AGC Releases Latest Construction Employment Data

Construction employment declined in 162 out of 337 metropolitan areas between June 2011 and June 2012, increased in 127 and stayed stagnant in 48, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said construction employment declined or remained unchanged in most metro areas as the public sector continued to cut back on investments in new construction and infrastructure and economic growth slowed. “The construction sector continues to shrink or stagnate in most metro areas as demand for new construction remains weak in too many places,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

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Western Construction Group Launches New Projects Team

NEW YORK — Western Construction Group has announced the formation of a new team, Western Facades, dedicated exclusively to full-scale, multi-million-dollar facade restorations and replacements. The formation of Western Facades draws on key personnel with extensive experience on complex projects. The new team will be led by Senior Operations Manager Michael C. Radigan, and will work exclusively on large-scale, complex facade restoration and recladding projects requiring the company’s unique expertise and experience. The Western Facades team was established in response to the growing number of large-scale projects the firm has been retained for over the past several years, including The … Read more

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Build Your Future Linking Construction Industry Employers, Job Seekers with New Career Center

ALACHUA, Fla. — As part of its continuing effort to narrow the skills gap in the construction industry, the Build Your Future has launched a new Career Center aimed at connecting aspiring young people and credentialed craft professionals with rewarding career opportunities. The BYF Career Center is a comprehensive resource providing a wide range of valuable tools for employers and job seekers. For employers looking to hire craft professionals, the BYF Career Center can get job postings in front of a workforce with the skills needed on industrial and commercial construction projects. Companies with open positions can post in the … Read more

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J. Paul Leonard and Sutro Library at San Francisco State University Earns National DBIA Award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The J. Paul Leonard Library and Sutro Library at San Francisco State University received an Honor Award in the Rehabilitation/Renovation/Restoration category from the Design Build Institute of America in its annual national Design-Build Award Competition. Balfour Beatty Construction teamed with HMC Architects on the renovation and expansion of the 362,500-square-foot design-build project. The awards ceremony will take place on Nov. 8 at the 2012 Design-Build Conference & Expo in New Orleans, La. The national design-build awards are presented to the highest-rated projects in each category and are the most prestigious project awards presented by DBIA. Earlier … Read more

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IBHS Researchers Put Commercial Construction to the Test

TAMPA, Fla. — The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety has conducted the first-ever, controlled high-speed wind test comparing and contrasting the performance of common practice and stronger, full-size commercial buildings in a laboratory. Two 30 ft. by 20 ft., one-story masonry buildings, similar to those in strip mall shopping centers, were placed side-by-side on the 55 ft. turntable inside the 21,000 sq. ft. test chamber at the IBHS Research Center in South Carolina. One of the test buildings was constructed using techniques common across the U.S., while the other was built using stronger high-wind resistant practices. The materials … Read more

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