Construction Employment at Highest Level since 2009, Unemployment Rate at 6.2%

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Construction firms added 31,000 workers in October as the industry’s unemployment rate declined to 6.2 percent amid robust demand for construction, according to a recent analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that construction employment is now at the highest level since February 2009 as the sector continues to recover from the downturn. “The industry continues to recover while the hiring slowdowns it experienced during the summer were prompted more by labor shortages than they were any slump in demand,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Construction firms appear to have had an easier time […]

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McCownGordon Completes Forensic Laboratory Center at Washburn University

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TOPEKA, Kan. — McCownGordon Construction recently completed the Kansas Bureau of Investigation's $55-million forensic laboratory.   Housed on the Washburn University campus in Topeka, Kansas, the 100,000-square-foot, leading-edge crime lab houses spaces dedicated to biology, DNA, toxicology, chemistry, firearm/tool mark, latent prints, trace evidence, digital forensics, vehicle processing and evidence storage. The facility was built in partnership with Washburn University and will also be home to the college's forensic department, allowing students to learn in the same facility as industry experts. The McCownGordon team worked hand-in-hand with PGAV Architects under a construction management at risk delivery to create the state-of-the-art […]

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OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health to Meet, Seeks Nominations

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health will meet in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 1-2 for updates and discussions with agency officials. Three working groups – on Health Hazards, Emerging Issues and Prevention through Design; Temporary Workers and Training and Outreach – will meet from 1-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The full committee meets the following day from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Both meetings will be in Room N-4437, A-D, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. The meetings are open to the public. The tentative agenda includes […]

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Fifty-One Construction Professionals Receive New National Lean Accreditation

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Fifty-one construction professionals received a new national accreditation in the use of Lean construction, a holistic practice aimed at minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency on construction projects. The professional designation offered by the Associated General Contractors of America, is a new assessment-based credential to recognize construction professionals on their ability to use the process. “This new program is the foundation for contractors to focus on continuous improvement to eliminate waste and deliver predictable project outcomes, said Victor Sanvido, senior vice president of Southland Industries.   “Earning this credential symbolizes a crucial first step to becoming a Lean champion in the […]

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Sundt Completes Residence Hall at University of Nevada, Reno

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RENO, Nev. — Sundt Construction, Inc. recently completed construction of the new Peavine Hall at the University of Nevada, Reno. The $35-million project, led by Sundt as the construction manager at risk, included demolition of multiple existing buildings and the construction of the 117,000-square-foot, five-story steel and concrete residence hall. Sustainably designed by Collaborative Design Studio, the facility is pending LEED Gold certification and features a brick veneer, suite-style housing for 400 students, common lounge spaces and state-of-the-art building systems. Located within the campus" residential hall “district,” the new building complements the rest of the university's campus architecture while providing […]

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