Feds say vet hiring goals for contractors have no penalties attached

The contracting industry has been fighting back with concerns over perceived quotas.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 11, 2013

USGBC chapter is asking designers, contractors to share best green practices

On Florida's Gulf Coast, the USGBC chapter is surveying professionals in hopes of eliciting best practices and raising vision beyond specific systems.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 11, 2013

Explore the Trendline➔

Recruiting, retention and training in construction

A roundup on articles focus on recruiting and retention for construction.

By Construction Dive staff

Compostable 'plastic' provides alternative material for furniture

There's no suggestion that plastic-like material made from plants could be used in building yet, but a British designer has crated compostable furniture made from flax.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 11, 2013

Backhoe operator dies in demolition accident in St. Paul

Officials said the man was in the cab of a backhoe working at a former factory site when the collapse occurred.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 10, 2013

Hastings, Minn., gets a record-setting river bridge and a striking design

A new four-lane span over the Mississippi River is almost complete and is the country's longest free-standing, unbraced tied-arch bridge.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 10, 2013

Size matters with skyscrapers, even if it's useless size

"Vanity height" is a new term in architecture, and it can be found in some of the world's tallest buildings.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 9, 2013

When reduced construction unemployment is a bad thing

Lower unemployment normally would be a cause for celebration, but a drop in the number for the construction industry may not be a good sign.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 9, 2013

Research finds thermal benefits with rooftop plants

For homes in a sunny environment, these findings could mean a solution for shaving long-term cooling costs.

By Brian Warmoth • Sept. 9, 2013

Tokyo's successful Olympics bid is huge win for construction

Japan plans to spend over $2 billion in construction and renovations projects ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

By Davide Savenije • Sept. 9, 2013

Three firms in running for new US embassy in Mexico

The U.S. state Department had narrowed its list to three contractors for the job of constructing new embassy facilities in Mexico City  in the coming two fiscasl years.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 8, 2013

Phone app puts building code in your hands on the job

A phone app developed by Florida-based Engineering 7 lets builders and contractors download PDF versions of local or state building codes so the information goes to the job site with them.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 5, 2013

Workers respond to flexibility and chances to grow

A home builder shares what he has learned about motivating employees, especially when money for higher wages is tough to come by.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 5, 2013

Survey: Finding qualified workers is a headache for 74% of contractors

Associated General Contractors says that information from nearly 700 contractors, the bulk of them in 15 states, shows that recruiting craft workers is rough.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 5, 2013

Ohio adoption of whole-project bidding riles smaller contractors

Ohio's move to a bidding system that allows design-build, construction manager at risk and single contractors has smaller firms howling that it is unfair.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 5, 2013

Big sandbox, big machines: Play with real Cat 'toys' in Minnesota

A heavy-machine playground in Minnesota needs no excuses. Unless you drive a dozer daily already, how could you not love this?

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 4, 2013

Texas proposal for beat-up rural roads: Forget pavement

Trucks servicing the oil and gas boom are beating up Texas farm-to-market roads something fierce, and the state says the answer should be to make them officially unpaved roads.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 4, 2013

Underground grouting stabilizes route for new San Francisco subway tunnel

With boring begun for a new subway line 100 feet beneath a densely populated part of the city, a special underground grouting operation stabilizes conditions.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 4, 2013

Calif., paving industry pushing to work out last worries over new paving specs

The California Department of Transportation is trying to implement Superpave asphalt specifications on work after next July 1, but some "issues of concern" remain for a government-industry committee.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 3, 2013

Drivers' phones provide a new source of data for accurate traffic studies

Collecting and analyzing anonymous data about where cell phone users are going and when offers a new horizon for planners, developers, architects and, therefore, contractors.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 3, 2013

Reflecting skyscraper makes sun too much of a good thing in London

A building under construction in London is bringing loud complaints,  and urban builders should take note.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 3, 2013

July's private construction spending hits 4-year high

The pattern of shrinking public construction spending held in July, but private spending—led as always lately by residential—reached levels not seen since 2009.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 3, 2013

GC's dream sub: A former general contractor

Jay Keller owns a concrete business and has a pretty good idea of how to please the general contractors, thanks too his experience on the other end of past deals.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 2, 2013

A new building material made from just cellulose and water?

A company based in the mouth-roiling Australian town of Mullumbimby, New South Wales, says it has devised a new wood substitute.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 2, 2013

Ohio DOT putting $10.5 million into building non-roads

The state of Ohio is dispersing the money to communities around the state for projects such as bicycle and pedestrian routes – though restoration of covered bridges is on the list, too.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 2, 2013

Nashville pouring more money into building riverfront open space

The country music capital is nearing the issuance of a request for proposals as it looks to add green space with a boat landing area and park.

By Ron Gallagher • Sept. 2, 2013