July-August 2021

AMAZ NG BU LDINGS THE ARCHITECTURE OF BARCELONA

YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KN W GENERATIONAL POWER TR E DAT ARTCH TECTURE SKYSCRAPER COMPETITION

THE CLIDE AWARDS

EGAL VIEW

EXPRESS YOURSELF HIGHRISE HONORS

DANIEL LIBESKIND’S MUSEUMS THE ARCHITECTURE OF SAN FRANCISCO

REAL ESTATE F THE FU URE AMERICA MOVED

PROFILES OF SURV VAL

LOVING VS. VIRGINIA

SOLFOREST ECO

The VOICE OF REAL ESTATE IN TEXAS

Give yourself the gift of smiles. J

A handsome, artbook-style volume with the best Diversions to appear in over the last decade. A compendium you will treasure for years to come.

"This collection is laugh-out-loud funny!" Kirkland Review of Books

"Prescription: Read 3-4 pages a day for a month. It’ll brighten your day! And make it last a month."

"This is simply genius. I kept on laughing the whole day when I read it."

Maria Tariq

"...absolutely hilarious! I laughed so hard that it brought tears to my eyes."

Randal Maynard

Additional recommended reading

"Incisive yet expansive - as if the psychology of R.D. Laing encountered the self-exploration of Hugh Prather to help readers delve into their own thought, experiences and behaviours."

The Rockford Tribune

"Curiously intense and ironic. This is a work that will make you think and feel and you will revisit it over and over.Marion Danziger, The Toronto Town Crier

All available at Amazon, BarnesAndNoble and in the Apple Book Store (search by title).

A Compilation of Sarcasm, Word Play, and Witticisms from the pages of .

Susan Carnegie, The Montreal Voice

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THE BLUEPRINT

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SAN FRANCISCO

A pictorial look at the City by the Bay.

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WHICH U.S. GENERATION WIELDS THE MOST POWER?

Courtesy of the Visual Capitalist, a graphic view of each group's economic, political and cultural influence.

PROFILES OF SURV VAL

Contributing Editor Roxana Tofan’s series of success stories in the time of coronavirus – this time Lisa Mochel of Lone Star Capital Bank.

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REAL ESTATE F THE FU URE Life Beyond Earth. Skidmore Owings & Merrill’s “Moon Village.”

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Adam May of PDA offers advice on maximizing insurance claims.

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THE CLIDE AWARDS

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TECH HELPING TECH

Albert De Plazaola of Unispace discusses how real estate trends are driving firms to different workspaces and locations.

THE INTERNATIONAL HIGHRISE AWARDS

The biennial selection by the city of Frankfurt, Germany, and its partners.

AMAZ NG BU LDINGS –THE RISE OF STATEMENT FAÇADES

THE DIGITAL MODERNIZATION OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE Anthony Romano of CREtelligent offers guidance on achieving post pandemic success.

AMERICANS MOVED DURING THE LOCKDOWN

Why Texas’s cities lead the nation in migration.

THE 2020 CENSUS – TEXAS GAINS 2 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS

Will gerrymandering help or hurt your district?

BOOK REVIEWS

48

Contributing Editor Rose-Mary Rumbley looks at Texas’s great sculptors.

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41 36

THE PAGE Loving v. Virginia – the Supreme Court case which struck down state laws banning interracial marriage.

50 34

BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL ISN’T DYING, IT’S EVOLVING

The National League of Cities has a new report – Re-envisioning Retail.

A

45 43 46 2021 SKYSCRAPER (IDEA) COMPETITION

EGAL VIEW – SEIZING ASSETS

Attorney and Contributing Editor Anthony Barbieri looks at what happens after you have a judgement.

eVolo

Magazine names its top three ideas

ARTCH TECTURE

Don Troiani, without question, is America’s most respected historical artist.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

More important than the cover (by which we all judge books) is the opening line. Here are some of the best ever.

52 58 59

WHAT'S IN A NAME ? Currencies of the World.

PROFIL C VID-19 GOING GR N

Now in our 29th year, reaches over 50,000 Texas real estate professionals bimonthly, and an additional 100,000+ throughout the U.S. via social media! We proudly serve and service any and all real estate associations in the state of Texas - including (but not limited to) the ones you see here. If your group isn’t shown and you’d like for us to include pictures, information and event-coverage, please let us know. Email: editor@crestnetwork.com or call the number above.

EXECUTIVE STAFF

ANDREW A. FELDER: Publisher/Managing Editor. aafelder@crestpublicationsgroup.com

XENIA MONTERO: Associate Editor and Art Director. xeniam.design@gmail.com

ANNETTE LAWLESS: Social Media Manager. annettelawless@hotmail.com

MARK ANGLE: Director of Business Development. mark@crestnetwork.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ANGELA O’BYRNE, AIA: Amazing Buildings.

ROSE-MARY RUMBLEY: Herstory.

ANTHONY BARBIERI: Legal.

JULIE BRAND LYNCH: Professionals on the Move.

ROXANA TOFAN: Profiles of Survival.

ADVISORY BOARD

ANDY GABEHART: President & CEO of Office Interiors Group, 247Workspace.com, United Electronics Recycling.

KIM GHEZ: Director of Marketing, Presidio Title.

KRISTIN HIETT, CAE: Executive Director/CEO – IREM Dallas Chapter.

KIM HOPKINS: Executive Director, CREW Dallas.

JONATHAN KRAATZ: Executive Director, USGBC Texas Chapter.

MYCHELE LORD: CEO, Lord Green Strategies.

DOUG MCMURRY: Executive Vice President, San Antonio AGC.

LAURA MCDONALD STEWART, RID, FASID, ILDA LEED AP: Editor of PLINTH and CHINTZ, an interior design blog.

JESSICA WARRIOR: Director of Property Management, Granite Properties.

STAFF, EDITORS & ADVISORY BOARD

C. (Freehold, NJ) You

Chad R. (Fort Worth, TX)

Carla C. (New Braunfels, TX)

Q. What should you do if you girlfriend starts smoking?

no guarantees or representations as to, and shall have no liability for, any content delivered by any third party, including, without limitation, the accuracy, subject matter, quality or timeliness of any Content. Change of address: Mail to address above or email editor@crestpublicationsgroup.com

Laura McDonald

Andy Gabehart. Kim Ghez. Kristin Hiett. Kim Hopkins. Jonathan Kraatz. Mychele Lord. Doug McMurry. Stewart. Jessica Warrior.

Rose-Mary Anthony Julie Brand

Andrew A. Felder. Xenia Montero. Annette Lawless. Mark Angle. Angela O’Byrne. Rumbley. Barbieri. Lynch. Roxana Tofan.

Our Digital Edition is an exact replica of the printed magazine, only better! Browse, save articles, or even check the archives for something you want to read again!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ANTHONY BARBIERI (P. 50) is a shareholder at Kessler Collins, where he enjoys a broad legal practice. He has been a speaker for ICSC, IREM, and BOMA, has taught continuing legal education seminars, and has been named a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star for many years, as well as being a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He and his wife, Cathy, enjoy traveling and spending time with their extended families, getting involved in their church and supporting the community through various programs – including raising awareness of muscular dystrophy, education and exercise to fight heart disease, providing care and treatment for autism, and counseling domestic-violence victims. He is also a Contributing Editor of and his Legal View appears in every issue.

ALBERT DE PLAZAOLA (P. 26) is a strategy consultant with extensive experience in people-centered design and change strategies for private and public institutions. By leveraging design thinking and a user-centric approach, he moves beyond the typical motivations to explore how meaningful change can occur to foster greater organizational responsiveness, adaptability, and innovation.  He is based in San Francisco.

ADAM MAY (P. 42) has over 22 years industry experience including 8 years as multi-franchise property damage appraisals office owner and this past year as the corporate Vice President of Product Implementation at PDA. A graduate of the University of Georgia and lifelong Bulldogs’ fan, he has performed appraisals and inspections on everything from automobiles to commercial and residential property, and from tractors, RVs and farming equipment to livestock and complex catastrophic damage.  He enjoys the nuance and challenges of multi-line appraisals and is regularly called upon for his knowledge and expertise in the days and weeks following floods, fires, and hurricanes. Based in Fort Worth, when he isn’t launching new products and services, he can be found in the recording booth as he is an accomplished voice over professional overlaying audio tracks.

ANGELA O’BYRNE (P. 32) is the president of national architecture, design-build, and real estate development firm Perez, APC. She champions the principles of smart growth in her home community of New Orleans and in her frequent travels across the country and abroad. Born in Cali, Colombia, Angela is a licensed architect in over a dozen states, a licensed general contractor in Louisiana, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and a member of the National CREW Network (Commercial Real Estate Women) Board of Directors. A singer, golfer, music-lover, and globetrotter, she relishes spending free time with her three grown children and large extended family. She is a Contributing Editor of and her Amazing Buildings feature appears in every issue.

ANTHONY ROMANO (P. 34) is CEO of CREtelligent (formerly eScreenLogic.). His passion is to evangelize the vision, raise and deploy capital and set the pace for CREtelligent, a platform that powers the commercial real estate (CRE) ecosystem with innovative due diligence solutions, analytics, and professional insights. Romano joined the company in December 2018 to lead its business strategy and execution after spending the better part of the last 15 years in executive and leadership roles at CoreLogic and First American Financial. Prior to that, Anthony was a co-founder of CustomerLink Systems. He holds a business degree in management and economics from Sacramento State University.

ROSE-MARY RUMBLEY (P. 48) holds a Ph.D. in communications from the University of North Texas. She is a well-known speaker in Texas and enjoys researching each and every topic. She is a Contributing Editor of and Herstory appears in every issue.

ROXANA TOFAN (P. 40) is the owner of Clear Integrity Group in San Antonio, Texas and the company’s principal broker in Texas, Ohio and South Carolina. Her main focus is multifamily commercial brokerage in San Antonio area and property management. She enjoys taking over nonperforming properties and turning them around. She is also a Contributing Editor of and her Profiles of Survival will appear in every issue. In addition to her company, her passion is giving back to the community as she volunteers for various support organizations such as Boy Scouts of America, Special Olympics, Alzheimer’s Association and supporting the military. She loves to travel with her teenage children and supporting their extra-curricular activities.

THE UPSIDE OF DOWNTIME...

Fans of will love these compilations of humor from the last decade. The Best of Diversions is just that – the very best of the hilarious Diversions that have appeared on the pages of the magazine. Vertical Lines is over a hundred pages of wit, witticisms and sarcasm that have appeared between the

the network bookshelf on days off on off-days on rainy Sundays if you’re alone if you need a break to pass the time to brighten your day to sharpen your skills to open your mind to make you smile turn to www.crestnetwork.com

pages (”in the gutter”, as they say). They are both available at your favorite online bookseller and you can see samples at the link here My Handbook is… well… look at the cover comments and a few sample pages. You’ll know soon enough if it’s for you.

I was addicted to the hokey pokey… but thankfully, I turned myself around.

YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KNOW Editor’s note

ANDREW FELDER aafelder@crestpublicationsgroup.com Managing Editor & Publisher

MY JOBS

My first job was working in an orange juice factory, but I got canned because I couldn't concentrate. Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe. After that I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it - mainly because it was a so-so job.

Next, I tried working in a muffler factory but that was exhausting. I wanted to be a barber, but I just couldn't cut it. Then I tried to be a chef; I figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme. Finally, I attempted to be a deli worker, but any way I sliced it, I couldn't cut the mustard.

My best job was being a musician, but eventually I found I wasn't noteworthy. I studied a long time to become a doctor, but I didn't have any patients. So, I got a job in a shoe factory; I tried - but I just didn't fit in. I became a professional fisherman but discovered that I couldn’t live on my net income. I even thought about becoming a witch, so I tried that for a spell.

I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining. Then I got a job at a zoo feeding giraffes, but I was fired because I wasn't up to it. So, I got a job in a work-out-center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job. I found being an electrician interesting, but the work was shocking.

After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a historian until I realized there was no future in it. My last job was working at Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind. You got any ideas? I'm open for suggestions.

I’M NOT OLD; I’M JUST MATURE

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.

Insanity is my only means of relaxation.

My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely. Every time I think about exercise, I lie down till the thought goes away. God put me on Earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind, I will live forever.

I finally got my head together, and my body fell apart. There cannot be a crisis this week; my schedule is already full.

The nice part of living in a small town is that when I don't know what I'm doing, someone else does.

The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight, because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.

Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

Seen it all, done it all, can’t remember most of it.

THE ‘BENEFITS’ OF GROWING OLDER

In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released first. It's harder and harder for sexual harassment charges to stick.

Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

No one expects you to run into a burning building.

People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There's nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

You can eat dinner at 4:00

You can live without sex, but not without your glasses.

You can’t remember the last time you lied on the floor to watch TV. You consider coffee one of the most important things in life.

You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.

You got cable for the weather channel.

You have a party, and the neighbors don't even realize it.

You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

You sing along with the elevator music.

You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn. Your back goes out more than you do.

Your eyes won't get much worse. Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

“The worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades.” (Demetri Martin)

Great and informative issue. Wonda Traylor, Dallas, TX

There’s always something (actually more than just one thing) that makes me stop and think, ‘Hmmm – now THAT’S interesting. Like all of True Dat. And Hannibal Hamlin – now THAT’S interesting!

Allison Kent, Morristown, NJ

I enjoy the new feature –Whatever Happened To…? Only in would one be able to learn that Joan Baez dated Steve Jobs…

Alejandro Gutierrez, Laredo, TX

Your publication is so fun! Between I Feel Like an Idiom, the Contest and all the tidbits of humor, I smile a lot when I read this magazine – and it was surprising fun to see Penn Station featured. Keep up the great work!

Daniella Rein, New York, NY

The Republic of Kirbati! Are you kidding me? A country in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? I feel like I’m ready for Jeopardy now. J

Greg Haverstraw, Scottsdale, AZ

Men of the 1st Texas Regiment of Hood’s Brigade attack through the cornfield during the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862. Pushing ahead alone of the rest of their brigade they came under the concentrated fire of at least six Pennsylvania Regiments. Under the hailstorm of fire, they suffered an 82% casualty rate - the worst for any regiment in the entire war. In addition, they lost their silk lone star made from Mrs. Wigfall’s wedding dress.

'LONE STAR' by Dan Troiani

THE FACTOR SOLFOREST ECO

A NEW STANDARD IN ECO-ARCHITECTURE

extreme weather, survive significant temperature drops and will need to be evergreen plants that rarely shed leaves. The natural landscape of the Ecopark township itself will incorporate over one million trees which is expected result in excellent air quality.

Ecopark features all sorts of other amenities, including a resort square, a bustling pedestrian street lined with parks, lakes, and lush foliage, and even a saltwater swimming pool with a waterfall. A gym, spa, lounge, and shopping center are just the cherries on top. This all just goes to show that eco-living can be an absolute pleasure. The developers are expecting interest from buyers from around the region and particularly Singapore.

While the sheer abundance of trees alone would make Ecopark exceedingly green, the architects chose to take matters a step further by incorporating 400 vertical gardens into the facade of the two towers. Once it is completed, Solforest will be 41 stories and 512 feet in height, making it both the tallest residential building in all of Vietnam and one of the highest vertical gardens on the planet.

in VietnaM, on the outskirts of Hanoi, the Solforest Ecopark luxury development is set to become Southeast Asia’s tallest 'vertical forest' residential building when it is completed next year.

Solforest Ecopark features two towers overlooking the 133-acre island bay of Ecopark and the Red River, the largest river in northern Vietnam. It was designed by renowned Dubai architectural firm Dewan Architects Engineers. Along with 1,194 luxury apartments, the development will feature 400 vertical gardens added into the facade of the two towers. Each unit has a 33-foot-wide balcony with an automatic watering system and specially designed drainage system for each type of tree and the direction of each apartment. It will have eight penthouses, with a total of 10,800 sf of garden and a private swimming pool.

Building something so radically different requires a high level of ingenuity, which is why Ecopark employed a team of 500 tree

engineers and greenery experts to devise solutions. Ecopark’s professional botanist conducted research and experiments on plants to decide which were suitable for the wind direction and light direction, weather conditions and height of each apartment. The plants selected will have to be able to resist

Strategies ranging from special drainage systems for the planted balconies to incorporating insect-repelling plants into the foliage help ensure that every element of this miniature ecosystem. Each balcony is 10 meters wide and features an automatic watering system custom-designed for specific trees and plants.

The results are as beneficial for the planet as they are visually impressive. In addition to its flourishing gardens. n

It sure takes a lot of balls to golf the way I do.

Canadians say “sorry” so much that a law was passed in 2009 dec laring that an apology can’t be used as evidence of an admission of guilt.

THE FACTOR THE ROLEX TOWER

we first featured this building in March of 2017. It was under construction then, and though you could already see the makings of awesome, the finished product is truly ‘WOW’! Completed in 2018, the 7-story building features 136,857 sq ft (including 56,422 rentable sq ft of office space). The environments (designed by world-renowned landscape architect Sadafumi Uchiyama) include a tiered garden, reflecting pools and cascading waterfalls. The projecting edges of each floor-deck are covered with plants. The Rolex Building was named the “Best Office Project in the World” by Engineering News-Record magazine.

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designed this Dallas office tower (in collaboration with Dallasbased HDF), which looks like it is twisting out of the ground. “The theme of the design is the integration of the land with the building,” according to Kuma. “Usually, office buildings are independent monuments, and the building is separate from the land around it. So I thought of starting with the landscape by connecting the building to the ground with a low Japanese castle wall, and twisted the building to show the continuous

movement from terrain to building, from the bottom to the top – the dynamic form of the building.”

Instead of facing buildings across the street, the twist provides those looking out from the higher levels with open and unusually angled views.

Kuma integrates nature into his buildings, using natural light, space and modulated surfaces in his unique approach – “dissolution and disintegration”, as he puts it. n

DEMONYMS, HAMBURGERS AND HOT DOGS

the terM haMburger originally derives from Hamburg, Germany's second-largest city. Hamburger in German is the demonym of Hamburg, similar to frankfurter and wiener (names for other meat-based foods and demonyms of the cities of Frankfurt and Vienna (in German, Wien) respectively.

