Washington Closure Hanford has named Scott Sax, who has worked on some of Hanford's most challenging projects, as its new president and project manager.
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Berkshire Hathaway ups BNY Mellon stake
Warren Buffett 's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. added another 8,807 shares of BNY Mellon stock during the third quarter.
AECOM Technology Corp. Downgraded by Zacks to Underperform
They currently have a $27.70 target price on the stock. Zacks ' price objective points to a potential downside of 4.88% from the stock's previous close.
Friday, November 29, 2013
the Real Estate Chase | Construction outpaces inventory
Believe it or not, in the topsy-turvy Madison Park real estate market, there are now more houses under construction than there are houses for sale.
Extravagant Apartments Rare Commodity
This flat, which sold for $18,000 per square meter, has a view on Ploshchad Isskustv as well as plenty of chintz.
Training Seminar
The East Tennessee Section is hosting a training seminar on April 13th-14th featuring Ted Douglas, CCC PSP. More information and a registration form will be ava...
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Selling a Town on Rentals
Selling a Town on Rentals: DESPITE a dearth of buyers and a glut of renters these days, an effort to...
Home Forecast Calls for Pain
Home Forecast Calls for Pain: Home prices are expected to drop 2.5% this year and rise just 1.1%...
Layne Christensen Company Completes Placement of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2018; Raises $110.0 Million in Gross Proceeds
[GlobeNewswire] - HOUSTON -- Layne Christensen Company (the "Company") announced today the completion of its private placement of $110.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due ...
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Beacon Roofing Supply stock slips as earnings decline
Peabody-based Beacon Roofing Supply Inc.'s quarterly earnings declined slightly as higher costs offset a jump in sales.
Infusion from China for Toledo, Ohio, Real Estate
Infusion from China for Toledo, Ohio, Real Estate: Two investors from China bought a formerly...
Modern Home Builders Talk New Construction Trends
As new home construction picks up speed in the wake of the recent recession, modern home builders are getting creative about their craftsmanship and focusing on what their customers are looking for. These days, it?s not about lavish amenities, rather new modern home buyers are looking for efficient homes with room to grow.
The latest new homeowner trends focus on quality and value, and include the following sound strategies:
In-House Single-Design Model
Traditionally, new home construction included the services of separate engineering and construction firms. To save time and money, and pass the savings to the consumer, modern home builders have firms that do the engineering and contractor coordination all in-house. This trend helps speed up the construction process by up to six months, allowing firms to focus on additional projects.
Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly New Modern Homes
As new homeowners accept the reality that energy costs aren?t going to decrease, they seek long-term energy efficient solutions. Examples include the installation of occupancy sensors, systems that recover energy, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and solar energy solutions. Health-conscious clients seek advanced filtration systems and materials with low VOCs, while the eco-friendly look for the use of sustainable or recycled materials like bamboo, cork and re-purposed building materials (e.g., crushed concrete in place of gravel). Those who are particularly energy-savvy seek smart passive house designs with a tight building envelope, smart roofs and energy efficient windows.
Appealing to the Genders
Modern home builders find that among new home shoppers, women generally have the last say. To appeal to the female consumer, the latest trend is to construct dwellings that make homemaking simpler with larger kitchens, more storage spaces and bigger washing areas.
Men tend to gravitate toward homes with bigger garages with a shop area and a space in the house to entertain friends. Men also prefer bathrooms that have a water closet and bathtub that?s separate from the shower.
Room to Grow
Today?s new homeowners aren?t looking for houses that they can sell for a profit in the near future. Instead, they?re looking for homes that their family can grow in for several decades. New construction trends allow homeowners to easily convert spaces as the needs of their family change. These spaces are innovative and allow for the simple integration of new technologies and building additions.
Connectivity
The ?house of tomorrow? that people dreamed about in the 1960s is here today. Modern homeowners want to interact with their houses with a simple touch of a button, even when they?re away. The latest trends include the installation of standby generators that a homeowner can turn on or off from a computer or mobile device. They also seek smart programmable thermostats that they can adjust remotely using a mobile device.
