HEADLINES ADDED: January 30, 2008

Telecom Installers Converge at BICSI

 |  from CE Pro Recently Filed  |  Read the Full Article

The 2008 BICSI Winter Conference in Orlando in January focused on business success in the telecom or information transport systems (ITS) industry. ... Read More

439 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg: New York City’s First LEED Platinum Mixed-Use Development?

 |  from greenbuildingsNYC  |  Read the Full Article

Helder Design announced today that it will seek Gotham’s first LEED Platinum rating for a mixed-used project at 439 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The development broke ground back in August and should wrap up sometime this summer. It will house Helder’s architecture studio, as well as two duplex condominium residences and a ground-floor art gallery. Designed by Netherlands native Mark Helder, who moved his firm to New York back in 2002, the south-facing green building will feature passive solar design, radiant flooring, photovoltaics, and efficient ventilation and insulation... Read More

Case law analysis: Steria v Sigma Wireless Communications: Notice provisions

 |  from Contract Journal - Construction Law  |  Read the Full Article

Are notices a condition precedent to entitlement to extensions of time?... Read More

World of Concrete Wrap-up

 |  from Construction Equipment Owner's Blog  |  Read the Full Article

I’m back from the World of Concrete, on the tail-end of a nasty flu bug I caught during the show and trying to organize the knowledge I gained during concrete’s premier event. New products, old friendly faces — the show had it all! If you missed the World of Concrete, check out this 15-minute video highlighting some of the new products and equipment(Click on “Education/Events” on the toolbar on the left to get to the “World of Concrete 2008″ video.) I started my trip with Bobcat, celebrating the company’s... Read More

New Changes to the FMLA Effective Immediately

 |  from Bowie & Jensen, LLC Construction Law Forum  |  Read the Full Article

On Monday, January 28, 2008, President Bush signed into law legislation that expands the Family and Medical Leave Act’s coverage for family members of employees called for military service. The expansion requires employers to offer up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave to employees when a spouse, child or parent is on active duty or is called up for active duty. Leave could be for any “exigency” as defined by regulations to be drafted by the Labor Department. In addition, the new law allows employees who are the... Read More

Manitoba construction industry prepares to pay more for skilled trades workers

 |  from Trade Contracting - Journal of Commerce  |  Read the Full Article

Manitoba’s construction industry will be in a better position to compete for skilled trades workers across Canada as a result of recommended wage increases by the Construction Industry Wages Consultation Panel.... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: January 29, 2008

The Case Against Case Studies

 |  from TP Wire Service  |  Read the Full Article

24 JAN 2008 from BusinessWeek | Read the full story» How Columbia's B-school is teaching MBAs to make decisions based on incomplete data.... Read More

You Can't Learn Management in a Classroom

 |  from TP Wire Service  |  Read the Full Article

25 JAN 2008 from BusinessWeek | Read the full story» A leading management thinker argues that MBAs need more real business world experience in their education.... Read More

Public Works Absent from Bush Stimulus Outline

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

President Bush outlined general "principles," but few details, about what he would like to see in an economic stimulus program.... Read More

Sustainable Building Standard Expected by Year-End

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

The first U.S. standard for high-performance buildings could be released by the end of the year.... Read More

Cement Overshoes Keep Workers Afloat

 |  from Top Stories from ENR.com  |  Read the Full Article

Veteran concrete contractor developed the overshoes to combat the labor-intensive practice of repairing and polishing footprints in concrete.... Read More

Lean Works in Construction, Oakland, CA

 |  from Quality Support Services -  |  Read the Full Article

Start: Mar 3 2008 - 11:00am End: Mar 3 2008 - 4:00pm March 3, 2008 – Lean Works in Construction, Oakland, CA – Sponsor: Bay Area SMACNA Chapter – contact Audrey Kerns at (510) 635-8212. Must be a SMACNA member to attend.... Read More

