Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors Commence Construction of New Armed Services YMCA of Killeen, Texas

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RICHARDSON, Texas — Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors recently broke ground on the new 55,000-square-foot Armed Services YMCA located at 100 W. Mountain Lion Road in Harker Heights, a suburb of Killeen, Texas. When completed, the new facility will include indoor competition and therapy pools, a physical therapy clinic, child watch and adventure center for children, a gymnasium, cardio/wellness areas, group exercise studios, a nutritional kitchen, multipurpose rooms, counseling offices, administration areas, lobby and member service center and full locker/shower facilities. The $12-million project also includes associated sitework, landscape and hardscape improvements that complement the adjoining residential neighborhood and park. … Read more

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High Level of Construction Activity in Urban Areas Drives Increase in Costs

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Turner Construction Company announced that the Fourth Quarter 2014 Turner Building Cost Index — which measures costs in the nonresidential building construction market in the United States — has increased to a value of 917. This reflects a 0.99 percent increase from the third quarter 2014 and a 4.45 percent increase from the fourth quarter 2013. “Growth in nonresidential construction was steady in the fourth quarter in virtually all domestic markets,” said Attilio Rivetti, the Turner vice president responsible for the cost index. He continued, “Higher construction cost escalations in urban centers with increased construction activity, as well as selective … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Falls in January

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NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Dodge Momentum Index fell 4.8 percent in January to 121.1 (2000=100), down from a revised 127.2 in December, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The Momentum Index 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. During the final three months of 2014, the Momentum Index had jumped 11.7 percent, so while January’s 4.8 percent drop showed decreased activity relative to December, it was still in line with the moderate, if at times … Read more

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Construction Employment at Highest Level Since 2009, Reports AGC

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Construction employers added 39,000 jobs in January and 308,000 over the past year, reaching the highest employment total since February 2009, as the sector’s unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the job gains come as most construction firms report plans to expand headcount this year, but worry about growing shortages of qualified workers. “Contractors have stayed busy this winter and expect to keep hiring through 2015—if they can find the workers they need,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The list of projects is growing … Read more

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NCCER Releases its 2014 Craft Professional Wage Survey Results

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ALACHUA, Fla. — Wages for craft professionals continue to rise, according to NCCER’s 2014 Craft Professional Wage Survey. This increase is largely related to the growing demand for skilled craft professionals.   Each year, NCCER surveys organizations from the industrial and commercial construction industries across the U.S about the wages of their craft professionals. Wages in the survey represent average annual salaries for individual craft areas, not including overtime, per diem, bonuses or other incentives. Of the more than 30 construction organizations surveyed, all craft professions included in the survey earned more than $50,000 annually in 2014. Project managers and … Read more

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