Each Monday, we'll let you know what's coming in the week ahead, including important residential and commercial report releases, as well as our feature articles.
Housing Market Index — May 15
Builders are optimistic about current and future sales conditions, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which fell three points in April after posting its highest score since June 2005 in March. The HMI for May, released on Monday, May 15, will offer more insight as to whether April's drop-off was due to the market leveling out after a strong month or that the current high-demand, low-inventory environment is stressing builders' resources.
"The Dotted Line": Changes to AIA contract documents — May 16
In the latest installment of "The Dotted Line," a monthly series in which we explore the intricacies of legal documents that make some projects possible, we look at the latest 10-year revamp of the American Institute of Architects' contract documents. In our feature article on Tuesday, March 16, we’ll talk to experts to find out which of these changes need to be on contractors' radars.
Social media 101 for construction pros — May 16
The construction industry, as a whole, may have been slow to take up social media, but today, many companies regularly use platforms like Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram to showcase their work. On Tuesday, May 16, we'll share tips on improving your company's social media game from builders and contractors that are making it work for them.
Housing starts — May 16
A mild winter meant the spring selling season kicked off early this year, causing housing starts in March, when the period typically starts, to fall short of analyst expectations. Still, the number of new homes under construction during the month was the highest since September 2008. An uptick in building permit authorizations in March suggests that activity will likely continue to grow, though the Commerce Department's April starts report, due out Tuesday, May 16, will offer a clearer picture.
What Marriott's announcement means for offsite construction — May 18
Marriott’s big news earlier this month that it aims to build at least 13% of its hotels this year using offsite construction was a major step for a segment of the industry that has struggled to grab significant market share. In our feature article on Thursday, May 18, we’ll find out how this development has impacted the industry overall and what's next for the prefab construction segment.
The role of permanent supportive housing in urban areas — May 18
Washington, DC, has the highest homelessness rate of U.S. states, and devising housing solutions in its relatively small footprint can be a challenge. We visited one project that's integrating permanent supportive housing in one of the city's most active neighborhoods. On Thursday, May 18, we'll share a look inside the La Casa Permanent Supportive Housing Project and our conversation with two of the project's architects.
