How rehab can be a green building strategy

Improving existing buildings can be much more green than new construction if local government understands the need to be flexible instead of code-driven.

By Ron Gallagher • May 5, 2014

Researchers discover secret to building the pyramids

Dutch researchers uncovered a technique in which the Egyptians applied water to reduce friction on the sands.

By Ron Gallagher • May 4, 2014

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Construction Dive

Construction Dive editors curate some of the industry’s top stories from this year.

By Construction Dive staff

Construction jobs go to some old faces, some new ones

Contractors are sometimes able to rehire employees who left during the recession, but lots of rookies are coming on board, too.

By Ron Gallagher • May 4, 2014

The customer relationship: An art learned by practice

Keeping yourself in customers' minds is an important business strategy, but one size does not fit all.

By Ron Gallagher • May 2, 2014

Construction unemployment rate hits 9.4% (and that's a good thing)

The figure is high compared with the U.S. overall workforce, but it is so much better than the recession high of 21.8% in April 2010.

By Ron Gallagher • May 2, 2014

Norway project seeks tallest timber-frame apartments title

A 14-story building with luxury apartments is targeted for completion in fall 2015.

By Ron Gallagher • May 2, 2014

CA plans $360M for 'active transportation' projects

The state Department of Transportation is looking for bicycling and walking projects on which to bestow money. 

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Chicago contractor coughs up $12M in minority-contract probe

McHugh will pay $12 million but admits no guilt in allegedly using a female-owned business to get government work.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Single- and multifamily help total U.S. spending rise

Spending on single-family and multifamily construction in March, aided by some parts of nonresidential, eked out a 0.2% rise in total spending.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Nonresidential construction spending slowed in March

Federal numbers out Thursday show spending in March, measured as an annual rate, was down in nine of 16 categories.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

Border stations, courthouses among top 20 GSA design-award winners

The ports of entry are on opposite northern corners of the country, and the courthouses chosen in annual awards for federal buildings are in Austin, Texas, and New York City.

By Ron Gallagher • May 1, 2014

NJ lays out $3.7B highway and transit spending plan

After all the attention the governor got for one traffic jam in Fort Lee, the Garden State could use some good publicity about roads.

By Ron Gallagher • April 30, 2014

Foreman, ex-worker hurt in Texas construction site shootout

The foreman at an apartment project in Austin fired his gun when a recently dismissed worker began shooting at him.

By Ron Gallagher • April 30, 2014

Structure Tone confesses to scamming clients, to pay $55M

The builder of high-rise, corporate interiors admitted it had subs pad bills for New York City clients between 2005 and 2009.

By Ron Gallagher • April 30, 2014

Florida building demanded designer-contractor collaboration

The Santiago Calatrava-designed building that's the centerpiece of the new Florida Polytechnic University campus has 94 louvered arms that move across the roof.

By Ron Gallagher • April 30, 2014

Two BIM success stories from Case and Bechtel

Case and Bechtel representatives report on ways that using building information modeling has advanced their work for clients.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

U.S. home ownership rate hits 19-year low

The tough jobs recovery is part of the reason that only 64.8% of households were owner-occupied homes in the first quarter of this year.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

High-tech materials tracking saves on Bechtel project

The contractor saved time and money by using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags on materials for constriction of three LNG plants in Australia.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Confused global copper market works to contractors' benefit

Lower prices for wire and transformers are helping restrain the IHS PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Texas school construction costs total $14B over last 7 years

A database created by state Comptroller Susan Combs shows how local schools spent on construction over the past seven years.

By Ron Gallagher • April 29, 2014

Bad omens: Architects' billings fall in March index

The index, a leading indicator of construction, slipped under 50 last month after going up for two months, putting an increased focus on this month's results.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Construction employment up in 197 U.S. metro areas

Despite the gains, a breakdown of federal jobs data shows few areas are back to where they were before the recession.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Architects design hotel made of shipping containers

OVA Studios in Hong Kong conceived of the Hive, perhaps to win a radical design award.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

Historic Detroit apartments to become affordable housing

In Midtown Detroit, a coalition of a neighborhood development corporation and multiple funders are redeveloping apartment buildings believed to date from 1918 and 1924.

By Ron Gallagher • April 28, 2014

New 'solar roadway' technology could disrupt road-building

In a parking lot in Sagle, Idaho, a prototype road surface offers the prospect of generating electricity from roadways paved in glass.

By Ron Gallagher • April 27, 2014