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HEADLINES ADDED: June 30, 2008
“Opt-out” Class Action and Notification Procedure is the Exclusive Method of Class Action Litigation in South Carolina
In a recent decision, the S.C. Supreme Courtheld that the“Opt-out” class action and notification procedure is the exclusive method of lass action litigation in South Carolina. See Salmonsen v. CGD, Inc., 377 S.C. 442, 661 S.E.2d 81 (2008). Several homeowners instituted a class action suit seeking damages arising from the application of defective synthetic stucco Exterior Insulation and Finish System ("EIFS") to residential homes in the Charleston area. On appeal the South Carolina Supreme Court addressed procedural questions concerning the certification of the class and whether certification orders were immediately... Read More
Laing O'Rourke starts work on Liverpool's £350m stadium
Laing O’Rourke has finally started preparatory work on Liverpool Football Club’s (LFC) new £350m Stanley Park stadium after the project was given a final planning green light by Liverpool City Council.... Read More
NY Buildings Department Head Announces New Tower Crane Measures
Among the changes to existing policy, the department will now be mandating maintenance, testing, tracking, and more inspections, Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert D. LiMandri said Tuesday.... Read More
Paul King to lead housebuilders towards zero carbon with new group
An independent body has been set up to guide homebuilders towards the government’s zero carbon building targets and cut out industry confusion.... Read More
70% of new homes have faults, says OFT report
Seven out of 10 people find faults when they buy new homes, reports the Office of Fair Trading.... Read More
Holyrood fire blamed on 'poor finishing'
Fire services have blamed poor construction of Scotland's Parliament for the outbreak of a fire yesterday.... Read More
Basis for Liens and Assessments Under the S.C. Horizontal Property Act
Liens for non-payment of assessments to a community association can arise under two different situations. First, the S.C. Horizontal Property Act provides a statutory basis for the creation of liens in the case of condominiums only. Second, liens may arise by contract through the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. S.C. Code Ann. Section 27-31-190 of the S.C. Horizontal Property Act provides as follows: "The co-owners of the apartments are bound to contribute pro rata in the percentages computed according to Section 27-31-60 toward the expenses of administration and of maintenance and... Read More
Our New 6-1/2 Hour CD Set - Turn Your Truck Into a Classroom
Our 6+ Hour Audio Series, The Business of Construction Contracting is perfect for busy construction professionals who have "Windshield Time" These inclusive CD's contain management insights and worksmart thinking in the areas of 1) The Business of Construction Contracting - Business, Strategic and Economic Issues and Insights 2) Work Acquisition - Estimating, Bidding, Priciing, and Selling 3) Building Work - Project Control, Project Management and Labor Productivity 4) Keeping Track - Financial and Adminstrative Practices 5) People - Management, Recruitment and Training of Your Most Valuable Asset 6) Miscellaneous... Read More
Carillion and Igloo struggling to fund Olympic media centre
Carillion and Igloo, the preferred developers of the London 2012 Olympic media centre, are struggling to raise finance for its construction.... Read More
Construction deaths down to 72
The number of construction workers killed onsite each year has fallen from 77 to 72, official statistics released today show.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 28, 2008
New York City Targets Concrete Work, Demolition
Days after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Manhattan, the second in as many months, New York City officials proposed a legislative agenda that would empower the city's Dept. of Buildings with additional oversight and enforcement capabilities to improve safety at construction job sites, especially during high-risk operations.... Read More
Owners and Contractors Push To Work Through Uncertainties
With uncertainties growing in cost and availability of key construction components such as contracting capacity, labor and materials, executives of leading industry owners and contractors report big changes in project dynamics that may be long-lasting.... Read More
ASU Goes Downtown
The assignment: Design and build a 223,000-square-foot building with a 35,000-square-foot footprint on a parcel of land in downtown Phoenix. Give it a strikingly distinctive high-tech appearance and make sure it is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. Here's your budget. Oh, by the way, you have just 20 months to have it ready for move-in.... Read More
Ground Improvement With Earthquake Drains
Additional material and pictures provided by Ellington Cross LLC. In the past, the conventional method for handling loose sands, soft clays and poorly compacted fills on a construction project was to undercut and replace those materials or to bypass them with deep foundations. Today, geotechnical and structural engineers design buildings, embankments, bridges and slopes to bear on soils improve...... Read More
Saskatchewan heads to Philippines and Ukraine to recruit workers
The Saskatchewan government led a delegation, including representatives from the construction industry, on a recruitment mission to the Philippines and the Ukraine. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration program designed to allow the provincial government to select skilled workers and entrepreneurs based on their ability to contribute to the local economy.... Read More
The Great Frame Giveaway
Structural framing manufacturer iLevel by Weyerhauser has launched an $150,000 sweepstakes program for home builders. Prizes include structrual framing packages, trip for two to IBS and other goodies. Check it out.... Read More
Stent, Scheldebouw, Corus/CBUK and Kone win Shard contracts
Construction of Europe’s tallest building The Shard is expected to start in London by the end of the year, following the award of several major contracts.... Read More
Dubai and Moscow plan world's first rotating skyscraper - VIDEO
The skylines of Dubai and Moscow will be constantly changing with plans for the world’s first rotating skyscrapers unveiled yesterday.... Read More
