Strong Market Competition, Flat Labor Costs Reduce Overall Increase in Construction Costs NEW YORK — Turner Construction Company announced that the First Quarter 2011 Turner Building Cost Index has slightly increased over the Fourth Quarter of 2010. The Turner Building Cost Index measures costs in the nonresidential building construction market in the United States. The Turner Building Cost Index of 806 reflects a 0.62 percent increase from the Fourth Quarter 2010 and 0.88 percent increase from the First Quarter 2010. Karl F. Almstead, the Turner vice president responsible for the Turner Building Cost Index said, “The First Quarter forecast reflects … Read more

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa — The Tilt-Up Concrete Association— a nonprofit international organization that serves to expand and improve the use of Tilt-Up as the preferred construction method — has announced the call for entries for the 21st installment of the Tilt-Up Achievement Awards Competition. The TCA Awards Program recognizes outstanding site cast tilt-up structures and advances in technology, products and methods used in the tilt-up industry. Submitters must be a member of the TCA and are required to submit a one-page abstract of the project that includes the best photo as well as the top three reasons why the project … Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Through OSHA and the Scaffold Industry Association Alliance, SIA has developed a series of Mast Climbing Work Platform safety documents: “Fundamentals of Safe Use,” “Ground Conditions and MCWP” and “Fundamentals of Safe Use, Tying to the Structure.” This series of tools are designed to assist in the daily inspections on mast-climbing equipment. “The publication of these Fundamentals of Safe Use is a significant step forward in the industry’s goal of getting crucial safety information into the hands of the person who requires it most, the worker,” said Kevin O"Shea, SIA Mast Climbing Council Chair. “The OSHA Alliance … Read more

GLENVIEW, Ill.  — The Metal Construction Association (MCA) recently recognized its 2010 President’s Award winners at its Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. The MCA President’s Awards are an annual designation given to outstanding building projects involving MCA member companies. The Awards honor innovation and creativity while showcasing how metal products help achieve exceptional building designs. Each year, recipients are selected from projects submitted by MCA members to Metal Architecture Magazine’s annual Design Awards Program. This year, the honorees were chosen by an experienced panel of architects and an engineer. The panel consisted of: > Elaine Fitzgerald, CSI, CDT, former … Read more