Author: Peggy Smedley
Prefab construction could theoretically bring attainable housing to many communities that don’t readily have access to housing. This could then open new homeownership opportunities to individuals and families in cities across the country. Often, the challenge is urban zoning policies have limited the acceptance of off-site building housing projects in the past. Now, one homebuilder is unveiling a project that could take this concept to the next level, bringing attainable, sustainable homes to cities. In Atlanta, Clayton unveiled a new urban infill project that includes two Clayton Built CrossMod homes, which combines off-site construction with site-built features. The company says…
I always say we must look back to see where we have been if we want to look forward to knowing where we are going. This method is myriad. We must look to the technology of our forefathers, and we must also look at our own successes and our own failure to know what went well and what didn’t. This will help inform us where we should head next. Recently, on the 850th episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, I took a cue from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and I enjoyed journeying through different eras on each of the…
In the past 12 months there has been a lot of talk surrounding gen AI (artificial intelligence) and the potential impact on business, but where exactly are we with AI in the construction industry? The results from the new report are a little bit surprising, but perhaps some in the industry might agree. Let’s take a look. Having surveyed 3,000 people, AIPRM suggests almost one in six (14%) of business owners are fearful of ChatGPT and refuse to use it for work. In this survey, we also see there are five top industries that are fearful of gen AI. Topping…
It has been enlightening to watch the automotive and mobility industry advance in the past few years. The pandemic exposed a lot in many industries, speeding up transformation in many areas, but what trends are really taking hold? Is it electrification, customer experience, ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems), SDV (software-defined vehicle), sustainability, security, or something else entirely? I recently had an opportunity to sit down with Raj Paul, senior director, Americas mobility, Microsoft, on The Peggy Smedley Show to talk about how recent announcements will ultimately impact automotive going forward. Let’s unpack a few of each of the areas we…
Our cities and buildings are evolving—and many contractors recognize this and often offer new services, technologies, and building elements on projects to provide a greater value-add to building owners and occupants. Consider the example of Webcor, which recently released a whitepaper that outlines how general contractors can add value to wayfinding in large public facilities. Wayfinding is a technique of using various methods to help occupants navigate a space. There are four types of wayfinding: identification, directional, informational, and regulatory. Too often, it is only considered as signage and design elements in places like healthcare facilities and education campuses, but…
Who will be the leader in the AI (artificial intelligence) space and the race in the chip market? We have seen a lot of big moves being made that will ultimately impact how businesses all around the globe interact with technology in the year ahead. Deloitte suggests generative AI will drive a market surge with generative AI chip sales likely to reach more than $50 billion and software revenue is poised for a $10 billion boost in 2024. Generative AI chip prices are high—if you can even get them—but as supply increases next year, prices could drop even while unit…
Two things are evolving at the same time for many: our homes and our health. As many of the Baby Boomers continue to age, we must consider what this will mean for how this generation will continue to live in the days to come. For many, this will mean aging in place—and for homebuilders this means taking technologies into consideration when building or remodeling these homes. Let’s take a closer look at the trends on the horizon. At the very end of November, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University released its 2023 report focused on housing America’s…
Researchers at Purdue University have discovered the average morning routine for many Americans includes inhaling several milligrams of chemicals that may be harmful to their health—but is there a solution right in our own homes? Let’s consider the research for a minute before we dig into the potential solutions. The study finds many chemicals—especially those that are in hair care products—can linger in the air after use. The average person can inhale a cumulative mass of 1-17 milligrams of potentially harmful chemicals in a single hair care session in their home. “We found the results to be extremely alarming,” Nusrat…
Partnerships are the fuel that drives innovation—and in some cases that means partnering with an organization that might typically be considered a competitor for the greater good of all businesses. While many companies take this approach, I recently had an opportunity to talk to two companies—IBM Consulting and Microsoft—about how their partnership will accelerate the cloud journey for many businesses. In August, the two companies announced IBM is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft to help joint clients accelerate the deployment of generative AI (artificial intelligence). Ultimately, this will deliver a new offering to companies. With this announcement, the companies will…
At the end of November, we were able to get a glimpse into where the construction market is headed, when the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) announced total construction starts for October. The numbers tell a pretty interesting story, as always, and point to some larger trends that just may be on the horizon for 2024. We see total construction starts nosedived 7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.1 trillion. Nonbuilding and residential starts plummeted 32% and 1%, respectively. Interestingly, nonresidential building starts gained 8%. Dodge Construction Network suggests the reason construction starts have weakened in the last…