September Year-Over-Year Construction Employment Rises

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Thirty-five states added construction jobs between September 2015 and September 2016 while construction employment increased in only 21 states and the District of Columbia between August and September, according to a recent analysis of Labor Department data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said contractors still report difficulty filling construction jobs, and they urged Congress to complete action on a bill that would help more students gain the skills to qualify for good-paying careers in construction. “The list of states that are adding construction jobs has been shrinking, yet contractors generally report they are busy now … Read more

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New Construction Starts in 2017 to Increase 5% to $713 Billion

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Dodge Data & Analytics released its 2017 Dodge Construction Outlook, a mainstay in construction industry forecasting and business planning. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2017 will advance 5 percent to $713 billion, following gains of 11 percent in 2015 and an estimated 1 percent in 2016. “The U.S. construction industry has witnessed signs of deceleration in 2016, following several years of steady growth,” stated Robert Murray, chief economist for Dodge Data & Analytics. “Total construction starts during the first half of this year lagged behind what was reported in 2015, raising some … Read more

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Architecture Billings Index Indicates Further Contraction

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the first time since the summer of 2012, the Architecture Billings Index posted consecutive months of a decline in demand for design services. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate 9-12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the September ABI score was 48.4, down from the mark of 49.7 in the previous month. This score reflects a decrease in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 59.4, down from a reading of … Read more

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Construction of Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center Complete

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HOUSTON, Texas and CINCINNATI, Ohio – Linbeck Group and Messer Construction Co. has completed the Cincinnati Children’s/UC Health Proton Therapy Center in Ohio, the second facility of its kind in the world owned by a children’s hospital. The total cost of the project is $120 million. The two-story, 89,549-square-foot facility features a vault to house the 9 ton, super-conducting cyclotron system and three treatment bays, or gantries, with additional space for a fourth bay to be built when needed. When the Proton Therapy Center opens in August 2017 it will be the only facility in the country with a gantry … Read more

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IWR North America Performs Restoration Work on Trump International Hotel

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IWR North America, formerly IWR Building Systems, recently completed work on the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. IWR-NA was brought on as a specialty contractor to perform restoration work associated with the exterior enclosure upgrades as part of the renovation. IWR-NA’s scope of work included upgrades to entry facades and canopies with modern materials, new acoustical cladding systems at the mechanical screen walls and installation of high-end panel systems in the entrance portals. Under an expedited time frame that, at times, required 12-16 hour work days for a grand opening on Sept. 12, the pre-planning and hard work started … Read more

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