RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (October 28, 2013) - Architects, engineers and contractors are making plans to take the LEED exams before the cut-off deadline of May 31, 2014. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced that applicants can take the exams based on LEED v2009 materials until the 2014 sunset date. The new exams, which will be available after June 2014, are expected to be more difficult due to the addition of new credits and a new credit category.
Welcome to our Construction Industry News page, where we bring you the latest updates on mergers and acquisitions, key new hires, and significant industry shifts. Stay informed with breaking news and in-depth reporting to keep up with the fast-paced changes shaping the construction business.
September new business is down 6 percent year-over-year, up 20 percent month-to-month and up 6 percent year-to-date.
WASHINGTON (October 23, 2013) — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $725 billion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for September was $7.7 billion, down 6 percent compared to volume in September 2012.
The industry was doing "relatively well" in months prior to federal government shutdown, but quick passage of water resources legislation is needed to help the industry recover from a likely October slowdown, officials say.
(October 22, 2013) - Construction employment rose by 20,000 in September, and the industry’s unemployment rate fell to a six-year low of 8.5 percent, while construction spending increased for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the data does not address any potential impacts from the recent federal government shutdown.
WASHINGTON (October 21, 2013) – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) released the October 2013 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 $725 billion equipment finance sector.
WASHINGTON (October 15, 2013) — New business volume grew 16.4 percent in the equipment finance industry in 2012, according to the 2013 Survey of Equipment Finance Activity (SEFA) released by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA). The growth in volume was on par with the 16.5 percent increase reported for 2011, and well above the 3.9 percent increase reported for 2010 and the 30.3 percent decline in 2009.
SAN ANTONIO (October 14, 2013) – Sundt Construction Inc. will take down the barricades to the West 7th Street Bridge, opening the Fort Worth thoroughfare to traffic for the first time in nearly four months. The bridge, which links downtown Fort Worth with the city’s cultural district, was slated to be closed into November. The Sundt team, however, fought through wet weather and executed its plan to open lanes for traffic a month early.
MARLTON, N.J. (October 14, 2013) - Hill International announced today that Thomas J. Driscoll, F.CMAA, a Senior Vice President with Hill's Construction Claims Group, has been recognized with the Construction Management Award by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The award was presented to him during the ASCE's Annual Conference which was held on October 9-12, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
SAUK CENTRE, Minn. (October 8, 2013) – Felling Trailers is implementing its first online auction of a FT-3 drop deck utility trailer. Felling Trailers wants to bring awareness to the early detection of breast cancer. Thus, Felling Trailers manufactured and painted one of its most popular trailers hot pink to be auctioned online for 10 days during the month of October, which is breast cancer awareness month. Tredit Tire generously donated the wheels, and Midwest Industrial Coatings Inc.
NEW YORK (October 8) – After prolonged economic uncertainty, a majority of executives in the global engineering and construction sector have fresh confidence in the growth prospects for the industry, according to KPMG International’s 2013 Global Construction Survey.
WASHINGTON (October 8, 2013) – Investment in equipment and software is expected to grow 3.3 percent in 2013, according to the Q4 update to the 2013 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Equipment and software investment slowed in the second quarter, but the report predicts modest improvement in the second half of the year, depending on the outcome of the current fiscal policy debates.
Four-Day trade mission opens with International Trade Administration to highlight U.S. architecture services.
WASHINGTON (October 3, 2013) –The International Trade Administration and the American Institute of Architects will open a four-day Architecture Services Trade Mission to Brazil Oct. 7 that will introduce U.S. firms to Brazil’s rapidly expanding market for architectural services as it prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the Summer Olympics in 2016, as well as other opportunities.
Small drop in confidence is evident in the third quarter.
PRINCETON, N.J. (October 2, 2013) - The Construction Financial Management Association's (CFMA) Quarterly CONFINDEX™ Survey, sponsored by Viewpoint, dropped in September to 127, from 128 in June, showing construction CFO confidence is declining. CONFINDEX™ is CFMA's proprietary confidence index survey of CFOs in the commercial construction sector.
AGC officials say the shutdown could threaten the construction industry's recovery.
(October 1, 2013) Total construction spending hit an unknown level in August because the Census Bureau was unable to release new data as a result of the federal government shutdown, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the impacts of the shutdown will go beyond data as solicitations for many new construction projects come to a halt.
WEST COXSACKIE, N.Y. (September 27, 2013) – The federal government recently issued a new policy clarifying ADA curb ramp requirements for pavement alterations. As an industry resource on pavement rehabilitation and restoration, the non-profit trade association International Grooving & Grinding Association (IGGA) is providing its members with guidance on this new information.
CHICAGO (September 27, 2013) - The National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), in conjunction with the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the House and Senate Steel Caucuses, will host a free public event and student steel bridge display at the Rayburn House Office Building (Room B339) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. The event kicks off this year's SteelDay, which takes place nationwide Oct.
(September 26, 2013) - Construction employment expanded in 194 metro areas, declined in 88 and was stagnant in 57 between August 2012 and August 2013, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials added that despite the widespread gains, construction employment reached peak levels for August in only 19 of 339 metro areas.
WEST FARGO, N.D. (September 2013) - Bobcat Company has announced the “I Have an Idea” contest where contestants can provide their Bobcat accessory ideas starting September 25.
USGBC Project Haiti to be Called William Jefferson Clinton Children's Center, Aiming for LEED Platinum
NEW YORK (Sept. 25, 2013) — U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) President, CEO and Founding Chair Rick Fedrizzi announced that their Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment to Action, a LEED-registered orphanage and children’s facility that USGBC will construct in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, will officially be named the William Jefferson Clinton Children's Center.
August new business down 7 percent year-over-year, down 11 percent month-to-month, up 8 percent year-to-date.
WASHINGTON (September 24, 2013) — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) Monthly Leasing and Finance Index (MLFI-25), which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $725 billion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for August was $6.4 billion, down 7 percent compared to volume in August 2012.
Bipartisan agreement provides groundwork for future infrastructure legislation.
WASHINGTON (Sept. 19, 2013) - Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) applauds the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on unanimously approving the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). The bill now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. The Senate previously passed a WRRDA bill in May, 2013. Upon the Committee's passage of the bill, AEM President Dennis Slater issued the following statement: