Construction Employment Increases by 44K in January, 142K Over 12 Months

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Construction employment increased by 44,000 jobs in January and by 142,000 over the past 12 months, as the industry’s unemployment rate hit a new January low, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the employment gains are happening at a time when most construction firms expect demand for all types of construction to remain strong.   “Construction accounted for one-fifth of all jobs added in January, even though the industry makes up less than 5% of total employment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, noting that the … Read more

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Construction Begins on Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities Water Reclamation Facility

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A groundbreaking ceremony was recently held to signify the start of construction on the new Water Reclamation Facility for Salt Lake City’s Department of Public Utilities, located in northern Salt Lake City, Utah. Sundt Construction, Inc. is the general contractor on the project. The new facility will serve more than 200,000 customers over a 110-square-mile service area when complete in 2024. The $528-million facility is one of the largest public works projects undertaken by Salt Lake City. The new facility will replace the 55-year-old facility that treats 33 million gallons per day of wastewater and is the city’s only wastewater … Read more

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FEMA Strengthens Construction Standards for Disaster Recovery

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency released an update on Dec. 20, 2019, to its Recovery Interim Policy FP-104-009-11, Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards for Public Assistance, Version 2.1, adding several International Codes , developed by the International Code Council, to the list of required Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards. The I-Codes requirements aim to advance national resiliency and reduce community risk before and after a disaster. The Public Assistance Program is FEMA’s largest grant program averaging $4.7 billion in assistance each year to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations. Through the PA program, following a federal declaration, … Read more

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First Freestanding ED Completed outside Mobile City Limits

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A 22,000-square-foot freestanding emergency department has recently been completed by Hoar Construction for Infirmary Health in Saraland, Alabama. The $11.6-million Mobile Infirmary Emergency Saraland features 11 examination rooms, a trauma room, a triage room, an in-house laboratory and connects to the existing imaging department complete with MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound equipment. It is the first emergency room in Mobile County located outside the city limits of Mobile. This is the second structure the general contractor has built on the campus. The new building connects to the existing Infirmary Medical Plaza, which Hoar completed in 2017 and houses Diagnostic & … Read more

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Dodge Momentum Index Moves Higher in December

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The Dodge Momentum Index increased 1.5% in December to 156.2 (2000=100) from the revised November reading of 153.9. The momentum index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, 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. Both components of the momentum index rose over the month – the institutional component gained 2.3%, while the commercial component rose 0.9%. For the full year, the momentum index averaged 141.9, a decline of 3.7% from 2018’s average. In 2019, the commercial … Read more

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