Student housing still has demand, but developers need a sharper strategy than before. The right markets remain strong, and well-located projects can still outperform. But developers need to evaluate rent growth, preleasing, supply, on-campus demand, and product fit before design begins. Student housing only pencils out when market and design strategy align early. Is Your […]
Author Archive: Blair
Hotel HVAC Systems in 2026: How to Choose?
The HVAC system is not just a mechanical decision. For hotel developers, it affects guest comfort, noise, energy use, room layout, maintenance, exterior design, first cost, and long-term operating cost. That is why the system should be evaluated early, before layouts, budgets, and MEP coordination are locked in. PTAC, VTAC, and VRF systems can all […]
Costs Keep Rising. Design Decisions Matter
Construction costs are still rising in 2026. But the bigger risk is not one material spike. It is the cost stack. Higher baseline costs. Inputs. Labor. Energy. Freight. Long lead items. And more projects are fighting for the same limited pool of skilled labor. For developers, the question is simple: Can your project move fast […]
Construction Labor Shortages Put Project Schedules at Risk
Higher bids. Fewer qualified crews. Schedules that shift without warning. Labor risk is becoming one of the fastest ways a project can lose predictability. Across the construction industry, companies are struggling to fill key roles, and those workforce gaps are already showing up in project timelines. For developers, this is not just a hiring problem. […]
Structural Systems Define Project Returns
Most Projects Choose the Wrong Structural System Because decisions are made without full alignment across the team. Once that decision is locked, it defines cost per key, rentable area, schedule, and guest experience for decades. Compare Systems Before You Lock Design Most Projects Get This Wrong Most teams don’t miss because the structure is […]
Hotel Insurance Costs Are Rising. Design Can Help Reduce Risk.
In our recent piece on construction types, we showed how core building decisions shape insurance exposure. This is the next layer: how design strategy, building systems, and loss prevention measures can further affect deductibles, underwriting, and NOI. Most developers still treat insurance as a downstream cost. In reality, it is being shaped much earlier. Assess […]
Low-rise residential is winning
Projects are being delayed, redesigned, or dropped. Many are stalling because deals no longer pencil out at today’s costs and financing. By the end of 2025, developer sentiment dropped to one of its lowest levels.1 Fix Your Next Project Before It Stalls Developers are not slowing down. They are shifting to what actually works. […]
Youth Sports Complex Development Boom
Youth sports are no longer just recreation. Across the United States, youth sports complexes are driving new development. These districts combine tournament fields, hotels, retail, and entertainment to create steady visitor demand. Considering a Sports Complex Site? Let’s Talk! These projects are attracting private capital, municipal partnerships, and long-term mixed-use investment. Youth sports today […]
Hospitality Forecast 2026: A Strategic Window for Developers
After several years of volatility and rapid recovery, the U.S. hospitality market is entering a more stable phase. Travel demand remains strong. Hotel performance is stabilizing across many markets. At the same time, new hotel development starts have slowed significantly. Together, these shifts may be opening a strategic development window. Evaluate Your Next Hospitality Development […]
Operating Costs Keep Rising
Operating costs are rising faster than rents. For many hotels and multifamily assets, labor alone now represents 30–40% of operating expenses. A design decision that adds two minutes to housekeeping per room may not seem significant. But across a 150-key property, that small inefficiency compounds into thousands of labor hours every year. Over the life of […]