Demonyms are usually derived from the name of the place (hamlet, village, town, city, region, province, state, continent). They are used to designate all people (the general population) of a particular place, regardless of ethnic, linguistic, religious or other cultural differences that may exist within the population of that place. For example, an American is a person from the United States of America and a Texan is a person from Texas.

The origin of the hamburger we eat is unclear, though its invention is thought to have occurred in the United States and is commonly attributed to either Charlie Nagreen, Frank and Charles Menches, Oscar Weber Bilby, Fletcher Davis, or Louis Lassen. There is very little written history, and the spread of the burger happened largely at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.

Frankfurter come from Germany, Frankfurt specifically. Outside Germany, "frankfurter" is a common designation for boiled sausages, such as North American hot dog sausages, which are called Wiener Würstchen (Vienna sausages) in Germany. In Austria, Vienna sausages are called Frankfurter Würstl.

THE EYE(GLASSE)S HAVE IT

When you were in grade school, you probably learned that Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals and you assumed that meant glasses. Franklin did invent bifocals in 1779, but he didn’t invent glasses themselves. What he did was create a version with multiple lenses that could help people with more complicated vision needs.

It was somewhere between 1000 and 1250 A.D. that the “reading stone” was widely used. (They were made of concave pieces of glass.) Historians don’t know with certainty who invented glasses because there are conflicting historical records. However, it is generally believed that the invention must have come from someone living in Pisa, Venice, or Florence in the late 13th century. The first glasses consisted of two circle frames, quartz lenses and a bump to rest on the bridge of the nose – with no arms to anchor the spectacles firmly behind the ears.

Early glasses were primarily for farsightedness (hyperopia) and aging-related vision loss (presbyopia). Glasses for nearsightedness (myopia) were not available until the 15th century. People use precariously balanced, handheld glasses for several hundred years. Rigid temple pieces, otherwise known as the “arms” of the glasses, weren’t invented by Edward Scarlett until 1730!

People didn’t go to their local eye doctor to get glasses until the 1800s, and the eye chart with the giant E at the top wasn’t invented by Herman Snellen until 1862. Before then, people bought their glasses from peddlers by trial and error, purchasing them more like a commodity than a medical device, much like we might buy a cheap pair of sunglasses today.

MAGAZINES

Dating back to the 1580s, a magazine was a warehouse, a place for storing goods, especially military ammunition. In French, it was magasin (warehouse, depot, store); in Italian, it was magazzino; in Arabic, makhazin; and in Spanish, almacén. The original meaning is virtually obsolete. Today’s meaning – a cartridge chamber in a repeating rifle - dates back to 1868 and the meaning - a case in which a supply of cartridges is carried – back to 1892.

Interestingly, the meaning "periodical journal containing miscellaneous writings" dates from the publication of the first one, Gentleman's Magazine, in 1731, which, in a figurative sense, was a "storehouse" of information (much as is today J).

GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISIONS (CLEAR AS MUD)

A hamlet is a small settlement. A village is a settlement which is usually larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town. (A whistle-stop is a small station at which trains stop only on a signal.) Township refers to various kinds of settlements or administrative subdivisions in different countries. While a township may be associated with an urban area, this tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Canada, Scotland and parts of the United States, the term refers to settlements too small or scattered to be considered urban.

A parish is an administrative division used by several countries including the U.S. (in Louisiana and South Carolina). (This is distinguished from an ecclesiastical parish.) A canton is a territorial/administrative

YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KNOW YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KN W

The future, the present, and the past walk into a bar. Things got a little tense.

division in some countries, notably Switzerland. A ward is a local authority area, typically used for electoral purposes. Wards are usually named after neighborhoods, thoroughfares, parishes, landmarks, geographical features and in some cases historical figures. It is common in the United States for wards to simply be numbered. A precinct or voting district, in the United States, is the smallest unit into which electoral districts are divided. (A police precinct is a geographical area patrolled by a police force.)

A county is an administrative or political subdivision of a state that consists of a geographic region with specific boundaries and usually some level of governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 U.S. states, while Louisiana and Alaska have functionally equivalent subdivisions called parishes and boroughs, respectively.

Territories of the United States do not have counties; instead, the United States Census Bureau divides them into county equivalents. As of 2020, there are 3,143 counties and county-equivalents in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. If the 100 county equivalents in the U.S. territories are counted, then the total is 3,243 counties and county-equivalents. The county with the largest population, Los Angeles County (10,039,107), and the county with the largest land area, San Bernardino County, border each other in Southern California (however, eleven boroughs in Alaska are larger in area than San Bernardino).

American Indian reservations are areas of land managed by an American Indian tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. There are about 310 Indian reservations in the United States. Tribes possess limited tribal sovereignty over the land in their reservation. As a result, laws on tribal lands may vary from the surrounding area. The tribal council, not the county or state government, generally has jurisdiction over reservations. Different reservations have different systems of government, which may or may not replicate the forms of government found outside the reservation. Most Indian reservations were established by the federal government; a limited number, mainly in the East, owe their origin to state recognition. Residents of a reservation may vote as residents of a state and are required to pay federal taxes. The special status of reservations has created both opportunities (such as gambling in states that normally disallow it) and challenges (such as the unwillingness of some companies to do business in an area where they are not certain what laws will apply to them).

You may now consider yourself confused, but you did learn something (you think). n

The specific governmental powers of counties vary widely between the states. Counties have significant functions in all states except Rhode Island and Connecticut, where county governments have been abolished (but the entities remain for administrative or statistical purposes). Massachusetts has removed most government functions from eight of its 14 counties. County populations also vary widely. In 2017, according to the Census Bureau, more than half the U.S. population is concentrated in just 143 of the more than 3,000 counties in the U.S. (or in just 4.6% of all counties). The five largest counties by population are Los Angeles County, CA, Cook County, IL Harris County, TX, Maricopa County, AZ; and San Diego County, CA.

The number of counties per state ranges from the 3 counties of Delaware to the 254 counties of Texas. Most counties have subdivisions which may include townships, municipalities and unincorporated areas. (There are approximately 30,000 incorporated cities in the United States, with varying degrees of self-rule.) Others have no further divisions, or may serve as a consolidated city-county where a city and a county have been merged into a unified jurisdiction. Some municipalities are in multiple counties. New York City is uniquely partitioned into five counties, referred to boroughs. Conversely, the independent cities of the states of Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, and Nevada are municipalities that do not legally belong to any county, but may still function as if they were consolidated city-counties.

The United States Census Bureau uses the term "county equivalent" to describe places that are comparable to counties, but called by different names. Louisiana parishes, the organized boroughs of Alaska, independent cities, and the District of Columbia are equivalent to counties for administrative purposes. (Alaska's Unorganized Borough, a 323,440-square-mile area that has no county equivalent government, is further divided into 11 census areas that are statistically equivalent to counties.)

not so Much known for defining a particular architectural style, with its interesting and challenging variations in geography, San Francisco is known for its eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture.

Icons of San Francisco architecture include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Coit Tower, the Palace of Fine Arts, Lombard Street, Alamo Square, Fort Point, the Transamerica Pyramid, and Chinatown

/01/ The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the one-mile-wide strait connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It links the city of San Francisco to Marin County and is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and California. Designed by engineer Joseph Strauss in 1917, it has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. At the time of its opening in 1937, it was both the longest and the tallest suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 4,200 feet and a total height of 746 feet.

/02/ Alcatraz Island is located in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore. It was developed with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, a military prison, and a federal prison from 1934 until 1963. (The strong currents around the island and cold-water

THE ARCHITECTURE OF SAN FRANCISCO

temperatures made escape nearly impossible. It later became a major tourist attraction. Today, the National Park Service manages the 22-acre island's abandoned prison, the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast of the United States, early military fortifications, and natural features such as rock pools and a seabird colony.

/03/ Coit Tower is a 210-foot tower with panoramic views over the city and the bay. Designed by architects Arthur Brown, Jr. and Henry Howard, the art deco tower was built of unpainted reinforced concrete between 1932 and 1933 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. In 2020, following numerous other removals of controversial statues during the George Floyd protests that began in May 2020, the San Francisco Arts Commission ordered the removal of the Statue of Christopher Columbus that had stood outside the entrance of the tower since 1957. Also known as the Coit Memorial Tower, it is dedicated to the volunteer firemen who had died in San Francisco's five major fires

/04/ The Palace of Fine Arts is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art. Completely rebuilt from 1964 to 1974, it is one of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition. The most

04

A recent study found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.

prominent building of the complex is a 162 feet high open rotunda, is enclosed by a lagoon on one side, and is neighboring a large, curved exhibition center on the other side, which is separated from the lagoon by colonnades. Conceived to evoke a decaying ruin of ancient Rome, it has become one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and is now used as a venue for events such as weddings or trade fairs.

/05/ Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, famous for a steep section with eight hairpin turns. The famous one-block section (which claims to be "the crookedest street in the world) is a major tourist attraction, receiving around two million visitors per year.

/06/ Alamo Square is a residential neighborhood consisting of four city blocks at the top of a hill overlooking much of downtown San Francisco, with a number of large and architecturally distinctive mansions along the perimeter, including the "Painted Ladies", a well-known postcard motif. It is named after a lone cottonwood tree ("alamo" in Spanish), Alamo Hill.

/07/ Fort Point is a masonry seacoast fortification located on the southern side of the Golden Gate at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. It was completed just before the Civil War by the United States Army, to defend San Francisco Bay against hostile warships and is now a United States National Historic Site administered by the National Park Service.

/08/ The Transamerica Pyramid is a 48-story futurist building and the secondtallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline. It was the tallest from its completion in 1972 until 2018 when the Salesforce Tower surpassed its height. The building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, which moved its U.S. headquarters to Baltimore. It stands at 853 feet and, when completed in 1972, it was the eighth-tallest building in the world.

San Francisco is the name of both the city and the county (which share the same boundaries). Only lightly settled by European-Americans at first, after becoming the base for the gold rush of 1849, the city quickly became the largest and most important population, commercial, naval, and financial center in the American West. It was devastated by a great earthquake and fire in 1906 but was quickly rebuilt, and the city continued to develop as a major business city throughout the first half of the 20th century. In the 1960s it became the city most famous for the hippie movement, and, in recent decades it has become an important center of finance and technology. The high demand for housing, driven by its proximity to Silicon Valley, and the limited availability of housing has led to the city being one of America's most expensive places to live.

/09/ The Chinatown centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese enclave outside Asia. It is also the oldest and largest of the four notable Chinese enclaves within the city. Since its establishment in 1848, it has been highly important and influential in the history and culture of ethnic Chinese immigrants in North America. It continues to retain its own customs, languages, places of worship, social clubs, and is also a major tourist attraction,

/10/ Salesforce Tower is a 1,070-foot office skyscraper designed by César Pelli. Upon its completion in 2018, it became the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline, with a top roof height of 970 feet and overall height of 1,070 feet, surpassing the 853 feet Transamerica Pyramid. It is also the second-tallest building west of the Mississippi River after the 1,100 feet Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles.

In 2010, San Francisco and Barcelona became sister cities. See The Architecture of Barcelona on pages 38-39 n

TR E DAT: WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?

The color red doesn’t really make bulls angry; they are color-blind.

Baltimore is the largest independent city (meaning, it is not part of any county) in the U.S. with a population of 621,849.

In 2007, Scotland spent £125,000 devising a new national slogan. The winning entry was: “Welcome to Scotland”.

The University of Minnesota (founded in 1851) is older than the state of Minnesota itself! (Minnesota entered the Union in 1858.)

JOGGLING IS A COMPETITIVE SPORT THAT COMBINES JUGGLING WITH JOGGING. THE MOST COMMON OBJECTS USED BY JOGGLERS ARE JUGGLING BALLS, OR SOMETIMES JUGGLING CLUBS, BUT ANY SET OF THREE OR MORE OBJECTS CAN BE USED.

Albinism in animals is a rare genetic mutation that causes the animal to lose all of the pigmentations in its skin. If the animal has fur, their fur will also be white. Melanism occurs in the same way, with the mutation of genes, just not the same ones. The mutation of these specific genes causes the darker pigmentation, which is why the animal appears black. This can be seen in a variety of animals, though it is more common in some than others. Panthers, for example, are actually melanistic jaguars - the same species, just with a genetic mutation.

Ernő Rubik is a Hungarian inventor, architect and professor of architecture, best known for the invention of Rubik's Cube in 1974. It took him one month to solve the cube after he created it; as of June 2018 the world record is 4.22 seconds.

In the U.S., we say it’s “raining cats and dogs.” That origin is uncertain, but “cats and dogs” may be a perversion of the now obsolete word, catadupe. In old English, catadupe meant a waterfall.

In some other countries... In Norrway, det regner trollkjerringer.

(“It’s raining she-trolls.”) In Denmark, det regner skomagerdrenge.

(“It’s raining shoemakers’ apprentices.”)

In Bosnia, padaju ćuskije.

(“It’s raining crowbars.”)

In France, Il pleut comme vache qui pisse.

(“It’s raining like a pissing cow.”)

In Wales, mae hi’n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn.

(“It’s raining old ladies and sticks.)

Lady Randolph Churchill Winston Churchill’s mother was an American.

In Slovakia they have Christmas Carp that live in the family bathtub for a few days before they are eaten.

The Rueckheim brothers introduced caramel corn at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, but it was so sticky that it was hard to eat. A few years later, they perfected a way to prevent clumping and Cracker Jacks was born.

I have an inferiority complex, but it’s not a very good one.

Male nipples are vestigial. (In other words, pointless.)

(Jennie Spencer)

I had an hourglass figure, but then the sand shifted.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY SENTIMENT RISES

Improving economic conditions have led to an improvement in the NAIOP CRE Sentiment Index, indicating both overall optimism and several ongoing concerns.

The NAIOP CRE Sentiment Index for April 2021 is 54, significantly higher than the August/September 2020 reading of 45, which reflected a generally negative outlook for conditions. The current reading indicates that respondents expect conditions for commercial real estate to improve over the next 12 months –respondents now expect improvement in

AFFILI TE NEWS

occupancy rates, rents, the availability of equity and debt, and employment within their own firms. On average, survey-takers expect cap rates to remain unchanged.

Respondents are now more pessimistic about construction costs, however. Most expect construction labor costs to increase, and sentiment about construction materials costs is now more pessimistic than in any prior survey. A worsening outlook for costs likely reflects current labor and material shortages but may also indicate a consensus that demand for construction will grow over the next year.

“We appear to be emerging from the pandemic, finally, with pent-up demand for goods and services and increasing reliance on delivery, which bodes well for the industrial and warehouse sector,” said Thomas J. Bisacquino, president and CEO of NAIOP. “Some mixed signals, and dramatic shortages in construction materials, remain indicative of ongoing market insecurity.”

Although respondents are broadly more optimistic, high standard deviations in

survey results suggest continued uncertainty about the future. Varying degrees of optimism among respondents may also reflect a more challenging environment for some property types and geographic markets. As in the last survey, open-ended comments suggest a brighter outlook for industrial and multifamily properties and continued difficulty for retail properties.

A majority (57.0%) of respondents expect to be most active in projects or transactions related to industrial properties over the next year. Multifamily properties attracted the next largest share of interest (20.9%), followed by office properties (17.2%). Only 4.9% of respondents indicated that they expect to be most active in retail properties.

A total of 407 respondents from 342 distinct companies participated in this survey. When individuals were asked what property types they worked on, 75.4% indicated they work on industrial properties; 70.2% work on office properties; 48.3% work on retail properties; and 44.6% work on multifamily properties. A regional breakdown shows that 48.0% of respondents are active in the West, 45.3% are active in the East, 39.7% are active in the South, and 29.3% are active in the Midwest.

NET OFFICE SPACE ABSORPTION TO TURN POSITIVE IN 2022

In its May Office Space Demand Forecast, NAIOP is projecting a return to positive absorption of office space in the fourth quarter of 2021. Quarterly net absorption in 2022 is expected to average 11.7 million square feet, in line with the 2015-2019 quarterly average of 11.6 million square feet. Net absorption is defined as the amount of space that is physically occupied at the end of one period, less the amount of space occupied at the beginning of the same period

Several factors are contributing to economic growth, with corresponding employment gains in office-using industries. During the past year, consumers saved money at unprecedented rates, increasing their disposable income. Interest rates remain low, and states continue to lift pandemic

restrictions. All signs point to an expansion in the economy with substantial support from an accommodative Federal Reserve and fiscal stimulus.

As tenants begin to return to the office, it remains to be seen whether there will be a lasting increase in remote work and how that might affect long-term demand for office space. The forecast assumes a

continued rebound in real GDP for the remainder of 2021, 2022 and 2023. Real GDP is expected to expand by 7.7% in the next two years, with average unemployment of approximately 4.5%.

The report’s authors are Hany Guirguis, PhD, Manhattan College and Michael J. Seiler, DBA, William & Mary and the University of Cambridge. View the full report here.

é Thomas J. Bisacquino

For a while, Houdini used a trap door in every single one of his shows. I guess you could say it was a stage he was going through.

while booMers hold the largest share of power, it’s interesting to note that they only make up 21.8% of the total U.S. population. Gen X comes in second place, capturing 30.4% of power, while Gen Z ranks last, snagging a mere 3.7%. Gen Alpha has yet to score on the ranking, but keep in mind that the oldest members of this generation will only be eight years old this year—they haven’t even reached double digits yet. Considering that Baby Boomers hold nearly 53% of all U.S. household wealth, it makes sense that they dominate when it comes to our measurement of Economic Power. Timing plays a role in the economic prosperity of Baby Boomers. They grew up in a post-WWII era, and spent their primary working years in a relatively stable, prosperous economy. In contrast, Millennials entered the workforce during the Great Recession and have seen only tenuous economic and wage growth, impacting their ability to accumulate wealth. Combine this with crippling amounts of student debt, and it’s no surprise that Millennials have nearly 50% less wealth than other generations (Boomers, Gen X) at a comparable age. (Chart 1)

Boomers account for 32% of all U.S. voters, and hold the majority of federal and state positions. (For instance, 68% of U.S. senators are Baby Boomers.) Political spending on election campaigns and lobbying predominantly comes from Boomers, too. In contrast, Millennials and Gen Zers barely make a splash in the political realm. That said, in the coming years, it’s estimated that the combined voting power of Millennials and Gen Z will see immense growth, rising from 32% of voters in 2020 up to 55% by 2036. (Chart 2)

Gen X leads the pack (capturing 36.0%) in Cultural Power. It is especially dominant in press and news media—over half of America’s largest news corporations have a Gen Xer as their CEO, and a majority of the most influential news personalities are also members of Gen X. This generation falls short in one key variable we looked at—the digital realm. On digital platforms, Millennials dominate when it comes to both users and content creators. (Chart 3)

For a full methodology of how Visual Capitalist built the Generational Power Index, download the whole report from our Resource Page (page 54). n

WHICH U.S. GENERATION HAS THE MOST POWER AND INFLUENCE?

