Sunday, July 31, 2011
U.S. home builder sentiment rises in July-NAHB
U.S. home builder sentiment rose more than expected in July but remained near historic lows, the National Association of Home Builders said on Monday.
Bottlenose Dolphins? Tool Helps Find Fare on Seafloor
Some dolphins use marine basket sponges to forage for food because it allows them to uncover prey undiscoverable by echolocation.
John T. Livingston
Mr. Livingston is the president of the Tishman Construction Corporation and the chief executive of construction services for the Aecom Technology Corporation.
In the Catskills, Building Stone by Stone, Bale by Bale
A former veterinarian has turned his passion for straw-bale houses into a full-time job.
Israelis march during a protest against the cost of living_20110730131147_JPG
Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets nationwide on Saturday to protest rising housing prices in the largest turnout since the grass-roots demonstrations began two weeks ago.
That’s a Wrap: Port Authority Unveils Translucent LED Bus Terminal Advertising Installation
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Back in May, we wrote about New York City’s first large-scale application of mediamesh – an advanced LED imagery technology – at the northeast corner of the Port Authority Bus Terminal on 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. Last week, the 6000-square-foot installation was activated. GKD-USA – the technology’s joint venture manufacturer – has released a neat time lapse promotional video through advertising agency a2A media that demonstrates mediamesh’s
Recession, Stage II
Just when it seemed that the architecture industry might be pulling out of its tailspin, some key economic indicators are suggesting that a recovery might take longer than expected.
New school, same enrollment crunch
Principal Mary Beth Fitzgerald on Wednesday surveys the cafeteria at Wyandotte Elementary School near Lafayette.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
How the debt talks could affect homeowners
Homeowners have a lot at stake in the political showdown over the country's debt ceiling.
Allegheny County inmate punched 40 times, he says
A prison inmate says he told two FBI agents assisting a grand jury investigation that a senior jail official and several guards on a special response team savagely beat him when he was captured while trying to escape from the Allegheny County Jail last year.
Ashiana Housing net up 11pc during Apr-June quarter
Realty firm Ashiana Housing today reported 11 per cent rise in its net profit at Rs 13.04 crore for the quarter ended June as against Rs 11.71 crore in the year-ago period.
Westfield Group: Global Retail Property
Westfield Group, the world?s largest global retail property group, has transformed its design and building processes and completes coordination tasks 10 times faster using Autodesk BIM solutions.
Westfield Group: Global Retail Property
Westfield Group, the world?s largest global retail property group, has transformed its design and building processes and completes coordination tasks 10 times faster using Autodesk BIM solutions.
Friday, July 29, 2011
April Newsletter
The April newsletter is now online. This newsletter has updates for the April and May section meetings....
McKewon: Starling in Lincoln; QB among NU priorities
Summer camps are over, coaches are taking what little vacation they have and fall camps - both high school and college - will be starting soon.
Barton Malow: Construction Services
Barton Malow uses Autodesk Building Informatnion Modeling (BIM) solutions for preconstruction, construction, and handover of steel production lines at the Severstal Dearborn Plant.
Horton Profit Narrows, Beats Estimates
Horton ended the quarter with $1.1 billion of home building unrestricted cash.
Construction News Headlines for July 29, 2011
Deteriorating Transportation Infrastructure Could Cost America $3.1 Trillion
The American Society for Civil Engineers found the cost of failing to invest more in the nation’s roads and bridges would total $3.1 trillion in lost GDP growth by 2020. The report found deficient and deteriorating surface transportation cost us $130 billion in 2010. ( More at ForConstructionPros.com… )
Builders Get New Dress Code for Construction Sites
The Society of Occupational Medicine warns skin
Ryland Homes to Host Grand Opening Aug 27 to Showcase New Celebration Model Home at Live Oak
TAMPA, Fla. - Ryland Homes will host a grand opening Saturday, Aug. 27 to showcase its new Celebration model home at Live Oak, located off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa.
