Recent market data highlights a clear shift in construction cost dynamic, one that reinforces the importance of early procurement and project planning. For the first time in the history of Gordian’s RSMeans reporting construction costs rose in every U.S. region last quarter.

Every school leader knows the feeling. Summer construction is both a blessing and a burden: eight short weeks to repair, replace, and modernize spaces where students learn, teachers teach, and communities gather. The good news is districts don’t have to hope everything lines up; they can plan for success before the final bell rings. The shift is simple: move from reactive and anxious to confident and prepared through early, strategic procurement and scheduling.

Updated stormwater regulations expand what qualifies as a “major development,” introducing stricter thresholds and design requirements that could significantly impact project costs and timelines.

The New Jersey Department of Education has proposed updated regulations for preschool classrooms that will impact space planning for K-12 facilities by the end of the 2025-26 school year.

As early as the 18th century through the end of the Second World War, mining companies in the Highlands Region of NJ were busy producing iron ore which helped feed the industrial growth of New York and New Jersey. Over the years, the mines remained out of the spotlight and were largely forgotten. Recently, however

In February 2025, The Trump Administration announced the reinstatement of a 25% tariff on global steel and aluminum imports, effective March 12, 2025. This policy aims to bolster domestic metal production but has significant implications for various industries, notably commercial construction in New Jersey.

On Wednesday, August 14th construction of the Avenel Street School redevelopment project was set in motion with a groundbreaking ceremony lead by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Massimino.

View our flow chart and checklist to see the steps required for safely returning to the workplace.

The great stone cathedrals of Europe, the forum in Rome, Grand Central Station in NYC, The Milwaukee Museum of Art by Santiago Calatrava, Google’s offices…they have provided inspiration to millions of people who have visited them. Why is that?

As we begin to develop our “Return to Work” strategies, we must include protocols for accommodating necessary field work and out-of-office meetings. Such work includes site surveys, field observations and construction site visits. While the CDC will continue to...

In Speaking with a few dozen people in the Commercial Real Estate market over the last week it is clear that clarity on what to expect in the future is not imminent but the feeling that things will be different is almost universal. Below are a selection of comments and speculations about what the near and long term impact of this pandemic

Please be aware of potential delays in the construction supply chains that may impact projects. Information continues to evolve on a daily basis but some comments and/or concerns that we have heard from industry sources are...

For the second year in a row, Real Estate NJ recognized Parette Somjen Architects as a one of New Jersey's top architectural firms in commercial real estate.

Carbon Monoxide detectors are required in all building use groups when the building has natural gas or oil fired appliances. This law is currently in effect and being enforced during the annual fire inspection process.

Designers are often criticized for subjective or arbitrary decisions. All of us have happened upon a building or a room and wondered, “What the hell happened here?” Reasons for questionable decisions can include: “This is what the client wanted”, “This was required by code”, “I thought it would look cool”, “This is all we could afford”, etc. The list is long and rarely satisfying...

Many New Jersey school districts are considering the introduction of air conditioning into their existing schools. Some are considering cooling only select areas, others are targeting entire buildings.

Why do 60% of Millennials prefer the urban environment? One theory is that as their lives have been more consumed by personal interactions via electronic media, people crave increased, easy access, to in-person interaction that is currently more prevalent in the urban environment. What if the suburbs could be updated to provide more of that? Could small “urban” hubs or “linear towns” be developed to provide both the desired experience while strengthening and revitalizing existing communities?