é Chart 1

é Chart 2

é Chart 3

REAL

ESTATE F THE FU URE LIFE BEYOND EARTH SOM’S DESIGN IS OUT OF THIS WORLD

fiVe decades after huMans first set foot on the Moon, an initiative is underway to return—and this time, on a permanent basis. The “Moon Village” concept, first proposed by the European Space Agency (ESA), is based on global cooperation among multiple nations and industry partners. Together with ESA and faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is implementing new methods for master planning, designing, and engineering the settlement.

“Life Beyond Earth” launched in May at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. The installation transports visitors to a lunar settlement in the near future — a testing ground for new ways of living in extreme environments, a model for global collaboration in outer space, and a vision for a sustained and sustainable human presence on the Moon.

The master plan envisions a Moon Village sited on the rim of Shackleton Crater in the south polar region, on the “peaks of

eternal light” which receive near-continuous daylight throughout the lunar year. This strategic location supports the goal of a self-sufficient settlement. Sunlight can be harnessed for energy, while in-situ resources can be used to generate consumables and other life-sustaining elements. Frozen volatiles and water stored in the permanently shadowed craters near the South Pole would be extracted to create breathable air and rocket propellant for transportation and industrial activities. The settlement would be clustered and

While acquainting myself with a new elderly patient, I asked, "How long have you been bedridden?" After a look of complete confusion she answered, "Why, not for about twenty years-when my husband was alive.”

He said, “Uno, dos…” and poof! He disappeared without a tres.

A Mexican magician told the audience that he would disappear on the count of three.

expanded along strategic sites, rich in resources and scientific interest.

The Moon Village relies on modular configurations of habitable structures, integrated with numerous systems including docking capability, environmental control, and life support systems (ECLSS), health equipment, radiation shielding, and other critical features. Modules are designed to be interconnected, enabling seamless mobility throughout the settlement.

“Life Beyond Earth looks at human space exploration not simply as a design challenge but as an opportunity to create a better world,” said SOM Associate Director Georgi Petrov. “The project shows how global collaboration and resource sharing in space can lead to better outcomes for all.”

This animated film allows Biennale visitors to imagine the Moon Village in operation and understand the complexities that inform its design. It brings viewers on a journey from Earth to the Moon and demonstrates how the settlement will grow and evolve over time. n

All pictures © SOM | Slashcube GmbH Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is a global collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners, responsible for some of the world’s most technically and environmentally advanced buildings and significant public spaces. Look for a special feature about the firm in our September-October issue.

2021 CLIDE AWARDS

the north central texas Council of Governments’ Center of Development Excellence recently awarded the Celebrating Leadership In Development Excellence (CLIDE) Award to Nine (9) Award Recipients, during its 55th Annual General Assembly Meeting on June 4th.

The CLIDE Awards Program, created in 2003, recognizes public and private entities including cities, developers, architects, planners, and engineers to encourage innovative development projects and practices that will help accommodate expected growth and ensure a sustainable North Texas for generations to come.

The 2021 CLIDE AWARD recipients were: /01/ “Horse & Mule Barns and Mule Alley Rehabilitation” (Fort Worth Heritage Development, LLC, City of Fort Worth, Bennett Benner Partners and Commerce Construction Company, LP) for Redevelopment In the category of Special Development, /02/ awardees were “Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza in Old Town” (City of Burleson, TBG

Partners, Hill & Wilkinson, Bennet Benner Partners and Dunaway Associates); and /03/ “Open Farmers Branch” (City of Farmers Branch and WGI). Public Planning and Policy winners were: /04/ “Bobcat Trail at Traditions Field Master Plan” (City of Celina and Norris Design); /05/ “Collins/Arapaho Transit-Oriented Development & Innovation District Form Based Code” (City of

Richardson, Kimley-Horn, Jacobs, and Strategic Community Solutions); “Como/Sunset Heights Neighborhood Empowerment Zone Strategic Plan and Design Guidelines” (City of Fort Worth); “Comprehensive Environmental Climate Action Plan” (City of Dallas); “South Main Urban Village Redevelopment” (City of Fort Worth and Near Southside Inc.); and /06/ Raising Public Awareness was awarded to “Practical Creek Care: A Handbook for Stewardship” (City of Arlington). There were no winners in the New Development category.

A total of 26 applications were submitted from the NCTCOG’s 16-county North Central Texas region. An applicant must receive a unanimous vote from the jury to win a CLIDE Award.

For more information, visit www.developmentexcellence.com

technology firMs are starting to branch outside of city centers and open offices in outskirts, suburbs and mid-market cities. These locales offer less expensive facilities, plentiful space to enable social distancing, and – in some cases – very attractive tax incentives. This pivot to the mid-cap markets has another major advantage; the tech industry’s most coveted talent appears to be making a similar move out of the big cities.

Today, the tech sector’s talent pool consists of a variety of generational groups, working styles and personality types. This diversity of experience and thinking is a powerful driver for innovation, and as such will require a more dynamic approach to the workplace, especially for an industry perpetually engaged in a war for top talent.

On average, the tech industry has a very high employee turnover rate, an 18.3% globally. In assessing the cause of this churn, many tech firms have started to explore the impact of personality type on employee engagement and long-term retention, seeking workplace solutions beyond a “one size fits all” model to appropriately address employee needs.

To better understand their workforce, tech firms have started to use various personality assessments. Leveraging this methodology, many researchers have found a marked predominance of what are generally

TECH HELPING TECH: CONSTRUCTION AND REAL ESTATE TRENDS DRIVING FIRMS TO DIFFERENT WORKSPACES AND LOCATIONS

cycle time when compared with other roles and industries. This average is even lower in the areas surrounding major existing tech hubs, such as San Francisco (27 months) and Seattle (28 months). This kind of constant turnover is disruptive and costly, and one that the physical workforce can tangibly help mitigate.

called introverts among computer professionals, particularly software engineers. These engineers have different workplace needs than other types of employees, some of which appear in mutual opposition to the goals of the business. It’s a challenge to be sure, but it possible to offer concentration-conducive workspaces engineers need while activating shared office space. Ideally, this supports the strategic collaboration and innovation behind industry-changing ideas, products, and services.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ENGINEER

Currently, there is a major talent shortage in tech, with a particular lack of software engineers, typically the industry’s most coveted talent base. Despite rising unemployment numbers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, technically qualified candidates are becoming increasingly hard to resource and onboard. This talent gap is particularly glaring considering tech companies are hiring whenever and wherever they can. For example, at Google, software engineer hiring was up 12% in 2020 despite Covid19 and related economic contractions. Even with rises in hiring, 41% of IT hiring managers say finding tech talent is becoming harder every year.

In addition to challenges with attracting talent, the national average tenure for software engineers is just 35 months, a very fast

Deloitte argues that workplace amenities will continue to be a key element in attracting and retaining tech talent. While amenities like in-office dry cleaning, massage therapists, hair salons, bars and even nap pods are attractive to new employees, the future is going to require more. The focus will need to be about how to attract and retain introverted engineers, and how to unlock and harness their inherent value onsite.

Simply put, the workplace will need to enable the life of the software engineer, not impede it. This efficiency, in turn, translates into an improved work/ life balance for employees, building loyalty, supporting productivity and, ultimately, reducing turnover.

THE POWER OF PEOPLE

The next evolution of the tech workplace will hinge on thoughtful, human-centric space design; a new workplace framework that encourages play and offers specific working style options for different types of workers

By leveraging quantitative and qualitative data to create a workplace that maximizes space utilization and balances every individual, their personality, workstyle and role, tech firms can create their own competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining top talent.

The agile workplace framework, Propeller, adapts according to each individual’s work and personal circumstances, their locations (office, home, and/or hub), their confidence around other people, and the experiences they need to have, to maximizing productivity

and sentiment. Flexibility is key, with movable and multi-purpose fixtures and furniture, and partitions and walls which can rapidly transform spaces from one function into another. Being able to quickly reconfigure spaces provides in-the-moment benefits and experiences for every team. This includes the appropriate atmosphere for every occasion, with variable lighting, room scale, soundscapes, olfactory stimulants, textures, technology, wellness amenities, and much more.

This agile framework is ideal for any industry, creating a workplace strategy that is customized to achieve companies’ business goals and meet their people needs. Using data, workplaces can be designed to support varying roles and personas, like software engineers, while providing pathways and spaces for interaction and collaboration as it fits into their workday.

As there has never been so much turnover in real estate, tech companies have a unique opportunity to capitalize on sublease space. Millions of square feet of office building space - including those occupied by tech companies - are currently underutilized. CBRE reports a 42% activity hike in their “Tech 30 Cities” from the end of 2019 to August 2020, revealing that there is more sublease space and co-working options available than at any other time in history. For tech companies, this rapid change requires a cogent, enterprise-level real estate strategy that enables maximum flexibility for unforeseen peaks and valleys in workplace occupancy and space needs. Even in unpredictable markets, this can ensure a resilient global portfolio and a satisfied workforce.

Get the whole book (on which this article is based) here n

Did you hear about the kidnapping at school?

It's okay. He woke up.

ALBERT DE PLAZAOLA albert.deplazaola@unispace.com

Albert De Plazaola is a Principal at Unispace, a global design and construction firm.

So, I bought her nothing.

THE FACTOR MUSEUMS ARE A SPECIALTY

I asked my wife what she wanted for Christmas. She told me, "Nothing would make her happier than a diamond necklace."

we featured daniel libeskind and his awesome designs in our December 2017 issue. And since then, the New York office of Studio Libeskind has continued to create one visual masterpiece after another – all over the world!

Tivka Jewish Museum in the Belém district of Lisbon, Portugal /01/ is being developed with local architect Miguel Saraiva. It is a 41,650 sq ft exhibition space that will “tell the yet untold story of the Jews in Portugal, their culture and history,” according to Studio Libeskind. “At the same time, it is to be a project that looks forward, celebrating religious tolerance and cultural.” Its design is intended to “echo the scale of the historic city” and will be divided into five adjoining segments. (The idea of creating

five interlocking volumes comes from the number of letters in the museum’s name (Tivka) – which means ‘hope’ in Hebrew.

In addition to the Lisbon museum, Studio Libeskind has completed several Jewish museums since its founding in 1989, including the Jewish Museum Berlin, the

Danish Jewish Museum (in Copenhagen) and San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum.

Other recent proposals by the studio include Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind in Kenya /02/ and an angular archeology museum in Northern Chile /03/.

Studio Libeskind was enlisted to design Ngaren: The Museum of Humankind by Kenyan paleoanthropologist, conservationist and politician Richard Leakey. It will be built on a cliff edge where Leakey found the most complete skeleton of early man, known as the Turkana Boy. The museum is intended to provide an "unprecedented educational and scientific experience", covering two million years of human history. It will track evolution, biodiversity, overpopulation, war, disease, the effects of climate change and the pivotal role of Africa. "The museum will be a place for discovery, wonder, and contemplation," said Libeskind. "Through the architecture and exhibitions, Ngaren will anchor all walks of life to Africa: the epicenter of human existence."

The Museo Regional de Tarapacá in the northern Chilean port city of Iquique will feature jagged, earthy concrete walls, intended to evoke "the stark landscape of the Atacama Desert" – one of the driest places in the world. The works on show will cover more than 6,000 years of history of northern Chile – including pre-Hispanic history of the Atacama Desert, the colonial history of Chile, its mining years and the present day. n

AFFILI TE NEWS

CoreNet Global Announced the 2021 Winners of its Awards for Professional Excellence and Sustainable Leadership in Corporate Real Estate

The winners and finalists in each category will compete for the 2021 H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator’s Award. The competition will take place virtually in July and the winners will be announced during the CoreNet Global Summit in Seattle in November.

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

WINNERS:

HKS, Inc. - Historic Adaptive Reuse Corporate Office in Fort Worth, Texas Siemens Ltd - Siemens Real Estate, India Bangladesh -AVATAR: Remote Monitoring Center for Real Estate Infrastructure, Utilities and Security systems

FINALISTS:

CBRE - Introducing Office Ready, CBRE’s Quick Design-Deliver Solution for Office Space

FCA - EisnerAmper New York City Headquarters Space Matrix - [β]Lab - A first-of-its-kind exploratory workplace

SUSTAINABLE LEADERSHIP AWARD

WINNERS:

Genentech – Genentech/City of South San Francisco Master Plan Stok/Salesforce - Salesforce Sustainable Global Real Estate Program

FINALIST:

Cundall - Productivity Mapping

ZHUHAI OPERA HOUSE

Zhuhai opera house, designed by Ma Long and completed in 2017, is located on the shores of the island in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China. It has a total building area of 635,000 sq ft, including 1,550 seat opera house, a 550 seat multifunction theatre, and a 350-seat outdoor theater. The scallop shape is from the natural curve along the coast and represents ‘the brilliant sun and entrancing moon’. The Concert Hall has a lobby, auditorium, and stage for broad-scale musical drama, musicals, ballet, stage drama, symphonies, chamber music, opera and other large-scale performances and variety shows and, of course, it is equipped

THE FACTOR

with a world-class acousto-optic and stage technical effects.

It is light and dynamic. Inspiration for the layout of the site came from the receding tides in the evening, accompanied by the moonrise. The sea and the sky gradually merged into one another, forming an ancient poetic conception of “The river tides fluctuate along the sea level and the moon cycles together”. n

DIVERSI NS HE SAID | SHE SAID – PART III

Man: Your place or mine?

Woman: Both. You go to yours, and I'll go to mine.

Man: Hey baby, what’s your sign?

Woman: Do not enter.

Man: Where have you been all my life?

Woman: Hiding from you.”

Man: Haven't I seen you someplace before?

Woman: Yes. That's why I don't go there anymore.

Man: Is this seat empty?

Woman: Yes, and this one will be, too, if you sit down.

Man: So, what do you do for a living?

Woman: I'm a female impersonator.

Man: How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Woman: Unfertilized.

Man: Your body is like a temple.

Woman: Sorry, there are no services today.

Man: I would go to the end of the world for you.

Woman: But would you stay there?

Man: If I could see you naked, I’d die happy.

Woman: If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing.

You know you're ugly when it comes to a group picture, and they hand you the camera.

The Chapter held its Golf Tournament on May 7th at Tapatio Springs Golf Resort.

A NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO BUSINESS COLLECTIONS

Business-to-business debts require special, focused expertise and finesse... and the selection of your commercial collection service is an important decision. It revolves around Service, Trust and Recovery. Rates are important, and recovery is the objective (the bottom line)... but there is more to it.

The company you choose will be handling your money, talking to your customers, and representing you in the marketplace. You want your money as soon as possible – but you don’t want to lose clients.

At Arsenal Business Collections (ABC), you’re never out-of-pocket for our services. We collect (at prearranged terms) and when – and only when –we succeed (i.e., once we collect money owed to you), do we get paid. There is no fee UNLESS and UNTIL we collect!

Our payment is contingent upon your recovery – so our success is integrally tied to yours.

As a privately-owned company, we make decisions based on what is best for clients, not shareholders or outside investors. Our focus is exclusively on improving your bottom line, and we have the knowledge and experience to deliver exceptional results.

It’s

HIGHRISE HONORS THE FINALISTS

eVery two years since 2004, the city of Frankfurt, Germany along with two partners – Deutsches Architekturmuseum (German Architecture Museum) and DekaBank – has given out the International Highrise Award to a building over 330 feet - “a structure that combines exemplary sustainability, external shape and internal spatial quality, not to mention social aspects, to create a model design.” The entries are judged on their future-oriented design, functionality, innovative building technology, integration into the urban fabric, sustainability and economic feasibility. The prize, a statuette by the internationally renowned artist Thomas Demand and EUR 50,000 (approximately $60,800) is awarded to the planners and developers jointly.

China has figured prominently in this competition over recent years, and this year was not exception. Ten of the 31 entries were from China, as was one of the five finalists – the (45story) Leeza SOHO in Beijing. Designed by Zaha Hadid before her death (in 2016). It is a twisting officer tower divided in two by a 600-foot-tall atrium – the tallest in the world – and its glass exterior hides what are actually two towers.

Another finalist was The Stratford in London, the design for which came from the New York office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. With its deep recesses and the varying room sizes, as well as the publicly accessible green spaces, the building brings together "design living with a design hotel," according to the jury.

A third was OmniTurm, which is different than the other skyscrapers in Germany's Frankfurt am Main. Designed by the Bjarke Ingels Group from New York / Copenhagen, stands out because of its hybrid facilities - gastronomy, office space, apartments, and shops, all under one roof.

Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.

é Leeza Soho

é è The Stratford

é OmniTurn

I named my dog ‘Five Miles’ so I could tell people that I walk 5 miles every day.

Eden, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, was also a finalist. It is a (20-story) residential complex in Singapore in which each apartment occupies a full floor and includes several balconies (some packed with 20 species of vegetation). Slotted panels protect the buil ding's body while shell-shaped balconies protrude from the exterior. The flora reflects the city's motto — "City in a Garden."