Tensartech TW3 blocks used to construct earth retaining wall in Sheffield
The Spital Hill location in Sheffield had originally been cut into by Victorian engineers who left a massive, buttressed and arched masonry retaining wall. Sheffield City Council was reluctant to allow main contractor Bowman & Kirkland (East Midlands) to disturb the wall, both for preservation and because there were no records of what lay behind it.The store is constructed around a steel frame, with the first floor and main
TPS carries out the architectural design for new air traffic control tower at Muscat International Airport in Oman
It is expected that the new air traffic control tower at Muscat International Airport, Sultanate of Oman, will become an international symbol for Oman. Standing at just less than 100 metres in height, it will be the tallest occupied building in the countrys capital, Muscat, when it opens. It is located to the south of the new passenger terminal west pier and linked to the terminal building by a glazed bridge link.The project - 11
Jeff Reeves: 3 big names about to go bust like Borders
Borders Group Inc., like Blockbuster before it, failed to surprise Wall Street as it has limped into oblivion.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
BIM?s First-Mile Problem
Here?s a Pecha Kucha presentation that I gave recently to an AEC audience at KAConnect in San Francisco.
McDermott Announces Dates for Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results and Conference Call
[Business Wire] - McDermott International, Inc. announced today that it plans to release financial results for the second quarter of 2011 during the evening of Wednesday, August 3, 2011. The Company will host its quarterly conference call with the financial community the following morning, Thursday, August 4 at 10:00 a.m. .
Architecture Billings Index drops for third straight month
POSTED: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 08:56 AM PT BY: Nick Bjork Tags: Architecture Billings Index Bad news continues to roll in for the architecture industry as June marked the third straight month of declines in the American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index.
TCHG uses H+H aircrete blocks for low carbon prototype home in Kent
Town & Country Housing Group (TCHG) have constructed a low carbon prototype home in Kent. This prototype will act as a test bed for building to level 5 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The home is designed to fit in with others in the area and cost 205,000 to build (including the renewable energy technology that was being trialled), on land already owned by the housing group. Residents Joanna and Thomas Clarke and their son
Stirling Sotheby's Int'l Realty Selected as Marketing Agents for Estate with Ultimate Man Cave
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Stirling Sotheby's International Realty has been selected as sales and marketing agents for a unique estate near Heathrow that features its own car collector's garage.
Construction News Headlines for July 28, 2011
Copper Stolen Again from CU-Boulder’s Biotechnology Building
Thieves strike a University of Colorado construction site for a third time, even after contractors hired around-the-clock guards and installed security cameras. Officials are still tallying how much copper wiring was stolen from the construction site, said CU police spokeswoman Molly Bosley. But, she said, at least $2,000 worth of tools were swiped during the burglary incident that authorities are investigating. The
FXFOWLE's Global Conservation Center
We travel to the Bronx Zoo for a tour of the Wildlife Conservation Society's new headquarters, the Center for Global Conservation. FXFOWLE designed the LEED-Gold building to embrace the landscape, with a stunning green roof that slopes all the way to the ground level.
I am looking for eco-friendly options to replace my vinyl floor. What do you suggest?
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Laurie Asperas Valayer Melville, NY
I am renovating an old house and it has layers of vinyl flooring in very bad condition. The vinyl tile is coming up in places.
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Primoris Services Corporation Awarded $123.6 Million Texas Highway Contract
[Business Wire] - Primoris Services Corporation today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, James Construction Group, was awarded a $123.6 million contract from the Texas Department of Transportation to reconstruct and widen a portion of I-35 in Waco , Texas.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
In the Catskills, Building Stone by Stone, Bale by Bale
A former veterinarian has turned his passion for straw-bale houses into a full-time job.
McKewon: Starling in Lincoln; QB among NU priorities
Summer camps are over, coaches are taking what little vacation they have and fall camps - both high school and college - will be starting soon.