Lean Construction Practices, SMACNA – SMWIA

 |  from Quality Support Services -  |  Read the Full Article

Start: Apr 3 2008 - 11:24am April 3, 2008 – Lean Construction Practices, SMACNA – SMWIA – 2008 Partners in Progress, Las Vegas, contact http://www.pinp.org/conf08/registration.htm... Read More

Job Planning that Works - Phoenix, AZ

 |  from Quality Support Services -  |  Read the Full Article

Start: Apr 17 2008 - 11:00am End: Apr 17 2008 - 11:59am April 17, 2008 – Job Planning that Works - Phoenix, AZ – Sponsor: PIPE & 469 JAC, contact Cathy at pipetrust@qwest.net... Read More

Lean Works in Construction, Portland, OR

 |  from Quality Support Services -  |  Read the Full Article

Start: May 21 2008 - 11:00am End: May 21 2008 - 11:59am May 21, 2008 - Lean Works in Construction, Portland, OR – Sponsor: Columbia SMACNA Chapter – contact Tom Goodhue at 503.220.2303. Must be a SMACNA member to attend.... Read More

Foundations market value up by 25%

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The value of the foundations market to the construction industry has leapt by more than a quarter over the last five years according to new research.... Read More

China admits six dead in Beijing Olympic construction

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

China has admitted that six construction workers have been killed in the construction of the Beijing Olympic venues since 2003.... Read More

Orange, Conn., Contractor Hit with Fines for Cave-in Hazards

 |  from OH-Construction Safety and Health  |  Read the Full Article

An unprotected trench and other hazards at a Walgreens construction site in New Haven, Conn., have resulted in OSHA proposing a total of $74,600 in fines against an Orange, Conn., contractor. Louis Gherlone Excavating Inc. was cited for a total of 11 willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards at a sewer line installation site.... Read More

OSHA Proposes $173,000 in Fines against West Haven, Conn., Roofing Contractor

 |  from OH-Construction Safety and Health  |  Read the Full Article

A West Haven, Conn., roofing contractor's failure to supply fall protection for its employees at a Farmington, Conn., worksite has resulted in $173,000 in proposed fines from OSHA.... Read More

New York Architect Merges Green Design and Low Cost at ASAP House in Sag Harbor

 |  from greenbuildingsNYC  |  Read the Full Article

This weekend’s New York Times Real Estate section featured a story about ASAP (which stands for About Saving a Planet), the name Manhattan architect Laszlo Kiss has given the eco-friendly, low cost modular home prototype he designed in Sag Harbor, Long Island. Kiss, who lives full-time in The Hamptons, created the ASAP home as a response to the “energy-hogging” mansions that surround him in his East End neighborhood. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New York Architect Merges Green Design and Low Cost at ASAP House in Sag Harbor", url: "http://www.greenbuildingsNYC.com/2008/01/29/new-york-architect-merges-green-design-and-low-cost-at-asap-house-in-sag-harbor/" });... Read More

Managing Risk in Sustainable Building Conference Set for February 7-8 in Chicago

 |  from greenbuildingsNYC  |  Read the Full Article

In its 2006 Green Building White Paper, Building Design + Construction magazine called upon the legal profession to examine the potential liability issues that could arise from green standards. It asked the American Bar Association or a leading law school to lead the charge and critically analyze the legal implications that green building regulations might implicate. As far as I can tell, the first conference that will begin to dig into these issues is taking place next week in Chicago. Sponsored by the Alberti Group, it’s not too late... Read More


HEADLINES ADDED: January 28, 2008

Great Insights

 |  from D. Brown Online - Project Management Productivity & Construction Operations  |  Read the Full Article

Flying out to Florida on Sunday I was reading the lastest copy of Fortune magazine and came across a couple fantastic tid-bits of insight that everyone could benefit from.   The first comes from Melinda Gates -"If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction.  Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped"We could all benefit from feeling a little more indebted and... Read More

