than that, it is slip, mold and mildew resistant. It is a great choice for hospitals, schools, gyms, and kitchens looking for a durable acoustic flooring material.

• Vinyl tile, especially luxury vinyl tile (LVT) installed with a sound-insulating underlayment, is a great resilient flooring option used for sound treatment. It is selected by many facilities due to its design versatility, durability, and relatively low maintenance costs.

To reduce noise and vibration in residential or commercial buildings, application of soundproof subfloors, underlayment, and pads when installing flooring significantly decreases sound transmission from one space to another. The ability to provide a quiet working or living environment with proper acoustic floor insulation is a major benefit for all.

The Wide and Wild World of Warehousing

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Very few people, if anyone could have imagined today’s world of warehousing prior to the launch of e-commerce. Today’s warehousing industry is wide and wild.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there were about eight million people employed in the Warehousing & Storage Industry Group in 2020.

The public storage & warehousing market size in the US is $30.9 billion in 2022. The market has experienced an annualized growth of 5.8% in 2022, after an annualized market growth of 3.3% between 2017 and 2022.

A new JLL report states that demand for warehouse space is skyrocketing, as witnessed by a 22% year-over-year growth. Increased e-commerce operations and the demand for home delivery are driving the need for expanded warehouse space across the United States.

The continuation of the e-commerce market boom is causing distribution centers to be stretched to carry more SKUs. Warehouse space is expensive and therefore construction of a new warehouse is often out of the question. Rents also have continued to rise, and vacancy rates are low.

The largest users of warehousing include:
• Manufacturing.
• Consumer goods and retail.
• Food and beverage.
• Third-party logistics (3PL) companies.
• Wholesale distributors.
• Health and hospital care.

Warehouses are crucial assets for many businesses as long-term storage for surplus goods, which customers and clients do not need immediately. Most companies usually produce goods in anticipation of demand. Adequate storage is needed for their surplus goods until their customers and clients start putting in orders.

The shortage of commercial warehouse and industrial space is also the fallout from a paradigm shift from the “Just-In-Time” delivery model to the “Just-In-Case” delivery model coupled with the pandemic-fueled growth in online shopping.

Future warehouses must be more advanced and efficient to manage the increased demand. This requires the deployment of innovative technology to transform the warehouses to improve productivity, reduce costs and make order fulfillment more efficient.

Industrial warehouse technology has seen exceptional advancements in recent years. Advanced technology has transformed labor-intensive manual tasks such as processing payments, dispatching orders, and updating tracking information into automated actions occurring within seconds.

Maintaining accurate inventory was another challenge for warehouses across all industries in the past. Automation will be seamlessly integrated into all warehouse processes. Today, very high-end futuristic warehouse technology can track inventory and provide up-to-date numbers to business owners and warehouse managers wherever they are located around the world.

Technology will be at the center of the warehouse of the future and warehouse management systems will continue to evolve and become even more efficient than can now be imagined.
Warehouse inventory technology and supply chain automation are expected to grow exponentially in the next five years. Estimates suggest that the $700 billion spent in 2020 on Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) by growing companies will increase to $1 trillion by 2023.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are changing how the supply chain industry works. They are now optimizing processes beyond what humans can deliver, and at previously unfathomable scales. This means all warehouse duties will be completed more efficiently, freeing time and resources for more specialized tasks.

Leveraging AI is so beneficial because it optimizes capacity planning, improves productivity, and boosts efficiency by helping with higher quality output at a lower cost.

Some of the main benefits of the latest technology used in warehouses, including AI technology, include:

On-Demand Warehousing
An on-demand warehousing platform enables sellers to store inventory in warehouses offering their extra space. These warehouses of the future are different from traditional warehouse storage and enable new activities in distribution centers.
Sellers can opt for on-demand warehousing to increase their stocks during a specific season where the demand is higher than usual. AI facilitates these processes and makes it possible for modern warehouse management to improve profits and turnover rates.
On-demand warehousing is beneficial to warehouse owners and renters alike. Renters are free to access warehouse space without the need to sign long-term leases, and they can boost their inventory and inventory management on an as-needed basis. Warehouse operators simultaneously can tap into a previously untouched clientele and will not have to worry about empty spaces in their facilities.

