MarketScale AEC 12/13/18: A Sweet Tooth for Change

 

Today’s episode tells several stories, and all of them analyze a different aspect of the industry. We’ll hear from a frequent MarketScale contributor and writer, Beth Osborne, on how airports are remodeling with new technology to increase efficiency and improve flier experience. MarketScale Host Sean Heath did his own narrative investigation into adaptive reuse, and how old buildings are being adapted and remodeled into something hip and fresh. Finally, we get a profile on some of Dallas’ brightest architects, the Bender Brothers, and get a look into their creative process for designing the Instagram attraction that is the Sweet Tooth Hotel. Hope you’re ready for an episode that shows how AEC’s got a sweet tooth for change.

GIVING AIRPORTS A TECHNOLOGICAL FACELIFT

We’ll start things off by digging into an article by Beth Osborne on our MarketScale AEC page. She’s a frequent contributor and writer for us, and with this article, she focused on how remodeling and upgrades in airports are affecting air travel. She laid out the current state of the air travel industry pretty well– the demand for air travel is rising, propelled by the fact that most passengers still find it affordable and are eager to explore the world. In 2017, the increase in demand grew 8.1 percent with an expected growth of 8 percent for 2018, according to Statista.

With more travelers and more flights, airports are responding to this growing demand by expanding and also making better use of the space they have, all in an effort to improve the traveler experience. The catalyst for much of this change is and will continue to be technology. Listen to Beth detail the effects of IoT sensors, facial recognition, digital signage, and more.

ADAPTIVE REUSE: A HOT TREND, OR A FADING FAD?

Motel revivalism is catching on. It’s a trend in AEC that’s making way for old buildings to get new life, specifically a rebirth of roadside/beachside motels of the 40’s and 50’s. What are the logistics like for saving and updating old facilities? And is this a trend that’s here to stay? MarketScale Host Sean Heath tells a story of why this trend is catching on and why it’s so attractive to developers and vacationers alike. Also included in the podcast: a reference to the perfect rom-com. See if you can spot it.

THE WHIMSICAL MINDS BEHIND ONE OF DALLAS’ MOST ICONIC INSTAGRAM ATTRACTIONS

This interview is one of my favorites. There was a period last year where my social media feed was inundated, and I mean inundated with pictures of a neon-ridden, Alice in Wonderland-style pop-up museum in Dallas, TX. I never dug into it too much, but while hunting for a great profile for our show, we came across the Dallas-based Bender Brothers: Ariel, Aaron and Milan. Turns out, they were the minds behind the creative exploration that is the Sweet Tooth Hotel’s interactive pop-up museum. Gotta look at pictures of this place while listening. They joined us on the podcast to peel back the curtain on their creative process, their dynamic as three brothers who all found a passion for architecture and design, and gave more insight into the wacky world they created at the Sweet Tooth Hotel.

OTHER ARTICLES REFERENCED

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the AEC Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @AECMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

safer HVAC chemicals
Stronger Training Pipelines and Smarter Social Media Can Help Solve HVAC’s Talent Shortage
June 9, 2026

The skilled trades are at a crossroads. By some industry estimates, for every five experienced technicians retiring, only two new ones are entering the field—highlighting a growing HVAC talent gap. At the same time, buildings are becoming more complex, more connected, and more dependent on high-performance mechanical systems. The stakes are real: without a…

Read More
design
Where Design Meets Durability: Why Commercial Surfaces Must Support Safety, Cleanability, and Long-Term Value
June 8, 2026

When a commercial space fails, it often fails quietly: a lobby floor that becomes slippery when wet, a hotel bathroom that is difficult to clean, a healthcare surface that cannot withstand constant disinfection, or an office finish that looks great until afternoon glare makes the room uncomfortable. These are not purely aesthetic problems; they are…

Read More
creative career
Crafted Journey How To: Building a Creative Career Across Scripts, Stages, and Sound
June 8, 2026

Creative careers rarely move in a straight line, especially for writers working across stage, screen, audio, books, and independent film. Sustaining that kind of life often means finding opportunities wherever they appear, building a strong network, staying open to different formats, and saying yes to collaborations that can lead somewhere unexpected. The stakes are…

Read More
EMR
EMR Strategy, Consulting, and Career Pivots with MedSys Co-Founder Mark Embry
June 8, 2026

Electronic medical records (EMRs) have moved from a back-office upgrade to a frontline determinant of care quality, clinician burnout, and hospital economics. With U.S. hospitals often spending tens to hundreds of millions—sometimes exceeding $100 million—on EMR implementations, the stakes have never been higher for getting both the technology and the human adoption right. As…

Read More