Designed by OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam) and located in Stockholm, Sweden, the winning entry (in this, the ninth biennial award ceremony) was Norra Tornen (Northern Towers). Its two towers (32 and 36 stories tall) sit on opposite sides of a road, giving the impression of a large imposing gate. High above the city, the towers’ cubic modules with their protected balconies alternate and create an optical illusion. n



THE AWARD WINNER: NORRA TORNEN 

AMAZ NG BU LDINGS

ANGELA O’BYRNE aobyrne@e-perez.com

BUILDINGS CLAD IN STORIES:

THE RISE OF STATEMENT FAÇADES

eVery structure tells a story. Sometimes, it’s the relatively straightforward story of its function: train terminals, grain silos, and sports arenas generally follow the contours of their purposes. Sometimes, a building’s story is bound to a commemoration or dedication. The Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids, and the Parthenon all pay tribute to gods and favored mortals. And sometimes, a building’s iconic design becomes the story—as is the case with the Sydney Opera House, the Chrysler Building, or the Eiffel Tower.

However, in each of these stories, there’s room for interpretation. The Eiffel Tower’s stark geometries were famously the subject of fierce aesthetic debate. One can find both enduring romance and troubling ostentation in the Taj Mahal. And as we saw in our last issue, a train terminal’s story can launch an entire movement to restore historic architecture.

But now, in an age of monumental gestures and tourist-courting designs, we may be seeing the rise of a new class of building. These structures tell stories that are more didactic than open-ended, with their stories printed right on their skin. While murals, mosaics, and frescos are nothing new, these two buildings come with their interpretations pre-loaded—as if serving as architectural press releases for their regions.

Northwest of Hong Kong lies the Chinese city of Guangzhou, a wealthy port that historically connected the Pearl River to the

international traders. It was here that the Silk Road met the South China Sea, and today it’s surrounded by China’s most populous and developed metropolitan region. Like many Chinese cities, Guangzhou has seen a surge of construction in recent decades, including the Sunac Guangzhou Grand Theatre.

Billowing like a silk scarf in the wind, the Grand Theatre would be notable enough for its rippled aluminum cladding, made up of thousands of triangular tiles. The nearly windowless crimson structure was purpose-built by Steven Chilton Architects for Franco Dragone, a theatrical impresario and Cirque de Soleil

My wife likes it when I blow air on her when she's hot, but honestly... I'm not a fan.

Angela O’Byrne, FAIA, is President of Perez, APC, a 70+ year-old architecture, planning, interior design, and construction firm. She is also a Contributing Editor of

alumnus with a flair for the flamboyant. The theatre houses a round amphitheater, rigged for acrobatics and containing a 9-meter-deep pool that can be raised or lowered for aquatic performances.

Perhaps most notably, however, is the Theatre’s embellished facade. The building’s bright red exterior boasts two layers of graphics. The subtler, darker background print recalls contemporary tattooing with its intricate, radiating line-work. Superimposed over this is a layer of golden illustrations that recall delicate embroidery and complete the effect of narrative tapestry. Based on a local myth, “100 Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix,” the building itself becomes a kind of allegory for art, patronage, and performance. The effect is like a picture book, as the building makes its case for Guangzhou as a hub for artistic endeavors.

Thousands of miles away from Guangzhou is another wealthy port city with a daring, donut-shaped cultural center: Dubai. In this case, it’s the audaciously named Museum of the Future, whose relatively vague mandate promises “a hopeful future for all” and pledges to be “a place of tolerance, inviting varied cultural, philosophical, social and spiritual outlooks.”

The $136 million project, led by Dubai’s Killa Design, contains four floors of exhibition space. Its 77-meter-tall metallic form looks like a stretched, asymmetrical ring—an opulent and shiny sculpture in the middle of the desert. Like its neighbor the Burj Khalifa, its goal is clear: to signify Dubai’s presence as a global beacon for trade and wealth and draw seven-star tourists to the lavish city.

Any reading of the Museum, however, is dominated by the building’s bold incorporation of Arabic calligraphy on its façade. The building is inscribed with excerpts from a poem written by the Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. At night, the script—which also serve as the structure’s windows—is illuminated from within. Ironically, despite their prominence, the designers have yet to specify what the quotations actually say or signify. Without a transcript, the fragments mainly serve as an elaborate signature of the country’s autocratic leader.

As with the Grand Theatre, the Museum of the Future made extensive use of digital modeling technologies. Both projects feel so thoroughly contemporary that one can’t imagine them without software’s role in their conception. In fact, many of the Museum’s components were 3D-printed to bring its precise rendered forms to life, and the project even leveraged a “digital growth algorithm” to manage its wildly complex logistics.

With both buildings, one also senses the designer planned a digital appreciation, too. Both buildings feel tailor made for Instagram feeds and blog posts with their singular ideas and narrative hooks. It’s fitting, then, that their stories are prescribed, controlled, and brief. It’ll be fascinating to see whether there’s room for interpretation of their stories in the future, or whether they simply serve as very expensive essays. n

ANTHONY ROMANO a.romano@cretelligent.com

Anthony Romano is the CEO of CREtelligent.

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANIES

CAN ESTABLISH POST-PANDEMIC

SUCCESS THROUGH DIGITAL MODERNIZATION

the coMMercial real estate (CRE) industry has rapidly adapted to the ever-changing conditions of the past year’s pandemic by updating business operations and adopting emerging technology platforms to help streamline operations. Now, as recovery begins to take hold and industry professionals prepare to move forward, there is growing recognition that adaptions to emerging technology to complete daily projects, quickly access data insights, complete due-diligence workflows, and transform to more efficient processes is now required to stay competitive post-pandemic.

While many new technologies have been adopted over the past year, expediting property due diligence may prove to be one of the most strategically beneficial practices amid a commercial real estate environment presenting shifting and rapid opportunities. Instead of manual spreadsheets and elongated reviews of opportu-

nities, commercial real estate professionals who utilize advanced due diligence platforms can determine essential environmental risks in minutes, manage total risk longer-term, and save time and money.

CRE companies must invest in platforms that simplify and accelerate the due diligence process. Platforms are available that provide streamlined access to property information and enable investors to order thirdparty opinions for property value, all with one press of a button. “Pre-screen” assessments and full-scale reporting with quick and immediate capabilities, in a one-stop-shop, will save investors time and money, and enable them to navigate potential roadblocks. Previously, this process could take weeks. Now CRE professionals can move from worksheets to streamlined workflows; they can search and receive nearly instantaneous environmental reports and support fastmoving transactions.

What does the future of the CRE industry look like?

Companies using emerging digital innovations will be well positioned to not only survive the next cycle in the market, but also take advantage of investment opportunities that are sure to come out of the pandemic. As CRE professionals prepare for the future, they should be ready for new challenges and opportunities. This last year’s sudden transition from in-person to remote interactions is a prime example of how CRE professionals need to be prepared for new and often unforeseen changes.

As some businesses decide to keep employees working remotely or adopt a hybrid model, there is less need for office space. According to a Forbes article, CRE professionals around the country should consider repurposing vacant office spaces to apartments or smaller office spaces.

For example, as the boost of e-commerce rapidly took hold of the marketplace, investors needed to find new uses for underutilized spaces, such as re-purposed warehouses to support growing demand, or brands finding new opportunities to expand into regions where they seek to grow a presence. The complexity continues with certain regions experiencing transformations amid an uneven rebound that is reflective of new patterns and expectations set during the year-long pandemic.

Regardless of the best strategy, time is of the essence when executing strategically important real estate transactions. By speeding up all the due diligence processes, CRE professionals can then move on an asset – or move on to their next prospective investment.

Whether its updating outdated processes, finding new ways to revitalize currently underused workspaces post-pandemic, or ushering in faster and more accurate access to the ‘whole product’, now more than ever, CRE professionals have the technology to streamline the whole due diligence process more efficiently. Implementing end-to-end due diligence platforms will ensure businesses are poised to respond to current and future opportunities and be involved in the predicted economic boom of 2021. n

If the rain doesn't stop tomorrow, I'll have to let her in.

It's been raining for 3 days without stopping. My wife is so depressed, she is standing and staring through the window.

AFFILI TE NEWS

CREW SAN ANTONIO MAY LUNCHEON

the chapter held its May member luncheon at the beautiful San Antonio Country Club. During the very well attended event, both in person and online, members enjoyed updates given by Tom Long, Chief Development Officer for the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, presenting Amazon's Alamo City. He discussed facilitating Amazon’s expansion in San Antonio, shared his behind-the-deal insight, discussed impacts of a more than two million square feet of real estate expansion, and shared what else is on the horizon for San Antonio. The defining factors for businesses when it comes to choosing San Antonio are the “availability of labor, the cost of labor, and the city’s ability to put together a package that sells San Antonio as a business-friendly community.”

The chapter’s Charity Committee held a clothing donation drive for Dress for Success San Antonio in addition to presenting the organization with a $1,000 check (the proceeds from the Kendra Scott Charity Shopping Event in February). Items donated by members included professional apparel, shoes, jewelry, and handbags.

Student members graduating in May from UTSA were presented with a CREW cord during the luncheon as well. n

DIVERSI NS YOU CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! (EVEN MORE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES)

é (L-R) Sarah Esserlieu (Centro San Antonio), Jennifer Mansour (Broadway Bank), Laura Gilliland (UTSA and chapter President-Elect), Tom Long (SAEDF), Dawn Vernon (Bain Medina Bain and chapter President)

é (L-R) Giselle Crawford (USI Southwest), Kristin Savage (LK Design),Stephanie Shokrian (Dress for Success SA), Dawn Vernon (Bain Medina Bain and chapter President), Pamela Canales(Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.)

é (L-R) Laura Gilliland (UTSA and chapter President-Elect), Ethan Sellers, Shelby Rowland, Anthony Kuri, Sarah Esserlieu (Esserlieu (Centro San Antonio),Robin Grove, Dawn Vernon (Bain Medina Bain and chapter President)

BRICK-AND-MORTAR RETAIL ISN’T DYING, IT’S EVOLVING

they are closing in 2021, with a nearly 40% increase in year-over-year store opening announcements. This is due in part to businesses’ ability to pivot at least a percentage of their business to online sales to enhance their overall resiliency, with e-commerce growing from 11% of retail sales in 2019 to 14% in 2020. To meet rising demands and the change in operations, employment in the warehousing and storage sector grew 8% from January 2020 to January 2021, as businesses shifted from storefronts to increase their warehousing capacities and facilitate online orders. NLC’s analysis shows that retail job losses due to COVID-19 were heavily concentrated in sectors already on the decline prior to the pandemic, with clothing, sporting goods, hobby, book and music and electronic stories experiencing between 15 and 25 percent drop in employment over the past year. Although traditional retail mainstay positions such as cashiers are on the decline, retail employment is rebounding due to increased employment of stockers, order fillers, and service drivers to meet rising demands for convenient online shopping.

how Rochester, New York expanded its local microlending program to help small businesses and entrepreneurs gain access to capital during the pandemic, and how Charlotte, North Carolina devoted CARES Act funding to help more than 3,000 local businesses operate in a COVID-19 conscious manner.

Nonetheless, there are still long-term changes that city leaders must consider in order to support local retailers amid the growth of online retail sales, pop-up vendors, mixed-use commercial spaces, and experience-based retail and discount stores. The report includes eight key recommendations for city leaders to facilitate an inclusive recovery from COVID-19 across the retail sector:

• Focus on flexible land use codes in order to enable quick changes to meet evolving needs.

coVid-19 accelerated pre-existing trends in the retail industry, prompting changes in the way cities govern that will last far beyond the pandemic, according to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) new report, The Future of Cities: Reenvisioning Retail. The report’s analysis finds that retail industry jobs declined more rapidly than during the Great Recession, but also experienced a faster recovery due in part to the nimble adaptations of local businesses and governments. The report identifies several key trends in the future of the retail industry and provides a path forward for cities seeking to enhance the future resiliency of the retail industry in their communities.

“Retail forms the foundation of our local economies, our workforce and main streets across the country. As cities adapt to a new retail environment, it is important for local leaders to gain clarity on who may be impacted, what tools are available to facilitate the meaningful evolution of retail spaces, and what voices need to be at the decision-making table,” NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony said upon the report’s release. “Local leaders everywhere have the power to facilitate a more inclusive and equitable recovery for the small businesses, entrepreneurs and workers who are the beating heart of our economy.”

Lockdowns and major changes in consumer behavior throughout the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the survival of many retailers. More than 12,200 major retail chain store locations permanently closed in 2020 alone, translating to 159 million square feet of emptied retail space. By April 2021, the number of open small businesses decreased by 33.6 percent compared to January 2020.

Despite many business closures, retailers across the country are planning to open more stores than

In light of these rapid developments, the report identifies several key trends that will undoubtedly shape the future of the U.S. retail industry:

1. Experience-based retail is the future Consumer trends show a preference in spending for experiences more so than physical goods themselves. This also means that the types of retail jobs will change as successful retailers proactively plan for a shift in their business model and workforce.

2. Emerging technologies are revolutionizing the retail industry. As retailers embrace these new technologies, there will be a continued need to work hand-in-hand with local governments to determine their proper use and benefits to the broader community.

3. Mixed-use retail spaces are on the rise in U.S. metro regions. As retailers integrate more into decentralized, neighborhood-based locations to meet customers where they are, the demand for mixed-use commercial spaces for retailers large and small will continue to grow.

To facilitate these major shifts in retail consumer and business patterns throughout the pandemic and to continue supporting retailers as the economy reopens, local leaders also adapted to better serve the evolving needs of their residents and local businesses. City leaders implemented new policies allowing for curbside pickup and outdoor dining with unprecedented speed, engaged marginalized community members and business owners to identify the most effective ways to support them, and city administrations expedited the shifting of government operations online. The report includes detailed case studies examining how Los Angeles, California launched a program to streamline the permitting process for restaurants to create new outdoor dining spaces,

• Anticipate a blend of brick-and-mortar and online retail to meet communities’ differing needs regarding the type and amount of physical space required to run both physical and virtual businesses.

• Create community hubs to provide residents the things they need to live, work, and play outside of the business center of their cities.

• Ensure wage and workplace fairness by supporting living wages and increasing benefits so that cities can future-proof retail sector employ-ment and ensure it is supportive of worker livelihood.

• Prioritize workforce development programs to proactively address anticipated changes in labor demand and upskill workers, focusing on the soft skills that are less likely to become automated.

• Promote a diverse local business economy by fostering independent retail growth that will create strong and more equitable economic engines.

• Accelerate solutions for digital access by mapping the digital divide across the community and prioritizing the expansion of affordable broadband access.

• Embrace the use of technology and data to serve the needs of the residents by engaging in a thoughtful public process to determine what emerging technologies are right for communities and how they should be used.

To read the full report, click here. To view data visualizations from the report, click here

Reprinted from a press release with permission from The National League of Cities, the voice of America’s 19,000 cities, towns and villages in Washington, DC. n

people think all they say, fools say all they think.

THE FACTOR

TENCENT SHENZHEN HEADQUARTERS

(A/K/A TENCENT SEAFRONT TOWERS AND/OR TENCENT BINHAI MANSION)

tencent is a chinese multinational technology conglomerate (with stakes in over 600 companies, including WeChat). Founded in 1998, its subsidiaries globally market various Internet-related services and products, including entertainment, artificial intelligence, and other technology It is Asia’s largest publicly traded company and the first in Asia to pass the $500 billion valuation mark. This is its massive headquarters in Shenzhen, China (less than a two-hour drive from Hong Kong).

The campus consists of two towers connected by ‘links.’ The ‘culture link,’ at the base of the building, includes a large reception area and an exhibition space intended to introduce the company’s culture upon arrival. The ‘health link,’ beginning on the 21st floor, has a running track, a gym, a full-sized basketball court, table tennis, and foosball. And the ‘knowledge link’ starts on

the 34th floor and features rooftop gardens, a dining hall and a training center called Tencent University. The space is designed to accommodate about 10,000 employees with its technologies like facial recognition to call for an elevator and amenities like a massive swimming pool. See a video of the futuristic building here. n

DIVERSI NS HUMAN RESOURCES

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources person asked the hot-shot young engineer, fresh out of MIT, "And what starting salary were you looking for?"

The engineer coolly said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer said, “Well, what would you say to a package of 5 weeks’ vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental,

company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years for starters... say, a red Corvette?"

The engineer tried to control his excitement, but sat straight up and said, “Wow! Are you kidding?"

"Yeah," the interviewer shrugged, "but you started it."

I’m so poor I can't even pay attention.

the architecture of barcelona, Spain has had a parallel evolution to that of the rest of Catalan and Spanish architecture, and has followed the many trends in the history of Western architecture. Various cultures and civilizations have contributed their concept of art and have left their legacy for posterity, from the first Iberian settlers, through the Roman colonizers, the Visigoths, and a brief Islamic period.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF BARCELONA

With the re-establishment of Parliament in 1980, the palace was renovated and it once again became the seat of Parliament.

The fortifications of the Ciutadella were demolished following a revolution in 1868, but the arsenal, chapel and governor's palace were retained. The rest of the site was landscaped and opened to the public as the /02/ Parc de la Ciutadella. At this point, the arsenal was converted into a temporary barracks. For decades following its creation in the mid-19th century, this 70-acre park (which include the city zoo) was the city's only green space.

Until the nineteenth century, Barcelona was contained within walls. It was a military place, so its growth was limited. Built between 1717 and 1727, the /01/ Palace of the Parliament of Catalonia was an arsenal situated on the grounds of the Ciutadella, a fort built by Philip V of Spain after the War of the Spanish Succession (1714) to maintain control and to prevent the Catalans from rebelling (as they had in the previous century). At that time, it was the largest fortress in Europe. After the Ciutadella was demolished in the mid-19th century, the building was used for various purposes, including a barracks, a royal palace, and an art museum. The palace was the meeting place of the Parliament of Catalonia from 1932 to 1939, when it was dissolved during the Spanish Civil War.

Growth began with the demolition of the walls and the donation of the park to the city, a fact that was reflected in the /03/ Eixample (expansion district) designed by Ildefonso Cerdá (a Spanish urban planner and engineer who is considered the founder of modern town planning as a discipline, having coined the then new word “urbanization”).