Inventory Management
AI provides accurate numbers regarding inventory levels, and all its related variables in an instant. It also can calculate demand forecasting and planning with the basis of calculating data from previous stock inflow and outflow. Real-time stock updates are available, along with storage optimization recommendations with the help of AI integration.

Improved efficiency
AI and machine learning help improve efficiency by reducing the costs and resources required in processing orders and running a functional warehouse facility. This is achieved by reducing the amount of time and effort spent to manually input, update, and check data while providing a smooth and seamless experience. In the span of minutes, AI and ML can gather data from multiple sources and offer indispensable recommendations.

Prompt and punctual processing
AI is extremely prompt and seamlessly smooth from accepting orders and processing payments to updating packing and dispatching information, which ensures faster and punctual deliveries to customers and retailers.

Smoother, cheaper operations
AI warehouse operations can function day and night, ensuring that all warehousing processes are taken care of, such as customer service and order tracking. This reduces the amount of work required of employees, thus improving productivity while lowering costs. Minimal chances of errors also are achievable because AI systems perform quality checks at every stage of the process. The quality of work is elevated, thus enhancing accuracy and precision in managing all the important details.

Closing Thought
The warehouse of the future is already here. The future of warehousing is bright, and momentous changes are happening in the industry. Technology continues to improve supply chain and logistics. Retailers and sellers can boost their competitive advantage by future-proofing warehouses with the help of modern technology and the latest innovations.

“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.” William Pollard, American physicist and Episcopal priest.

-Glenn Ebersole, Director of Business Development

The “Back To The Office” Debate – Stay Tuned!

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“To be or not to be back to the office?” That is the debate question that continues as we progress through the COVID 19 pandemic. Personal and professional opinions span the spectrum from YES, we should return (now, sometime soon, a year from now, etc.) and NO, we should not return to the office (now, next year, ever, etc.)

What lies beyond subjective opinion? A few studies provide a quick look at some objective science. Two early 2022 Owl Labs Studies validated views of remote/hybrid work indicating remote and hybrid employees were 22% happier and stayed in their jobs longer than workers in an onsite office environment. Remote employees also had less stress, more focus and were more productive than when they worked in the office. Better work/life balance and physical and mental well-being of employees also were achieved.

Another study by Ergotron sampled 1,000 full-time workers and found workers have become more acclimated to hybrid and remote office environments. The hybrid workplace model has empowered employees to reclaim physical health, as well as witnessing mental health benefits. A total of 56% of employees cited mental health improvements, better work-life balance and more physical activity. Some major highlights from the study include:

• Job Satisfaction. Most employees (88%) agree that the flexibility to work from home or the office has increased their job satisfaction.
• Physical health. Three-quarters of respondents (75%) stated that they are physical moving more frequently and have a more active work style when working remotely.
• Work-life balance. Seventy-five percent (75%) of respondents stated their work-life balance improved as a result of hybrid or remote working.
• Comfortable work environments. Sixty-two percent (62%) said improved workspaces with comfortable, ergonomic furniture are important and improve company culture.
• Wellness programs. More than seventy-five percent (76%) revealed that their employers implemented wellness programs to support mental and physical health, with 30% of those being brand new since the onset of the pandemic.


A Tallo (student online platform) study indicated:

• The majority of Generation Z prefer hybrid work and 74% noted a job preference that offered both remote and in-person opportunities.
• 86% felt confident they will be just as productive working remotely.
• In 2019, 51% of Gen Z considered location a very important factor in their job search. Mid-pandemic, that number dropped to 39%.