Smart appliances are in demand. In addition to being energy-efficient, the latest dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers tap into areas that have smart grids, evaluate the local utility company?s time-of-use rates, and operate when electricity rates are the lowest. In the kitchen, Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators let homeowners display their favorite pictures as well as seek and share recipes from a built in touch-screen monitor.
Another hot trend that consumers seek are power outlets with USB ports that make it simple to plug in a lamp and charge a phone at the same time without the need to purchase a power strip.
Modern home builders must meet new homeowners where they are in regards to the down market and economic uncertainties. As Americans get back on their feet, the latest value-added building trends are the forces that driving the new home construction market.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Stocks higher, helped by retail and housing stocks
Stocks edged higher in early trading, following a strong earnings report Monday from luxury retailer Tiffany & Co.
Modern Home Builders Talk New Construction Trends
As new home construction picks up speed in the wake of the recent recession, modern home builders are getting creative about their craftsmanship and focusing on what their customers are looking for. These days, it?s not about lavish amenities, rather new modern home buyers are looking for efficient homes with room to grow.
The latest new homeowner trends focus on quality and value, and include the following sound strategies:
In-House Single-Design Model
Traditionally, new home construction included the services of separate engineering and construction firms. To save time and money, and pass the savings to the consumer, modern home builders have firms that do the engineering and contractor coordination all in-house. This trend helps speed up the construction process by up to six months, allowing firms to focus on additional projects.
Energy Efficient and Eco-Friendly New Modern Homes
As new homeowners accept the reality that energy costs aren?t going to decrease, they seek long-term energy efficient solutions. Examples include the installation of occupancy sensors, systems that recover energy, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, and solar energy solutions. Health-conscious clients seek advanced filtration systems and materials with low VOCs, while the eco-friendly look for the use of sustainable or recycled materials like bamboo, cork and re-purposed building materials (e.g., crushed concrete in place of gravel). Those who are particularly energy-savvy seek smart passive house designs with a tight building envelope, smart roofs and energy efficient windows.
Appealing to the Genders
Modern home builders find that among new home shoppers, women generally have the last say. To appeal to the female consumer, the latest trend is to construct dwellings that make homemaking simpler with larger kitchens, more storage spaces and bigger washing areas.
Men tend to gravitate toward homes with bigger garages with a shop area and a space in the house to entertain friends. Men also prefer bathrooms that have a water closet and bathtub that?s separate from the shower.
Room to Grow
Today?s new homeowners aren?t looking for houses that they can sell for a profit in the near future. Instead, they?re looking for homes that their family can grow in for several decades. New construction trends allow homeowners to easily convert spaces as the needs of their family change. These spaces are innovative and allow for the simple integration of new technologies and building additions.
Connectivity
The ?house of tomorrow? that people dreamed about in the 1960s is here today. Modern homeowners want to interact with their houses with a simple touch of a button, even when they?re away. The latest trends include the installation of standby generators that a homeowner can turn on or off from a computer or mobile device. They also seek smart programmable thermostats that they can adjust remotely using a mobile device.
Smart appliances are in demand. In addition to being energy-efficient, the latest dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers tap into areas that have smart grids, evaluate the local utility company?s time-of-use rates, and operate when electricity rates are the lowest. In the kitchen, Wi-Fi-enabled refrigerators let homeowners display their favorite pictures as well as seek and share recipes from a built in touch-screen monitor.
Another hot trend that consumers seek are power outlets with USB ports that make it simple to plug in a lamp and charge a phone at the same time without the need to purchase a power strip.
Modern home builders must meet new homeowners where they are in regards to the down market and economic uncertainties. As Americans get back on their feet, the latest value-added building trends are the forces that driving the new home construction market.
Little Risk of Home Builder Liquidity Woes, Analyist Says
Little Risk of Home Builder Liquidity Woes, Analyist Says: Home building companies don?t...