The Eixample has long straight streets, a strict grid pattern crossed by wide avenues, and square including Antoni Gaudí. His works in the Eixample include the /04/ Casa Milà and the /05/ Casa Batlló, and the /06/ Church of the Sagrada Família. Other architects who made significant, and certainly more numerous, contributions to giving the Eixample its characteristic appearance include Josep

Puig i Cadafalch (who designed the /07/ Casa Martí) Josep Domènech i Estapà (who designed the /08/ Fabra Observatory), Josep Vilaseca i Casanovas (who designed /09/ Torre Urquinaona) and perhaps above all Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, responsible for a total of over 500 buildings in the city (including the /10/ Church of the Sacred Heart).

The architectural development in the twentieth century, emphasizing innovation, urban planning, ecological values, and sustainability, has turned Barcelona a cutting-edge city in the architectural field. In fact, the architectural heritage of the

I'm changing my name to 'Benefits' on Facebook. Next time someone adds me, it will say, ‘You are now friends with Benefits.’

city enjoys a special protection by virtue of the Law 9/1993 of the Catalan Cultural Heritage that guarantees the protection, conservation, research, and diffusion of the cultural heritage.

Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city (and the city’s bid for the 1936 Summer Olympics, which were awarded to Berlin), /11/ The Olympic Stadium was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Also in 1929, /12/ the Palau Nacional de Barcelona (which holds the National Art Museum) was completed. /13/ MACBA Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum was completed between 1991 and 1995.

There are so many picturesque buildings throughout the city of Barcelona that it is impossible to do the city justice here. There is a story at every corner. We highly recommend that you revisit the pictorial on the work of Anton Gaudí which appeared in our January-February issue (and which you can access here) and this more comprehensive guide to the city’s architectural gems (which you can access here).

Barcelona is a sister city of San Francisco, a pictorial of which appears on pages 16-17 n

2021 SKYSCRAPER (IDEA) COMPETITION

eVolo is an architecture and design magazine focused on technological advances, sustainability, and innovative design for the 21st Century. It promotes and discusses avant-garde ideas generated in schools and professional studios around the world - a medium to explore the reality and future of design with up-to-date news, events, and projects.

Established in 2006, its annual Skyscraper Competition recognizes outstanding ideas that redefine skyscraper design through the implementation of novel technologies, materials, programs, aesthetics, and spatial organizations. For the 2021 edition, the magazine received 492 projects from around the world. The 5-person jury selected 3 winners and 20 honorable mentions.

First place was awarded to Living Skyscraper designed by Ukrainians Andrii Lesiuk, Mykhaylo Kohut, Sofiia Shkoliar, Kateryna Ivashchuk, Nazarii Duda, Mariia Shkolnyk, Oksana-Daryna Kytsiuk, and Andrii Honcharenko. The project imagines the use of genetically modified trees

to shape them into living skyscrapers (here pictured in New York City) that offer green habitable spaces to cities.

The recipients of the second place awardwere Amit Deutch, Roni Dominitz, and Tamar Kerber from Israel for the Lluvioso Skyscraper. These novel high-rises gather rainwater to refill Mexico City’s groundwater supply.

Hmong Skyscraper, designed by Xiangshu Kong, Xiaoyong Zhang, and Mingsong Sun from China, received the third place award. The proposal envisions a sky frame that allows traditional Hmong houses to plug in. The skyscraper grows vertically and horizontally with the addition of urban spaces.

Read more about each of these projects, see many of the projects which received honorable mention, see all of the winners since 2006, and learn more about eVolo here. n

DIVERSI NS CHURCH HUMOR

Over the massive front doors of a church, the words ‘The Gates of Heaven ‘were inscribed. Below that was a small cardboard sign which read: ‘Please use other entrance.’

Rev. Warren J. Keating, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Yuma, AZ, says that the best prayer he ever heard was: "Lord, please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am."

During a children's sermon, Rev. Larry Eisenberg asked the children what ‘Amen’ means. A little boy raised his hand and said, "It means 'Tha-thatha- that’s all folks!”

A student was asked to list the 10 Commandments in any order. His answer? "3,6,1,8,4, 5, 9,2,10, 7".

Bill Keane, creator of the Family Circus cartoon strip told of a time when he was penciling one of his cartoons and his son Jeff said, "Daddy, how do you know what to draw?" I said, "God tells me." Jeff said, “Then why do you keep erasing parts of it?"

After the church service, a little boy told the pastor: “When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." “Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."

If I wanted to hear from an asshole, I'd fart.

é Living Skyscraper

é Hmong Skyscraper

é Lluvioso Skyscraper

I wanted to lose 10 pounds this year. Only 13 to go.

PROFILES OF SURV VAL

ROXANA TOFAN roxana@clearintegritygroup.com

LISA MOCHEL VICE PRESIDENT OF TREASURY MANAGEMENT & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT LONE STAR CAPITAL BANK

how Many of you who enjoy going into the bank branch were forced to rely on drive thru banking and 800 number customer service calls as banks were forced to close their doors to customers at the beginning at the pandemic and for many months? I prefer online banking and ATM service myself, but when I had to handle an error or open bank accounts for a new property, it was certainly easier to just walk into the bank and immediately take care of business. COVID didn’t give banks and their customers in person solutions for over a year.

Lisa Mochel is the Vice President of Treasury Management and Business Developer Officer at Lone Star Capital Bank in San Antonio, Texas. The bank has seven branches serving the San Antonio and Texas Hill Country communities, and recently opened their first location in Austin. A passionate business professional in the banking industry for over 25 years, Lisa has always been most enthusiastic about serving business customers - in person.

Roxana: Lone Star Capital Bank prides itself on providing service to business customers always from a familiar face. How did you make that “familiar face” possible during the COVID restrictions?

Lisa: We did have to close our doors but opened them by appointment. We switched to drive thru operations, and we also took banking to our customers as needed. Customers relied on online banking because we have full treasury management products and services. They still had direct access to us and didn’t have to call an 800 number. We took loan documents to their businesses when necessary and even delivered deposit slips and deposit bags. Whatever they needed. We were available at our direct numbers and helped our customers via phone anytime. As soon as we were able to open the front doors, we took all the necessary precautions to open safely and did it immediately.

Roxana: What about bank staff?

Lisa: The bank has been extremely good to the employees as well. For those of us that continued to work in the office, we always wore masks. For the employees who had young children and were affected by closed schools or closed day care centers, we immediately switched them to work from home or accommodated them on a rotation schedule. We actually still have people that are working remotely. We are making it work for both their families, our staff and our customers.

Roxana: How was business during all this?

Lisa: Last year was one of our most successful years. Our customers continue to send us great referrals, so we continue to open new accounts and attract new business. People found that the big banks were not there for them when they needed the most assistance, so we stepped up and helped those who reached out. We also processed over 100 Paycheck Protection Program loans and that kept us busy taking care of customers and new customers.

It certainly makes a positive difference to someone when their well-being, family or business are put first ahead of any other banking operations. One of my favorite restaurants, Republic of Texas, banks with Lone Star Capital and shared this: “We have enjoyed banking with Lone Star Capital Bank for the last 19 years. You can’t find Private Banking anymore where folks look after you, care about you, and treat you as an individual. You’re not just a number or a piece of a computer. They do banking the good old fashioned way.”

How many of us can say, “My banker comes to me”? Lone Star Capital Bank customers certainly share many similar stories. n

Roxana Tofan is a commercial real estate and business broker and the founder and owner of Clear Integrity Group in San Antonio. She is also a Contributing Editor of

ADAM MAY

Adam May is the Vice President of Product Implementation at Property Damage Appraisers, Inc. adam.may@pdaorg.net

as the adVocate for your client, your knowledge of every aspect of real estate must be top-notch. Clients trust and rely on you to know the answer to every question they have – even if they aren’t always really focused on real estate. You can certainly try to be educated about everything, but that would take much needed focus from your primary goal of filling commercial vacancies. What are your other options? And how do you make sure nothing gets missed, there are no delays, and you can focus on the higher priority pieces?

When facing a property damage claim, the carrier will determine if the damage is “covered property” and if the loss was caused by a “covered cause of loss.” As an advocate for the insured, you may also be tasked with ensuring certain steps are taken to make the process as seamless as possible. Be prepared to:

• Give the insurance carrier prompt notice of the loss or damage, along with the how/when/where details needed.

• Take all reasonable steps to mitigate the loss by protecting damaged property from secondary damage or additional loss. When possible, secure images to document damage or secure the damaged property for future examination.

• When expenses are incurred for emergency or temporary repairs, retain all records for consideration in the settlement of the loss.

• Act as a liaison between all parties involved, including contractors.

Regardless of the type of claim or circumstances, finding the right team of contractors and vendors is key to getting your client’s property listed and sold at top dollar.

Claim filing is the one constant with property damage, yet the details can vary greatly. This can be an involved and intricate process requiring the finesse and expertise of an insurance-minded professional. Just after major weather-related events and other catastrophes, owners may have to wait days or even weeks for reconstruction to begin. Processing the claim quickly is critical to returning to business

PROPERTY DAMAGE APPRAISALS

as soon as possible, and the process begins with the appraisal.

Accurate, expedited appraisals are a vital piece of the claim puzzle and are done by your insurance-assigned company or can be outsourced to one of your client’s choosing. An appraisal company will use its expertise to walk you through the steps of how a property appraisal is written and what the insurance company will look for when evaluating the claim. It can assist in avoiding the hiccups which can occur if the claim is written incorrectly, inaccurately, or has missing information.

Traditionally an insurance carrier would send a representative to the property to review damages. As we all know, the pandemic required a shift in what was the norm and, like everyone, insurance adjusters had to adjust their usual routine. Many carriers began relying on the property owner for photos of property damage or in doing a virtual survey. While this provided continuous serviceability, it was sometimes to the detriment of the client. When an appraisal is not done well, items may be missed, which is why property appraisal companies have been steadfast in their in-person service offerings to ensure customer satisfaction.

At first glance, the damage may appear to be a quick and easy claim, which your insurance company will be eager to close as quickly as possible. While we all want

things done quickly, it should not be at the sacrifice of accuracy. If the claim is completed too hastily, you may later encounter additional damage which was not initially apparent such as a severed security system, electrical issues, or water damage due to outside exposure, etc. These items are called secondary damage and should be part of an all-encompassing review by your appraiser. It is of utmost importance to review every inch of the facility damaged; without doing so. you may miss the opportunity to tag these items on to the claim once closed.

Cycle time is critical for all involved in a property damage claim. A delay in cycle time can result in increased risk for the insurance company as well as the property owner. The potential to recover lost revenue, lost wages, lowered productivity, and more can cause a surge in overall costs. Therefore, many property owners will choose to hire their own appraiser. Ask questions such as what is involved in pricing, does the company offer a bundled option to reduce costs, and what will be the cycle time?

Insurance policies are custom designed to fit the individual needs of each policy holder. Equipment and buildings depreciate. Tenants change, and contents within their units vary daily. Because of these factors, being well informed of the coverage your client has will help as you navigate the long, winding road to restoration. n

The sun is going to go out in 4 billion years, and you sit there and act like everything is fine.

AMERICANS MOVED DURING THE LOCKDOWN

the pandeMic has changed almost every aspect of life as we know it, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that where and how Americans live has also been affected. Some older people are retiring earlier than they might otherwise have, and some young people are leaving the cities. And they aren’t being replaced by new residents.

In the largest cities, billions of dollars of tax revenue are being erased and rents are decreasing. Higher income neighborhoods lost more people to migration than lower income neighborhoods. The South (especially Texas and Florida) added households while the Northeast lost them. This is reflected in the congressional reapportionment and an analysis of the U.S. Postal service’s permanent change of address records. New York City’s net loss of households in 2020 exceeded the previous two years combined.

The suburbs of large metropolitan areas were the beneficiaries of this migration and with the trend of working-from-home still growing that is likely to continue for some time. People are investing in walkable “surban” masterplanned communities. Texas attracted more transplants last year than any other state, and the counties around Dallas and Fort Worth (for example) are using that population influx to lure new employers. Denton County is booming, its lakes and colleges attracting new businesses and a hot real estate market.

Texas is expected to reach a population of 40 million by 2050 according to Census Bureau estimates. The Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth,

THE FACTOR

CAPITAL GATE

Texas is not expected to equal California’s total population by 2050, though the gap between the two states will narrow significantly. Texas is the #1 destination of those who migrate from California.

Currently, the Texas GDP is $1.8 trillion dollars which means if Texas were a country, it would be the 10th largest country by GDP in the world By 2050, Texas GDP is estimated to be $2.9 trillion, making it the 8th largest country in the world by GDP, again, if Texas were a country.

There are many factors that are leading to Texas’s growth including: 1) Low taxes. There is no state income tax and property taxes are not overly high compared to other states (like California and New York); 2) Ease of doing business. According to the US Chamber of Commerce, Texas is one of the best states to do business in or start a business with its simple and easy processes to get started and low regulatory environment; 3) The weather. Texas straddles two main weather climates, the dry and hot southwest and the warm moist southeast along the Gulf of Mexico. Most of Texas has warm or mild winters; 4) Cost of living. Texas has a unique situation, having below average cost of living but higher than average incomes. Texans enjoys a higher quality of living, well above the national average; 5) Jobs. With many large companies relocating to Texas, the state leads the nation in the number of jobs added each year since 2016 and it has been in the top 5 states for job growth since 2002.

Despite all the migration, there’s still plenty of room in Texas - the second largest

capital gate, also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is a skyscraper in Abu Dhabi, UAE that is over 520 ft tall, 35 stories high, with over 170,000 sq ft of usable office space and a hotel on floors 18 through 33. It is one of the tallest buildings in the city and was designed to incline 18° west. The structure rests on a foundation of 490 pilings that have been drilled 98 fee below ground to provide stability against strong winds, gravitational pull, and seismic pressures that arise due to the incline of the building. In June 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Capital Gate tower as the world's "farthest manmade leaning building". It was designed by London and Edinburgh-based architectural firm RMJM and was completed in 2011.

Just for comparison, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is 183.27 feet tall on its low side and 185.92 feet tall on its high side. It began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight, and it worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990, the tilt had reached 5 1/2 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees. n

I've only been wrong once, and that's when I thought I was wrong.

é Capital Gate

é Leaning Tower of Pisa

DIVERSI NS MURPHY'S LAW

“ANYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL GO WRONG .” WRONG

the adage (or epigraM) was 'born' at Edwards Air Force Base in 1949 and named after Capt. Edward A. Murphy, an engineer working on Air Force Project MX981, (a project) designed to see how much sudden deceleration a person can stand in a crash. One day, after finding that a transducer was wired wrong, he cursed the technician responsible and said, "If there is any way to do it wrong, he'll find it." The contractor's project manager kept a list of "laws" and added this one, which he called Murphy's Law. Actually, what he did was take an old law that had been around for years in a more basic form and give it a name. Before long, variants had passed into the popular imagination, changing as they went.

If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the first one to go wrong. If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.

If several things that could have gone wrong have not gone wrong, it would have been ultimately beneficial for them to have gone wrong.

If anything can't go wrong, it will anyway.

If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which something can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.

If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something. Everything takes longer than you think.

You never find a lost article until you replace it.

If nobody uses it, there's a reason. You get the most of what you need the least.

Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

Matter will be damaged in direct proportion to its value.

Mother Nature is a bitch.

Smile. Tomorrow will be worse.

Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.

Enough research will tend to support your theory.

The opulence of the front office decor varies inversely with the fundamental solvency of the firm. Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure.

The first 90 percent of a project takes 90 percent of the time; the last 10 percent takes the other 90 percent of the time. Things get worse under pressure. If it can break, it will, but only after the warranty expires.

There is always a way... and it usually doesn’t work.

IF YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING STUPID, SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE TO SEE YOU. If you meet the man of your dreams, you’ll meet his beautiful wife, too. If you change the line or lane you’re in, the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now. When you’re out in a public place, parts of your body that you can’t touch will start to itch.

At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle will arrive last.

If you drop a piece of toast, it will land on the buttered side.

The chance of a piece of bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the price of the carpet on which it falls.

Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.

TO GET A LOAN, YOU MUST FIRST PROVE THAT YOU DON’T NEED IT.

Everything takes longer than you think. Nothing is as easy as it looks. If there’s a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will case the most damage will be the one to go wrong. If there’s a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.

Every solution breeds new problems. If more than one person is responsible for a miscalculation, no one will be at fault.

Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.

There’s never time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it over. No good deed goes unpunished.

Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening.

If you’re feeling good, don’t worry; you’ll get over it.

In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.

The light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of an oncoming train. Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone.

A shortcut is the longest distance between two points.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you take your car to the carwash, the next day it will rain.

If the enemy is within range, so are you. When a broken appliance is demonstrated for the repairman, it will work perfectly. Everyone has a scheme for getting rich that will not work.

You will always find something in the last place you look.

Build a system that even a fool can use and only a fool will use it. No matter how long or hard you shop for an item, after you’ve bought it, it will be on sale somewhere cheaper.

If you throw something away, you will need it soon after. A clean shirt attracts the soup of the day.

If it says, “one size fits all,” it doesn’t fit you.

The phone will always ring when you’re sitting on the toilet.

Expenditures rise to meet income.

If you explain something so clearly that no one can misunderstand it, someone will.

If you do something which you are sure will meet with everyone’s approval, someone won’t like it. Clocks run more quickly during free time. Uncrating and assembly instructions are always inside the crate. n

If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then lefties are the only ones in their right mind.

the united states house of Representatives has 435 members who fill 435 seats based (for the most part) upon population. (No state has less than one representative, regardless of population.) Several southern and western states will increase in influence in the House of Representatives, according to the Census Bureau's decennial survey. Population changes determine apportionment, and each state's share of votes in the Electoral College, which is based upon the number of representatives in their congressional delegation.

Due to population growth, Texas' congressional delegation will increase from 36 to 38 seats. Growth in North Carolina,

THE 2020 CENSUS

TEXAS GAINS 2 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS

Florida, Oregon, Montana, and Colorado will also add seats, which will be offset by the loss of seats in New York, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, and West Virginia.

