CHICAGO, Ill. — Rush University Medical Center is nearing the completion of a unique partnership with OSHA that has enhanced work site safety during the construction of its new hospital building and other facilities. The partnership has helped protect more than 4,500 men and women who have worked on these buildings. As many as 700 workers were onsite at one time during the busiest periods of construction over the last three years. The end of the partnership will come with the conclusion of construction of Rush's new 14-floor, 806,000-square-foot hospital building. The new hospital, scheduled to open in January 2012, … Read more

The amount contractors pay for construction materials and charge for completed projects both increased in July, as firms were finally able to charge more for work, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said, however, that it was too early to tell whether contractors will continue to be able to raise prices in the face of declining public sector investments in construction. “Contractors will have a hard time increasing, or even holding the line on bid levels if the federal government continues to cut investments in infrastructure and … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council opened the second public comment period for the proposed 2012 update to its LEED green building rating system. The comment period, which will close Sept. 14, 2011, is the next step in the continuous improvement process and ongoing development of the LEED program. “During the first public comment period, we collected just under 6,000 constructive comments and recommendations on the proposed drafts, which place heightened emphasis on an integrative process and building performance,” said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President, USGBC. “We have also integrated feedback received from project teams who have been … Read more