Snøhetta Addition for SFMOMA Taking Shape
Craig Dykers says new structure will complement existing building by Mario Botta
By Laura Mirviss
Since the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art opened its distinctive, Mario Botta-designed home in 1995, the size of its collection has more than doubled and the average number of annual
Construction News Headlines for July 27, 2011
Two Executives Get Probation in Exchange for Testimony in Construction Corruption Case
A pair of high-level executives at Dee Griffin Earthworks were sentenced to two years of probation in exchange for their testimony in a corruption scandal involving construction contracts in the town of Palm Beach. Prosecutors said Palm Beach’s longtime construction manager, Steven M. White personally received nearly $250,000 from construction companies doing business with the town. ( More at
How a U.S. Debt Downgrade May Affect Consumers
Last Modified: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 12:05 a.m. This is not yet one of those stuff-your-money-in-a-mattress moments.
Tight trading and lending conditions are hindering expansion in the construction industry
The UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased by only 0.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2011, following an increase of 0.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2011.Construction output increased by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, compared with a decrease of 3.4 per cent in the previous quarter. Government and other services showed zero growth, compared with a 1.1 per cent increase in the previous quarter.Julia Evans,
EXCLUSIVE: City Agency deals show conflicts of interest worth millions
George P. Twill serves as the Real Estate chair for the Economic Development Corporation and was paid $63,000 to broker a lease in Brooklyn, tax records show.
Arcata public meeting on H Street improvement
The Arcata Public Works Department will hold an open meeting to discuss its upcoming H Street improvement project Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber.
Bucket Barricade gives linemen added protection
Hastings, Mich.-Hastings, a manufacturer of hotline tools and equipment, announces a new lineman innovation, the Bucket Barricade.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Flood meeting delayed, 3rd time
By JOY BROWN STAFF WRITER OTTAWA -- The Army Corps of Engineers has again pushed back a key flood control meeting intended to highlight possible project options for Findlay and Ottawa.
Economy's spring slump could last through summer
The economy's spring slump appears to be extending into the summer, according to a slew of mixed data released Thursday.
Pole-climbing electricians compete for bragging rights, share job with family
Lucas Buyas reminds his sister Kayla Adams to lock her knee as he teaches her to climb an electrical pole at the 18th Annual Pacific Northwest Lineman Rodeo in Gresham.
U.S. home builder sentiment rises in July-NAHB
U.S. home builder sentiment rose more than expected in July but remained near historic lows, the National Association of Home Builders said on Monday.
Jergler: All-cash buyers pump up the market, but may hurt other buyers
Cash is king in the real estate market throughout Southern California in general and in Orange County in particular, where thanks to falling home prices, more people with the means seem interested in plunking down a lump sum and getting a home free and clear.
Construction News Headlines for July 26, 2011
United Sets New Q2 Utilization Record; Rental Revs Up 16.4%
United Rentals’ second-quarter financial results showed total revenue of $629 million, a nearly 13% increase over Q2 2010, and rental revenue of $524 million, a 16.4% increase compared the same period last year. The company attributes the rental-revenue increase to 6.1% growth in rental rates and 13.8% growth in volume of equipment on rent. (More at ForConstructionPros.com . . . )
House Appropriations Committee OKs $1
Accoya wood chosen to build a bridge to access Fort de Roovere in the West Brabant Water Line
Accoya wood has been chosen to build a bridge to access Fort de Roovere, the largest fort surrounded by a moat in the West Brabant Water Line. Situated in the Southwest of the province of North-Brabant, the West Brabant Water Line is a Dutch defensive line that dates from the early 17th century. The design of the bridge helps maintain the Forts integrity without obscuring the dramatic view on the site. The project was recently
Construction companies urged to address their fuel inefficiency
Exceeding speed limits, driving in the wrong gear, and braking too hard can increase fuel consumption by 40 percent, which, with the cost diesel reaching 139.42 pence per litre can be extremely costly for companies with large vehicle fleets.According to The Fuelcard Company, construction companies facing spiralling fuel prices and shrinking budgets could be wasting thousands of pounds on fuel inefficiency caused by bad
Buffalo Pins Hope for Revival on University Expansion
A proposed $5 billion expansion of the University at Buffalo would help jump-start the area?s ailing economy, but skeptics see the plan as a fantasy.
Luxury beach homes for sale
Few things say "I win" better than a house on the beach. If you made it to the point where you can afford a home on the water, well then it's pretty much assumed that you can afford to make it anywhere.
