Oregon Joins 22 Other States in Adopting Green Building Initiative’s Green Building Guidance and Assessment Tool PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon State Legislature approved two bills that for the first time recognize the Green Globes green building guidance and assessment program in Oregon State Law. House Bill 2960 and House Bill 3672 will provide low interest loans to provide energy efficiency upgrades to school buildings and revamp green building tax credits. House Bill 2960 establishes the Clean Energy Deployment Program within the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to provide grants and loans over a period of four years to school … Read more

NEW YORK — Patrick Boland, president of Alcon Builders Group, announced recently that the Manhattan-based firm has begun work on the Family Center for Brooklyn Friends School at one of the hottest new properties near downtown Brooklyn’s cultural and commercial hub, be@schermerhorn at 189 Schermerhorn St. The Alcon team will transform the 4,742-square-foot space of the mixed-use building into an area that will accommodate young students of the Brooklyn Friends School, with three classrooms, a reception area, an indoor playroom, a pantry and a conference room. The space is scheduled to open for classes in the fall of this year. … Read more

Education at ICUEE 2011 will feature new “industry keynote” presentations, new workshop and certification programs and expanded input from leading industry associations. Attendees will have access to more than 100 learning opportunities at the show to help them better understand new technologies, sharpen their skills and keep up-to-speed with the latest industry, regulatory and management trends. ICUEE, the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition will be held October 4-6, 2011 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. The show will cover more than 1 million net square feet of exhibits, with extensive hands-on equipment demonstrations. Go online (www.icuee.com) to … Read more

Increased construction material costs are counter-balanced by level of market activity and easing of commodity pricing pressure NEW YORK — Turner Construction Company announced that the Second Quarter 2011 Turner Building Cost Index has slightly increased over the First Quarter of 2011. The Turner Building Cost Index measures costs in the non-residential building construction market in the United States. The Turner Building Cost Index of 811 reflects a 0.62% increase from the First Quarter 2011 and 1.63% increase from the Second Quarter 2010. Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Turner Building Cost Index said, “The market … Read more