Illinois and Pennsylvania will lose a congressional district for the fifth census in a row. California will lose a congressional district for the first time in its history (though it still has more than any state, with 52 districts). New York narrowly lost a congressional district; with just 89 more residents, it would have held onto the district it lost.

The Census Bureau's release of the apportionment data is the first step for redistricting -redrawing of lines for con-

gressional, state legislative and other local government voting districts. In 25 states there are either independent, bipartisan commissions to (re)draw their maps, or there are split

chambers of the legislatures in charge. In 18 states, Republicans control both chambers of the legislature and in 7, the Democrats control the process. States under single-party political control that have seen demographic change, such as Texas, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, are at the highestrisk for gerrymandering.

In 2019, in a 5-4 decision in a case involving claims of partisan map drawing in North Carolina and Maryland, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the “partisan gerrymandering claims present political questions beyond the reach of the federal courts." So the states are left to their own devices, so to speak, and redrawing lines means an opportunity to fight for resources and combat inequalities in your community. Gerrymandering could help or hurt your district in terms of adequate medical support, economic growth, and state funding, among other things.

I can tell people are judgmental just by looking at them.

ABOUT NATALIE

like the band that played on as the Titanic sank, Christine Naman unpacked the groceries and made a meatloaf — the simple act of normalcy distracting her from an unthinkable reality: addiction was pulling her daughter under.

“Even with the picture of the situation coming more clearly into focus, I clung to denial like a kayaker who has been thrown from his boat would cling to a branch lying across

BOOK REVIEWS

and is devastated during relapses. When her daughter suffers, Christine suffers right along with her.

Interwoven with Christine’s reflections are Natalie’s compelling poems that share her personal pain and the unvarnished truth of her struggle.

the water,” Christine says. “It is amazing how deep into denial a person can go and how strongly they can hang onto it before reality smacks them around enough so that they let go.”

Christine traces her daughter's years-long battle with addiction in About Natalie, a gripping, cautionary tale of how, in spite of a loving family and a comfortable life, a child can end up on the wrong path, meet the wrong people and get lost in the unthinkable.

About Natalie takes readers deep inside Christine’s emotional and mental turmoil as she grows into her new, unfortunate role as the parent of an addict. She steps on syringes left on the floor and wrestles one from the family dog’s mouth. She lives the nightmare of finding an unresponsive child on the floor and uses Narcan to revive her. She chases away a drug dealer and stays up all night waiting for her missing child to come home. She rejoices during periods of recovery and hope

At its core, About Natalie is a story of fighting for — and right alongside — the ones we love, no matter how difficult the circumstances. It is a story of keeping the faith, battling hard and never giving up.

Bestselling author Christine Pisera Naman is a wife to a beautiful man named Peter and a mother to three fantastic kids named Jason, Natalie and Trevor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, which she does poorly; painting, again poorly; and volunteering at her local hospital, which she hopes she does well. She is the author of the Faces of Hope series of books that are now housed in the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Her other works include Caterpillar Kisses, Christmas Lights, The Novena and The Believers. About Natalie is her heart poured onto paper.

She hopes that by sharing her family’s difficult story she can bring understanding and knowledge to those who do not know the problem firsthand as well as provide comfort to those who know the nightmare of addiction all too well.

information exchange, as well as customized solutions versus commoditized inputs.

These have led to new types of business transactions. Long-term agreements, exclusivity, strategic relationships, joint ventures, and partnerships have grown versus oldstyle competitive price bidding. Yet many of us learned negotiating based on rules and tips that are no longer suited for the current environment.

HOW CREATIVE CONFLICT CAN PROPEL YOUR BUSINESS NEGOTIATIONS

A modern focus for business negotiators that addresses the evolving nature of B2B transactions the business landscape has changed dramatically over the last many years and months. Several megatrends continue to progress: globalization, technological disruption, instant

The one thing that hasn’t changed is that all negotiations involve conflict. Dealing with conflict in a creative way is the breakthrough to negotiating success. Fear and avoidance of conflict lead to poorly negotiated agreements and missed opportunities.

We need to realize that in a more complex, faster-changing business world negotiation is now more important than ever. It’s time for an upgrade and a more sophisticated negotiating approach. The modern focus for business negotiators has to address the evolving nature of business-to-business transactions.

Tell me again how I unloaded the dishwasher too loudly when you were watching golf. Detectives will want to know exactly how this went down.

Today was a terrible day. My ex got hit by a bus, and I lost my job as a bus driver.

We see this in the business world as job titles are changing from salesperson to relationship manager and from buyer or purchasing agent to vendor relations manager. While advice like “don’t split the difference” and “don’t concede first” will always be a necessary part of a negotiator’s toolkit, it misses the point in a relationship setting.

All negotiations are not the same. We developed a classification tool, the “Mobus Negotiating Continuum” with three major regions: Bargaining, Creative Deal Making, and Relationship Building. Understanding the type of negotiation — and where it lies on the continuum — will help you use the appropriate strategies and tactics. Most people dread negotiation because you can’t escape the fact that, at every level, conflict is present. After all, if you want something and I want something else, that’s conflict. We’ve been conditioned to avoid conflict and we’re uncomfortable around it. Modern society and the need or desire for getting along with others has taken the tolerance for conflict out

of us. We encourage you to look at it from a different angle. That conflict carries with it the seed for a better overall agreement. Not only better than what you might think you want for yourself but also better for your counterpart as well. Rather than shrink or shy away from conflict, our advice is to embrace the inherent conflict and allow that conflict to spark ideas that lead to well-crafted, mutually beneficial agreements.

It’s our belief and observation that agreementmaking is one of the most important skills anyone in business can possess. Skillful negotiating makes people more successful on the job, more valuable as employees or team members and leaders. It makes our jobs easier and our lives and the lives of those we work and deal with run smoother and better.

With the fast-paced changes occurring in today's world, including disruptions of all kinds such as new innovations, the way we do things is irreversibly impacted. Computers killed typewriters, digital cameras changed the face of photography, and cell phone

of bad news, notifying family members of the deceased and sitting with them as they processed a spectrum of emotions, from shock and disbelief to pain and sorrow.

With I've Seen Dead People, Francart shares her unfiltered thoughts and emotions as she navigates a world most of us cannot imagine — a world Francart was drawn to out of a genuine desire to help others during their darkest hours.

I'VE SEEN DEAD PEOPLE

Death is life’s great equalizer, and for former deputy coroner Donna Francart, shepherding survivors through the aftermath of a loved one’s unexpected passing was a calling she felt compelled to answer — at all hours — for nearly nine years.

In her new book, I've Seen Dead People: Diary of a Deputy Coroner, Francart gives readers a rare look inside the complex emotional, physical and mental ups and downs of one of society’s most mysterious — and to some, macabre — professions.

As a deputy coroner, Francart worked medicolegal death investigations, which are those involving suspicious, violent, unexplained or unexpected deaths. She was often the bearer

“Every single one of us on this earth deserves to die with dignity and respect,” she says. “If our lives are robbed from us by the hands of another, our voices must be heard, to tell the truth and seek justice. Every one of us was a mother, a father, someone's brother, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin. Everyone is someone, and that is how I handled every single case that I was on.”

Lacking access to structured debriefings, Francart turned to journaling as a way of privately unpacking the profound grief she faced in her role and preserving her own mental well-being. As she did, she found herself in a conundrum of perplexing relationships with both the living and the dead.

I've Seen Dead People also chronicles everyday moments, as Francart tried to provide as normal an upbringing as possible for her

technology forever changed, not only the way we communicate but how we conduct business. Negotiating will be more important than ever. Existing agreements may no longer be workable and will need to be re-negotiated. Resolutions to problems, compromises, and new, more creative deals need to be worked out.

Everything's affected in every industry. Professionals with the skills to negotiate creative deals, find workable solutions, and rebuild relationships are more in need than ever. To get by and prosper in the current and future, massively disrupted business world — we all need new and innovative solutions — and the skills to create them.

Bill Sanders is CEO of Mobus Creative Negotiating, a firm founded by the late Frank Mobus. Mobus's nationally recognized experts provide public seminars and private, in-house corporate training, coaching, and consulting to Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Creative Conflict: A Practical Guide for Business Negotiators (Harvard Business Review Press, June 2021).

two sons. Along the way, they all learned to share their space with the many spirits that Francart encountered, and to embrace the beauty of life.

“One thing is guaranteed, you will walk away with your eyes opened a little more, your heart more giving and your life more cherished,” she adds.

Author Donna Francart was born and raised in the Midwest. She served as a deputy coroner for nearly nine years beginning in 2007 and assisted with more than 2,000 death investigations. She now shares her life with her two adult sons, their two better halves and one granddaughter.

I've Seen Dead People is her first book and has been adapted into a screenplay by Frank Burmaster and Gary Revel, with plans to develop it for a feature film. Revel owns Jongleur Books, a publishing company associated with Mother Nature Festival Live Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit whose mission is to stop global warming. n

A copy of each of these books will be awarded as prizes in our bimonthly contest on the inside back cover.

ROSE-MARY RUMBLEY rosetalksdallas@aol.com

Rose-Mary Rumbley has written three books about her native city – Dallas. She has also written “WHAT! NO CHILI!” and a book about the 300th anniversary of the invention of the piano. She has appeared on the stage at the

nothing is More pleasurable than a stroll through an art museum, and Texas has fine museums everywhere - in large and small cities. But Texas also has great art on the streets and highways!

Dallas Summer Musicals and at Casa Mañana and was head of the drama department at Dallas Baptist University for 12 years. Today she is on the speaking circuit and teaches drama classes at Providence Christian School. Her loving views of Texas history appear in every issue of

TEXAS’S GREAT SCULPTORS

by those huge black figures that are constantly hammering there in the middle of the mall! Also, at one time WALKING TO THE SKY /02/was at the mall, but now, it's in the Nasher Museum in the Arts District of Dallas.

This piece was inspired by a story that Borofsky's father use to tell his son when he was a child about a friendly giant who lived in the sky. In each tale, father and son would travel up to the sky to talk with the giant about what needed to be done for everyone back on earth. The artist says it's "a celebration of the human potential for discovering who we are and just where we are going." This piece is so large, one can see it from the street. Borofsky has more than 35 large scale sculptures in major cities all over the world.

early, sculpting a bust of George Washington from garden mud as a child. Her family was impressed and made sure that she studied art from fine teachers in Dallas. She claimed she had an outstanding art teacher at Dallas High School, a school later named Crozier Tech. The building still stands on Bryan Street.

Tennent took many of her sculptural themes from Texas history by creating sculptures and statues of Native Americans, African American Texans, and those of Hispanic heritage. Her TEJAS WARRIOR was selected for that prominent place at the Hall of State, the dominant building in Fair Park. She served on the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Art Museum from 1934 to 1962 but is still really remembered as the forgotten artist of Texas.

died as a child. It was said she cremated his body herself and kept the ashes in a jar. The other son ran away in fear. That's odd!

She eventually opened a studio in Austin where she slept in a hammock. Everyone granted that she had a rather usual personality, but she sculpted magnificent statues of Texas heroes that now stand on the Capital grounds, on the campus of the University of Texas, and also in some libraries. Her studio is termed a park, kept intact by the Austin Park and Recreation Department. Yes, the hammock is there!

In downtown Ft. Worth just off Seventh Street there is a huge concrete statue (actually a silhouette) of MAN WITH BRIEFCASE /01/ by artist Jonathan Borofsky It's a "must see" for me and the members of my Ft. Worth tour group. And Borofsky’s art is also very noticeable at North Park in Dallas. I have always been fascinated

The State Fair of Texas will open this year on Friday, September 24th, with all the fun, food, and fine art. The statue, BIG TEX, will be there, of course, but don’t miss seeing the golden statue, TEJAS WARRIOR /03/, at the entrance to the Hall of State. This is considered the best of Allie Victoria Tennant’s work. This fabulous work of art was put in place in 1936, for the great Centennial of Texas. Art historians consider it to be among the most technically perfect and artistically noteworthy statues in the history of Texas sculpture.

Allie Victoria Tennent was born in 1892 in Dallas, into a very creative family. She showed artistic ability

As evidence of her obscurity, her obituary in the Dallas News was just a few lines.

If Allie Victoria Tennant is thought of as the forgotten artist of Texas, Elisabet Ney, is known as the "oddball" artist of Texas. Born in Germany in 1833, she too showed artistic talent as a child. She became well known when the statues of the BROTHERS GRIMM /04/ and of OTTO VON BISMARCK were displayed. She married Edmund Montgomery, who always called her "Miss Ney."

Montgomery was told that because of health problems, he needed to move to a warm climate. Where did they move? South Texas. Hempstead to be exact. She bore two sons, one who

Dallas has a new sculpture on Commerce Street at the AT&T Corporate Headquarters. It was created in 1916 by Evelyn Beatrice Longman for the new electric company, THE GENIUS OF ELECTRICITY /05/ It once stood in downtown Manhattan, but now, it has been moved to the new plaza of AT&T. See it and then wander up to 1601 Main Street and the see THE EYE! /06/ The artist, Tony Tassset, claims he used his own blood shot eye as a model. The old Praetorium Building was standing where the it sits now. In the 90's when

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IN LOVING MEMORY

I went on a date with a blonde last night. "Do you have any kids?" she asked. "Yes," I replied. "I have one child that's just under two." She said, "I might be blonde, but I know how many one is."

downtown Dallas became a ghost town, the Praetorium was vacated and deteriorating, so it was torn down. I was sorry to see the old building go, but I love the EYEBALL! It's cool and creepy!

I would be remiss if I did not include David Adickes to this mix of Texas artists. David was born in Huntsville in 1927, and he too showed artistic talent as a youngster. He has colossal statues standing all over the country, but Texans love two especially. There is the 60-foot statue of STEPHEN F. AUSTIN, Father of Texas in Brazoria County. However, the biggest and most memorable is the 67-foot statue of SAM HOUSTON /07/ on Interstate 45. It was to have been finished in 1993, Houston’s 200th birthday, but David just couldn't make the date. So, it was put in place in 1994.

loVing V. Virginia was a Supreme Court case that struck down state laws banning interracial marriage in the United States. The plaintiffs in the case were Richard and Mildred Loving, a White man and Black woman from the town of Central Point in Caroline County, Virginia. Their marriage was deemed illegal by Virginia state law. (Interracial marriage was illegal under the 1924 Act to Preserve Racial Integrity; those who violated the law risked from one to five years in a state penitentiary.)

Richard (a white construction worker) and Mildred (a woman of mixed African American and Native American ancestry) were longtime friends who fell in love and married in 1958 in Washington, D.C., where interracial marriage was legal. They then returned home to Virginia.

Five weeks after their wedding, the Lovings were awakened in their bed at about 2:00 a.m. and arrested by the local sheriff. They were indicted on charges of violating Virginia’s antimiscegenation law, which deemed interracial marriages a felony.

The Loving case was a challenge to centuries of American laws banning miscegenation (any marriage or interbreeding among different races). Restrictions on miscegenation existed as early as the colonial era, and all but 9 of the 50 have had a law against the practice at some point in their history.

When they pleaded guilty the following year, they were sentenced to one year in prison, but the sentence was suspended on the condition that they leave Virginia and not return together for a period of 25 years. The Lovings relocated to Washington, D.C., living in exile in the nation’s capital for several years; they raised three children (Sidney, Donald and Peggy)—but they longed to return to their hometown. In 1963, a desperate Mildred Loving wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy asking for assistance. Kennedy referred the Lovings to the American Civil Liberties Union, which agreed to take their case. With the help of the ACLU, the Lovings worked their way through the court system and eventually appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which (in 1967) ruled unanimously that so-called “anti-miscegenation” statutes were unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. The decision is a watershed moment in the dismantling of Jim Crow race laws.

Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote. “Under our Constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of

another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the state.” The landmark ruling not only overturned the Lovings’ 1958 criminal conviction, it also struck down laws against interracial marriage in 16 U.S. states including Virginia.

That huge statue looms before the driver from about 6 miles away. I have always claimed that I knew people who found the Lord driving north on I 45. "I believe! I believe!" Then they realize, "Oh, it's only Sam Houston!" n

After the Supreme Court decision, the Lovings returned to the town of Central Point to raise their three children. Richard Loving was killed in 1975 when a drunk driver in Caroline County struck the couple’s car. Mildred survived the crash and went on to spend the rest of her life in Central Point. She died in 2008, having never remarried.

THE LEGACY OF LOVING V. VIRGINIA

Loving v. Virginia is considered one of the most significant legal decisions of the civil rights era. By declaring Virginia’s anti-miscegenation law unconstitutional, the Supreme Court ended prohibitions on interracial marriage and dealt a major blow to segregation. Despite the court’s decision, however, some states were slow to alter their laws. The last state to officially accept the ruling was Alabama, which only removed an anti-miscegenation statute from its state constitution in 2000.

In addition to its implications for interracial marriage, Loving v. Virginia was also invoked in subsequent court cases concerning same-sex marriage. In 2015, for example, Justice Anthony Kennedy cited the Loving case in his opinion on the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized gay marriage across the United States. June 12—the anniversary of the Loving v. Virginia decision—is now commemorated each year as “Loving Day,” a holiday celebrating multiracial families. n

é Chief Justice Earl Warren

Peggy, Donald and Sidney

YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KNOW EGAL VIEW

ANTHONY J. BARBIERI ajb@kesslercollins.com

SEIZING ASSETS

we’Ve all been there: waiting for that deadbeat tenant, borrower, guarantor, or another debtor to pay up. We send numerous – and often unanswered – demand letters, emails and phone calls to encourage these debtors to do the right thing. But usually, after months of frustration, most real-estate professionals hire a lawyer to chase the deadbeat. Then, after the lawyer sends numerous – and often unanswered – demand letters, emails and phone calls, a lawsuit ensues. If the debtor doesn’t respond to the lawsuit, or if they respond but do not have a defense to the creditor’s claim, the creditor obtains a judgment against the debtor for the amount owed, plus legal fees, interest, and court costs.