Closing Thought
The aversion to going back to the office is based more on a reluctance to going back to what the physical workplace represents. Workers look to the company culture as the top factor in where they work. A positive company culture is critical to success and well-being of employees and the company.

The work space is transforming from what we used to know. The purpose of the office is being redefined to become a collaborative space. The office will be a kind of space where workers can do in an office environment what they cannot do at home. Creativity and collaboration will happen in that space and will ultimately lead to the redesigning of offices, and repurposing of offices and the office environment.

-Glenn Ebersole, Director of Business Development


The “Great Resignation” and The War for Talent in the AEC Industry – Post Pandemic

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COVID-19 pandemic changed the fundamentals of the economy and multiple sectors of the economy, including the AEC industry. One of the greatest impacts has been on employment, as witnessed by an average of 4 million individuals quitting their jobs in the first quarter of 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The “Great Resignation” is a term used to label this phenomenon that arose from a wide gamut of reasons. Those departing their workplaces stated they left for better pay or remote-friendly working conditions, to start their own businesses or quit with no firm plans but were confident they could find a better job in a rebounding economy.

Focus on Impact in AEC Firms

AEC firms must develop effective strategies to deal with future disruptions to be successful and sustainable. An AEC firm must determine whether to continue only in its core business and adjust or reinvent themselves to respond to the changing market environment. Business agility and competitive advantage are success factors that require attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent.

The AEC industry is and has been vulnerable to employment adversity. The pandemic intensified the shortage of white-collar talent as Baby Boomers retired earlier than expected and others quit for better opportunities. The number of active and passive job seekers increased because they were dissatisfied with how their firm dealt with adapting to the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Lesson Learned About Firm Image or Brand Impact

One of the most impactful lessons learned about retaining and attracting the most qualified skills and experienced talent for an AEC firm is to absolutely ensure the firm presents a highly visible, positive and attractive image or brand to the marketplace. Here are a few ways to achieve that desired brand.

Establish a Strong Positive AEC Firm Brand

Research shows that company culture is one of the most important things a candidate considers when seeking a new job. More than 50% of all job seekers will avoid firms with a poor reputation. Top prospects seek a firm that is already known for its positive reputation as a great place to work by current and prospective employees. A positive culture also is a key factor to retaining talent.

Learn and Understand What is Important to Top Prospects

It is imperative to learn and know what is important to top prospects. Many employers still mistakenly believe that money is the most important consideration to a candidate. The truth is that research shows company culture is the number one consideration and that compensation ties at a distant second behind a desire for strong leadership and a clear vision for the future.

Continuously Monitor and Proactively Manage the AEC Firm Brand

The ubiquitous nature of the Internet requires a firm to ensure their reputation is untarnished by actively managing it online. This means combining SEO and digital PR strategies to help distribute content demonstrating good corporate citizenship and positive accomplishments.

Final Thought

The new reality or “The New Abnormal” continues to evolve as we move through the pandemic. The Great Resignation trend demonstrates a changing employment dynamic where talent must adjust to a new way of working. NOW is the time to look at this as an opportunity rather than strictly as a challenge!

-Glenn Ebersole, Director of Business Development, JL Architects

The Importance of the AEC Industry to Economic Growth in 2022 and Beyond

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Why is the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) industry so important to the U.S. economy? The AEC industry represents planning, designing, constructing and maintaining the building blocks of our communities. Buildings, roads, bridges, airports, railways, ports and all of our infrastructure would not exist without the AEC industry. It also means that there would not be any offices, factories, stores or warehouse/distribution centers. These and other buildings constitute the fundamental foundations of a strong economy. 

The importance of the AEC industry economic impact will be even greater post pandemic. The outlook for the industry in the U.S. is positive growth for 2022 and beyond. One major factor for this positive view is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), which is a five-year, $1.2 trillion package providing historic levels of infrastructure funding.  