Monday, November 25, 2013
Hometown U: Nobel laureate celebrates Rasmuson Chair, talks housing bubbles
Former and current Rasmuson Chairs in Economics, from the left, Dr. Vernon Smith, Dr. Jim Murphy, Dr. Todd Cherry, and Dr. Robert Kurzban pose for a photo at Rasmuson Hall on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013.
Shenanigans: There Is So Much Sex Happening At The Central Library
There has been "a surge of sexual activity at the Central Library" for at least a year now, and the LAPD is ON IT.
Canadian Housing Markets: Bubbles if Necessary but Not Necessarily a Bubble
The debate over whether or not Canada's housing market is a bubble that is going to crash heated up again this month.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
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...
Petrofac Ltd Rating Reiterated by Deutsche Bank
's stock had its "hold" rating reiterated by stock analysts at Deutsche Bank in a report issued on Tuesday, Stock Ratings News reports.
Queens over run with illegal basement apartments
New York City's chronic housing shortage has led to a vast network of illegal basement homes in the Ozone Park section of Queens and beyond.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Poloz says housing market not a bubble
Canada's housing market is not in a bubble and not likely to suffer a sudden and sharp correction in prices unless there is another major global shock to the economy, Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz said Wednesday.
Petrofac: On track to deliver modest profit growth
Petrofac Ltd. reported a good operational performance and said Monday it remains on track to deliver modest net profit growth in 2013.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Business Rebuilds in a Thriving City in Iraq
A campaign by Kurdish leaders to make Erbil the political and business capital of the region in northern Iraq has stirred investments from Western businesses.
Court rules against FairPoint in case over outsourcing jobs
FairPoint Communications intends to comply with a recent court ruling that found the company wrongfully transferred union jobs to contractors in Canada and New York in 2009 and 2010.
Existing home sales fall 3.2 percent in October
This chart shows the monthly and annual change in single family home sales since 2007.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Appearances matter
A top union honcho now serving on the Boston Redevelopment Authority board took part in a vote to approve a major development deal partly financed by his union's national pension fund, and there was no conflict of interest because, well ... because the BRA said there was no conflict of interest.
April Newsletter
The April newsletter is now online. This newsletter has updates for the April and May section meetings....
Singapore Looks Below for More Room
The city-state is looking at the possibility of an Underground Science City containing 40 interconnected caverns for data centers and research labs.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
In a Healthy Apartment Market, Pockets of Worry
A few developers are beginning to wonder if the demand they expected to gallop in to their new construction will materialize.
REOs: Where Are They Now
REOs: Where Are They Now: What?s become of all those properties seized by banks? CoreLogic delved...
Norristown Fire Dept. and IBEW 380 Union Install Over 100 Free Smoke Detectors
Credit: Nicole Foulke The Norristown Fire Department collaborated with the Electrical Workers Union IBEW 380 based in Collegeville on Saturday to install free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for a number of Norristown residents.
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Vancouver home prices are ridiculous, unlike concerns about mainland Chinese money
Ian Young is the SCMP's former International Editor. A journalist for more than 20 years, he worked for Australian newspapers and the London Evening Standard before arriving in Hong Kong in 1997.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Ratification votes planned as Steelworkers reach pattern deal with Canfor
Ratification votes will be held over the next 10 days as United Steelworkers members at Canadian Forest Products mills in the B.C. Interior consider a new contract.
Warren Buffett and Gurus Hold PSX after IPO
In the third quarter of 2013, numerous gurus were trading Phillips 66 , around the same time that Phillips 66 Partners completed its initial public offering of Phillips 66 Partners LP common units, trading as PSXP on the NYSE.
Cayan Tower, Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
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Sunday, November 17, 2013
Bay Area housing market stabilizing
After years of post-bubble turbulence, the Bay Area housing market appears headed for a period of stability as rapid price increases hit a wall and sales plateau.