Proposed Worker Verification Mandate Would Have Broad Reach
Following up on a presidential directive, the Bush administration has proposed regulations spelling out a broad mandate for federal contractors, including those in construction, to use an electronic system to prove that their workers are legally authorized to work in the U.S.... Read More
70% of new homes have faults, says OFT report
Seven out of 10 people find faults when they buy new homes, reports the Office of Fair Trading.... Read More
The world’s first moving building
Did you see the video last week showing the 3D animation of the world’s first moving building? The Dynamic Tower is being built in Dubai. It has 80 storeys made up of pre-fabricated apartments which will spin independently of one another at voice command, a full 360 degrees around a central column by [...]... Read More
Maryland Expands Scope of Mechanic's Lien
This year, the Maryland legislature passed a new law that expands the definition of work or materials furnished “for or about the building” to include interior design services provided by a certified interior designer. This new legislation takes effect on October 1, 2008. This expands the scope of Maryland Mechanic’s Lien, because Maryland courts have previously held that work done or materials furnished that are not specifically listed in the Maryland Mechanic’s Lien statute cannot be the subject of a mechanic’s lien. For example, in Maryland, the court held... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 27, 2008
BSF schemes worth £625m get green light early
Eight Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes worth £625m have been given the green light to launch this summer – up to five years ahead of schedule.... Read More
PERC Offers Industry Education on Green Energy
For building professionals interested in increasing their knowledge of propane’s green applications in the marketplace, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) has partnered with CS Learning Solutions to offer free, American Institute of Architects (AIA) certified educational courses. Here's how you can take advantage.... Read More
Reinforced Concrete: Mechanics and Design, 5th Edition
By James K. Wight. Prentice Hall PTR. Price: $115. Publish Date: 06/2008... Read More
AGC Asks Congress to Invest in Flood Control
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Arlington, Va., recently called on Congress to provide an appropriation of at least $6.8 billion for the Corps of Engineers Civil Works program in fiscal year 2009.... Read More
NAED Joins ConsensusDOCS
The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), St. Louis, recently joined forces with other construction organizations — led by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and Atlanta-based Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) — in support of ConsensusDOCS... Read More
Paul King to lead housebuilders towards zero carbon with new group
An independent body has been set up to guide homebuilders towards the government’s zero carbon building targets and cut out industry confusion.... Read More
Increase to upfront payments for social housing builders expected
Plans to increase upfront payments to builders working for public sector landlords will be announced by the government next week.... Read More
Housing Now Open for 2009 IRE
Online housing reservations can now be made for the 2009 International Roofing Expo on Feb. 3-5 in the Shoreline A&B Halls at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.... Read More
Building Construction Cost Data 2008 Western Edition, 21st Edition
By Means. Means, R. S.. Price: $149.95. Publish Date: 12/2007... Read More
Owner Who Builds His Own Home Offers No Implied Warranty of Workmalike Service nor Owes Duty of Care to Future Purchaser
In the recent case of Smith v. Breedlove, 377 S.C. 415, 661 S.E.2d 67, the SC Supreme Court held that a private individual who built a home as his personal residence, acting as his own general contractor, was not considered the builder or general contractor when a subsequent buyer sued for breach of implied warranty of workmanlike service. The implied warranty of workmanlike service applies to professional builders and contractors whose expertise is relied upon by home purchasers. Because the respondent never held himself out as a licensed contractor or... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 26, 2008
Olympic stadium cost jumps another £29m
The estimated construction cost of the 2012 Olympic stadium is now £525m, according to a report by Boris Johnson's Olympic watchdog.... Read More
Safer crane operations eyed in City Council plan
The New York City Council will work in coming weeks to turn a 15-point legislative proposal into stricter enforcement and regulations for crane operations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday.... Read More
5 Ways to Improve the Customer Experience
ethnoMetics Inc. president Martin Smith shares ways to improve your customers' experiences in your store or showroom.... Read More
Pouring Concrete At Ashton SouthEnd
Kannapolis, North Carolina-based Wayne Brothers, Inc. is pouring the concrete for Ashton Southend, a 635,000-square-foot, 11-story building under construction in Charlotte, N.C. In addition to the concrete, there are 1,500 tons of reinforcing steel, 500,000 pounds of post-tension cables andapproximately 460,000 square feet of slab formwork on the project, which is on a fast 10-month schedule on...... Read More
BSF schemes worth £625m get green light early
Eight Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes worth £625m have been given the green light to launch this summer – up to five years ahead of schedule.... Read More
Saskatchewan heads to Philippines and Ukraine to recruit workers
The Saskatchewan government led a delegation, including representatives from the construction industry, on a recruitment mission to the Philippines and the Ukraine. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration program designed to allow the provincial government to select skilled workers and entrepreneurs based on their ability to contribute to the local economy.... Read More
BCTD President: Construction Industry Needs Dedicated OSHA Agency
"Few people understand that, on average, four workers are killed every day on U.S. construction sites," said BCTD President Mark H. Ayers.... Read More
