The Winter 2013 edition of Construction Economics has been published by Gilbane Building Company, a global construction and facilities-related services firm. Ed Zarenski, an industry veteran who authored the report, writes: “Supported by overall positive growth trends in 2013 and 2014, I expect margins and overall escalation to climb more rapidly than we have…(Read More)
Construction project managers are typically obsessed with time and deadlines. While setbacks are expected, some construction projects got so tangled up with time and resource problems that they stand out above the crowd. Which projects are on this dubious list? The Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project, known as the Big Dig, lasted some 16 years…(Read More)
Visuals are the big buzz as we head into 2014, and that’s good news for construction companies. Large, full-color project photos that show details can make a difference when bids and RFPs are being considered. Job candidates will be all over your site, too. Is your company website up-to-date? Are relevant…(Read More)
Winter construction sites pose health and safety risks that can often be averted. With frigid temperatures and stinging wind chills, it may be time to call a safety meeting to review ways to stay safe when working outside. Double layer thermal socks in insulated boots and wraparound eye protection that preserves body heat are among…(Read More)
The chief economist at Associated General Contractors, Ken Simonson, says he expects the U.S. construction workforce to grow by 300,000 jobs in 2014. Simonson attributes the anticipated increase to the housing market recovery and energy boom. http://www.equipmentworld.com/construction-expected-to-boost-u-s-economy-by-adding-300k-workers-in-2014…(Read More)
Productivity and profit margins will be key to sustained growth in the construction sector. That’s according to the 2013 Fourth Quarter Nonresidential Construction Index report. The research from FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking services to the engineering and construction industry, suggests that productivity continues to decrease. “The 48.6 score…(Read More)
From our file marked, “When in Rome…” comes this story about the construction of a Mormon temple in Philadelphia. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is forbidding caffeinated beverages, smoking, and foul language on the jobsite. LDS’ Continued Elder Robert Smith says the property is considered sacred ground. “We had a ground…(Read More)
Policymakers in Washington, DC are looking to break what they claim is a monopoly that’s held by the eco-friendly Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system. The Associated Press reports that several states have all but banned LEED from public contracts, making room for a new player in the market…(Read More)
If your team thinks AutoCad, BIM 360 Glue, and AutoDesk Fabrication help improve productivity and add some fun to the job, gamification may bring new levels of enthusiasm. The trend is growing, according to Blake Mccammon, a blogger on Blogging4jobs.com. “Redesigning tasks that are considered mundane or repetitive allows employers to not only keep…(Read More)
How can you manage risk in industrial construction projects? While there’s no way to avoid accidents, pre-construction and financial threats are two of the areas that should be evaluated before a job begins. “We recommend managing risk in four stages – identification, assessment, mitigation and monitoring,” says Tricia Corcuera of DRAXware Solutions, a construction…(Read More)
