Construction Spending Rises in April for Third Straight Month

Total construction spending rose modestly for the third straight month in April as a mix of increases and declines in public and private categories showed the sector's recovery remains fragile and fragmented, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the industry could benefit from new federal investments in infrastructure to offset declining public sector demand. “Residential, private nonresidential and public construction spending all have areas of strength but also pockets of weakness,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “While the overall trend remains more positive than last … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, News

More Than 1M Workers Expected to Participate in National Fall Safety Stand-Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tens of thousands of employers and more than 1 million workers across the country are expected to join the Occupational Safety and Health Administration this week in safety stand-downs to focus on preventing fatalities from falls. Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, with hundreds of workers dying each year and thousands more facing serious injuries. Lack of fall protection is also the most frequently cited OSHA violation, proving that these deaths are preventable when employers provide the right safety equipment and properly train workers how to use it.Starting June 2 and continuing … Read more

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Terex AWP Provides 10 Safety Tips for Operating Aerial Lifts

REDMOND, Wash. — In honor of OSHA’s National Fall Prevention Stand-Down, June 2—6, Terex AWP is providing the following safety tips for operating aerial lift equipment. “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction workers, accounting for 269 of the 775 construction fatalities recorded in 2012. Those deaths could have been preventable,” said Scott Owyen, global training manager, Terex Aerial Work Platforms. The following operating tips are critical steps that a mobile elevating work platform operator can take to reduce the likelihood of a potentially deadly fall from height. Make sure that … Read more

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Turner Construction Company Selected to Build $272M Hilton Cleveland Downtown

Turner Construction Company announced construction is underway on the Hilton Cleveland Downtown, Ohio. The 28-story hotel will be connected by underground passageways to the Cleveland Convention Center and the Global Center for Health Innovation. Turner, Ozanne Construction and Van Aukin Akins Architects have formed a joint venture to deliver the project using a design-build method. The project is expected to employ 2,800 workers during construction and the project team has set aggressive residency goals, as well as minority- and women-owned business utilization goals to ensure a diverse, local workforce. “We are excited to begin work with our partners on this … Read more

Filed under: News, Projects

Brasfield & Gorrie Celebrates Construction Milestone at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph Hotel

  ORLANDO, Fla. — Brasfield & Gorrie recently marked a construction milestone at the 135-room Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph boutique hotel in Columbus, Ohio. A topping out ceremony was held on May 9, marking the end of the project’s structural construction phase. <!—more—>The 10-story, 110,000-square-foot boutique hotel, located on North High Street in the Short North Arts District, will include deluxe spa suites, meeting rooms, a restaurant and ballrooms. Brasfield & Gorrie’s Orlando office is teaming with design architect Arquitectonica, architect of record Elness Swenson Graham Architects and interior design architect Gensler on this project for developer The Pizzuti … Read more

Filed under: News