Another Fatality in Las Vegas Brings City's Death Toll to 12
Construction on the Las Vegas Strip claimed another worker's life on June 17 when union carpenter Lyndall Bates of Tempe, Ariz., died after a 12-ft fall at Boyd Gaming’s $4.8-billion, 87-acre Echelon casino project.... Read More
Laing O'Rourke starts work on Liverpool's £350m stadium - VIDEO
Laing O’Rourke has finally started preparatory work on Liverpool Football Club’s (LFC) new £350m Stanley Park stadium after the project was given a final planning green light by Liverpool City Council.... Read More
C42: California Sanitation Contractors' Exam Study Tool CD Only
By C-42CD. Builders Book. Price: $99.95... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 25, 2008
Best Places Awards 2008: winners announced
The winners of the Contract Journal Best Places to Work in Construction Awards 2008 have been announced.... Read More
Portsmouth FC unveils new stadium design - PHOTOS
Portsmouth FC has unveiled designs for a new 36,000-seater stadium to overlook Portsmouth harbour.... Read More
Olympic stadium cost jumps another £29m
The estimated construction cost of the 2012 Olympic stadium is now £525m, according to a report by Boris Johnson's Olympic watchdog.... Read More
USGBC to Outsource LEED Certification
... Read More
Housing crisis: House prices to fall 9%
House prices will to fall by 9% this year and housing transactions will plummet 45%, mortgage lender HBOS has predicted.... Read More
Concrete Results
Driving into the fenced contractor's yard in the middle of May is like entering a small town. Dozens of trailers, construction equipment and piles of building materials fill the southern side of Iowa State University's Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa. It's a mostly empty town, though: most of its "residents" are hard at work on the $19.... Read More
MDOT Seeks Increased DBE Participation
A new program to increase Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation on Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) road construction projects was announced at the 28th Annual MDOT DBE Small Business Development Conference in Pontiac recently. The DBE goal-setting pilot project targets federally funded state road projects up to $1 million and calls for a 25-percent to 30-percent par...... Read More
House Hearing: Does OSHA Adequately Enforce Construction Safety Rules?
During a June 24 House Committee on Education and Labor hearing focusing on OSHA’s role in enforcing construction safety rules, legislators and industry experts questioned whether the agency is doing everything possible to improve safety at construction sites.... Read More
Labour groups oppose WorkSafeBC’s proposed changes to tunnel safety regulations
Two groups representing unionized construction workers in British Columbia are voicing their opposition to proposed changes to safety regulations for tunneling.... Read More
CCA sets up P3 task force
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is setting up a task force to ensure its members are up to speed on public-private partnerships, also known as P3s.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 23, 2008
House Approves School Bill, But Obstacles Persist
Despite a White House veto threat, the House has approved a bill that would authorize $6.4 billion for upgrades to public-school buildings around the country plus $500 million for school repairs in the hurricane-battered Gulf Coast.... Read More
Housing crisis: House prices to fall 9%
House prices will to fall by 9% this year and housing transactions will plummet 45%, mortgage lender HBOS has predicted.... Read More
Construction Career Days In Charlotte
Over 1,500 students from around the Charlotte, N.C., region came to Metrolina Fairgrounds from April 22–24 to get some first-hand construction experience. In addition to booths hosted by local community colleges and universities, vendors and associations, there were hands-on opportunities for masonry, electrical work, carpentry and drywall.... Read More
Building A Better Borman/I-65 Interchange
In northern Indiana, contractors are rapidly constructing the first two of three phases in the final segment of the multiyear Borman Expressway (Interstates 80/94) reconstruction project by modifying the I-80/94 interchange with I-65. The challenging, $187-million interchange project includes building new ramps and bridges, upgrading existing ramps, rehabilitating bridges in the area, adding tr...... Read More
Contractor Reviews of McGraw Hill's new book, Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day - 20+
Book reviews.pdf... Read More
Strategy says home renovations must be green
Home owners could be forced to improve the energy efficiency of their homes when carrying out renovation works.... Read More
Women Building Futures project proves women belong in construction trades
A bold Alberta program proves that women can do very well in the trades if they have support when they begin their journey to become journeywomen.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 21, 2008
Housing starts lowest since 1945
Housing starts in 2008 will plummet to their lowest level since 1945, bleak industry forecasts reveal.... Read More
Midland Construction goes into liquidation
Cheltenham-based Midland Construction has been ordered into liquidation after it was found to be conducting its business without insurance, with inadequate accounting records and a failure to register for VAT.... Read More
Lords join the diploma debate
The House of Lords echoed contractors concerns this week about the lack of work experience in the government's new diplomas.... Read More
Civil Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam, 11th Edition
By Michael R. Lindeburg. Professional Publications. Price: $256. Publish Date: 04/2008... Read More
Social housing group's £1bn plan to bail out housebuilders
Britain’s biggest housing association organisation is in talks with the government to free up £1bn of public funds to rescue housebuilders.... Read More
Applying the 5 S's for Lean Construction
Start: Jul 29 2008 - 5:00am End: Jul 29 2008 - 5:59pm July 29, 2008 - Lean Works In Construction – presented in the morning, Applying the 5 S's for Lean Construction presented in the afternoon... Read More
Lean Works In Construction, SMACNA of Oklahoma
Start: Jul 30 2008 - 5:00pm End: Jul 30 2008 - 5:59pm July 30, 2008 - Lean Works In Construction – presented in the morning, Planning that really Works - The Last Planner presented in the afternoon, Tulsa, OK, sponsored by SMACNA of Oklahoma, Inc., Contact: Terry Elliott at (918) 838-3223.... Read More
Our E-Learning Courses are Available for Construction Professionals
We have created a robust online learning system with WebEx to help contractors continue their learning without the expense of travel and the conveience of a anytime schedule. Whether on the weekend or weeknight, we are ready for your needs. No need to fill up the truck or carve out time from your busy schedule. This is one way to continue to work smarter. Click on the link below to register and to review our offering for construction companies. http://webex.geolearning.com/stevensci/... Read More
Survey blasts contractors' time management
Complex construction projects are likely to be completed more than six months late because of bad time management, new research shows.... Read More
Mobile Field Software
Josh Kanner, co-founder of Vela Systems, is the guest on the latest episode of the Construction Equipment Owner’s Podcast. Josh takes a look at the recent crane collapse and talks about how the application of mobile field software can aid in minimizing the probability of a future accident. He also discusses the use of mobile field software for the purpose of general safety inspections and how implementing a system like this can benefit the contractor throughout the entire construction business.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 19, 2008
Hydrophobic Concrete In So Cal
Although normally used in the rain-soaked soils of the Northwest construction market, Hydrophobic concrete is now making its presence known in the drier climate of Southern California. It is being looked at as a viable alternative to the normal membrane and concrete waterproofing systems. Apparent advantages seem to include reduced installation time and lowered costs.... Read More
New Yorkers Baffled by Latest Crane Disaster
To the dismay of New Yorkers already wary after a spectacular accident in March, the turntable, cab and boom of another tower crane at another highrise apartment building collapsed in a busy Manhattan residential neighborhood, raining steel down on a building near the jobsite and killing two workers.... Read More
H. Wilson Sundt, Construction Leader, Dies
H. Wilson Sundt, former president and chairman of Sundt Construction Inc., died on May 12 after a long battle with cancer. He was 75.... Read More
Principles and Practices of Commercial Construction, 8th Edition
By Cameron K. Andres. Prentice Hall PTR. Price: $97.33. Publish Date: 01/2008... Read More
Caribbean markets offer opportunities for Canadian construction industry
The Caribbean is not just a place for sunny vacations but also a destination of work opportunities for the Canadian construction industry, according to Export Development Canada (EDC).... Read More
Social housing group's £1bn plan to bail out housebuilders
Britain’s biggest housing association organisation is in talks with the government to free up £1bn of public funds to rescue housebuilders.... Read More
Fire destroys flats under construction in Glasgow
Arson suspected after fire that destroys a block of flats under construction in Glasgow.... Read More
CPWR: 22 Workers Die Annually From Crane-Related Incidents
According to a new report released by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), an annual average of 22 construction workers were killed in crane-related incidents from 1992 to 2006. The report offers recommendations to prevent additional fatalities, such as implementing a national certification program for crane operators and inspectors.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 18, 2008
Housebuilder crisis: No more housebuilders in FTSE 100
There are now no housebuilders in the FTSE 100 after Persimmon was ejected from the rankings today.... Read More
Understanding Concrete Pavement
Going from a 10-inch concrete pavement design to an 11-inch concrete pavement design can nearly double the life of the pavement. That's what Tom Van Dam, Ph.D., P.E., associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan Tech University, told attendees of the recent Concrete Workshop in East Lansing sponsored by the Michigan Concrete Paving Association (MCPA),...... Read More
NC Supreme Court Alters Incorporation by Reference
A recent case handed down by the North Carolina Supreme Court is likely to have a significant impact on how construction contracts are drafted in North Carolina.In Schenkel & Shultz, Inc. v. Hermon F. Fox & Associates, 685 S.E.2d 918 (2008), the North Carolina Supreme Court held that the standard practice of incorporating the entirety of a prime contract into a subprime contract (e.g., subcontract or subconsultant agreement) by reference may be flawed. In Schenkel, the court considered whether Schenkel (the Architect) and Fox (the Engineer) intended to incorporate... Read More
Man seriously hurt in Barratt site scaffolding fall
A man is in a serious condition following a fall from scaffolding at a construction site in the Rutherglen area of Glasgow.... Read More
Criminal Probe Shows New Pressure Over Safety
As the Manhattan district attorney opened an investigation into last week's tower crane collapse in Manhattan, in which two workers died, a leader of the city's construction industry may have provided a hint that employers are ready for changes.... Read More
Washington State Shuts Down Chinese-Made Tower Cranes
Due to alleged electrical compliance and structural safety problems, Washington State's Dept. of Labor and Industries has ordered contractors to suspend the use of Sun-brand tower cranes supplied by Grand Prairie, Texas-based Lewis Equipment Co.... Read More
Darlington firm fined £15,000 after worker fall
Darlington-based building firm Bussey and Armstrong has been fined £15,000 following a serious injury to one of its workers.... Read More
Construction Project Management, 3rd Edition
By Frederick Gould. Prentice Hall PTR. Price: $104.4. Publish Date: 04/2008... Read More
Construction Methods and Management, 7th Edition
By Stephens W. Nunnally. Prentice Hall PTR. Price: $100.4. Publish Date: 07/2006... Read More
Light House Sustainable Building Centre becomes beacon for green-building practices
