NEW YORK (November 15, 2013) - U.S. construction firms on average paid more for their insurance in the first half of 2013 as underwriters continue to seek price increases across the breadth of their contractor portfolios, according to a report published by Marsh.

CHICAGO (November 15, 2013) - The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in Springfield, Va., has earned national recognition in the 2013 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2). In honor of this achievement, members of the project team will be presented with awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) during a ceremony at the project site on Nov. 19.

NORCROSS, Ga. (November 14, 2013) – Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, Hyundai Construction Equipment’s parent company, recently made a donation of $200,000 via the Korean Red Cross in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, which caused catastrophic damage to the Philippines.

The company also dispatched a 21-ton class excavator, a backhoe loader and experienced operators to the area to assist in recovery efforts.

WASHINGTON (November 12, 2013) — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the LEED Fellows Class of 2013. The LEED Fellows program recognizes exceptional contributions to the green building community as well as significant achievements within a growing community of LEED Professionals.

(November 8, 2013) - Construction employment hit a 50-month high as employers added 11,000 jobs in October, the fifth consecutive month of sector job gains, and the industry unemployment rate fell to 9 percent, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America.

RALEIGH, N.C. (November 7, 2013) — FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking* to the engineering and construction industry, announced the release of its 2014 U.S. Markets Construction Overview. With construction put in place at the end of 2013 expected to be at $909.6 billion, researchers at FMI predict CPIP growth rates to be slightly ahead of the GDP in 2014.

Other predictions include the following:

SEOUL, South Korea (November 6, 2013) - Doosan announced that Scott Park has been appointed president and CEO of Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment (DICE), replacing Tony Helsham, who will retire in February.

WAUKESHA, Wis.-(Nov. 1, 2013) - Generac Holdings Inc., a leading designer and manufacturer of generators and other engine powered products, announced the closing of the purchase agreement with Baldor Electric Company (“Baldor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABB Group, to acquire substantially all of the assets of Baldor’s generator products division (“Baldor Generators”).

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces the 2013 inductees into the AEM Hall of Fame, which recognizes and celebrates outstanding individuals in the off-road equipment industry, and their legacy of innovation, service and leadership.