Dodge Momentum Index Trips on COVID-19 in April

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The Dodge Momentum Index moved 6 % lower in April to 135.9 (2000=100) from the revised March reading of 144.5. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by a full year. Both components of the momentum index pulled back during the month – the commercial component fell 7.6%, while the institutional component dropped 3.2%. COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the economy in April, touching virtually all sectors — including … Read more

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Erectors Showcase Ingenuity, Planning + Quality Workmanship on 6 Award-Winning Steel Construction Projects

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Six steel erection companies have been named as recipients in the annual Project of the Year awards by the Steel Erectors Association of America. Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the companies received notice of their awards in March 2020 for projects that were topped out in either 2018 or 2019. “Expanding the scope of the submission criteria to a 24-month window greatly increased the number of completed project submissions we received,” said Alan Sears, Awards Committee chairman. “This provides SEAA members with an opportunity to showcase their most interesting, and often most challenging, structural steel erection work.” “Erectors … Read more

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Alternate Care Facility Project Finishes in 22 Days for COVID-19 Patients Near Chicago

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in collaboration with Clark Construction Group and Perkins and Will, has successfully transformed the MetroSouth Medical Center—a shuttered hospital south of Chicago, Illinois—into an alternate care facility to treat COVID-19 patients. The re-activated facility provides 585 surge beds, including 265 high-acuity beds to support critically ill patients. Work on the fast-track project began March 30 and was completed in 22 days. The MetroSouth Medical Center served the Blue Island community for more than a century before closing its doors in the fall of 2019. Clark led a Design-Build team in revitalizing the once-dormant facility … Read more

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CPWR, NABTU Release New COVID-19 Resources

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As part of the commitment to helping the construction industry take necessary precautions during the coronavirus pandemic, CPWR and NABTU have released the COVID-19 Standards for U.S. Construction Sites. They are an evolution of the guidance CPWR has been updating since early March and identifies what steps should be taken to reduce construction worker exposure to the virus on the job. The hierarchy of controls, a basic principle of occupational safety and health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, are the foundations upon which this new document is based. The virus is a hazard on the job, and … Read more

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Construction Underway on Kurita U.S. Headquarters in Minneapolis Suburb

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Ryan Companies recently closed on land in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where it will develop the new U.S. headquarters for Kurita America, Inc., a producer of water treatment solutions. The build-to-suit will be located at Ryan’s business park development, 610Zane. The City of Brooklyn Park approved the project on March 30, and Ryan began construction on April 13. The location will stand as Kurita’s U.S. headquarters, which is comprised of a consolidation between Tonka Water out of Plymouth, Minnesota; Fremont Industries out of Shakopee, Minnesota and US Water out of St. Michael, Minnesota. Of the 156,000-square-foot facility, approximately 84,000 square feet … Read more

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