“What goes up might take us upside down. Life ain’t a merry-go-round; it’s a roller coaster.” – Bon Jovi
The song may not have been about international trade, but the lyrics are certainly fitting for today’s unpredictable...more
4/30/2025
/ Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Project ,
Economic Sanctions ,
International Trade ,
Risk Assessment ,
Risk Management ,
Supply Chain ,
Tariffs ,
Trade Relations ,
US Trade Policies
As the start of 2025 has already shown with the destructive Los Angeles wildfires, the impact of climate change on businesses and homes can be devastating. Many owners and construction contractors were already grappling with...more
The key to a successful construction project often lies in how much work you do long before the first shovel of dirt is turned. But where should an owner or developer focus their time and resources for the best possible...more
7/9/2024
/ Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Project ,
Contract Terms ,
Environmental Policies ,
General Contractors ,
General-Business ,
Insurance Contracts ,
Prompt Payment ,
Subcontractors ,
Supply Chain
The U.S. Department of Energy recently released the first federal blueprint to decarbonize the building sector, which accounts for over a third of the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. This plan, developed by...more
Throughout the past few years, the construction industry has been plagued with myriad issues, including supply chain constraints, labor shortages and material procurement problems, among others. Although some issues subsided...more
Although there is a recent trend of employees returning to the office on a more regular basis, continued reliance on and demand for data centers that help support remote and hybrid work only appear to be increasing. For...more
7/25/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Automation Systems ,
Cloud Computing ,
Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) ,
Construction Project ,
Data Centers ,
Information Technology ,
Internet ,
Maintenance ,
Sustainability ,
Technology
If you think that there is a lot of talk about new factory construction in the United States in recent months, you are correct. Ryan Beene, a writer for Bloomberg News, noted last year that some in financial circles had...more
The United Nations recently described climate change as “the defining crisis of our time.” Further, a flagship UN report on climate change declared that the world is on a fast track to disaster because of rising carbon...more
In the iconic scene from the classic movie Cool Hand Luke, the role played by character actor Strother Martin famously complains to the character played by Paul Newman: “What we’ve got here, is failure to communicate.” Just...more
Despite rising inflation, escalating material and construction costs, supply chain delays and general market uncertainty, the high-end residential construction market continues to experience record growth. According to recent...more
With the COVID pandemic seemingly winding down, and with much of the world starting to reopen to pre-pandemic levels, owners and contractors are eager, now more than ever, to complete their current projects and start new...more
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues are becoming crucial drivers of operational and investment decisions in both the public and private spheres, and the construction industry is no exception. One area in...more
The Need for Owners to React in Real Time to Project Changes Caused by Supply Chain Interruptions, Skyrocketing Material Increases and Labor Shortages -
A construction project is a marathon and not a sprint. Rushing...more
One of the issues contributing to an increasingly volatile construction space for owners and developers is the cost and availability of insurance during and after construction of a project. As a result of accelerated climate...more
With society’s increased reliance on working remotely, vis a vis through “the cloud” and need for unfettered amounts of storage and processing power, data centers seem to be popping up almost everywhere you turn. In fact,...more
Due to reduced production during the COVID-19 pandemic, increased housing demand and climate events such as the Texas freeze and subsequent utility crisis, construction material costs have increased dramatically over the past...more
For a variety of reasons, the solar industry has experienced, and will continue to experience, record growth. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association and Wood Mackenzie, a global energy and chemical research...more
Gould & Ratner presents the next installment of our Construction Interview Series. As a continued effort to keep our clients informed of new building techniques and processes, we will continue to periodically sit down with...more
3/18/2021
/ Architects ,
Architecture ,
Climate Change ,
Commercial Buildings ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Energy Consumption ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Green Buildings ,
Housing Developers ,
Land Developers ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sustainability
...Construction industry forecasts are difficult in a “normal year” (remember those?), let alone a year following a global pandemic. The fact that the pandemic is not yet in the rearview mirror coupled with: (1) the election...more
2/2/2021
/ Best Practices ,
Biden Administration ,
Collaboration ,
Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
General Contractors ,
Green Buildings ,
Infrastructure ,
Risk Management ,
Sustainability
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, owners and developers find themselves facing the prospect of continued project disruptions. While almost every governmental shutdown order has allowed construction activities to continue as...more
7/15/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
Collaboration ,
Construction Contracts ,
Construction Industry ,
Contract Drafting ,
Contract Termination ,
Contract Terms ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Force Majeure Clause ,
Notice Requirements ,
Project Modification ,
Supply Chain ,
Suspensions ,
Workplace Safety