Construction Industry News

(May 1, 2014) - Total construction spending remained in a holding pattern in March as strong gains in apartment construction and modest growth in homebuilding and private nonresidential activity offset falling public outlays, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

WASHINGTON (May 1, 2014) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has released its ranking of the top 10 countries for LEED outside of the U.S., demonstrating the global reach of the movement designed to transform the built environment into healthy, high-performing structures that benefit the planet and people.

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (April 30, 2014) — Capital Safety, home of the DBI-SALA and PROTECTA brands, has acquired Altiseg Equipamentos de Seguranca de Trabalho Ltda. – EPP (Altiseg), a fall protection company in Brazil. Capital Safety is a global designer and manufacturer of fall protection and height safety equipment and plays a significant role in the fall protection industry in South America.

WASHINGTON (April 30, 2014) – Plumbing inspectors, manufacturers, engineers, contractors, labor representatives and other industry technical experts in Las Vegas voted April 29 to make a change to plumbing codes that will ensure hot water pipes in new homes and commercial buildings are insulated. Overall, insulation of hot water pipes will shorten the amount of time spent waiting for hot water at showers and faucets and cut hot water waste by 15 to 30 percent.

(April 28, 2014) - Construction employment expanded in 197 metro areas, declined in 87 and was stagnant in 55 between March 2013 and March 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted, however, that construction employment stands to suffer if Congress allows federal highway funding to stop this summer.

WASHINGTON (April 23, 2014) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched its new online data visualization resource that highlights real-time green building data for each state in the U.S. and Washington, D.C. The enhanced state market briefs—highlighting LEED projects, LEED-credentialed professionals and USGBC membership in each state—provide green building advocates and the general public a look into LEED’s impact within any state.

(April 23, 2014) - MEGAPRO has partnered with BreastCancer.org to launch “Putting the Screws to Cancer,” a North American-wide fundraising initiative to provide donations and build awareness in the fight against breast cancer.

(April 21, 2014) - On April 19, the U.S. State Department announced it is delaying the Keystone XL pipeline’s National Interest Determination (NID) phase due to the “uncertainty” created by a Nebraska judge’s February decision to invalidate a state law permitting the governor to authorize the project’s construction in the Cornhusker state.

The Building Information Modeling (BIM) software provider Tekla has acquired SVS Innovations’ (SVSi) construction software business and its Field3D mobile technology. The acquisition further strengthens Tekla’s position in mobile BIM applications development.

Field3D is a 3D collaboration software solution for BIM that works on mobile devices, enabling stakeholders in a construction work flow to access complete 3D model information for an entire building on smartphones and tablets.

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (April 17, 2014) – The recent swarm of earthquakes in the Los Angeles area is another reminder to local and state governments and agencies responsible for emergency management to include demolition contractors on their disaster response teams, said Jeff Kroeker of Kroeker Inc. in Fresno, Calif., and president of the National Demolition Association.

WASHINGTON (April 21, 2014) – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) has released the April 2014 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $827 billion equipment finance sector.

Washington, D.C. – Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) will hold the National Craft Championships (NCC) and its Workforce Development Conference April 29-May 2, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Washington, DC (April 10, 2014) - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, Senator David Vitter (R-LA), Ranking Member of the Committee, Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, held a press conference to make a major announcement regarding the reauthorization of the transportation bill, entitled Moving Ahead for Progress in the

WASHINGTON (April 10, 2014) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has named the recipients of the 2013 LEED for Homes Awards, recognizing projects, developers and homebuilders that have demonstrated outstanding leadership in residential green building. The award categories recognize innovative multi- and single-family projects, production builders, affordable housing projects and developers, an overall commitment to LEED for Homes and Project of the Year.

( April 7, 2014) - Forty-five percent of highway contractors had motor vehicles crash into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials added that the study found work zone crashes are more likely to kill vehicle operators and passengers than construction workers.

(April 7, 2014) - Of the approximately 350 metro markets nationwide, 59 returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI). This represents a net gain of 11 metros year over year.

PORTLAND, ORE. –(April 7, 2014) – Across the country, states and cities are implementing policies that require commercial buildings to be benchmarked based on energy usage. Progressive cities like New York and San Francisco are now going one step further and requiring periodic energy audits. These policies are creating a new demand for energy auditors, which PECI, a nonprofit leader in the energy efficiency industry, is helping to meet with a new Energy Auditor Training program.

DALLAS (April 7, 2014) –McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., a Texas builder for 35 years, was awarded the No. 3 ranking on the Dallas Business Journal's Healthiest Employers in North Texas list and the No. 1 ranking on the Houston Business Journal's Houston’s Healthiest Employers list for its Dallas and Houston offices having committed to health initiatives and providing top wellness programs. Numerical rankings for each honored company were announced this spring for the 2014 winners.

RACINE, WIS. (April 1, 2014) - CASE Construction Equipment has entered into a strategic partnership with Leica Geosystems to provide machine control technologies – both factory installed and aftermarket – throughout its line of construction equipment. The agreement also includes a commitment to shared product development, and is part of a global alliance between Leica Geosystems and CNH Industrial.

Birmingham, Ala. (March 27, 2014) – Brasfield & Gorrie announced that the company and its chief executive officer have been honored by Waste Management for environmental sustainability. Waste Management awarded Brasfield & Gorrie and CEO Jim Gorrie its 2013 Sustainability Circle of Excellence Award, which recognizes outstanding diversion and recycling achievement in the construction industry.