Architecture Billings Index Continues to Improve at a Healthy Pace

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — With increasing demand for design services, the Architecture Billings Index is continuing to strengthen.   As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to twelve-month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.   The American Institute of Architects reported the February ABI score was 54.9, up slightly from a mark of 54.2 in January. This score reflects a strong increase in demand for design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 64.8, higher than the reading of 63.2 the previous month … Read more

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McCarthy Building Companies Completes Construction of CHOC New Bill Holmes Tower

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  ORANGE, Calif.— Construction is complete on a seven-story patient care tower at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange County, Calif., offering a bright new pediatric hospital to help children heal and feel more at ease when ill or injured and need specialized medical attention. Specifically designed for the care of children, the new 425,524-square-foot patient tower will provide leading-edge technology and advanced programs and services in a child-friendly, healing environment when it officialy opens in late March 2013. Built to serve the expanding needs of the region, the new tower is located on the south side of the existing CHOC … Read more

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Construction Materials Prices Increase

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Prices for construction materials jumped in February, driven by extreme increases in items used in new housing and nonresidential building renovations, according to an analysis of new federal figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the increased materials prices are hitting contractors struggling to recover from a years-long downturn in construction demand. “For the second month in a row, contractors endured outsized price hikes for gypsum wallboard, lumber and insulation materials,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the construction trade association. “In addition, soaring diesel prices mean contractors are paying more for fuel they buy … Read more

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Associated General Contractors of America Introduces New Officers

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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The Associated General Contractors of America announced the new officers who have been selected to lead the nation’s largest construction trade association. Paul Diederich, president of West Fargo, N.D.-based Industrial Builders, Inc., will serve as president; Alan Landes, president and COO of St. Joseph, Mo.-based Herzog Contracting Corp., will serve as senior vice president; Charles Greco, chairman of Houston, Texas-based Linbeck Group LLC, will serve as vice president; and Wm. Brian Burgett, president and CEO of Westerville, Ohio-based Kokosing Construction Co., Inc., will serve as treasurer. “This association serves as the one place where construction firms … Read more

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McCarthy-Managed Federal Project Earns National Award

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St. Louis — McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has received a top national honor for construction management of the $72-million Oak Ridge National Laboratory Chemical and Material Sciences Building in Oak Ridge, Tenn., completed seven months ahead of schedule and managed by McCarthy’s St. Louis-based federal team. Already a recipient of multiple honors, including a regional ASHRAE award, Engineering News Record Southeast Best Higher Education and Research Project award, local Associated General Contractors award and the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary’s Improvement Award (for construction management excellence), the project most recently earned the Construction Management Association of America’s Project Achievement Award for … Read more

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