Friday, February 28, 2014
Electricians protest outside subcontractor for UM-Flint's $22 million renovation
Union electrical workers picketed outside on the University of Michigan-Flint campus Tuesday, Feb. 25, to protest the use of an electrical subcontractor from outside Genesee County.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Cowboys' Draft: Later Rounds Offer Instant Upgrade
NFL scouts and General Managers across the league must be licking their chops in anticipation of the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft.
Market takes a breather after big gains
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
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National Association of Realtors hires new general counsel from within
The National Association of Realtors has a new general counsel. The 1-million member trade group has chosen Katie Raynolds Johnson, the group's associate counsel, as the successor to NAR's longtime legal champion Laurie Janik , who retired last year.
Commercial market going strong, especially in Mercer County, real estate agents say
Just before the economy plunged into a recession and began a sluggish recovery, Hilton Realty bought an undeveloped lot in the Carnegie Center office complex on Route 1 in West Windsor.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Pulte to Cut Executives
Bill Would Give U.S. Visas to Foreign Home Buyers
Monday, February 24, 2014
Vital Signs: Home Sales Feel Chill from More than Winter
To no one's surprise, sales of existing homes fell in wintry January, by a large 5.1% to an annual rate of 4.62 million, the lowest reading in 18 months.
Ole Miss Planning Vaught-Hemingway Expansion
The College Board Thursday approved plans for Ole Miss to hire AECOM Technology Corp. for $2.4 million to design the Vaught-Hemingway Stadium expansion.
Official raising nuclear safety concerns at Hanford Site fired
A senior project official at the waste treatment plant at the former Hanford nuclear weapons complex was fired on Tuesday.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Scammers looking to take advantage of vacation rentals
A real estate agent in Green Valley tells Tucson News Now she received a call from a person back East wanting to rent a home in the area.
Cowboys' Draft: Later Rounds Offer Instant Upgrade
NFL scouts and General Managers across the league must be licking their chops in anticipation of the upcoming 2014 NFL Draft.
KU Hospital seeks $100M in donations for $250M expansion
The University of Kansas Hospital is in fundraising mode. In an attempt to build a new $250 million building on its Kansas City, Kan., campus, the hospital is asking for $100 million in donations, KCUR reports.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
SG Budget: Hike in levy for basic skilled permit holders in construction sector in 2016: Tharman
Singapore will increase foreign worker levies for basic skilled work permit holders in the construction industry in 2016, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, said on Friday - PHOTO: SPH SINGAPORE will increase foreign worker levies for basic skilled work permit holders in the construction industry in 2016, ... (more)
At midday: Energy companies push TSX higher
Rising energy stocks helped give the Toronto stock market a minor lift Friday while investors looked to the release of a disappointing read on U.S. home sales last month.
North Dakota home prices soar with oil boom; average value of home sold in 2013 topped $200K
North Dakota's oil boom isn't just driving up housing prices at the epicenter. Getting a roof overhead is getting more expensive throughout the state, with the average value of a home sold last year topping $200,000 - up more than 20 per cent from 2011, a real estate trade group says.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Collaboration Brings About Innovation
COOS BAY, OREGON ? September 2013 ? ?Building Strong Foundations for a Better Future? is not just a mission statement, but he driving force behind every project to which West Coast Contractors (www.westcoastcontractors.com) commits. Heavy construction projects bring social and environmental impacts, and to complete these projects without negative effects, contractors must be flexible.
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As one of the premier marine and heavy construction contractor companies in the Pacific Northwest, West Coast Contractors continuously works hand in hand with communities to ensure safe, innovative, and cost-effective solutions for the most challenging of construction projects. Whether a project takes place in the water or on land, WCC consciously adapts to the stringent social and environmental needs they face.
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WCC and Anderson Construction Co. paved the way to a new, state-of-the-art NOAA facility in Newport, Oregon. WCC?s in-water portion of the project included the driving and installation of pier piles, fender piles, and pier planks using a barge mounted, GPS-guided template (1,400 ft long pier for NOAA?s Pacific Coast fleet). The company also performed dredging, mitigation excavation, and concrete pouring work. While constructing the docks for the facility, WCC worked alongside NOAA to minimize its effects on the marine life and ensure that the highest environmental standards were met.
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Another notable marine construction project for West Coast Contractors, recently, was the rebuilding of a historic fishing pier in Trinidad. Due to an extremely limited in-water work period, WCC had a narrow window to replace the debilitated 70-year-old pier. Crab season, a vital part of the local economy took place during construction.