Nadel Architects-Designed Mixed-Use Project in Laguna Hills ApprovedWednesday, November 13, 2013
The 132,000-square-foot retail space utilizes streetscapes to encourage outdoor community activities LAGUNA HILLS/COSTA MESA, Calif.
Instant landmark for downtown Longmont enters final stage of construction
Keith Burden, vice president of Burden Inc., looks out from floor-to-ceiling windows that face Main Street from a fourth-floor corner unit inside Roosevelt Park Apartments last week.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Smooth sailing for Yellen in front of Senate
Janet Yellen breezed through questions about the financial crisis, the Fed's stimulus efforts and banking regulation, as the Senate Banking Committee weighed her nomination to serve as future head of the Federal Reserve on Thursday.
Massive Luton airport expansion plans recommended for approval
Officers at Luton Borough Council have recommended for approval a planning application by the airport which will increase capacity from 12 million passengers to 18 million a year.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Review: 'Men In White' at the Sargent Theatre
Indie theater is a tough business , so often there is a reliance on trotting out well-known classics in order to pack the house.
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...
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Iowa 'paperboy' delivers the news at age 95
The oldest "paperboy" in Iowa steers his battered Chevy pickup into his son's driveway at 4:45 a.m., clambers out and announces himself with a rhythmic tap-a-tap-tap on the bedroom window.
Matrix Service Company Announces Strong First Quarter Fiscal 2014 Results and Reaffirms Full Year Guidance
[GlobeNewswire] - TULSA, Okla. -- Matrix Service Company today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2013. The trend of strong revenue and backlog growth continued in the first quarter ...
ND Health Agents Testing Water at Oil Spill Site 11/12/13
State health officials are working this week to verify that the recent spill of about 20,000 barrels of oil in northwestern North Dakota did not contaminate groundwater.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
As Housing Goes, So Goes the Economy
As Housing Goes, So Goes the Economy: The Great Recession began with the bursting of the housing...
Title 24 Will Revolutionize the Financing of Building Efficiency Investments
California's massive building code revisions, called Title 24, target achieving sea-changing growth in energy efficiency investments by eliminating the conflicted and uncertain economics that currently constrict energy efficiency project financing.
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....
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
The AACE-ETS section now has a Facebook page. Facebook users can view the page by clicking the icon at the top of the AACE-ETS website....
Democratic candidate for governor makes a stop in Steubenville
Ed FitzGerald, Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio in 2014, made a stop in the city Saturday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 246 to introduce himself to the community, meet local politicians, labor leaders, citizens and also to discuss his differences with current Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the issues.
Keller Williams Moves 93,000 Real Estate Agents to Googlea s Cloud
Keller Williams associates now have access to enterprise versions of Google's mail, calendar, storage and collaboration tools.
Monday, November 11, 2013
Courtyard New York Manhattan/Fifth Avenue Unveils Reno
The Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Fifth Avenue located here unveiled its new multi-million dollar renovation by Leo A Daly designers.
Crude Oil Train Derails and Explodes in Worst US Accident of Its Kind
A tanker train that derailed and caught fire in western Alabama outside Aliceville on November 8 A train carrying 2.7 million gallons of crude oil derailed in rural Alabama early Friday in a fiery explosion that green groups say illustrates the danger of fossil fuels.
Reading playground gets early Christmas gift
Electrician apprentice Sam Lockhart Jr., foreground, helps rewire the holiday lights at Hillside Playground.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
How to Invest Like Warren Buffett in 5 Simple Steps
The reason for our admiration is that Buffett has a tendency to cut through the emotions and day-to-day hoopla that plagues traders and is able to simplify investing to a handful of core attributes.
Video: Malibu ranked most expensive real estate market in U.S.
A new report by Coldwell Banker ranks Malibu, Calif. as the most expensive real estate market in America.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Bottom May Be Near for Slide in Housing
Bottom May Be Near for Slide in Housing: How low can the market go? For real estate, some economists...
