It’s a rare but awful occurrence: someone passing by a multistory building, minding their business as they go about their day, is struck by something—a brick, a chunk of masonry, or some other piece of building material—falling from the fac…
Stone masonry combines beauty and strength, making it a popular choice for structures throughout history. Masonry buildings have long been favored by architects, builders, and homeowners for their durability, fire resistance, and range of f…
The elevator is one of those inventions—along with running hot and cold water and indoor plumbing—that have been around for so long we take it for granted. But elevators obviously weren’t always a part of the architectural landscape. Withou…
For over two years, the pandemic dominated just about every facet of multifamily community management, impacting everything from how meetings were held to how lobbies were cleaned. One area of particular concern during this unprecedented ti…
In early 2020, our firm was hired to prepare a reserve study for an unremarkable 136-unit, 12-story condominium in south Florida. It was the kind of association you could drive right by without noticing, not much different from all the othe…
Over the last year and a half, the boards, managers, and residents of condos, HOAs, and other multifamily communities have relied heavily on their supers, porters, doorpeople, janitorial workers, handymen and -women, security personnel, mai…
The forward march of innovation is constantly changing the face of nearly every industry—including residential real estate. To keep co-ops, condominiums, and other multifamily communities functioning optimally, we need to keep abreast of th…
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in CooperatorNews South Florida’s February 2019 edition. We present it again in light of the tragic condo collapse in Surfside earlier this year to highlight the importance of regular, properl…
No matter how well constructed and carefully maintained, no mechanical system lasts forever—and that goes for elevator cabs and equipment just as much as it applies to roofs or boilers. At some point, your building’s vertical transportation…
COVID-19 has caused more far-ranging, persistent anxiety than any other event in recent history. It has affected our jobs, our living situations, and the way we interact with others, and it’s not done with us yet. Scientists and public heal…