The green-building movement is coming on fast, pushed by government regulations and financial realities.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 17, 2008
Crane Accident Spurs Labor Walkout Along Vegas Strip
Safety enforcement is becoming a burning issue in Las Vegas, where angry building trades at the CityCenter project walked off the job on June 2 in protest of unsafe working conditions on the Strip.... Read More
Gulf Coast and Carolina Now the Strongest Housing Markets
Jim Haughey says that the rapidly growing resort and retirement centers along the Carolina coast continue to have the most intense housing development in the US. This is followed closely by the hurricane rebuilding region on the Gulf Coast, including Houston and the manufacturing and business centers in the North Carolina Piedmont area plus Austin Texas. No Florida metro areas remain in the list of the twenty five cities with the most intense housing development.... Read More
Construction Diploma is 'ludicrous'
Allowing students to pass the Construction Diploma without on-site work experience is “ludicrous”, a leading recruitment specialist warned this week.... Read More
Road Rehab
H & S Construction Co. recently completed a small, yet very demanding asphalt "mill and fill" road rehabilitation project. The Lafayette, La.-based contractor had a $1.1-million contract with a 60-day completion deadline with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD). The work called for H & S to mill, repair, resurface and, in some areas, widen a portion of Ro...... Read More
New Technologies Produce Designer Concrete
One of the many things people don't think about is technological advancement in the composition and use of building materials, and concrete is one of them. How does concrete change, you ask? Hank Hauge, director of technical services for Strata Corporation, a civil engineer and materials supplier, said, "The materials themselves are not new, but the way we put together the proportions is.... Read More
High-Performing Contractor - NEWSLETTER June 08
High-Performing Contractor - NEWSLETTER June, 2008 This e-newsletter is dedicated to supporting High-Performing Contractors and all contractors working to become one. Edited by Dennis Sowards Leadership George Hedley is a contractor with some great thoughts on Leadership: “Think of great companies, large and small. Excellent companies are lead by a leader who takes and makes time to be the leader instead of a doer. He or she is the seller of the vision and what the company offers to its' employees and customers. Examples of this leadership style are... Read More
Industry warns over Strategy for Sustainable Construction targets
Industry figures have warned that targets set in the government’s new Strategy for Sustainable Construction and the Construction Commitments need to be backed firmly by the public sector if they are to be met.... Read More
Midland Construction goes into liquidation
Cheltenham-based Midland Construction has been ordered into liquidation after it was found to be conducting its business without insurance, with inadequate accounting records and a failure to register for VAT.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 16, 2008
Top 10 and Trend Graph – May 2008
The attached table records the 10 largest construction project starts in Canada in May 2008, by dollar volume. In the latest month, there were four projects in Ontario, three in British Columbia, two in Alberta and one in Saskatchewan. Also included is the latest trend graph on starts. This looks at 12-month moving totals (again based on dollar volume) of the two major non-residential building categories in Canada − total ICI starts and engineering work. ICI stands for industrial, commercial and institutional.... Read More
Construction diplomas criticised by House of Lords
The House of Lords echoed contractors concerns this week about the lack of work experience in the Government’s new Diplomas.... Read More
Going Green From The Ground Up
The green build wave is rising, and right now general contractors have the opportunity to ride its crest. It is fast becoming expected that professionals in the building trades are ready, willing and able to work green — and that means understanding the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).... Read More
Paving Proceeds On The Gateway
Concrete paving and bridge work on the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project in Detroit has been proceeding. There is approximately 50,000 cubic yards of concrete being used for the bridge work on the project. The fourth phase of the over $230-million project includes: All roads are expected to be open to traffic in 2009.... Read More
Building A Concrete Apron
A cargo area apron expansion for a new DHL building at Bishop International Airport in Flint is under construction. The project includes paving concrete apron 17 inches thick that will service aircraft for the new DHL building. Six-S Inc., of Waterford Township, is the prime contractor for the project.... Read More
Manufactured Building System Means Fast Concrete Building Construction
How fast can a 20,000-square-foot church facility be constructed? According to Royal Concrete Concepts, such a project can be completed "within days" using the manufactured building system units developed by the company. Royal Concrete Concepts manufactures the building system units at its new plant in Okeechobee, Fla.... Read More
BCANJ Construction Industry and Showcase Career Day
Coordinated by Building Contractors Association of New Jersey, construction industry groups once again joined forces for the 7th annual Construction Industry Career Day (CICD) on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. Friday's "Just Juniors" event saw more than 1,000 high school juniors and educators arrive for a free half-day introduction to...... Read More
Maintenance Begins on Hastings Bridge
Although replacement of the Highway 61 Mississippi River Bridge at Hastings, Minnesota, is now planned to begin during the 2010 construction season, the Minnesota Department of Transportation began a painting and repair project this construction season. Because the existing structure will remain in service for several more years and will likely be used during construction of a new river crossin...... Read More
Keep the Gloves On!
The cost of hand injuries in just one sector of the construction industry is six times what it would cost those employers to offer every employee appropriate hand protection.... Read More
Harper salutes graduates of Sarnia, Ontario apprenticeship program
The Sarnia Construction Association (SCA) recently had the highest-ranking Canadian official possible attend its annual construction association graduation when Prime Minister Stephen Harper walked through the banquet hall doors.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 14, 2008
Lean & 5S's in Construction - May 08 #34
Sustaining Lean read more... Read More
Key Measures for U.S. Home Inventory Moving in Right Direction
The number-of-months inventory of unsold new homes in the United States dropped slightly in April 2008 to 10.6 from 11.1 the month before. This is only a small decline, but combined with a number of other indicators, it adds to the collection of better news on U.S. housing markets that has been accumulating. This story includes a chart that shows the trend of unsold inventory quite clearly.... Read More
Clegg Construction hits £30m turnover
Clegg Construction, the Nottingham-based building and civils group, lifted its annual turnover to £30m last year.... Read More
Labor Productivity in Construction
Last week, I attended a 1-day conference by Hyphen Solutions in Irvine, Calif. The focus of the conference was to look at ways builders could impro...... Read More
Three jailed as OFT gets tough
Three businessmen have been jailed for their part in a price-fixing ring in the first ever convictions for a cartel offence since criminal prosecution powers were given to the Office of Fair Trading under the Enterprise Act.... Read More
Construction Starts Increase in May
Reed Construction Data (RCD) announced today that the year-to-date value of construction starts through May 2008, excluding residential contracts, totaled $110.4 billion, 5.9% less than in the same period last year, says Jim Haughey.... Read More
Man killed by girder on Bovis site
A construction worker was killed on a Bovis Lend Lease site when he was hit by a steel girder.... Read More
Masonry Veneer, 3rd Edition
By MIA. Masonry Institute of America. Price: $24.95. Publish Date: 03/2008... Read More
Construction diplomas criticised by House of Lords
The House of Lords echoed contractors concerns this week about the lack of work experience in the Government’s new Diplomas.... Read More
Construction Diploma is 'ludicrous'
Allowing students to pass the Construction Diploma without on-site work experience is “ludicrous”, a leading recruitment specialist warned this week.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 13, 2008
Construction strategy calls for 230,000 new workers by 2010
The construction industry has been told it must recruit 230,000 new workers by 2010 and train 13,5000 apprentices to meet new government targets.... Read More
Firm gives away sunscreen to workers
A construction firm in Northern Ireland has started to offer its workers free sunscreen to protect them from sunburn as the weather hots up.... Read More
Public sector orders keep construction afloat
Construction orders have fallen 2% in the 12 months to April but public sector construction is helping to counteract the effect of big falls in the private sector.... Read More
19 Awards for Campus Architecture, Buildings, Plans and Landscapes
The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) and the Committee on Architecture for Education of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-CAE) have announced 19 awards in the areas of architecture, campus planning and landscape architecture. Winners included not just American universities but also projects on foreign campuses, such as the master plan for the faculty of arts and sciences at the Aga Khan University, in Karachi, Pakistan, by Payette.Recognition went to a variety of new (Alice Paul Residence Hall at Swarthmore College) and renovated/restored (Dalton Hall at Bryn... Read More
Sour Economic Environment for Homebuilders Suggest Recovery Process is Underway
All of the marker drivers for residential construction are now neutral or negative. However, this does not lead to a conclusion that the market has further to fall. More likely, the market is at the bottom with an upturn, albeit slow and week, soon ahead, says Reed Construction Data chief economist Jim Haughey.... Read More
Economic Environment for Nonresidential Markets Worsens
Jim Haughey reports that the only positive nonresidential construction market drivers are office starts, construction equipment shipments and, marginally, local tax receipts. Soaring materials costs from the strong economy overseas and slumping space and facility demand from the weak domestic economy have downgraded all other market drivers to neutral or negative.... Read More
MSJC 2008 Building Code Requirements and Specifications for Masonry Structures TMS 402 ACI 530 ASCE 5 TMS 602 ACI 530.1 ASCE 6
By 522-08. Masonry Institute of America. Price: $100. Publish Date: 01/2008... Read More
Masonry Design Manual, 4th Edition
By 601-07. Masonry Institute of America. Price: $99.95. Publish Date: 01/2008... Read More
2007 Masonry Codes and Specifications for California
By 501-07. Masonry Institute of America. Price: $29.95. Publish Date: 01/2008... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 12, 2008
Projects Gone Awry
Anyone who has spent time in the trenches of the construction industry can relate horror stories about projects that have gone awry, causing budgetary overruns, scheduling nightmares or even worse. It is through experience, being detailed oriented and by working with qualified teams that projects are kept on track.... Read More
Housing Still Stuck at the Bottom
Jim Haughey says that the small rise in MF starts was the only good news in the housing market over the last month and that the April gain may only be a brief offset to the unusually large March decline.... Read More
Technical Details: Service Departments: How to Conduct a Roof Inspection
Roofing contractors can benefit from a well-organized service department, and service and maintenance work can become even more important to a company’s profit picture in tighter economic times. Service departments are typically smaller departments that operate independently from a company’s main roofing operations. The service department handles all of the company’s leak repairs and service-related items, such as installing flashing at new curbs and the installation of additional vents and drains.... Read More
Crane Accidents Land Inspectors in Hot Seat
Latest failure has standards for inspecting and maintaining cranes under severe scrutiny.... Read More
Rising costs of financing and construction put plans for $260-million racetrack on hold
A proposed $260-million horse racing track near Calgary has been delayed again.... Read More
100 Best New Products 2008: Construction Equipment & Tools
These hard-working tools from Milwaukee Tools, Knaack and more were featured in the 2008 100 Best New Products issue.... Read More
Construction unions: latest news
