DPR Construction, David Weekley Homes, and PCL Construction Enterprises have been named to Fortune’s esteemed list of ‘100 Best Places to Work.’ What separates these companies from others? The pay-it-forward mindset that helps local charities, business cards without job titles, and open floor plans have impressed employees. A number of energy companies…(Read More)
Punch lists are a basic tool used in the construction industry, and now Congress has one that’s been provided by the American Institute of Architects. AIA CEO Robert Ivy notes that the list of ‘unfinished business’ should help lawmakers focus on key issues, such as job creation and energy efficiency. “Congress left town in…(Read More)
Did the extreme winter weather play a part in December’s disappointing jobs report? Only 74,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month. Construction companies, which are heavily dependent on weather conditions, cut 16,000 jobs. That’s the biggest drop in 20 months, according to the Washington Post. The unemployment…(Read More)
Delivery methods, prefabrication, and technology will shape the industry in 2014. So says Bud LaRosa, chief business performance officer at Tocci Building Companies in Woburn, MA. “More companies will move to the cloud, which allows contractors to seamlessly share files of any size with virtually unlimited power,” explains LaRosa. “Cloud based solutions will help increase…(Read More)
Home construction and commercial projects have been helping boost construction spending these past couple of months. The U.S. Commerce Department says single family and apartment building construction have been important. But the Associated Press reports that commercial projects also jumped 2.7 percent in November. Spending on offices, communication projects and transportation projects contributed…(Read More)
There’s been a significant growth in the number of female construction employees in leadership roles in Australia. How did leaders down under shake up the status quo a couple of years ago? A new group called Industry Women Central has played an integral role in breaking down barriers and moving past outdated stereotypes in…(Read More)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)
