Construction Industry News

LEED Fellows are shaping the future of green building and represent the top of their fields in green building design, engineering and development. Read about the impressive 2019 group of LEED fellows here. 

The Portland Cement Association (PCA) released its annual Fall Forecast, which predicts moderate growth for cement consumption through 2019 and into 2020. PCA market intelligence expects cement consumption will grow by 2.4% in 2019, 1.7 percent in 2020, and 1.4 percent in 2021. Details here. 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2019)—Construction Business Owner, the leading business magazine for contractors, is pleased to announce a free webinar presented in partnership with InEight.

The live, online event, " Back Your Bids With Better Data,” will take place Nov. 21, 2019, at 2 p.m. EST. Registration is free.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has announced the winners of the 2019 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards, who were honored at a Gala event during the Institute’s Concrete Convention & Exposition. The highest honor was presented to King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, located in Dhahran, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Details here. 

Illinois will double the amount of money it spends on roadbuilding and repair in the next 5 years as part of a $45 billion statewide construction program approved last spring, Governor J.B. Pritzker said Monday. Plan details here. 

Under the patronage of HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, president of the Royal Scientific Society, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the Jordan Concrete Association, in collaboration with the Royal Scientific Society and Jordan Engineers Association, have announced the ACI Concrete Conference on Materials & Design will be held November, 17-18, 2019, in Amman, Jordan. Details here. 

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) released a joint statement today calling on American and European government leaders to negotiate towards a friendlier trade environment. After the recent World Trade Organization ruling on Airbus, the United States announced tariffs on $7.5 million of European goods, including certain types of construction equipment, and the European Union may do the same. Details here. 

The Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) announced that it has cited and fined three companies more than $100,000 for safety violations in connection with the fatal collapse of a tower crane that was being dismantled in Seattle April 27, 2019.

L&I's nearly 6-month investigation determined that the crane collapse was caused by the companies not following the manufacturer's procedures for dismantling the structure, including prematurely removing nearly all of the pins and sleeves that helped hold the crane together. With the pins removed, the tower was significantly weakened, making it susceptible to the 45-plus mph wind gust that toppled it. When the pins are in place, tower cranes can withstand much stronger gusts. Details here. 

Caltrans has released its SB 1 Annual Efficiencies Report for fiscal year 2018-2019 to the California Transportation Commission, noting that its efficiency measures saved nearly $233 million—more than double the statutory goal of $100 million per year—which will be reinvested to maintain and rehabilitate state highways. Details here.

The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation has released the October 2019 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI). Overall, confidence in the equipment finance market is 51.4, a decrease from the September index of 54.7.  Details here. 

With a focus on empowering people to build their future, Build Your Future Arizona (BYF Arizona) was established through a private-sector, industry-driven campaign of the Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation in partnership with the national Build Your Future (BYF) initiative. BYF Arizona showcases the incredible opportunities available for people to find fulfilling, high-paying careers in the construction professions—careers that can be started right out of high school, with minimum training, and allow for earning money while you learn. Details here. 

Restoration Builders Inc. announced the company has completed the asset purchase of Elbert Construction LLC. The company projects that their consolidated companies together will achieve approximately $100 million in revenue for 2019. Details here. 

Rosendin, the electrical contracting industry’s largest employee-owned firm, has announced Matt Lamb as its new chief information officer (CIO), to replace Sam Lamonica, who will retire December 2019. Details on the CIO role, Lamb and Lamonica here. 

New construction starts moved 5% lower in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $774.1 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. This marks the second consecutive monthly decline in construction starts. Details here. 

Women of Asphalt (WofA) has announced the appointment of 11 women to serve as its first Board of Directors. These accomplished women come from all facets of the asphalt industry and represent the wide range of positions and responsibilities women hold in the asphalt industry. Details here. 

Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval has stepped down as chair of the state’s transportation committee amid an FBI probe into construction fraud and corruption.

In the search for a solution to the federal government’s slow progress towards a comprehensive infrastructure package, many states have passed infrastructure bills of their own. And there are more in progress—Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker pitched a $18 billion transportation spending bill to legislators last week.

This weekend, the $85 million, 18-story Hard Rock Hotel project under construction in New Orleans, Louisiana, collapsed, killing two workers on-site and injuring 30 more people on the jobsite or in the area. Another worker is still missing four days later, and one of the bodies of the two victims has yet to be recovered.

Saudi Arabia’s new public sector procurement law, Government Tenders & Procurement Law (GTPL), will go into effect Nov. 29, 2019, covers all government projects and aims to streamline procurement and promote the use of local companies on public sector works. Details here. 

Equipment and software investment growth decelerated during the second consecutive quarter and is expected to moderate at 3.9%, according to the Q4 Update to the 2019 Equipment Leasing & Finance U.S. Economic Outlook just released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation. Overall, the economy is expected to expand 2.2%, down from the previous estimate of 2.5%, with growth driven primarily by consumer spending. Details here.