Latest news on industrial relations in the construction industry, including news from the big construction unions UCATT and Unite.... Read More
Materials Price Surge: 2008 is different from 2004
The current surge in construction materials prices is similar in scale to the initial period of the steep price rises in 2004-05. This is ominous, says Jim Haughey, chief economist for Reed Construction Data.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 11, 2008
Buy one, get one free homes
Wow. So homes are now like shoes? Buy one, get one free ... that's the deal Michael Crews Development is offering in the San Dieg...... Read More
U.S. Cities Inspect Cranes After Fatal NYC Collapse
New York City's latest string of crane accidents prompted cities across the nation to closely examine their crane operations to prevent more crane-related tragedies from occurring in the future.... Read More
Our CD Set for Managers and Executives with "Windshield Time" - 6+ Hours
DVD sleeve with bodycopy.pdfWe have recorded 6+ hours of instructional audio for Managers and Executives Who Have "Windshield Time" in their travels. This audio is created from our library of Seminars, Webinars and Books. These inclusive CD's contain management insights and worksmart thinking in the areas of 1) The Business of Construction Contracting - Business, Strategic and Economic Issues and Insights 2) Work Acquisition - Bidding, Priciing, Bidding and Selling 3) Building Work - Project Control, Project Management and Labor Productivity 4) Keeping Track - Financial and Monetary Practices... Read More
Eco-town project poses flooding risk
A flagship eco-town project near Leicester could cause extensive flooding to local towns and villages, claim experts in the Telegraph newspaper today.... Read More
Construction strategy calls for 230,000 new workers by 2010
The construction industry has been told it must recruit 230,000 new workers by 2010 and train 13,5000 apprentices to meet new government targets.... Read More
Contractors wary of extra costs of CSCS SmartCard
Smartcards planned under the CSCS skills scheme will cost contractors too much to introduce.... Read More
Prince’s eco town gets green light
An eco-town partly designed by Prince Charles' architectural foundation has been given final approval by the local planning authority.... Read More
Two Employers Cited for NYC Scaffold Collapse
OSHA cited two New York City employers for alleged workplace safety standard violations, including equipment failure, lack of fall protection and lack of employee training, in connection with a fatal Dec. 7, 2007, scaffold collapse.... Read More
Foreign workers form small but essential part of Canada’s labour force, panel says
Temporary foreign workers may only account for five percent of Canada’s construction workforce but their importance cannot be ignored, a Construction Sector Council (CSC) panel recently emphasized.... Read More
Willoughby Recreation Centre gets in shape for historic celebration
The $45 million Willoughby Recreation Centre, which is under construction in the Township of Langley, will be used for sporting events, concerts, exhibitions and trade shows.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 10, 2008
Federal Agents Probing Building-Permit Crimes File Charges
U.S. attorneys in Chicago have charged 15 property owners, developers, contractors and city officials under an ongoing investigation called Operation Crooked Code.... Read More
Vermeer-Wisconsin Holds Open House
Vermeer-Wisconsin, the state's exclusive dealer for Vermeer construction and landscaping equipment, recently held an open house at its branch in Little Chute. The all-day event celebrated the company having earned Vermeer Corporation's highest dealer-performance rating for the third year in a row – and for the fifth time in the past six years.... Read More
Brad Pitt to design Dubai hotel
He’s one half of the world’s best looking couple, now Brad Pitt has turned his eye to making the rest of the world more attractive.... Read More
Leadership Selling: Manage Your Sales Style
When it comes to sales, you may be affected by social consciousness in more ways than you realize. While it’s easy to recognize that job pressures shape your performance — for example, the struggle to meet corporate expectations and uncompromising customer demands at the same time — what’s not so apparent is that your behavior is also shaped by social pressures and often is reinforced by movies, literature and television.... Read More
Criminal Probe Shows New Pressure Over Safety
As the Manhattan district attorney opened an investigation into last week's tower crane collapse in Manhattan, in which two workers died, a leader of the city's construction industry may have provided a hint that employers are ready for changes.... Read More
Construction Cost Increases for Four Recreational Building Categories Range from 2.9% to 4.6% in May
Among four types of recreational structures monitored by RSMeans, a racquetball court (+4.6% on average for 25 cities) had the greatest year-over-year increase in construction costs in May 2008. In second place was an enclosed swimming pool (+3.9%), followed by a bowling alley (+3.0%) and a hockey/soccer arena (+2.9%).As for dollar-per-square-foot cost of construction, a swimming pool is most expensive. Chicago and Los Angeles were the leaders in cost gains, year over year. ... Read More
No more milking us for cash, subbies tell housebuilders
Subcontractors are hitting back at housebuilders who are squeezing their supply chains as the credit crunch bites.... Read More
71% of housebuilders think IT is key
Last week we featured a White Paper from Bentley Systems about ‘Best Practices for Sustaining Infrastructure’ which emphasised the importance of information technology to changes that will help create a sustainable world. This week we had the results from Autodesk of an independent survey into the use of technology in the housebuilding industry. In light [...]... Read More
Construction Job Decline Slows in May
Contractors laid off 34,000 workers in May in today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly job cuts had averaged 48,000 over the previous six months, ranging from 39,000 to 57,000. Together with 8,000 layoffs in wood products manufacturing and 10,000 at architectural/engineering firms, construction again accounted for more than all of the total 49,000 job loss in the overall economy.... Read More
OSHA Renews Alliance with the Construction Institute
OSHA recently renewed its alliance with the Construction Institute (CI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The alliance will continue encouraging employers in the construction industry to incorporate safety and health information and training resources into their work processes.... Read More
Lean & 5S's in Construction #33
Lean Leaders What is a ‘Lean Leader?’ What type of leader is needed to successfully implement Lean? Lou English, a noted Lean consultant, shares his thoughts on this: read more... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 09, 2008
Dim on BIM?