Indeed, 2022 may identify as the start of several banner years, since much of the monumental new federal infrastructure spending is not expected to reach markets until later this year at the earliest. Yet, it is wise to recognize that pressure from labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and high prices materials prices could moderate growth.  

The AEC industry is expected to benefit from an improving broader national economy. The economic outlook remains quite optimistic, according to several economists’ forecasts of a projected overall economic growth rate in 2022 of between 3.5% to 4.5%.  

Initial funding allocated by the recently signed infrastructure bill is anticipated to start impacting civil engineering firms in late 2022. Civil engineering firms will benefit from initial engagements requiring the study and design of infrastructure projects. 

Architecture has always been a mirror of the creative, engineering and technological expertise of a community over a period of time. The enormous pressure of our growing U.S. population has escalated the value of land as a commodity. The type and scale of development planned on a valuable piece of land is driven by maximizing the economic potential of that land. Therefore, architecture can be a useful tool for economic growth in a region.  

Historic architecture has helped produce a significant source of revenue from tourism which improves the economy. People travel far and wide to see relevant places with historical backgrounds. Tourism also creates a need for maintenance and repair of historically important structures.  

The architectural practice of retrofitting or adaptively reusing spaces means restoring a building’s character in an historically accurate way, but then it is used as a different space than its original purpose. This translates to increased revenue from the building, as well as achieving the recognition it deserves from people who visit from around the world. 

A bullish long-term economic outlook for construction work is associated with infrastructure that will depend upon the infusion of new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, according to sources from Dodge Data & Analytics 

However, the reality is that the outlook for the AEC sector is not all smooth sailing in 2022. Supply chain disruptions will continue to interfere with project schedules and contribute to price inflation of various construction materials during 2022 and likely into 2023. 

Supplies of many critical materials, including many needed for construction, have experienced shortages that resulted in spiking prices in such materials as softwood lumber, oil, natural gas, or other inputs in production. 

Trucking shortages and logistical congestion at ports continue to contribute to the supply chain problems and the resulting inflated prices for construction materials. Higher prices are now pretty widespread across most materials that are used in the construction space. There is a feeling that materials prices will moderate, rather than decline in the future.  

A critical shortage of skilled labor continues to be a chronic problem in the AEC sector. It has been reported that there are currently just under 350,000 unfilled positions in the construction industry. This is a systemic problem rather than a temporary phenomenon and could certainly dampen construction starts in 2022. 

The architecture and engineering professions are also being impacted by the skilled labor shortage and possibly more serious than it is in construction. The current scarcity of architects and engineers results from a combination of factors. A large number of baby boomers are retiring. These older, more experienced professionals are departing from the work force and architecture and engineering firms are struggling to replace them.  

Companies are struggling to find adequate replacements for retiring senior staff members. It is not possible to replace a 65-year-old architect or engineer with 40 years of experience with a junior architect or engineer right out of college. A disconcerting question has been raised about whether firms will even be able to perform the work because of the shortage of talent. 

AEC industry wages are rising faster than they have for many years because of the shortage of talent. So, architectural and engineering firms find themselves in a quandary. If the firms do not increase pricing, that will put a significant crunch on profits. Professional fees have been artificially low for years in the AEC industry and perhaps now there is some headroom to increase pricing. 

Architecture and engineering firms must be diligent to ensure that they have the necessary staffing levels to keep pace with the growth in job prospects. The emphasis may shift to finding people to do the work rather than finding the work over the next year or two. 

Overall, the AEC industry can expect to enjoy significant gains in 2022 and beyond. Business profitability in the sector is expected to remain on an upward trajectory. However, it is essential to watch for disruptors that may occur to alter expectations. 

Limited resources and the impact of development on our environment and society present ongoing challenges. Sustainability factors are paramount to successful project outcomes in the AEC industry, from exceeding performance requirements to improving cost control. Sustainability must be “Front and Center” within the AEC industry to produce positive outcomes for the social, economic and well-being of our world and its people.  

-Glenn Ebersole, Director of Business Development