Monday, July 25, 2011
European Stocks Drop as Italy Auctions Bonds; Software AG Falls
European stocks fell for the fourth day in five after Italy auctioned bonds and Moody's Investors Service said the American government may lose the Aaa credit rating it's held since 1917.
Thousands of Israelis protest high housing prices
Thousands of people marched in downtown Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest rising housing prices, the first major demonstration in a movement calling attention to the soaring cost of living.
The Shotgun House
Patty Gay, executive director of the Preservation Resource Center, takes us to the Irish Channel (a historically working-class neighborhood between the Mississippi River and the tawny Garden District) to explain this simple but adaptable, practical but occasionally flamboyant style of house.
Raleigh tops Forbes' best places for business
Raleigh's low business costs (18 percent?below the national average) and a smart labor force (42 percent have a college degree) make North Carolina?s capital an attractive spot.
Construction News Headlines for July 25, 2011
June Brings Relief from US Housing Gloom
Ground breakings for U.S. housing rose 14.6% between May and June and 16.7% between May of this year and the same month a year ago. Reed Construction Data says monthly starts have been higher than June’s 629,000 units only rarely over the past two-and-a-half years – in January 2011 and in April 2010 (687,000 units) when the first-time-buyer tax incentive was winding down. Otherwise, one has to go back to November 2008 (652,000 units) to
Improving traffic flow; $195K study gets under way to address traffic congestion in Towanda area
A year-long, $194,561 study recently got under way, which will recommend ways to reduce the traffic congestion on U.S. Route 6 in the Towanda area, including Wysox Township, state Department of Transportation officials said.
Monroe conducting a water study
Is it too costly for the city to operate its own water plant? City Council is funding a study to evaluate its water system to determine what it would cost to purchase wells from Warren County, make improvements to its aging water-treatment facility or purchase water from neighboring systems.
Wolseley to sell Build Center to Jewson
Wolseley UK has announced it has entered into an agreement to sell Build Center to Jewson. The sale of Build Center is subject to regulatory review by the European Commission. Wolseley UK anticipates that the sale of Build Center will complete shortly after the Commission has concluded its review, which is expected to be in the last quarter of 2011.This transaction is strategically consistent with Wolseley UKs ambition to focus
HRS sponsors environmental award at Construction News Awards 2011
Human Recognition Systems (HRS)have sponsored the environmental project of the year award at this years Construction News Awards 2011. The winning award was presented to Imtech for their work on the Cardiff and Afan Advanced Digestion Plants. The award was presented by CEO of HRS, Neil Norman to the Imtech management team who were delighted to have been recognised for their outstanding project work.We are extremely proud to win
Agents plot to seize control of home sales data
Melbourne's property market has shown that the cream still rises to the top. A POWERFUL consortium of real estate agents backed by the Real Estate Institute of Victoria is planning to seize control of all private sale and auction results, which could reduce consumer access to important market information or force people to buy the data.
Taylor Swifts Lists Nashville Home for $1.45M
It looks like singer Taylor Swift is continuing to cut her ties to the country. The blonde-tressed 21-year-old currently owns two properties in Tennessee - a modern penthouse condo downtown and a large brick estate that just went back on the Nashville real estate market for $1.45 million.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Architecture Billings Index drops for third straight month
POSTED: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 08:56 AM PT BY: Nick Bjork Tags: Architecture Billings Index Bad news continues to roll in for the architecture industry as June marked the third straight month of declines in the American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index.
What is the value of log construction to meet energy efficiency or other green standards? The logs would be locally sourced.
Log cabins, popular for their rustic aesthetic, are only as energy efficient as the insulation that is installed behind the logs. Wood isn’t a particularly good insulator, having an R-value of 1.28/inch for soft woods and .87/inch for hardwoods compared to standard insulation materials like fiberglass: R-3.33 per inch, and mineral fiber: R-value of 5 per inch. (R-values are the unit to measure the resistance of a material to the transfer of heat or cold.)
When speaking
Weak demand, economy slow Indy redevelopment plan
Plans to redevelop several eyesores near downtown Indianapolis could take 20 years to become reality as the city struggles to overcome a sluggish economy and weak market.
