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, FEMA … 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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High Level of Construction Activity Continues to Stretch Skilled Labor Availability

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Turner Construction Company announced that the Fourth Quarter 2019 Turner Building Cost Index—which measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States—has increased to a value of 1177. This represents a 1.29% quarterly increase from the third quarter of 2019 and a 4.84% annual increase from the fourth quarter of 2018, respectively. “We continue to see the national construction market fairly busy with several large projects starting in the fourth quarter,” said Attilio Rivetti, the Turner vice president responsible for compiling the cost index. Attilio continued, “Raw material costs in the fourth quarter of 2019 have been … Read more

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Construction Milestone Reached at Cherese Mari Laulhere Children’s Village

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A construction milestone was recently reached with a topping out celebration for the Design-Build Cherese Mari Laulhere Children’s Village at MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, located in Long Beach, California. The project team includes Turner Construction Company and c|a ARCHITECTS. The 80,000-square-foot, four-story medical building is intended to provide all specialties within a single building so that patients and their families no longer have to travel to multiple locations for care. The Children’s Village will offer access to pediatric doctors in more than 36 specialties, as well as a range of services all in one location. “It’s been exciting … Read more

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Houston Community Supports Career Exploration

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Lift & Move USA, hosted by Liebherr USA in Houston, Texas, received one of the largest ever groups of students at its recent event. Nearly 550 high school juniors, seniors, technical college students, teachers and administrators from 17 schools were in attendance. An outpouring of support from the Houston community included the presentation of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition from Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. The certificate was presented to Daniel Pitzer, managing director of Liebherr USA Co., by Ivory Mayhorn, CEO and founder of Launch Point Community Development Center. Liebherr was recognized for its “commitment to shape technological advances … Read more

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