AIA Selects 2014 COTE Top Ten Plus Project

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects and its Committee on the Environment have selected the Iowa Utilities Board / Office of the Consumer Advocate Office Building, design by BNIM, as the recipient of the Top Ten Plus. The Top Ten Plus, now its second year, recognizes one past AIA COTE Top Ten Project Award recipient which has quantifiable metrics that demonstrate the true impact the sustainable design has achieved. The Iowa Utilities Board / Office of the Consumer Advocate Office Building was selected in 2012 as a recipient of the AIA/COTE Top Ten Project Award program. You can … Read more

Filed under: News, Organizations

U.S. Military Breaks New Ground with Largest Solar Installation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. General Services Administration and the U.S. Army marked the start of a major renewable energy project at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. that will be the Department of Defense’s largest solar installation. The 155-acre project leverages private financing and is expected to exceed 18 megawatts of clean power and provide 25 percent of the military base’s power. Officials kicked off the project with a groundbreaking ceremony at the base where construction is set to begin in the next few days. “These kinds of projects are vital to building a sustainable infrastructure for our nation,” said Ruth Cox, … Read more

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Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Reports on March New Business Volume

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity from 25 companies representing a cross section of the $827-billion equipment finance sector, showed their overall new business volume for March was $7 billion, up 3 percent from new business volume in March 2013. Month-over-month, new business volume was up 30 percent from February. Year-to-date, cumulative new business volume increased 6 percent compared to 2013.   Receivables over 30 days increased to 2.1 percent from 1.8 percent the previous month, and were up slightly from 2.0 percent during the same period in … Read more

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AEM Updates Roller Compactor, Directional Drilling Tracking Equipment Safety Manuals

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has updated its Roller Compactor and Directional Drilling Tracking Equipment Safety Manuals with new pictorial graphics that conform to ISO and ANSI standards and are included in the AEM Pictorial Database. The safety manuals" updated graphics more clearly reinforce manual safety text, and they harmonize with current machine safety sign and manufacturer manual practices. The AEM Pictorial Database is a free online resource with 145 pictorials that can be downloaded through a variety of graphics and computer-aided design software packages. AEM created the pictorial database as an industry service to help companies communicate effective safety … Read more

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AIA Unveils New Leading Indicator in Construction Research White Paper

WASHINGTON, D.C. — By measuring the movement of design contracts in the monthly Architecture Billings Index, the American Institute of Architects is now able to trace the path of resources into the design and construction industry from the earliest conceptualization until it results in finished projects. This new indicator is being spotlighted in an AIA economic research white paper, Designing the Construction Future. “We have been tracking new project inquiries — bids, general solicitations, interview invitations — which tend to be rather subjective, so we began looking for a more precise way of estimating future levels of billings activity at … Read more

Filed under: Economic News, News, Organizations