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)
Debate over the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment has always been a lively one. But the company itself recently issued an e-mail that there are many people who misunderstand and misuse the assessment. According to Erik Sherman, a corporate communications consultant and author, Myers-Briggs says that using the MBTI as part of…(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 A new group called Industry Women Central has played an integral role in breaking down barriers and moving past outdated stereotypes in…(Read More)
Top talent with skills in engineering and energy can thank the global economy for the job growth that’s expected this year. Analyst Josh Bersin says 2014 is the “Year of the Employee.” Bersin contends that top talent has the power to exert more control this year, and employers must adapt. “For the first time…(Read More)
Architects are integral in the world of construction, well beyond blueprints and dimensions. Stephen Bauld, a government procurement expert based in Canada, says executives who are once removed from the jobsite may forget the role of the architect. “We may forget that architects work closely with other professionals involved in the execution of the project…(Read More)
Green building in North America will continue to see strong growth throughout the coming year. That’s according to green building consultant Jerry Yudelson, who predicts that 2014 will also experience a growing focus on energy efficiency and zero-net-energy buildings. http://www.constructech.com/news/articles/article.aspx?article_id=9896&SECTION=1…(Read More)
“In terms of effectiveness, safe working conditions at construction jobsites are best achieved when the prime or general contractor assumes his rightful leadership role and takes primary responsibility to (a) establish, (b) coordinate, (c) monitor, and (d) generally manage the overall basic safety program content and structure for all parties and persons at his jobsite…(Read More)
What can be done on jobsites to reduce the likelihood of claims being filed against your company? A few of the common trends that result in disputes include labor or material shortages, unplanned disruptions, and architect-related delays. Joshua Johnson, a partner with Gentry, Locke, Rakes and Moore, a law firm that handles construction and…(Read More)
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)
