Sluggish U.S. Construction Industry Shows No Signs of Momentum

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PHOENIX, Ariz. — Rider Levett Bucknall reports that the mainland U.S. construction industry continued its slow growth forward in the last quarter, with no signs of gaining momentum. The report also states that activity for construction put-in-place increased just 1.7 percent above June 2014 figures while the unemployment rate for construction laborers increased during the same period, falling to 7.5 percent in April 2015. The firm reported its findings in its newly released Second Quarter 2015 USA Construction Cost Report. Rider Levett Bucknall tracks construction costs in 12 major U.S. cities. From Jan. 1 through April 1, the national average … Read more

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Turner Construction Company Project Recognized as Sports Facility of the Year

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The Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, has been named sports facility of the year by 2015 Sports Business Awards. The project team — led by a Turner-Devcon joint venture — used a Design-Build approach to accelerate the construction process and deliver on a promise to turn over the stadium in time for the 49ers" first 2014 preseason game — a mere two years after the start of schematic designs. “Since we did our first Design-Build NFL stadium for the Denver Broncos, which finished in 2001, Design-Build has increased as a preferred project delivery method,” said Dave Masel, … Read more

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AGC Reports on Construction Employment May Year-Over-Year

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Construction employment expanded in 205 metro areas, declined in 101 and was stagnant in 52 between May 2014 and May 2015, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted even though the majority of metro areas are still adding construction jobs, the number of gainers has decreased to the lowest level since April 2013. “Although contractors are continuing to add workers in many parts of the country, construction employment stagnated or shrank in nearly half of all metro areas over the past year,” said Ken Simonson, the … Read more

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Skanska Renovates, Expands Tampa International Airport

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Skanska has signed a supplemental contract to renovate and expand the Tampa International Airport Main Terminal building in Tampa, Florida. The contract is worth $60 million. When completed, the project will add roughly 53,800 square feet to the terminal's third-floor transfer level, with nearly 15,070 square feet of indoor public seating and large outdoor terraces. Skanska began construction of the expansion in December 2014. The renovation will begin in July 2015, with the total project slated for completion in November 2017.

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Clark’s LA Courthouse Team Unveils ‘Floating’ Cube

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Clark’s Los Angeles U.S. Courthouse project team achieved a major milestone last month, completing the ‘let-down’ of the building. The design-build team, which includes architect Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, has been planning for this milestone since the ‘floating cube’ structure was conceived three years ago. To achieve the desired floating cube effect, SOM devised a design in which the building’s 35-foot cantilevered structure would hang from 24 columns supported by a unique truss system nine floors above. Each of the columns used to support the cantilever endured elements of compression during the erection phase and, ultimately, … Read more

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