Texas board to require background checks for architects

Thanks to a new law taking effect Jan. 1, getting an architecture license in the Lone Star State will mean turning in a nice, clean set of prints.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 10, 2013

N.Y. 'Scaffold Law' a point of contention between unions and contractors

The law puts the damages for a construction worker's fall all on the employer, no matter what.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 9, 2013

Explore the Trendline➔

Preconstruction

Careful collaboration before shovels hit dirt is key to a successful project, experts say.

By Construction Dive staff

Chevrolet to rejoin mid-size truck market with 2015 Colorado

The new model will challenge Toyota and Nissan for the business of surveyors, field engineers and other construction folk who want less than a full-size pickup.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 9, 2013

Payroll cards could benefit employers and employees, but know the rules

Giving employees their wages in the form of debit-card-like payroll cards may be cheaper than cutting checks and can help workers who do not have bank accounts.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 9, 2013

Report: Reflective pavements not a help for city heat

People thought that reflective pavements were a great idea for bouncing energy back to space and cutting down the contributions roads make to urban heat.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 8, 2013

Construction adds 17,000 jobs in November

Labor Department figures show that 7,700 of the hires were on the nonresidential side of the industry.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 8, 2013

Construction the No. 2 consumer of plastic products

The construction industry is second only to packaging when it comes to the use of plastic products during production.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 8, 2013

Permeable pavers offer an alternative drainage system

The interlocking concrete blocks are installed over layers designed to increase groundwater infiltration, reducing costs for draining pipe and constructing detention basins.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 6, 2013

Supreme Court: Forum selection clause stands in contractor dispute

The court said a provision allowing the contractor to decide where a case should be heard remains in force barring a special reason to ignore it.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 6, 2013

Cheese brine keeping Wis. winter roads ice-free

A dairy in Polk County, Wis., was sending its used cheese brine for treatment until a county highways manager diverted it to become a new super anti-icing treatment.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

Penn. concrete worker wins $2.25M in injury suit

The lawsuit should serve as a lesson in following procedure, even if it's frustrating.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

Index for nonresidential work: Down in Q4, but up from 2012

Consultant FMI compiles the index from industry interviews, and one thing the authors are not buying is anything about construction just "taking a breather" after growth.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

Running union, open-shop companies side-by-side is uncertain legal territory

Courts in different areas have ruled differently when unions have sued to say it's all the same business and contracts should apply.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 5, 2013

N.J. to create billion-dollar school construction program

The state said it will put $508 million into the effort, and local contributions in some districts will push the total to an estimated $1.1 billion.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 4, 2013

Crane crash, other problems change deadlines for World Cup venues

Construction on the Sao Paulo stadium where two workers died Nov. 27 has partially resumed, and arenas in two other cities are behind, so a Dec. 31 deadline has evaporated.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 4, 2013

Philly is considering construction worker IDs to prove safety training

If an ordinance that is floating around the City Council gets passed as written, workers on any construction job in Philadelphia would need an ID card showing they had OSHA safety training.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 4, 2013

Minnesota Vikings, local officials break ground for new downtown stadium

The new stadium will have the largest transparent roof in the U.S.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

Will 2014 give rise to the 'Internet of Things' in construction?

According to forecasts, increasing data-collection from tools and materials and machine-to-machine information flow will change construction.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

The latest report on nonresidential spending isn't all bad

Federal numbers showed spending down 1.3% in September and up 1.6% in October, which ABC said shows that the sector might get back "a certain degree" of upward momentum next year.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

Judge to sentence Penn. contractor, developer for mall project kickbacks

Springdale, Pa., contractor Robert E. Crawford pleaded guilty to mail fraud in a scheme that gave his company construction contracts in Washington state and California.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

Designers: Fewer firms in late-stage competition would help us, government

The American Institute of Architects says good designers are opting out of competition for federal projects because of the risk-reward calculations under current rules for design-build.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 3, 2013

Construction is a target for new line of portable generators

Kohler says it is entering the market for portable power next year with a new line of generators intended to power tools and electronic equipment.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 2, 2013

Equipment dealers rap proposed tax changes as no help for small companies

Associated Equipment Dealers says it is not at all happy with a U.S. Senate tax proposal that changes depreciation and other mechanics of the law, but aims only to reduce corporate tax rates.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 2, 2013

Three buried in collapse during concrete pour in N.Y. state

Two of the workers were freed quickly, but the third didn't survive.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 2, 2013

Oct. construction spending jumps on rare opening of public purse

Public-sector projects were up 3.9% from September, and the climb covered for decreases in private-sector outlays for residential and nonresidential projects.

By Ron Gallagher • Dec. 2, 2013