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V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 2 0 From the Editor Featured @ Mainebiz.biz U nemployment claims have skyrocketed. Various industries are hanging on by a thread, while manufacturers and a select few retailers try to stay in control as "essential" businesses. ere's been a scramble for federal relief funds. It's been a crazy spring all around the world. e real estate industry is still waiting to see the impact of the economic shutdown. Our focus in this issue is on real estate, con- struction and engineering — a segment of the economy that has been going full-tilt for several years. As part of our ongoing coverage of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis, our staff delved into the industry response and what's expected in coming months. For our cover story, Laurie Schreiber spoke with a range of real estate brokers up and down the state, basically taking the temperature. Where are things right now? Most expected a downturn at some point, but no one foresaw this. ere is some natural caution. "We would be foolish not to plan for the worst," broker Chris Paszyc told Laurie. See Page 16. Architecture firms are already rethinking the workspace and what offices will look like once we return to them. Renee Cordes talked to one firm that's in the process of moving its offices, SMRT. She also asked architects how their work has already changed. "A very large portion of our work is in the health care sector, so it's the it's no sur- prise that people in hospital acute care have other things to worry about than talking to their archi- tect, so there has been a slowdown in some of that work," Ellen Belknap, president of SMRT, told Renee. "e flip side is that some of our health care clients have called and said, 'Can you help us reconfigure our clinics so we can handle COVID- 19 patients.' One door closes, and another door opens." See Page 20. Maureen Milliken talked to developers to get updates on projects that had been in the works and how they'll be affected. Most say they're going through with plans, though there are a host of uncertainties as far as the future economy is concerned. "No one is sure how this is all going to shake down," Tom Landry, a broker and developer, told Maureen. See Page 24 for more. is issue has two lists: Notable Maine-based construction projects (Page 28) and the largest Maine-based construction companies (Page 34). Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our most popular content for the two weeks from March 30 to April 13. 1. Mills orders residents to stay home, tightens essential business restrictions 2. Portland nonprofit will eliminate 248 Maine jobs 3. South Portland land acquired for Florida senior living company's first project in Maine 4. Crowded field of Maine businesses expected in race for $349B in small biz loans 5. Maine biotech companies stepping up, and hiring, in COVID-19 fight 6. Skier, former New Hampshire resort exec named GM at Sunday River 7. 10 crisis communication tips for small businesses during COVID-19 8. Dana Warp Mill was filling up fast, and is expected to continue post-coronavirus 9. Don Oakes, CEO of Sea Bags, battens down for stormy weather 10. In tragic irony, $1.5B contract clears the ways for Maine Maritime ship P H O T O / M A U R E E N M I L L I K E N 1 bernsteinshur.com Be covered. BE SHUR. Excellence in practice, when you need it most. A strange and turbulent spring The real estate industry is still waiting to see the impact of the economic shutdown

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