Commercial Building: Page 281
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Plan to replace rooftop shelters with real housing in Taiwan
An architecture and design team has a plan to make environmentally beneficial homes on rooftops that now host makeshift shelters in high-density parts of Taiwan.
By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2014 -
Latest contractor index shows modestly growing confidence
In the three categories comprising its Contractor Confidence Index, Associated Builders and Contractors was told most often that contractors expect "up small" changes.
By Ron Gallagher • March 18, 2014 -
Explore the Trendline➔
vitranc via Getty Images
TrendlinePreconstruction
Careful collaboration before shovels hit dirt is key to a successful project, experts say.
By Construction Dive staff -
Flooding washes away flood-prevention highway project in Texas
Trinity Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas, was notorious for storm flooding, so the city began an improvement project, but floods undermined the whole thing.
By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2014 -
Dodge Index down, but still higher than last year
The index of first reports of projects, compiled by McGraw Hill, was lower than January's, but still 19.6% ahead of the year-ago mark.
By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2014 -
Materials prices rise again, likely signaling end of stability
That is not necessarily bad news, however, because slowing Chinese demand would benefit buyers elsewhere.
By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2014 -
Road-building firms urged to lobby for Highway Trust Fund
Companies that work in highway construction are being urged to sent hard hats to Congress with a message about jobs that depend on Highway Trust Fund projects.
By Ron Gallagher • March 17, 2014 -
Fotolia
Real estate execs have high confidence in commercial market
Investor confidence in the sector is on the rise, spurred chiefly by growing faith in institutional lending.
By Katie Bo Williams • March 17, 2014 -
LA subway project digs up ancient fossils
The construction project has unearthed fossils dating back to the Pleistocene epoch.
By Kelsey Lindsey • March 17, 2014 -
If design problems aren't obvious pre-bid, whose problem is it really?
There is a blurry line between the obvious and the subtle in deciding how much a contractor should backstop a client on design problems and what justifies fees for fixing problems.
By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2014 -
Fire marshal: Modern construction materials burn faster, pose greater danger
Joseph Thomas, Maine's state fire marshal, says he worries because new, lighter building materials burn faster, sometimes before fighters arrive.
By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2014 -
Welding may be cause of massive construction-site fire in San Francisco
While water was still being poured on the ruins of a six-story apartment project, investigators looked at welding as a possible source.
By Ron Gallagher • March 13, 2014 -
In Dayton, worker shortages prompt first-ever construction job fair
Shortages of construction workers as the economy grows back prompted Montgomery County, Ohio, to hold its first-ever job fair for the industry.
By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2014 -
Metal-scrounging thieves hit highway projects in Calif.
Bandits who steal scrap metal and cooper wire are not just an affliction for buildings under construction and contractors' yards, it turns out.
By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2014 -
Coin toss settles tie for lowest bids on $4.5M project
When Gretna, La., (population about 18,000) decided to go for a new police station, five bids came in for demolition and construction, and two were dead-on equal.
By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2014 -
Fire ravages under-construction San Francisco apartment building
A five-alarm, late-afternoon fire in the Mission District on Tuesday raced up a six-story building being erected by BRE Properties.
By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2014 -
Bankrupt Detroit to spend $500M to demolish buildings
Detroit is planning on more and faster demolition as part of its bankruptcy recovery plan, going from knocking down 100 buildings a week to as many as 450.
By Ron Gallagher • March 12, 2014 -
BIM backers: Conventional process wastes 30% of effort
A trade group Down Under and the government are close to issuing a joint Project Team Integration Workbook about how to maximize BIM benefits.
By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2014 -
Calif. to pay losing bids for high-speed railway line $2M each
The California High-Speed Rail Authority will pay losing bidders $2 million each to offset the cost of seeking a contract estimated to be worth $1.5-$2 billion.
By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2014 -
Propane blast shuts down Colo. VA construction site
Several people in Aurora, Colo, were awakened early Tuesday when a propane tank that fuels heaters for workers caught fire and blew up, officials said.
By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2014 -
How the EPA is changing stormwater runoff rules
A central part of the Environmental Protection Agency's approach to construction runoff is eliminating numeric standards for turbidity in the water.
By Ron Gallagher • March 11, 2014 -
Construction women tell female students they have opportunities
California State University, Sacramento, held a career day for its engineering and computer science students, and women made a showing on International Women's Day.
By Ron Gallagher • March 10, 2014 -
U. of Michigan gives old nuclear reactor $11.4M makeover
The school plans to keep the building for nuclear engineering use, but with a small particle accelerator rather than a reactor that Ford provided in 1957.
By Ron Gallagher • March 10, 2014 -
EPA to drop one-size-fits-all approach to construction runoff
The EPA found that construction storm runoff should be handled differently in different areas, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.
By Ron Gallagher • March 10, 2014 -
Life-cycle assessment for building materials made easier with new app
An architectural firm teamed with a data firm and a software maker to come up with Tally, an app that runs on the Revit design software.
By Ron Gallagher • March 10, 2014 -
Ever-larger tilt-up panels bring clarification about slab beneath bracing
The Tilt-Up Concrete Association has issued a statement saying it's a building owner's rep who has to make sure a slab can take the pressure of wall bracing.
By Ron Gallagher • March 9, 2014
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