The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has started an informal inquiry of private equity firms, asking for a broad range of documents on how the funds value assets and who invests in them.
The recent approval of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau’s (SPIB) new design values for visually graded Southern Pine lumber by the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) Board of Review has generated more questions among producers and customer groups.read more
As part of its effort to provide safe and affordable public housing to area seniors, the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) Board of Commissioners has selected Johnson Controls to begin energy-efficiency upgrades to nearly 2,000 units across 13 senior residential care facilities.read more
Perkins Eastman announced that Damian Besculides, AIA, has joined the firm's New York office as Associate Principal. Besculides joins with more than 17 years’ experience in design, business development, and account management for the government, healthcare, and corporate practice areas with a particular focus on the financial and media sectors.read more
U.S. healthcare institutions face numerous challenges today, including declining reimbursements, rising costs, and growing demands for services. To better understand these issues and their impact on design and construction trends, Mortenson Construction spoke to healthcare professionals at the Healthcare Design Conference in Nashville, Tenn. More than 300 professionals provided feedback, including healthcare administrators and facilities managers, architects, builders, and suppliers. ead moreThe new Central Utility Plant (CUP) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) reached a major construction milestone when construction workers placed the final structural steel beam atop the building’s frame on January 24, 2012. Currently on schedule for construction completion in summer 2014, the $438 million (development cost) design-build project is being built by Clark/McCarthy, A Joint Venture.read more
House lawmakers approved a measure that would make it easier for the federal government to sell underused or excess federal property to cut costs.
The Civilian Property Realignment Act would have a commission identify federal buildings to be sold. The bill is similar to a White House planto cut $8 billion worth of building costs by the end of the 2012 fiscal year, and to establish a panel to identify other sites worth selling or donating to nonprofits or state and local governments.read moreCanada's National Research Council is offering a computer tool that is designed to make it simple for construction engineers to use the National Building Code of Canada to design roof cladding that can withstand winds in a given area.
For more information, visit the Wind-RCI, or theWind Roof Calculator on the Internet. BD+C
A Construction Specifications Institute webinar will focus on the lessons learned through the design and construction of a LEED-certified industrial project, Better Living Mill Shop, the first industrial building in Central Virginia to earn LEED certification.
This case study will focus on strategies used to save the client money, achieve certification, and effectively market success once the project was complete.read more
Construction industry revenue from zero energy buildings will grow rapidly over the next 20 years, reaching almost $690 billion by 2020 and nearly $1.3 trillion by 2035, projects Pike Research.
Much of that growth will be in the European Union, where near-zero energy buildings are mandated by 2019 for public buildings, and by 2021 for all construction.
Click here for more information. BD+C
A recent crackdown on safety violations by the Occupation Safety and Health Administration is threatening the livelihood of small contractors in Kansas, those in the industry say.
A fine for a violation that once cost between $750 and $1,200 now runs $7,000 or more per incident, according to a state industry association official.
Click here for more information. BD+CA Construction Specifications Institute webinar will focus on the lessons learned through the design and construction of a LEED-certified industrial project, Better Living Mill Shop, the first industrial building in Central Virginia to earn LEED certification. This case study will focus on strategies used to save the client money, achieve certification, and effectively market success once the project was complete.read more
A California state senate bill that would delay the elimination of the 400 community redevelopment agencies in the state does not have sufficient support to pass by the Feb. 1 deadline.
Leaders of California cities had been trying to fashion a compromise with lawmakers after the state Supreme Court ruled the state had the authority to eliminate the agencies and use their property tax money for local services.
Click here fore more information. BD+C
A coalition of local designers, seismologists, heritage organizations, and professional associations have begun outreach efforts for the proposed South Main District Seismic Retrofit and Historic Conservation Demonstration Project in Memphis.
The group will develop a low-cost seismic retrofit model that would benefit aging brick-and-mortar structures. It involves bolting steel brackets to existing wooden floor and ceiling joists.read more
The city of Houston has joined the Better Buildings Challenge, a public-private partnership designed to improve energy efficiency by 20% in buildings across the country by 2020.
The challenge has about $4 billion in federal and private-sector funds, which it will use for building energy upgrades nationwide in the next two years.
Click here for more information. BD+C
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) offers free on-site consultation on health and safety for small businesses. In 2010, the program visited approximately 30,000 businesses.
The consultants offer confidential, non-punitive advice.
Click here for more information. BD+C
A program for prison inmates in Michigan who might be interested in joining an apprenticeship roofing program after they get out of jail led to a standoff between Sheriff Robert Pickell and other county officials.
The disagreement was over whether the prisoners should have been paid prevailing wage for their brief time on the job because the project was paid for with a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
Click here for more information. BD+C
Nauset Construction recently completed construction of a significant renovation, addition and site improvements to The Gables at Winchester, an integrated independent and assisted living retirement community owned and operated by Five Star Senior Living of Newton, Mass.read more
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Despite a weakened economy, data center industry experts predict strong continued growth and construction activity for the foreseeable future according to a new study by Mortenson Construction, a U.S. data center contractor.read more</pKawneer Company, Inc., an Alcoa business and a manufacturer of architectural aluminum products and systems for commercial construction, announced that it has combined product portfolios with its Traco division to offer a broader range of products.read moreNational architecture firm Shepley Bulfinch has announced the opening of a new office in San Francisco, which will be led by healthcare design leader Peter Schlosser, AIA, who has joined the firm as principal.read moreInternational engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti opened a new office in Denver, Colo. on January 30. The firm, which now has 25 offices internationally, opened the new office to better serve current and potential clients in the western Central region and Mountain States.
Senior Principal Steve Hofmeister will oversee the new office as manager of the company’s Midwest U.S. region.read more
In keeping with the yearly tradition of the Constructonomics blog I’d like to propose a theme song for 2012…..So if the theme song for 2011 was, “Stayin’ Alive”, I couldn’t help but try to peg 2012 with something like, “Livin’ On A Prayer”. However, I won’t. Not because we’re less than halfway there, but [...]