BUT FIRST, FIND THE NON-EXEMPT ASSETS!

To collect on the judgment, you have to find the debtor’s non-exempt assets. In some states, creditors can garnish an employed debtor’s wages. However, except in limited circumstances (such as student loans, taxes, and child support), a commercial creditor cannot garnish a Texas debtor’s wages, so your only avenue is to seize their non-exempt assets.

Before you start seizing assets, you have to find the debtor’s non-exempt assets. Unfortunately, Texas’ very “debtor-friendly” laws afford debtors a lot of protection. The main Texas exemption is the homestead exemption, which prohibits creditors (except your mortgage company and certain vendors that do work on a homestead) from grabbing a debtor’s homestead or forcing a sale. Texas recognizes an “urban” and a “rural” homestead. An urban homestead cannot exceed ten contiguous acres of land, and a rural homestead cannot exceed 200 acres of land (or 100 acres for a single person). The homestead exemption protects the land and the structures – and there is no limit to the value. To qualify as a homestead, you must live on the land.

WHAT IS A JUDGMENT?

A judgment is an order (a decision) from a court stating that one party owes another party money. After obtaining a judgment, a lot of people have the mistaken belief that the debtor will finally pay up. But the judgment is just a piece of paper requiring the debtor to pay up – the judgment merely reflects the court's agreement that the debt is valid and the debtor is liable for it. The court cannot force the debtor to pay the judgment, and in the United States, “debtors’ prisons” were banned under federal law in 1833. If your debtor is poor, dead, missing, in jail, bankrupt, or deftly hiding their assets, your judgment may be worthless. Also, if the debtor files for bankruptcy, your judgment is probably worthless, or worth just pennies on the dollar. Further, since federal bankruptcy laws require creditors to use the bankruptcy process to collect debts, if the judgment creditor doesn’t follow the rules, the judgment creditor can be sanctioned by the bankruptcy court and forced to pay fines.

In addition to the generous homestead protection, Texas law exempts a lot of personal property from seizure. Currently, according to Texas Property Code Section 42, certain personal property, listed below, up to an aggregate value of $100,000 for a family or $50,000 for a single person, is exempt from seizure by judgment creditors. The types of property subject to this exemption is listed in the property code, and includes the following long list of items: home furnishings and family heirlooms; provisions for consumption; farming or ranching vehicles, tools, equipment, books, boats and motor vehicles used in a trade or profession; wearing apparel; jewelry not to exceed 25% of the applicable limit; two firearms; athletic and sporting equipment, including bicycles; a two-wheeled, threewheeled, or four-wheeled motor vehicle for each member of a family or single adult; certain animals and forage on hand for consumption; household pets; and unpaid commissions for personal services not to exceed 25% of the aggregate limits.

The above list of non-exempt property is abundant, but if you can locate non-exempt property, such as cash, real estate (other than homestead), and other non-exempt valuables, you can seize them. Finding the assets can be a daunting, expensive, frustrating and fruitless task. Some debtors go to great lengths to hide assets. If a debtor hides assets by giving them to family members, friends, third-party trusts or entities after the debt became due, then you may still seize the assets if the debtor transferred them without proper consideration in an attempt to avoid the judgment.

Most creditors turn to the courts to help find assets. Even though the court will not guaranty payment on the judgment, they will stand by the creditor and aide in the collection efforts. The best vehicle for this is through post-judgment discovery. This process involves the judgment creditor sending a request for information and documents to the debtor inquiring about the debtor’s non-exempt assets and financial ability to pay the debt. If the debtor does not respond, provides incomplete responses, or is evasive, the creditor can go back to the court and seek sanctions in the form of monetary penalties or even jail time against the debtor. But squeezing information from the debtor can be frustrating, time-consuming, expensive, and sometimes fruitless.

These days, creditors also turn to the Internet to find assets. Even public, governmental websites, like the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller, appraisal districts, and county clerk’s offices, are often vital sources for searching assets. Private online companies, such as TLO, Accurint and Public Data, are also helpful tools for uncovering assets. Another common approach to find non-exempt assets

Alzheimer's isn’t that bad. At least you get to meet new people every day.

Anthony J. Barbieri is a shareholder of Kessler Collins, PC in Dallas, Texas. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a member of the State Bar of Texas, Dallas Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is also a Contributing Editor of

is to hire a private investigator. But you should always be sure to hire an experienced, licensed, and reputable private investigator. However, despite best efforts, you may never find any non-exempt assets that are worth seizing.

EUREKA! WE’VE STRUCK NON-EXEMPT ASSETS!

If the non-exempt asset search is successful, creditors can set their sights on seizing those assets. First and foremost, creditors need to record an abstract of judgment in the real-property records of every county where the judgment debtor owns real property. Since the cost to file the abstract is nominal, many creditors will take a “shotgun” approach of filing an abstract of judgment in the obvious counties where they suspect the debtor might own property. Also, one can file an abstract of judgment to attach to future property. For example, if the debtor’s parents live in Austin, you can file an abstract of judgment in Travis county in case the debtor inherits their parent’s house someday. The abstract of judgment places a lien on any nonexempt real property that the judgment debtor owns in each county where the abstract of judgment is recorded. Caution must be taken to avoid filing an abstract of judgment against the debtor’s homestead. Since commercial creditors cannot lien a homestead, the creditor can be liable for “clouding” or “slandering” the debtor’s title. If the lien interferes with a debtor’s sale or refinance of their homestead, then the creditor may be liable to the debtor for damages. The abstract of judgment is valid for ten years, and it can be extended for additional ten-year periods if it is renewed before the expiration date. The abstract of judgment puts the world on notice that the debtor’s property is subject to the lien. The abstract of judgment will show up during a title or lien search and will require the debtor to pay off the claim before selling the property. Most title companies require the lien to be released before they issue a title policy for the purchaser and lender.

For example, the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code Section 31.002 allows creditors to seek a turnover order. A turnover order is a court order requiring the debtor to turn over the non-exempt property to the court to satisfy the judgment. If the debtor fails to turn over the property, they can be held in contempt, which may lead to monetary sanctions and jail time.

Section 31.002 also allows the appointment of a receiver, which is especially common with business debtors. The receiver has the authority to take possession of the non-exempt property, sell it, and pay the proceeds to the judgment creditor to satisfy the judgment. Receivers are court-appointed “watchdogs” that are granted extensive powers over the judgment debtor. Receivers can be expensive, and typically a receivership is akin to a forced liquidation of the debtor’s business.

Additionally, after thirty days have passed since obtaining the judgment, a creditor can obtain a “writ of execution” from the court. The writ permits a Texas constable to seize the judgment debtor's non-exempt property and sell it at auction. The proceeds of the sale are used to satisfy the judgment. This is not a free service, however, and if there are no (or not enough) non-exempt assets, then you could end up paying the constable more for the fees then you collect from the asset sale. Therefore, the writ of execution is usually only conducted if the creditor is aware of specific assets. However, sometimes the presence of a constable searching through a debtor’s stuff motivates them to pay.

Even though Texas does not permit wage garnishment for commercial creditors, a judgment creditor can obtain writ of garnishment to seize the debtor’s property in possession of third-party banks or other entities. Before you can exercise this option, you must locate the debtor’s bank account (and hope there is still money in it). If funds are found, a writ of garnishment can be a simple process, and banks are typically cooperative.

In Texas, the post-judgment collection process can be challenging. This is especially true when dealing with consumer debt collections, which are not addressed in this article. Every person or company that acts as a creditor or lender (in some form or fashion) should understand the collection process, as well as your rights and limitations. If you know the collection process, you will be in a better position to underwrite the risk before you agree to it. n

Typically the

is

Ed. Note: This piece originally appeared in the December 2018 issue of

abstract of judgment

a “wait and see” approach to collections. However, there are some more proactive approaches.

ARTCH TECTURE

DON TROIANI AMERICA’S MOST RESPECTED HISTORICAL ARTIST

“Don Troiani paintings are historical gems, recreating actual events, personalities, or units to an unparalleled degree of accuracy and skill.”

Dr. Charles H. Cureton, Former Director of The Frontier Army Museum,

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

don troiani is a realist painter well known for his extremely accurate historical and military paintings covering American military history from 1754-1865, mostly of the Civil War and American Revolution. He was born in New York City in 1949 and studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and New York City's Art Students League.

His lifelong focus on America's military heritage enables him to present that subject with extremely high fidelity. He has one of the great private artifact study collections of original Civil War, War of 1812, Revolutionary War, and World War II uniforms, equipage, insignia and weapons which he calls on to add the unique dimension of realism for which he is famous. He uses posed models with these items from his collections.

He is also an expert researcher with a huge personal military library of over 3,000 volumes. The garb and gear of each figure are painstak-

ingly researched. Appropriate backgrounds are found and studied, sometimes sending the artist hundreds of miles from home to examine battlefields and structures firsthand. Because of the great amount of research that goes into each one of his works, it is often years between a painting's conception and the actual moment he puts brush to canvas.

Troiani’s work has appeared as cover art on scores of books, and he has authored many books himself. His work can be seen at the Pentagon, the Smithsonian and is represented/ exhibited in dozens of the most prestigious collections throughout the United States. In 1995 he designed the three Civil War battlefield commemorative coins for the United States Mint. His work has also appeared on a U.S. postal card commemorating the 350th anniversary of the U.S. National Guard. And Troiani is a recipient of the Meritorious Service Award of the United States National Guard. n

“I failed math so many times at school, I can’t even count.” (Stewart Francis)

I used to have a handle on life, but then it broke.

WHY ARTCH TECTURE ?

Great art is among the most sublime, meaningful, and redeeming creations of all civilization. Few endeavors can equal the power of great artwork to capture aesthetic beauty, to move and inspire, to change perceptions, and to communicate the nature of human experience. Great art is also complex, mysterious, and challenging. Filled with symbolism, cultural and historical references, and often visionary imagery, great artworks oblige us to reckon with their many meanings.

Architects and designers (many of our readers) have a lot of influence on the way we perceive the world. A structure often plays a significant part in how we experience a place. (Think of a restaurant, a museum, an arena, a stadium... even an office building - virtually anywhere!) The interior design impacts our sensory perception, our comfort, and our physical connection and there is also artistry in the exterior design. (That’s why we call it artchitecture.)

THE RES URCE PAGE

é Employment contacts and HR policies will need to be overhauled to create a “new deal” for employers and employees reflecting changed ways of working, global consultancy Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) has found. New “working together agreements” will have to be drawn up to reflect that for a large part of the time, workers will not be going into an office to do their work. Their new report, The new deal – the post COVID-19 contract between employees and employers, concludes that: 1) for many people, government guidance alone will not be enough to get them back to traveling to offices in city center locations; 2) organizations will need to develop “build back better” change and engagement programs to address employee confidence, negotiate new working arrangements and demonstrate to their employees that office attendance and travel are safe;

3) many employment contracts and HR policies will need to be overhauled to recognize the new normal hybrid world as most contracts refer to “the office” as the place of work; and 4) where organizations wish to transition to more flexible working models, leaders at all levels will need to facilitate conversations with their employees to identify and agree new models of working for the team that blend individual needs and desires with business needs and priorities. See the Full Report Here.

é Visual Capitalist has graciously allowed us to reprint several of their graphic depictions over the last two years, the most recent of which is the 2021 Generational Power Index which appears on pages 20-21. This link is to the fascinating and beautifully presented whole inaugural report which provides detailed information and rankings on generations of the U.S. population and their relative power and influence in/over society in terms of health, politics, technology, and a host of other areas.

ê NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association is the leading organization for developers, owners, investors and related professionals in office, industrial, retail, and mixed-use real estate. In its most recent Office Space Demand Forecast, NAIOP is projecting a return to positive absorption of office space in the fourth quarter of 2021. Quarterly net absorption in 2022 is expected to average 11.7 million square feet, in line with the 2015-2019 quarterly average of 11.6 million square feet. (Net absorption is defined as the amount of space that is physically occupied at the end of one period, less the amount of space occupied at the beginning of the same period.) Download the report here.

é The ninth World Happiness Report (2021) focuses on the effects of COVID-19 and how people all over the world have fared. Their aim was two-fold - first to focus on the effects of COVID-19 on the structure and quality of people’s lives, and second to describe and evaluate how governments all over the world have dealt with the pandemic. Their report attempts to explain why some countries have done so much better than others. Based on a wide variety of data, the most important source has always been the Gallup World Poll, which is unique in the range and comparability of its global series of annual surveys. Institutional sponsors include the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, the Centre for Economic Performance at the LSE, the Vancouver School of Economics at UBC, and the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford. n

I got a new pair of gloves, but they’re both ‘lefts’ which, on the one hand, is great, but on the other, it’s just not right.

DIVERSI NS

é Kukun is an originator of property data and predictive analytics, enabling homeowners to buy better, remodel smarter, and maintain more easily. The company provides solutions that illustrate which communities are likely to see the most price appreciation, show how to make a profit on home renovations, enable easy estimates for the cost of any renovation, and include all information a home buyer and homeowner need to optimize their home experience. In June, they debuted the iHome product series with the iHomeReport, a property report that provides financial and community intelligence for homebuyers. Check it out here

“I started growing my own pot, but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right.”

My Very Own IP Address “And it’s portable!”

é With real-estate inventory down by more than half compared to last year, WalletHub released its report on 2021's Best Places to Be a Real Estate Agent, as well as accompanying videos. They compared more than 170 U.S. cities across 22 key indicators of a healthy housing market, ranging from sales per agent to the annual median wage for real estate agents to the housing-market health index. Here are the top 10:

1) Seattle, WA; 2) Pearl City, HI;

3) Sacramento, CA; 4) Salt Lake City, UT; 5) Denver, CO; 6) Nashville, TN;

7)

é In June, due to the strength of its pandemic response, Auckland, New Zealand (with a metropolitan area population of about 1.6 million) was named the world’s most livable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The other cities in the top five: Osaka and Tokyo, Japan, Adelaide, Australia, and wellington, the capital of New Zealand.

IN THE N WS SH UT-OUTS

é The Collin County Association of Realtors (CCAR) reported that despite increased new listings, demand continued to drive prices higher in April as homes sold faster and for more money than months prior. While buyers had more new listings to consider in April compared to the year prior (1,983 vs. 1,581), demand continued to outpace inventory as 62.6% more homes went under contract last month than in April 2020. April’s high demand resulted in 65.5% fewer homes for sale than the year prior, despite increased new listings. A market is considered balanced when there is a 6-month supply of homes for sale. Homes remained on the market for an average of 18 days—66% less time than the year prior. In addition, on average, homes sold for 104.7% of their original list price and the area saw a median sales price of $414,900. The hottest price point last month continued to be homes priced $300,000–$399,000—accounting for 28.5% of homes sold.

é The Jack County Broadband Committee launched its work to develop a Technology Action Plan for the entire county. The Committee, which is made up of local stakeholders, is a working partnership with Connected Nation Texas (CN Texas) to identify the county’s unique challenges and opportunities for expanding high-speed internet so that every family, business, and community organization can access critical resources. Jack County is among 27 communities selected to participate in a statewide effort led by CN Texas and funded by the Texas Rural Funders—at no cost to the county. “This past year demonstrated the need for fast and reliable broadband internet connections,” said Mike Smith, City Manager of Jacksboro. “In-person events became virtual conferences and face-to-face meetings occurred via laptops and cellphones. These events underscore the necessity of broadband internet access not just for the few but for all as residents seek to be involved in the immediate Jack County community and beyond.” For more information or if you have questions, email info@connectednation.org or go to connectednation.org/texas

é**Remember** Who Voted Against the Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill and Vote Them Out

There is No Excuse!

The bill passed the Senate in April 94 to 1, with Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley the only member of the chamber to vote against it. The House passed the bill in May by a vote of 364 to 62. All the votes against the measure came from Republicans.

AUSTIN

é In April, The Wall Street Journal’s Emerging Housing Markets Index ranked the 300 biggest metropolitan areas in the U.S. according to real estate market data and economic health, including unemployment rate, wages, commute time and small business loans. The lakeside city of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho came in as the hottest home market, but AustinRound Rock, Texas was #2. Congratulations!! The only other Texas cities to make the top 50 were Killeen-Temple (at #42) and Waco (at #44). There’s no doubt that residential real estate is a huge investment market. The total value of owner-occupied real estate (in the U.S.) is roughly $32 trillion (which is almost as much as the entire U.S. stock market). See the methodology and the whole list here.

ç Austin also fared very well in WalletHub’s 2021’s Best & Worst Places to Start a Career coming in 4th behind only Salt Lake City, Orlando, and Atlanta. The study compared more than 180 U.S. cities based on 28 key indicators of career-friendliness with the data set ranging from the availability of entry-level jobs to monthly average starting salary to housing affordability.

Robert Aderholt (AL), Rick Allen (GA), Jodey Arrington (TX), Brian Babin (TX), Jim Banks (IN), Andy Biggs (AZ), Dan Bishop (NC), Lauren Boebert (CO), Mo Brooks (AL), Ted Budd (NC), Tim Burchett (TN), Kat Cammack (FL), Jerry Carl (AL), Madison Cawthorn (NC), Michael Cloud (TX), Andrew Clyde (GA), Tom Cole (OK), Warren Davidson (OH), Byron Donalds (FL), Jeff Duncan (SC), Virginia Foxx (NC), Matt Gaetz (FL), Louie Gohmert (TX), Bob Good (VA), Lance Gooden (TX), Paul Gosar (AZ), Mark Green (TN), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Michael Guest (MI), Andy Harris (MD), Diana Harshbarger (TN, Kevin Hern (OK), Yvette Herrell (NM), Jody Hice (GA), Clay Higgins (LA), Ronny Jackson (TX), Mike Johnson (LA), Jim Jordan (OH), Trent Kelly (MI), Doug LaMalfa (CA), Barry Loudermilk (GA), Nancy Mace (SC), Tracey Mann (KS), Thomas Massie (KY), Tom McClintock (CA), Mary Miller (IL), Alex Mooney (WV). n

è Rikki Dee Weaver, P.E. of Dunaway Associates was named 2021 Outstanding Young Leader by the Real Estate Council of Fort Worth.