Problems With New Good Faith Estimate Forms
Problems With New Good Faith Estimate Forms: THE revamped Good Faith Estimate form, which arrived...
UK's Petrofac to accelerate West Desaru output
Kuala Lumpur: Petrofac Ltd, Britain's oil and gas services provider, expects to pump as much as 60,000 barrels of oil per day from its Block PM304 offshore Peninsular Malaysia after it pledged to quicken its work.
John Deere CEO Samuel Allen's thoughts on farm issues
On agriculture as a target for critics ranging from nutritionists to environmentalists to rural sociologists: "Nobody likes to be attacked, but I'm not sure it's worse for agriculture than anybody else.
Ratings only part of shopping for nursing home
Ehiaghe Akojie and Eric Nagy have joined Messer Construction in Bond Hill as project engineers.
China: Company That Tried to Open Forbidden City Club to Be Investigated
A government agency in Beijing has said it will investigate a company that tried to open a luxury private club inside the Forbidden City.
Buffalo Pins Hope for Revival on University Expansion
A proposed $5 billion expansion of the University at Buffalo would help jump-start the area?s ailing economy, but skeptics see the plan as a fantasy.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Fluor chosen as BASF engineering partner
[AP] - Engineering and construction company Fluor Corp. said Thursday that is was chosen to serve as BASF's engineering partner in Asia and Europe.
ETS Election April 26 - May 1
Election of new Board of Director members for the AACE East Tennessee Section begins on Tuesday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, May 1. Section members can v...
Metropolitan Community College, IBEW Local 124 may partner on apprenticeship program
Here's how it works: As the IBEW students complete their apprenticeship programs, they could receive 42 hours of college credit from MCC in applied science.
FIS reports 5% drop in 2Q profit
FIS sales, earnings increase Rayonier leads big week for Jacksonville stocks reported a 5.1 percent drop in adjusted net earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter compared with the same period last year, according to a public filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Avantair ...
Registration forms for Seminar and Golf Tournament
Registration forms for the Technical Seminar and Golf Tournament are now online. Registration for the golf tournament is due by April 5....
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Awarded Contract to Design New Subway Restaurant in Kissimmee
ORLANDO, Fla. --- Cuhaci & Peterson Architects, LLC, were recently awarded a contract by WindCrest Development Group, Inc. to design a new Subway Restaurant in Kissimmee.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Profits are booming but jobs lagging
Strong second-quarter earnings from McDonald's, General Electric and Caterpillar on Friday are just the latest proof that booming profits have allowed Corporate America to leave the Great Recession far behind.
FAA Funding Ends At Midnight; 4k To Be Furloughed
Almost 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration workers are facing furloughs after Congress adjourned Friday without passing a measure to reauthorize the agency's funding, according to the Transportation Department.
Mediation efforts fail to stem foreclosure tide
Mediation has been touted as a key strategy to stop foreclosures in the 14 states where it has been tried. But if Maryland is any indication, the programs are not working.
Realtor attacked at house; Suspect arraigned this morning
The football team at McKenzie has become one of the most reliable teams in West... - 11:46 pm TranSouth should allow departing schools one final year While an official vote won't take place until the TranSouth Athletic Conference's meetings later... - 11:46 pm LATEST HEADLINES Most people won't argue with the idea that the best place to be when ...
Construction News Headlines for July 22, 2011
Civil Rights Group: Highway Bill Needs ‘Equity’
The draft highway bill released by Republicans in the House would make access to transportation unequal, a civil rights group said. The Washington-based Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said the surface transportation bill proposed by Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, was long enough but did not spend enough to make sure seniors, minorities and poorer citizens
Sweepers, Want Cheaper Gas?
Fuel prices impact every contractor but sweeping contractors more than most since equipment is on the streets running routes all night (and sometimes day). So with fuel prices hanging in the upper $3 – lower $4 range wouldn’t it be nice to save a few bucks on every gallon you use?
Well, maybe you should become a member of the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA), which among a host of benefits offers members a rebate on fuel purchased from Exxon/Mobile. Through
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