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WCC came up with a solution that kept work on-schedule and allowed crab fishing to thrive. By day, the company used its crane and equipment to construct the new pier. At night, second-shift crane operators were delegated to assist the fishermen with unloading their catch. They used the crane to lift crab-filled bins from boats and placed them in an accessible area near the shore to load onto trucks. Both the fishermen and the town were thrilled that they were able to bring their catch to market and maintain a source of income.
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Examples such as these are a common occurrence for the WCC team, exemplifying the intangible quality that brings them success on every project. WCC continues to exceed expectations on each project they take on.
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About this author:
Find more information by visiting www.westcoastcontractors.com or contact Michael Mitchell at Christie Communications at mmitchell@christiecomm.com
Most actively traded companies on the TSX, TSX Venture Exchange markets
TransAlta Corp. . Utilities. Down $1.09, or 7.35 per cent, to $13.73 on 7.6 million shares.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Resolute reaches deals at U.S. mills
Resolute Forest Products Inc., the company being targeted by Unifor in pattern bargaining with forestry companies in Eastern Canada, has reached five-year master collective agreement covering some 1,500 unionized workers in the U.S. Employees voted overwhelmingly to ratify the agreement at mills in Augusta, Ga., Calhoun, Tenn., Catawba, S.C., and ... (more)
Research and Markets: The Global Epoxy Market 2013-2018: with...
5 real estate rules you shouldn't break
Like the national pastime, purchasing a home supposedly comes with its own set of "unwritten rules."
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Tetra Tech Awarded $243M National Guard Bureau Environmental Engineering Support Services Contract
Tetra Tech, Inc. announced today that it signed a multiple-award contract with a $243 million ceiling to support the National Guard Bureau.
Need flood insurance? You'll find out: 'Anywhere it rains, it can flood'
EUGENE, Ore. Change is coming in the way homeowners pay for flood insurance. FEMA will be releasing new flood zone maps in the next year or two.
Birds halt wind farm expansion
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
FOSTER WHEELER SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Announces the Investigation of Foster Wheeler AG Over the Proposed Sale of the Company to AMEC plc
Tutor Perini Announces Two MTA East Side Access Contracts Valued at $844 Million
Monday, February 17, 2014
Caterpillar Inc. Allegedly Forced Temp Workers to Waive Permanent Employment Status
To Sell Green, First Teach Green
Sunday, February 16, 2014
What $500K buys across Canada: A lake in Edmonton ... a pool in Windsor
Here's the best reason to get outdoors this Family Day weekend - the weather will be warmer than we've seen in weeks.
Morning Movers: Finally, a Time Warner Cable Deal; Skechers Surges on Earnings Beat
U.S. jobless claims came in at 339,000 , above forecasts for 330,000 but still within the recent range.
Senoia family among few in the dark
After losing power at 7 a.m. Wednesday, Jacqueline, her husband, Pete, and their three children were literally in the dark and not getting any answers from Coweta-Fayette EMC.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Buffett's firm may buy part of Graham Holdings
Warren Buffett 's company is considering trading its 1.7 million shares of Graham Holdings Co.
US stock investors face Fed view
With economic data being shoveled aside like snow and earnings season winding down, US stock investors could zero in next week on the Fed's view of the economy and technical analysis charts as the S&P 500 nears its record high.
Poland real estate market: Latest market research analysed
The report critically analyses the prospects for real estate within the broader economic and financial context - both domestic and global - via our econometrically-modelled and clearly explained banking and economic forecasts and follows this through to evaluate the implications for REITs.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Los Angeles prepares for 'Jamzilla'
Real estate agent sells Egremont home -- his own -- for $2.45 million
A real estate agent who helped broker the largest residential property transaction in the Berkshires in 2013 has sold his own home and some adjacent property for $2.45 million.
As Lenders Hold Homes in Foreclosure, Sales Are Hurt
Thursday, February 13, 2014
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.
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The latest new homeowner trends focus on quality and value, and include the following sound strategies:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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About this author:
George Hale is the owner of H. Hudson homes. Professional Portland home builder H. Hudson Homes specializes in new modern home building, perfecting the combination of style and function. They are trusted Oregon home builders who focus on cutting-edge design and sustainability.
PMI Seminar
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
UConn Technology Park To Break Ground Later This Year
Renderings of the Innovation Partnership Building, the first building slated for the Uconn Technology Park development.