You Have to Advertise

 |  from Markup and Profit Blog  |  Read the Full Article

In Minnesota last week, over a two-day period, I had a total of 663 people in 5 classes. Granted, some of the attendees were in more than one class, but that is a large group of businesspeople in Minnesota who understand that education is the key to survival, both in today’s economy and long-term. The Central Minnesota Builders Association sponsored the 2008 Builders Expo and they did an outstanding job of organizing and running the event. Most interesting to me were the people I talked with one-on-one about how... Read More

Can Cultural Differences Derail Project Success?

 |  from From the Top  |  Read the Full Article

Today’s complex mega infrastructure projects require the formation of joint ventures and other type of associations in order to have either the talent, skills and/or monetary funds required to complete the project.  Because of the nature of mega projects, owners, financial agencies, contractors, sub-contractors, vendors and suppliers, often come from different cultural backgrounds-much as the direct result of globalization. Differences in approaches, values, and experiences have led to many mega-project failures.  Therefore it is imperative to understand the impact of cross-cultural differences among the team players in order for... Read More

Contractor Cited for Repeat Trenching, Excavation Hazards on DOT Project

 |  from Occupational Health & Safety  |  Read the Full Article

OSHA found that the Fairburn, Ga.-based utility contractor was installing pipe through a trench that was 50 feet in length and 6 feet in depth without a means of employee egress and without having a protective system in place.... Read More

13 Invaluable Marketing Tips

 |  from CE Pro Recently Filed  |  Read the Full Article

As part of a marketing exercise, SpeakerCraft’s Steve Hayes and Jeremy Burkhardt rattled off dozens of ideas culled from their own experiences and dealers shared their own.... Read More

Volunteerism: Find the Right Balance for Your Career

 |  from CE Pro Recently Filed  |  Read the Full Article

Volunteerism is the root of the industry. The success of a trade association depends on people who devote their time without pay, but you have to find the right balance. ... Read More

Monday LEEDoff: HSBC’s Gold Headquarters Tower in Mexico City

 |  from greenbuildingsNYC  |  Read the Full Article

Checking in at #8 on the CoStar Group’s list of the top ten green real estate stories of 2007 was the commitment that a number of banks demonstrated to sustainable building and operations during the course of last year. When we presented the list to you earlier this month, gbNYC noted the green efforts of a number of banks here in the New York City area, including JPMorganChase, PNC Bank, and Bank of America. Not to be outdone, HSBC Bank announced last week that its Headquarters Tower on the... Read More

HVCA-ECA merger goes to member survey

 |  from Contract Journal - News  |  Read the Full Article

The proposed convergence of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA) and the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) has moved a step closer.... Read More

First Roofing Companies in the Nation to Receive OSHA VPP Award

 |  from RC - Breaking News  |  Read the Full Article

The Evans Roofing Company’s two subsidiaries (The Charles F. Evans Company Inc. & CFE, Inc.) will be the first two roofing companies in the nation to be awarded the prestigious VPP (Voluntary Protection Program) designation from the U. S. Department of Labor OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The award recognizes those companies that have developed and implemented model safety and health programs in their industry.... Read More

See you in Nashville!

 |  from Construction Equipment Owner's Blog  |  Read the Full Article

National Pavement Expo 2008 is only days away and I’m heading out tomorrow to get the seminar program all set up. If you’re heading to NPE in Nashville, good for you. Please take a few minutes out of your day to stop by and say hello. I can usually be found in and around Room 207 at the Nashville Convention Center. If you’re not heading to NPE, and particularly if you’ve never attended, you ought to give the show some serious consideration. Whether you’re in the market for equipment,... Read More

Phoenix Housing Forecast Reminds Builders To Think Long Term

 |  from Construction Jobs Blog  |  Read the Full Article

Addressing more than 1,000 people on Tuesday, Phoenix housing analyst RL Brown delivered a housing forecast reminding homebuilders to think long term. 2008 is expected to witness a 20 percent drop in home-building permits from 2007’s lackluster performance:  that’s somewhere between 22,000 and 24,000 permits this year (Metro Phoenix). “But Brown also said there’s plenty of opportunity for builders who construct houses that home buyers can afford in places they want to