Boosting Profitability for General Contractors
As profit margins drop past the 2% mark, general contractors are compelled to look for more innovative ways to drive profitability. Recently, I learned of a GC that hired a third party services firm to photo-document its work on a large school project and passed the cost onto the owner with a slight markup. While I see the rationale behind adding value-added services as a way to improve revenue, I find this particular choice questionable.
Construction Photo-documentation firms offer a valuable combination of construction knowledge and photography services to owner/developers who lack the experience and resources to scrutinize the construction of their buildings. Most also offer a deliverable that includes construction photos delivered via the web.
However, does this make sense for a GC? Can these firms offer expertise that the GC doesn?t already have on staff? Do they hold the secrets to construction photography that a GC can?t match with a $500 camera purchase�and a basic photography course at a local community college (or even online)? The answers are obviously no and no.
So, therefore, the missing piece of the puzzle must be the ability to deliver construction photos with a web interface offers more than a link to a Sharepoint folder. If a GC could deliver a comprehensive package of photos to an owner that offered a complete record of as-built construction and critical installation details, now that would be valuable.
And now, the GC can offer just such a deliverable. In my next post I will describe how Geedra enables GC?s to self perform the photo documentation of their projects, and in doing so transforms an overhead cost, into a value-add service that boosts profitability.
Tags: construction, construction photo documentation, construction photography, construction photos, Gafcon, Geedra, general contractors, MultiVista, qualitybuilt, self perform
America's first next-gen aircraft carrier takes high tech to sea
The USS Gerald R. Ford will be christened during a ceremony in Newport News, Va., an event that will usher in the next generation of aircraft carriers.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Height of 1 World Trade Center debated in Chicago
Rising from the ashes of 9/11, the new World Trade Center tower has punched above the New York skyline to reach its powerfully symbolic height of 1,776 feet and become the tallest building in the country.
Bubble Trouble Seen Brewing in Australia Home Prices: Mortgages
Gigi Wong beat four other bidders in an auction of a three-bedroom Sydney house with peeling wallpaper, cracked doors and an overgrown backyard by paying A$856,000 , 14 percent more than the realtor expected the property to fetch.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Primoris Services Corporation Announces Record 2013 Third Quarter Financial Results
[Business Wire] - Primoris Services Corporation today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2013.
U.S. Hits Builders With Pay Probe
U.S. Hits Builders With Pay Probe: The Labor Department is investigating pay practices at many of...
Bond Architects: Ladue Education Center
The new Ladue Early Childhood Education Center is completed early and under budget with help from Autodesk BIM.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Warren Buffett's new franchise brand boosts affiliate count to 39
Warren Buffett's new real estate franchise brand, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, has signed 13 more brokerages affiliated with Prudential Real Estate, bringing the total number of brokerages affiliated with the new brand to 39. The identities of two brokerages that have not shared the news of their new affiliation to agents yet were not disclosed ... (more)
Minneapolis, St. Paul Explore Options for Streetcars
Unlike San Francisco, or New Orleans, these lines are all relatively new, and now Minneapolis and St. Paul want to get on board.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Bernanke Giving Homebuyers Second Chance With Pledge: Mortgages
This was supposed to be the year that Herb Harrison found a newer, bigger home to replace his current house in Framingham, Massachusetts.
A Star Architect Leaves Some Clients Fuming
The architect Santiago Calatrava is collecting critics as buildings develop problems.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Hong Kong to Get a Carbon Labelling Scheme to Fight CO2
The Construction Industry Council is launching a Carbon Labelling Scheme for Construction Materials in December 2013, the purpose of which is to communicate verifiable and accurate information on the carbon footprint of construction materials.
Civil War uniform of Pa. man coming home to historical society
The Civil War military garb of a New Alexandria man is coming home, provided pledges to the Westmoreland County Historical Society turn into actual cash.
New Player Buys 156-Acres for Nearly $13M
In a sale between two Baton Rouge, LA-based firms, a 156-acre residential tract has changed hands and construction on a major home development here is expected to begin soon.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
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