Washington D.C.; 8) Huntsville, AL; 9) Austin, TX; 10) San Jose, CA.

YOU NEED (OR MIGHT WANT) TO KNOW PROFESSIONALS ON THE

JULIE BRAND LYNCH

julie@LYNOUS.com

01/ Cynthia Powell was promoted to president of HPI Real Estate.

02/ Zachary Taylor joined Colliers in Houston as Senior Vice President in its Industrial Services Group.

03/ Melissa Pasche was promoted to Chief Financial Officer at Method Architecture in Houston.

04/ Gian Craparo was promoted to Executive Vice President and National Sales Director at Hartman Income REIT Management Inc.

05/ James Behrmann joined the Austin office of Weitzman as an associate focusing on retail investment sales and general brokerage.

06/ Brandon Davis joined BBG in Dallas as Managing Director.

07/ Savannah Jordon joined Patten Title Company as Business Development Representative.

08/ Logan Kimble joined Ryan Companies US in Austin and Director of Multifamily Development.

09/ Holly Tyson joined Cushman & Wakefield as Chief People Officer of its global operations.

10/ Grayson Gill joined Transwestern as Executive Managing Director.

11/ Ryan Krauch joined USAA Real Estate in San Antonio as Executive Managing Director.

12/ Larry Gray joined Lee & Associates in Houstonas a Director in brokerage services.

13/ Justin Mason joined Elevate Growth Partners’ Austin Tenant Representation Team.

14/ Payton Mayes was promoted to CEO of JPI in Irving.

15/ Saima Querishi joined Rastegar Property Company in Austin as Chief Strategy officer.

16/ Eric Blankenship was promoted to Senior Vice President at Satterfield & Pontike’s Houston business unit.

17/ Tung Nguyen was promoted to Construction Executive in the Houston office of Turner Construction.

18/ Jim Underhill joined TenantBase as Executive Chairman.

19/ Sam House joined NAI Robert Lynn’s capital markets team in Dallas as Vice President.

20/ Ash Goldfarb joined NAI Robert Lynn’s capital markets team in Dallas as Senior Financial Analyst.

21/ Robert Paine joined NAI Partners as Senior Vice President in Austin.

22/ Caroline Kruse joined ML Realty Partners as an Asset Manager.

23/ John Morgan joined Capstone Commercial as Vice President of Brokerage in DFW.

24/ David Pasyk was promoted to Gulf Coast Operations manager at BMWC.

25/ Ted Rohan was promoted to Vice President of Tenant Advisory at Avison Young in Austin.

26/ Xenia Montero was promoted to Art Director and Associate Editor at .

Julie Lynch is the principal of LYNOUS, a talent management firm that provides recruiting, interim staffing and training to the real estate industry. She is also a contributing editor of

A psychiatrist is a person who will give you expensive answers that your spouse will give you for free.

Ed. We thought of calling this new feature ‘I’ll Never Forget Old What’s His Name’ or ‘Where Are They Now?’ but this seemed to say it best. In words and pictures, we’ll look back at people (performers, athletes, politicians) you’ll remember (by name or appearance) but whom you haven’t heard about in a long time. If there’s someone you’re curious about seeing on this page in the future, just let us know.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born in 1931. He was the eighth and last leader of the Soviet Union. He was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and the country's head of state from 1988 until 1991, serving as the chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet from 1988 to 1989, chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1989 to 1990, and president of the Soviet Union from 1990 to 1991. Ideologically, he initially adhered to Marxism–Leninism, although he had moved towards social democracy by the early 1990s.

Of mixed Russian and Ukrainian heritage, Gorbachev believed significant reform was necessary, particularly after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. He withdrew from the Soviet–Afghan War and embarked on summits with United States President Ronald Reagan to limit nuclear weapons and end the Cold War. His policy of glasnost ("openness") allowed for enhanced freedom of speech and press, while his perestroika ("restructuring") sought to decentralize economic decision making to improve efficiency.

Gorbachev declined to intervene militarily when various Eastern Bloc countries abandoned Marxist–Leninist governance in 1989–90. Internal-ly, growing nationalist sentiment threatened to break up the Soviet Union, leading Marxist–Leninist hardliners to launch an unsuccessful coup against him in 1991 leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union (against his wishes) and his resignation. After leaving office, he launched the Gorbachev Foundation (which is active in researching the Perestroika era, and current issues of Russian history and politics). He became a vocal critic of Russian Presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin.

One of the most significant figures of the second half of the 20th century, Gorbachev is both loved and reviled. The recipient of a wide range of awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, he was widely praised for his pivotal role in ending the Cold War, curtailing human rights abuses in the Soviet Union, and tolerating both the fall of Marxist–Leninist administrations in eastern and central Europe and the reunification of Germany. Conversely, he is often derided in Russia for not stopping the Soviet collapse, an event which brought a decline in Russia's global influence and precipitated an economic crisis. He travels very little now, dividing his time between his office and a dacha outside Moscow. He calls the death of his wife Raisa (in 1999) his “greatest loss.”

Reginald Martinez (Reggie) Jackson was born in May of 1946. He was a right fielder who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and California Angels. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.

Nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the Athletics and the Yankees, he helped Oakland win five consecutive American League West divisional pennants, three consecutive American League pennants and three consecutive World Series titles, from 1972 to 1974. He helped New York win four American League East divisional pennants, three American League pennants and two consecutive World Series titles, from 1977 to 1981. He also helped the California Angels win two AL West divisional pennants in 1982 and 1986. He hit three consecutive home runs at Yankee Stadium in the clinching game six of the 1977 World Series. Jackson hit 563 career home runs and was an American League All-Star for 14 seasons. He won two Silver Slugger Awards, the AL Most Valuable Player Award in 1973, two World Series MVP Awards, and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977. The Yankees and Athletics retired his team uniform number in 1993 and 2004.

Jackson currently trades classic cars (and has around 100 of them); he owns half of a sports memorabilia company and is part owner of many gyms. And he runs a charity called ‘Mr. October Foundation for Kids”. Now, he is back in baseball – with the Houston Astros – in a role focused on charity work.

Stefanie Maria "Steffi" Graf (born in 1969) is a German former professional tennis player. She was ranked world No. 1 for a record 377 weeks (more than 7 years) and won 22 Grand Slam singles titles, which ranks second since the introduction of the Open Era in 1968 and third all-time behind Margaret Court (24) and Serena Williams (23). In 1988, she became the only tennis player to achieve the Golden Slam by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal in the same calendar year. She is the only tennis player to have won each Grand Slam tournament at least four times. She retired at the age of 30 in 1999 while she was ranked world No. 3. In 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by the Associated Press. She married former world No. 1 men's tennis player Andre Agassi in 2001 and they have two children. She was inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2004.

Today, Steffi keeps a very low profile, totally away from tennis. She just turned 52 and lives with her family in Las Vegas.

I am not afraid of heights, just widths.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover... but we do. And perhaps even more important are the first lines which are so crucial in our decision to keep reading or not. Here are some of the best ever.

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.

1984 by George Orwell

It was a pleasure to burn.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

I’m pretty much f*cked.

The Martian by Andy Weir

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

I was born twice: first, as a baby girl, on a remarkable smogless Detroit day in January of 1960; and then again, as a teenage boy, in an emergency room near Petoskey, Michigan, in August of 1974.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.

The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley

This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

It was the day my grandmother exploded.

The Crow Road by Iain Banks

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

All children, except one, grow up.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous insect.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Justice? You get justice in the next world; in this world you have the law.

A Frolic of His Own by William Gaddis

All this happened, more or less.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person.

Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

Every summer Lin Kong returned to Goose Village to divorce his wife, Shuyu.

Waiting by Ha Jin

He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad.

Scaramouche by Rafael Sabatini

Call me Ishmael.

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

I am a sick man... I am a spiteful man.

Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“Where’s Papa going with that ax?” said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

This is the tale of a meeting of two, lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast.

Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.

The Voyage of Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I don’t know.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

It was a queer, sultry summer, the summer they electrocuted the Rosenbergs, and I didn’t know what I was doing in New York.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

They shoot the white girl first.

Paradise by Toni Morrison

It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not.

City of Glass by Douglas Coupland

When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper lee

In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly-fishing.

A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean

It was love at first sight.

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

What can you say about a twenty-five year old girl who dies?

Love Story by Erich Segal n

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

CURRENCIES OF THE WORLD

1. The name kwacha derives from the Nyanja, Bemba, and Tonga language word for "dawn", alluding to the Zambian nationalist slogan of a "new dawn of freedom". The name ngwee translates as "bright" in the Nyanja language.

2. The bolívar is named after the hero of Latin American independence Simón Bolívar; it was adopted in Venezuela by the monetary law of 1879.

3. The yen is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the Euro. The spelling and pronunciation dates back to the 16th century.

4. The euro is the official currency of 19 of the 27 member states of the European Union. The name euro was officially in 1995 in Madrid; it entered into circulation on 1 January 2002, making it the day-to-day operating currency of its original members, and by March 2002 it had completely replaced the former currencies.

5. The koruna is the currency of the Czech Republic since 1993. It is one of European Union's 11 currencies, and the Czech Republic is legally bound to adopt the euro currency in the future.

6. The quetzal was introduced in 1925 during the term of President José María Orellana, whose image appears on the obverse of the one-quetzal bill. It replaced the peso and is named after the national bird of Guatemala, the resplendent quetzal. In ancient Mayan culture, the quetzal bird's tail feathers were used as currency.

7. The hryvnia has been the national currency of Ukraine since 1996. In 1917, after the Ukrainian National Republic declared independence from the Russian Empire, the name of the new Ukrainian currency became hryvnia, a revised version of the Kievan Rus' hryvna.

8. The United States dollar or American Dollar to distinguish it from other dollardenominated currencies is the official

TITLEWHAT'S IN A NAME ?

Ed. This is a double play. The answers to the contest on the inside back cover are all here! Read the information about the currencies of these 20 countries; then go enter the contest on the inside back cover. Or not. (It’s not really cheating because we’re telling you to do it. J) So, while you learn something new, you can have fun!

currency of the United States and its territories per the Coinage Act of 1792.

9. The dirham, is a silver coin. The name derives from the name of the ancient Greek currency, drachma. It is the official currency of the United Arab Emirates, but is also a unit of currency in Morocco, Libya, Qatar, Jordan and Tajikistan

10. The riyal is the currency of Saudi Arabia since the country came into being (1932) and was the currency of Hejaz (an area of the peninsula) before Saudi Arabia was created.

11. The krona is the official currency of Sweden. In English, it is sometimes referred to as the Swedish crown, as krona literally means "crown" in Swedish.

12. The dinar is the official currency of Serbia. It was first used in Serbia in medieval times. (Its earliest use dates back to 1214.) The Serbian dinar replaced the Yugoslav dinar in 2003 when the Yugoslavia transformed into Serbia and Montenegro. Both Montenegro and the disputed territory of Kosovo had already adopted the Deutsche Mark and later the euro.

13. The won is the official currency of South Korea. Won is a cognate of the Chinese yuan and Japanese yen. All three names derive from the Hanja which means "round shape." Both North and South Korea use the won as their currency – but they are different, and they have different values.

14. The ruble was the currency of the Russian Empire and of the Soviet Union. Today, only Russia, Belarus and Transnistria use currencies with the same name. The ruble has been used in the Russian territories since the 14th century. In September 1993, the Soviet ruble was replaced with the Russian ruble.

15. The baht is the official currency of Thailand. Like the British pound, it originated from a traditional unit of mass. Its currency value was originally expressed as that of silver of corresponding weight (and was in

use probably as early as the 13th century. Ngoen is Thai for "silver" as well as the general term for money, reflecting the fact that the baht (or tical) is foremost a unit of weight for precious metals and gemstones.

16. The đồng has been the currency of Vietnam since 1978 (when Vietnam was reunified). It was also the currency of the predecessor states of North Vietnam and South Vietnam, having replaced the previously used French Indochinese piastre. The word đồng is from the material which the pennies were made - bronze. In 1978, one new đồng equaled one Northern đồng or 0.8 Southern "liberation" đồng.

17. Pound sterling (£), known in some contexts simply as the pound or sterling, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, and other Crown dependencies. It dates back to the 700s. A common slang term for the pound sterling or pound is quid.

18. The lira is the currency of Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It has its roots in the ancient Roman unit of weight known as the libra which referred to the Troy pound of silver.

19. The forint is the currency of Hungary. It was introduced in 1946. As a member of the European Union, the long-term aim of the Hungarian government may be to replace the forint with the euro. The forint's name comes from the city of Florence, where gold coins called fiorino d'oro were minted from 1252. In Hungary, florentinus (later forint), also a gold-based currency, was used from 1325.

20. The real is the official currency of Brazil. The modern real (Portuguese plural reais or English plural reals) was introduced in 1994, as part of a broader plan to stabilize the Brazilian economy, known as the Plano Real. The new currency replaced the short-lived cruzeiro real. n

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PAVINGS:

THE BACK PAGE

ANSWERS FROM THE MAY/JUNE CONTEST –WHAT KIND OF LEADER DOES THAT COUNTRY HAVE, BWANA?

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR CONTEST WINNERS!

Kevin Cafferty of New Orleans, LA won a copy of Prop Tech 101 by Block & Aarons. Brendon Glasser of Houston, TX won a copy of The Encyclopedia of Real Estate Advice by Terry Painter.

De’Andre Phillips of Oklahoma City, OK won a copy of The Best Diversions from Jane Morrow of Great Neck, NY won a copy of Creating Sales Stars by Stephan Schiffman.

Daniella Kuznetsky of Round Rock, TX won a copy of Rethinking Real Estate by Dror Poleg.

DIVERSI NS EXCUSE ME

A pollster was taking opinions outside the United Nations building in New York City. He approached four men waiting to cross the street: a Saudi, a Russian, a North Korean and a resident New Yorker. He asked, "Excuse me, I would like to ask you your opinion on the current meat shortage?"

The Saudi replied, "Excuse me, but what is a shortage?"

The Russian said, "Excuse me, but what is meat?"

The North Korean replied, "Excuse me, but what is an opinion?"

The New Yorker replied, "What is 'excuse me'?"

BOLO (BE ON THE LOOK OUT) FOR WHAT'S COMING NEXT

Benjamin Franklin said, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!" And in Herstory, Contributing Editor Rose-Mary Rumbley is adding, "Especially if you live in Texas," as she looks at the spas and fine schools attended by the monied classes. Contributing Editor Angela O’Byrne’s Amazing Buildings will introduce you to Little Island, a floating park on the Hudson River in New York City.

Contributing Editor Tony Barbieri’s Legal View will examine legal issues involving tortious interference with contracts. And Contributing Editor Roxana Tofan’ Profiles of Survival will chat with the San Antonio-based GAN Group, a real estate development and acquisition company that builds and operates senior living, multi-family and entertainment projects.

We’ll continue our look at the architectural treasures of American cities, this time a double take –the (sister-city) capitals of Atlanta (in the state of) Georgia and Tbilisi (in the country of) Georgia and another of each place’s major cities (and also sister cities) Savannah, Georgia and Bat’umi, Georgia

On the cover (and in Artchitecture) we’ll feature astounding creations from the amazing mind of Victor Enrich. We’ll have pictures of the 2021 BOMA International’s TOBY Awards. And, in words and pictures, we’ll look at the architecture of Skidmore Owing & Merrill (SOM) and we will profile the Real Estate Standards Organization (RESO) and one of its Austin-based members, TourJazz

In You Need (or might want) to Know, we’ll look at some of the terms and groups that are in the news.

For example, where does the term Jim Crow come from? How did the Ku Klux Clan get its name? What is Antifa? What is QAnon? Who are the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers? What does it mean to ‘cross the Rubicon’?

We’’ll have specially contributed articles from various segments of the real estate industry and, of course, we will have our affiliates’ awards and special events, the Wow Factor, Diversions, True Dat, The History Page, Professionals on the Move, The Resource Page, Shout-Outs, Real Estate of the Future, and much MUCH more. We get a lot into 64 pages!

C NTEST: SHOW ME THE MONEY

no – not the faMous Cuba Gooding line in the movie Jerry McGuire in 1996. (Yes - Tom Cruz was in it, too.) It’s about currencies of the world – or at least of 20 countries in the world. Can you match the country with its national currency?

Then, scan or copy this page and send your entry to editor@crestnetwork.com or fax it to 817.924.7116 on or before August 13th for a chance to win a valuable prize. (By the way, careful readers, the answers may or may NOT appear in our September/October issue because they’re all on page 59 of this issue.)

1/ Zambia:

2/ Venezuela: 3/ Japan: 4/ Finland: 5/ Czech Republic: 6/ Guatemala: 7/ Ukraine: 8/ United States: 9/ United Arab Emirates: 10/ Saudi Arabia:

11/ Sweden: 12/ Serbia:

South Korea:

Russia: 15/ Thailand: 16/ Vietnam: 17/ United Kingdom: 18/ Turkey:

19/ Hungary:

20/ Brazil:

Choose from:

A. euro

B. koruna

C. hryvnia

D. krona

E. riyal

F. dollar

G. kwacha

H. yen

I. pound

J. real

K. đồng

L. quetzal

M. baht

N. forint

O. dirham

P. bolivar

Q. lira

R. ruble

S. dinar

T. won

...BECAUSE SOMETIMES IS WHAT YOU KNOW

We Speak Real Estate

The Arsenal Companies are a diversified consulting, educational and publishing group, dedicated to service in the real estate industry. With national reach, regional strength and local sensibilities, we serve and service large and small companies as well as governmental entities in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, licensing, contracting, procurement, insurance certificate tracking, educational program development, mediation services and collections.

Our Contracts and Procurement Services Division provides solutions and services that help real estate owners and companies effectively manage their contractual needs and commitments. We provide industry knowledge and we practice deal facilitation rather than obstruction. Whether you are a property, facility or asset manager, your functions are integrally related to real estate contracts. Quality management is all about contracts.

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