Industry Voices

New Standard of Safety

by Katie Lee July 15, 2021

— By David Vigil — Embracing consumer demand for a new standard of safety and hygiene. Retail and restaurant leaders understand the importance of customer service, but amidst the events of the past 12 months, a greater focus has been placed on safety and hygiene — especially as more consumers begin to venture out of their bubble, governors across the country begin easing restrictions, and the vaccine becomes more accessible. To rebuild confidence internally with employees, and externally with customers, facilities must establish protocols that sufficiently address pandemic-related safety …

July 15, 2021

Free & Fair Air

by Katie Lee July 7, 2021

— By Ramez Naguib, P.E. — Effect of air filter rating on energy consumption in restaurants during COVID-19. This we know: COVID-19 is primarily transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets, which are then released when someone with COVID-19 sneezes, coughs or talks. Infectious droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Current data do not support long range aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2, such as seen with measles or tuberculosis. Short-range inhalation of aerosols is a …

July 7, 2021

Industry Voices roofing vendors

Data-Driven Decisions

by Katie Lee July 7, 2021

— By Alexandria Pegnato and Tom Coble — Roof management enters the digital age. Historically, when it came to managing a multi-site roof portfolio, a difficult choice had to be made. Does one commit a sizeable budget to being proactive by way of regular inspections and preventive maintenance? Or instead react to issues as they arise, saving money in the short term, but running the risk of increased spend and deteriorating roof performance over time? It was a difficult decision with no ideal option. Now as roofing enters the …

July 7, 2021

Industry Voices parking lots vendors

Parking Lot Safety

by Katie Lee July 2, 2021

— By Bob Lester — Tips to ensure outdoor spaces are structurally safe for al fresco dining and more. Enjoying a delicious meal in the sunshine and warm breeze is one of the most pleasant experiences to come out of the pandemic. Dining patrons are requesting to skip the indoor spaces in lieu of fresh air — initially due to COVID-19 safety — but research is showing this trend may continue long past the pandemic. In spring 2021, only 26% of people say they feel comfortable dining indoors, and …

July 2, 2021

Industry Voices roofing vendors

Remember Your Roof

by Katie Lee July 1, 2021

— By Steve Smith — Managing shopping center roofing issues with a post-pandemic budget. As the retail industry begins to fully reopen and emerge from the pandemic, shopping center owners are busy getting their operations back in full gear. This means bringing back staff, supporting retail tenants, reopening food courts, planning on-site marketing efforts and, most importantly, ensuring all the infrastructure is running properly and in good shape. This will no doubt create costs for shopping center owners and operators — and at a time when budgets are tight …

July 1, 2021

construction and design Industry Voices

Invitation to Gather

by Katie Lee June 21, 2021

— By Joe Pazdan, AIA — Open-air restaurant and music venue thrives through COVID-19. The restaurant business is notoriously fickle, but the COVID-19 pandemic dealt death-blows to thousands of establishments across the country as they struggled to stay afloat through mandated closures, capacity limits and an overall downturn in patronage. So how did Gather GVL, a live music venue with a courtyard gathering spot bounded by restaurants in repurposed shipping containers, not only survive opening for business during the early days of the pandemic, but continue to thrive during …

June 21, 2021

energy management HVAC/R Industry Voices restaurants

Power Trip

by Katie Lee June 17, 2021

— By Rick Orman — Why power surges are the hidden threat to restaurant business operations. The last decade has seen the rapid adoption of digital equipment in quick-service and full-service restaurants. It’s not uncommon to see mobile devices, fully digitalized point-of-sale (POS) systems, network-connected grills and self-service kiosks in restaurants. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this digital transformation due to the increased need to offer online ordering, contactless service and customer demand for a high-tech experience. While the use of technology has increased restaurant efficiency and helped create …

June 17, 2021

Industry Voices jan/san

Spray, Fog or Clean

by Katie Lee June 17, 2021

— By Robert Kravitz — Exploring three cleaning technologies that have taken center stage since the pandemic began. An entire floor of a high-rise office building in Chicago is rented out to a global, “virtual” office company. Most of the tenants rent office space weekly or monthly, and according to the management company, virtually all the spaces on the floor have been rented out. However, anyone walking on that floor would hardly know that. Virtually every door is closed and locked. Walking in the hallways, it almost feels like …

June 17, 2021

Industry Voices pest control

No Time For Flies

by Katie Lee June 9, 2021

— By Pat Hottel — Controlling filth flies inside — and outside — restaurant facilities. Filth flies, like house flies and bottle flies, reproduce quickly and are associated with pathogen laden environments like manure, garbage and sewage. The bodies are well adapted for transporting the microorganisms responsible for foodborne illnesses to our food and food contact surfaces. As summer months approach, a relatively quick life cycle from egg to adult becomes even shorter. Depending on the species, development can occur in as little as 1 week. As a result, …

June 9, 2021

disaster recovery Industry Voices

Know the Drill

by Katie Lee June 9, 2021

— By Steve Peldiak — The importance of having a disaster plan in place — prior to the emergency at hand. Did you know, there is a new bill being introduced to streamline disaster recovery assistance? It is named The Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act of 2021. States would be awarded half of the total grant funds immediately after Congress appropriates them, allowing recovery to start faster. Retailers, restaurateurs and commercial property owners need not wait for government intervention. Organizations that made emergency response planning a priority fared much …

June 9, 2021

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