Understanding rigid foam insulation for foundation and under-slab applications By Ram Mayilvahanan Up to one-quarter of a building’s energy loss is due to lack of insulation in below-grade areas, including the foundation and under slabs. Now that high-performance building envelopes are common above ground, the relative amount of total heat lost below grade will grow if these spaces are not addressed. As a result, superintendents increasingly will encounter below-grade and under-slab insulation on all building types. To help increase understanding of how two common rigid-foam insulations perform in these settings, this article evaluates moisture absorption and thermal performance. It also … Read more

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — PCL Construction recently announced that the San Diego Airport Terminal 2 expansion has become the first commercial airport terminal in the world to receive LEED Platinum certification. Working with joint venture partners, Turner Construction and Flatiron Construction, the project initially targeted LEED Silver certification. The San Diego Airport Authority focused heavily on involving local contractors and vendors throughout, to ensure the entire project was a community effort. Project teams must follow strict guidelines during construction to obtain LEED certification. The team incorporated 20,000 tons of recycled aggregate into 1.5 million square feet of taxiway and airport … Read more

Mortenson Construction and joint-venture partner GE Johnson Construction, have been selected to continue their work on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas. Details of the new, privately funded Vanier Football Complex and North Stadium project were unveiled in a press conference during the Wildcats" spring football game in April. “With more than $125 million of facility improvements completed in the last 24 months and the excitement of our fans, evidenced by the current string of 13 consecutive football sellouts, it is imperative that we build upon the tradition and success of our program under Coach Snyder's leadership and … Read more

Minneapolis, Minn. — Knutson Construction recently celebrated the grand opening of Target Field Station. Connecting transit with culture, the new multi-modal hub and public plaza will provide an iconic gateway to Target Field Stadium, home of the Minnesota Twins. Hennepin County selected Knutson Construction in May 2012 as part of the multidisciplinary, design-build team working closely with Perkins Eastman and New York-based architect Peter Cavaluzzi, FAIA. Target Field Station is a project of Hennepin County, the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority and the Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority. A mix of federal, state and local sources funded the $79.3-million … Read more

Piedmont Construction Group crews are heading into the final project phases of the Tubman African American Museum, and eyeing a spring 2015 completion date. Located in downtown Macon, Georgia, the multi-million dollar project first broke ground more than a decade ago, but funding hiccups have slowed, and at times even halted, progress. The museum is touted by community leaders as the bedrock of revitalization efforts in downtown Macon, which continues to evolve and attract new businesses that include eateries, nightlife establishments and unique shops. When the new portions of the museum opens to the public, it will include more than … Read more