UK company testing glow-in-the-dark street, sidewalk coating

The company has devised a spray-on material that absorbs ultraviolet light during the day and releases it back as visible light when the sun stops shining.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 22, 2013

Critical Path Method software has a large presence in construction, survey finds

A survey by WPL Publishing found, based on 400 responses from contractors and others, that 91% have used Critical Path Method software, with Microsoft Project the most common.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 22, 2013

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

Hillside Seattle—great views, but sizable earthquake/landslide risk

California is known for earthquake risks, but Seattle sits next to a fault, too, and new research shows the potential for more problems from sliding than shaking.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 22, 2013

Recession over, D.C. condo project comes out of hibernation

While many things seem not to be working in Washington, D.C., a 63-unit condominium project that was put on hold during the recession is back in gear.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 22, 2013

Construction jobs up 20,000 in September: Worth the wait?

Federal officials, back from the furlough, push out jobs numbers that put construction unemployment at a six-year low.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 22, 2013

Impact-resistant glass: It's not just for hurricane country anymore

Window makers are offering the glass in a range of products now, finding that building codes are requiring it outside of traditional markets.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 21, 2013

Council will decide if One World Trade has a spire or antenna

Does New York City's new tower have a 1,776-foot-tall American icon, or is it structurally just a big building with an antenna?

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 21, 2013

Can slower 'high-speed' rail in Calif. keep enough public support?

Five years ago, voters approved $10 billion in bonds to start on a bullet-train connection from Los Angeles top San Francisco, but there is anti-rail sentiment where work is to begin.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 21, 2013

Candians looking for labor, Irish looking for jobs: Happy match

In British Columbia, contractors say they cannot find enough skilled labor, so they have been looking in Ireland and finding what they want.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 21, 2013

Turner scores $260M Cleveland hotel project as council begins review

Public funding would be provided for the deal under legislation being considered.

By Brian Warmoth • Oct. 21, 2013

Don't undercut your success with easy mistakes that can lose business

Anyone who is serious about running a business is looking for ways to bring in business and convert it to profit, but it's also important to avoid some too-easy habits that can repel customers.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 20, 2013

GM raises Sierra, Silverado prices as demand picks up

General Motors has raised the sticker prices of Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, some of whose models were introduced at or only slightly over 2013 prices.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 20, 2013

Shutdown-ending law will mean construction dollars

The law that ended the partial federal government shutdown and averted an end to borrowing contained some notable provisions, including a higher spending cap for a Corps of Engineers project on the Ohio River.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 20, 2013

We are what we speak, in new words or old ones

Language evolves, and sometimes meanings continue after their origins have passed into the kists of time, and construction is no different.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 18, 2013

It should not take owners long to learn the value of paying for smart buildings

Smart-building technology costs more, but it now has a one- to two-year payback as costs come down and it proves it's smarter than people.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 18, 2013

Email is easy for project communications, but be careful what you write

It would be absurd to expect everyone to drop email and go back to drafting letters and memos about ongoing projects, but an attorney advises following similar rules for tone and content.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 17, 2013

Short on superintendents, Houston contractor partners with college for training

Like other firms, Marek Brothers cannot find enough supervisors with the skills to run job sites, so Lone Star College is running a custom training program.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 17, 2013

La. juggles money among construction projects, to state treasurer's annoyance

At the request of Gov. Bobby Jindal, the state Bond Commission moved $80 million from underway projects to new ones.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 17, 2013

Vote clears way for Apple to build spaceship-like headquarters

The Cupertino, Calif., city council approved the 2.89-million-square-foot, doughnut-shaped building. Let the digging begin.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 16, 2013

Is Google 'inventing' BIM at its research headquarters?

A report originating on the Israeli business website Globes says Google has been working on a cloud-based application that will help architects and engineers and improve construction efficiency.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 16, 2013

Residential building starts down 3% in Sept., but big projects lifted nonresidential

Construction activity last month was a mixed bag, though there were enough starts in nonresidential buildings and in non-building projects to pull the overall starts up 13%.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 16, 2013

Some large firms admit shutdown pinch, others stay mum

Companies working for shuttered agencies have had layoffs themselves, and regulatory holdups could exacerbate things.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 15, 2013

With $98 million at stake, losing bidders protest Minn. I-35E contract award

The state DOT gave the job to Ames Construction and upheld its own action in an administrative appeal, so three companies are going to court to argue that the rules were not followed.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 15, 2013

Why every contract should mean a call to a lawyer before you sign

You wouldn't advise your attorney to be his own builder, so why would you try to go it alone in understanding a hard-won contract?

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 15, 2013

Architect: BIM is about hanging onto information you're going to need later anyway

British architect Robert Sargent explains that building information modeling can help out with design—and when handing over a finished project with all the details the owner needs to know.

By Ron Gallagher • Oct. 15, 2013