COVID-19 is one of the most disruptive events human society has experienced in the last 75 years. Beyond the struggles of 2020, this harsh reminder of the biological threats we face will go on to reshape the way we live for years to come. At the center of this debate is commercial real estate (CRE) — the indoor environments where people of different households gather — where 50% to 100% drops in occupancy levels have been common for months. CRE must now adapt to a post-COVID world that will create new winners and losers to reshape the buildings industry forever. As lockdowns and stay-at-home orders began to set in across the world, the first challenge buildings faced was being empty. Designed to be full, these facilities quickly realized that they cannot just switch off power-consuming building systems. HVAC systems must circulate to avoid corrosion, security systems must surveil to protect assets, while emergency lighting is […]