ABC: Nonresidential Construction Spending Falls Sharply in January

National nonresidential construction spending decreased 0.4% in January, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.190 trillion. Spending was down on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending fell 0.1%, while public nonresidential construction spending was down 1.0% in January. Healthcare construction decreased slightly from December to January, spending overall in this sector is up 13% from last January. “Despite January’s disappointing data, nonresidential construction spending is still up more than 17% over the past year,” … Read more

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NCCER, If I Had A Hammer Expand Math Comprehension Programs

The National Center for Construction Education and Research and If I Had A Hammer have partnered to expand access to programs aimed to increase math comprehension through engaging applied math education, exercises and projects. The partnership provides NCCER-accredited high schools with free access to the online HammerMath learning platform and HammerBuild. The HammerBuild is an immersive educational experience where students build a small house in one day, while learning the value of applied math, goal setting, teamwork and workforce skills. Both programs were developed by master carpenter and entrepreneur Perry Wilson. Wilson struggled with dyslexia in school but found success … Read more

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Construction Completes for New Saint Louis University Athletic Center

McCarthy Building Companies has completed construction of the O’Loughlin Family Champions Center at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Construction began in May 2022. The building recently earned LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED points were earned for features including using low-emitting materials, optimizing energy performance, enhanced commissioning, indoor water use reduction and rainwater management. The $20-million, three-story, 25,000-square-foot center, connected to the 10,600-seat multipurpose Chaifetz Arena, will provide support services for the university’s 400-plus Billiken student athletes with programming related to academic advising, spiritual development, sports performance, nutrition, wellness and sports psychology, among other … Read more

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Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s $28M Terminal Addition Completes Construction

General contractor McCarthy Building Companies recently completed construction of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport’s (Gateway Airport) new 30,000-square-foot, five-gate terminal modernization project. Located in metro Phoenix, Arizona, the approximately $28-million project replaces a 14-year-old temporary passenger terminal annex, originally purchased in 2008 to accommodate airport’s increased flight traffic. The newly completed terminal project provides a larger, modern, energy-efficient and ADA-enhanced commercial passenger facility designed to accommodate additional future growth. The project was largely funded by federal grants, including a $14.4-million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and an additional $6-million grant awarded in 2023 by the Federal Aviation Administration. With the … Read more

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AIA/Deltek Release Latest Architecture Billings Index

Architecture firm billings remained soft entering into 2024, with an AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index score of 46.2 in January. Any score below 50 indicates decreasing business conditions. “This now marks the lengthiest period of declining billings since 2010, although it is reassuring that the pace of this decline is less rapid and the broader economy showed improvement in January,” said Kermit Baker, Ph.D., AIA Chief Economist. “Firms are seeing growth with inquiries into new projects and value of newly signed design contracts is holding steady, showing potential signs of interest from clients in new projects.” Business conditions remained weak at … Read more

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