SMACNA Chapter Executive of the Year Encourages Innovation

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From the northwest corner of the United States, Julie Muller-Neff, executive director of the Western Washington chapter of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association’s and 2017 SMACNA Chapter Executive of the Year, is doing her part to change her industry. Muller-Neff worked closely with Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 66 and its Western Washington Sheet Metal training center to bring the first SMART Heroes program in the country to the Seattle, Washington area. The veteran training program provides new and soon-to-be veterans with a seven-week, concentrated training, allowing them, upon graduation, to enter sheet metal … Read more

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Construction Employment Rises by 23K in August, 297K for Year as Labor Shortages Prevent Firms from Hiring

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Construction employment increased by 23,000 jobs in August and by 297,000 jobs over the past year, reaching a 10-year high, while the industry’s unemployment rate stood at an all-time low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Even as firms continued to expand, a new report finds that most firms are struggling to find enough workers to keep up with demand. “The construction industry continues to add workers and increase pay at greater rates than the economy as a whole, with job gains spread across both residential and non-residential construction,” said Ken … Read more

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West Campus Housing Project at UTC Chattanooga Completes for Fall 2018 Semester

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After a full year of planning and almost three years of building, Hoar Construction has completed the West Campus housing project on The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus. This dormitory has 225,000 square feet of residential space with 172 units and 233,000 square feet of parking with 680 more parking spaces for students. The project has added housing for 600 UTC students. “At UTC, like many colleges and universities across the state, they are trying to keep up with a growing student population,” said Chris Potter, project manager. “Freshmen enrollment has increased approximately 15 percent from 2015 to 2018 … Read more

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Study Reviews Key Findings of Fatal Injuries at Road Construction Sites

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Working at road construction sites can be dangerous. Between 2011 and 2016, 532 construction workers lost their lives at road construction sites, an average of 89 workers each year. CPWR’s Data Center recently explored road construction fatality trends and causes using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Among the key findings: About half of these deaths happened when a worker on foot was struck by a vehicle or mobile heavy equipment (such as a dump truck on the worksite, or a passing car intruding on the worksite) Construction laborers suffered the greatest number of construction fatalities, and both the … Read more

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BNBuilders Commences Construction on Fire & Life Safety Upgrades at UC Irvine

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BNBuilders has commenced construction on numerous fire & life safety upgrades at the University of California. The firm is working with Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects for the $20-million Design-Build project. Interior The fire & life safety project at UC Irvine includes fire suppression systems (alarms and sprinklers) in 16 occupied buildings. The two largest buildings are Reines Hall (built in 1989, approximately 195,000 square feet) and Rowland Hall (built in 1968, approximately 232,000 square feet). Some renovations are being completed in occupied labs and around ongoing experiments, which must not be disturbed. In these areas, the bulk of the work is completed between 4 … Read more

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