Infrastructure Outlook: How Location Intelligence Can Accelerate High-Speed Rail
When it comes to updating and innovating our nation’s infrastructure, the challenges involve much more than just construction. Environmental, safety, and other regulatory concerns require developers to ensure that each aspect of the project goes through lengthy approval processes and compliance reviews. This can make even the prospect of initiating a large-scale public work daunting. A long-time advocate of one such infrastructure project—a high-speed rail system in California—Governor Jerry Br...
Fairfield Glade: Pressure Sewer System Perfect Fit for Tennessee Retirement Locale
In the early 1970s, a flashy promotional campaign launched Fairfield Glade, a private retirement enclave atop East Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau. It was the first step of a marathon project that developers likely knew would take generations to complete, but the momentum of its expansion and allure has never wavered. Today, the 12,000-acre enterprise (population about 8,200; average age 68) is consistently lauded as one of the best retirement spots in Tennessee, and reviewers regularly...
Code Update: New Manual Simplifies Steel Deck on Cold-Formed Steel Framing Design
Although cold-formed steel (CFS) trusses and steel deck applications have been available for years, many designers continue to use either plywood deck on CFS trusses or design steel deck applications in the same way they would plywood, without taking full advantage of steel deck’s capabilities. This lag has been due in large part to a lack of comprehensive, user-friendly information sources on how to implement steel deck on CFS trusses, as opposed to wood deck on CFS trusses or steel deck on op...
Constructible Models: Lead to Time and Cost Efficiencies in Building a Particleboard Plant
The main concrete structure can be seen in this overall model view. From its blank canvas in Grayling, Mich., a year ago, the site of ARAUCO’s new particleboard operation has transformed into a vibrant construction project. A leader in sustainable-forest product solutions and market innovation, ARAUCO is building the most-modern facility of its type in North America: a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant that will produce world-class decorative wood-panel products used in home inte...
Project Management Insights: Setting Goals that Get Results
We are nearing the end of the year, and firms soon will be asking personnel to establish their goals for the new year. Although sometimes tiresome, it is an important exercise—especially for firms that are learning organizations, tie incentive compensation to improvement and focus on professional development. I’m working with a client that’s taking a closer look at how they develop project managers (PMs). Currently, their PMs loosely perform in the role while principals control most of the movi...
From the Editor: Who Will Build the Infrastructure We Need?
Back in 2016, both presidential candidates promised a massive spending bill to rebuild America’s aging infrastructure. In February 2018, the White House released what it referred to as a “blueprint” that would invest $250 billion in public funds, with the goal of spurring additional private investment totalling $1.5 trillion. In late-summer 2018, it was announced that any real action on an infrastructure bill would have to wait until after the midterm elections. Although most in our industry agr...
Thoughts from Engineers: Initial Reactions from the Water Infrastructure Act of 2018
America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA 2018) or S. 3021 was signed into law by President Trump on Oct. 23, 2018, and outlines an ambitious course of action with respect to the nation’s navigable waterways and built water infrastructure. (To read AWIA 2018 in its entirety, visit bit.ly/2KBK9o6.) The law provides more than $6 billion in funds for a range of water infrastructure projects, including navigation; ports, harbors and inland waterways; wetland and ecosystem restoration; flood p...
Change Leader: Transforming the World toward a Better Outcome
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Antonio Gomez-Palacio, Arq. MES, RPP, MCIP, MRAIC, is a principal at DIALOG, focusing on the intersection of architecture, planning and urban design. Changing Cities “We’re in a really exciting time,” says Gomez-Palacio. After decades of a single-occupancy, car-based system that led to many pitfalls, he believes the pendul...
Change Leader Full Interview: Transforming the World toward a Better Outcome
These profiles are based on interviews, and the opinions and statements are those of the subject and are not necessarily shared or endorsed by this publication. Antonio Gomez-Palacio, Arq. MES, RPP, MCIP, MRAIC, is a principal at DIALOG, focusing on the intersection of architecture, planning and urban design. V1 Media: Please provide a brief background of your education and career before DIALOG. Gomez-Palacio: I started as an architect in Mexico and was practicing there. I discovere...
Executive Corner: Passing the Torch: Succession Planning Fundamentals for A/E Firms
With a huge number of baby-boomer leaders preparing to retire, we’re witnessing the next generation of industry CEOs being promoted to lead their firms. Almost every week, we see press releases showcasing new A/E CEOs taking the reins from their predecessors—the evolutionary process often touted in a seamless and deliberate manner. Unfortunately, not every organization is prepared for this transition. Whether it’s the founders’ desire to hold on for control or ego reasons or simply a lack of de...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail Expansion
February Issue 2026