Sure the future of Building Information modeling (BIM) is bright, but the path to that future has a temporary dim - based on complaints from folks in the construction industry.A recent survey of structural engineers reveals a sunny forecast - 74% of respondents think they will have to use BIM to meet their client needs in less than 12 months. Published articles espousing the bright and growing future of BIM are legion.But not fast enough according to a recent ENR article that reports findings from an April eConstruction Industry... Read More
Construction spending decline slows in April
Jim Haughey says that total construction spending fell 0.4% in April after it was revised up 0.6% in March and remains 8.4% below the peak level in February 2006. Almost half of the decline occurred since last September when residential mortgage problems began to slow growth in nonresidential construction markets.... Read More
Residential market stabilizing
Jim Haughey discusses how starts, permits and new home sales increased in April for the first time in many months, confirming that the housing market is stabilizing at the job site although not yet downstream in the real estate market.... Read More
Spending growth ends in nonresidential building and heavy project markets
Jim Haughey says that nonresidential construction activity continues at a high level but has not expanded since last fall, after adjusting for project cost inflation, except for the construction of manufacturing facilities.... Read More
Construction Equipment Shipments Still Steady
Reed Construction Data Chief Economist Jim Haughey says that construction equipment orders were sharply higher in the last two months and equipment shipments edged up slightly to highest total in nearly a year and a half based on April activity reports and the annual revision of manufacturing shipments.... Read More
Construction Job Decline Slows in May
Contractors laid off 34,000 workers in May in today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly job cuts had averaged 48,000 over the previous six months, ranging from 39,000 to 57,000. Together with 8,000 layoffs in wood products manufacturing and 10,000 at architectural/engineering firms, construction again accounted for more than all of the total 49,000 job loss in the overall economy.... Read More
Greensburg Icon Rebuilt "Green"
Less than a year after a devastating tornado leveled Greensburg, Kansas, on May 4, 2007, the first commercial reconstruction had taken root along the rural town's Main Street. More than 95 percent of the town's structures were destroyed or severely damaged when the 200-mph winds of the huge, F-5 storm engulfed the town.... Read More
Ellenzweig Designs New UK Building
Ellenzweig, an architecture and planning firm in Cambridge, Mass., designed the new Biological/Pharmaceutical Complex for the University of Kentucky. The new 285,000-gross-square-foot building will be the new home of the university's College of Pharmacy on the Lexington campus. Now in construction, the building project began with an extensive programming process led by Ellenzweig Principals Mic...... Read More
Improve your image, contractors warned
Contractors still aren’t doing enough to make construction attractive to the best graduates, KPMG’s 2008 Global Construction Survey has warned.... Read More
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction offers seismic-design courses
The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) recently offered a series of commercial building and seismic-design courses across the country to help identify the best way to use steel to provide greater earthquake resistance in buildings up to 10 storeys tall.... Read More
Rising costs of financing and construction put plans for $260-million racetrack on hold
A proposed $260-million horse racing track near Calgary has been delayed again.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 07, 2008
AIA Announces New 'Integrated' Standard to Mixed Reviews
The rollout of standard contract documents for fully integrated project delivery from the American Institute of Architects was met with much skepticism at the AIA Convention, held May 13-15 in Boston.... Read More
The three existing home price series show very different price trends
How much home prices fall is critically important in estimating when the housing market will hit bottom and begin to recover. Depending on which existing home price series you look at, prices have been falling for either six months or for more than a year and the price drop is either a few percentage points or a double-digit plunge. Reed Construction Data believes that the OFHEO purchase only, existing home price series is the best measure of national price trends and that the Case/Shiller/Weiss existing home price series is... Read More
Metro Vancouver plans to sue Bilfinger Berger over delayed Seymour-Capilano filtration project
Metro Vancouver recently terminated the contract with Bilfinger Berger Canada Inc., a Germany-based contractor. The company was supposed t