Commercial Building: Page 326


  • Demolition challenge: Three silos, one elevator and no booms allowed

    Three unused silos at the Port of Tampa and a former grain elevator had to come down, but they were dangerously close to nearby fuel tanks.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 23, 2013
  • Why contractors should care about 'Scout's honor'

    Earn your customers' trust—it's the most valuable contract you'll ever win.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 21, 2013
  • 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 on the rise in 27 states and D.C.

    States blessed with energy projects are gaining jobs at a healthy pace, but many states are still hurting from restricted construction spending.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 21, 2013
  • Glossy, new walls at St. Louis Art Museum are made of polished, tilt-up concrete

    When the museum opens its expanded facility later this month, visitors will find exterior walls that might be taken for black granite but are, in fact, concrete polished to a 1,500-grit shine.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 20, 2013
  • Ash Grove Cement, EPA settle to end emissions battle

    The company, which operates nine plants in the country, signed a consent decree that covers reductions in nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 20, 2013
  • Contractors say safety programs make business better

    McGraw Hill Construction says in a new report that contractors are finding benefits in safety programs that justify or even outweigh the costs.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 20, 2013
  • Overall U.S. construction rises 5% in May

    Construction starts of all kinds rose 5% last month to an annual pace of $495.7 billion, with nonresidential, residential and nonbuilding all contributing.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 20, 2013
  • Multifamily starts roar back in May as single-family starts hold steady

    Multifamily housing starts bounced back 21.6% from what was deemed an over-correction in April.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 19, 2013
  • Continuously changing design plans spark $20M lawsuit

    An Ohio-based concrete company is charging that designs it was given in 2009 for submitting a fixed-price bid that won the job have been changing ever since.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 19, 2013
  • U.S. data reveals boost in construction safety

    The just-released Bureau of Labor Statistics' data for 2011 found fewer construction-related deaths than in 2010 and a lower rate of reportable injuries.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 19, 2013
  • Inquiries still healthy as index finds architects' billings down in April

    Architects billed less work in April than they had in March, the first such drop in eight months, but they say inquiries and new contracts continue to grow.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013
  • Carpet made from recycled fishing nets supply eco-boost for commercial sites

    Contractors looking for a environmental angle to offer clients might consider a line of carpet tiles made with recycled nylon for tenant build-outs.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013
  • When sensors can count people, HVAC savings soar

    A study that found occupancy sensors can boost building efficiency 18% for HVAC use, which just about guarantees they will be part of future buildings.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013
  • Large urban projects driving rises in cost, says Turner report

    The construction company's respected national index of commercial project costs stood 4% above where it was a year ago.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013
  • Redefining 'contractors' is bad response to Obamacare, AGC says

    The Associated General Contractors says that switching employees to "independent contractors" to avoid healthcare costs is risky business at best.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 18, 2013
  • Contractors find incentive pay is less effective than they would like

    A survey by the FMI consulting company found that 88% of construction companies studies have incentive pay plans, and 21% of those think it's working well for them.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 17, 2013
  • Construction materials prices hold the line again in May

    There are variations, of course, but the market seems to be holding pretty steady.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 17, 2013
  • Light-colored roofs reflect well on building designers, bill-payers

    Bouncing light off a roof rather than soaking it up in dark materials can make a significant difference in energy use.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 17, 2013
  • Make sure concrete you install doesn't fall victim to poor testing

    It is certainly possible for concrete to fail strength tests, but it behooves concrete contractors to make sure everything was done properly before accepting such results.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 16, 2013
  • Reuse and redevelopment jobs bring some special planning needs

    Reusing building sites instead of doing greenfield development can be fun for contractors, but they do can have some twists that need careful planning.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 14, 2013
  • Multi-school research aims for seismic stability in light-steel frames

    The project is headquartered at Purdue, but involves 14 sites and a test building – all aimed at finding ways to make cold-formed steel structures safer.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 14, 2013
  • The Nicaragua Canal? A century-old idea is being revived

    The idea of digging a canal across Nicaragua had some momentum until work began in Panama 100 years ago, but the country's government is liking the idea anew.

    By Ron Gallagher • June 14, 2013
  • St. Louis approves extra $29.5M for $120M courthouse construction

    Engineers found more damage to a city courthouse than originally thought, raising the cost of repairs to reflect the substantial structural and electrical issues.

    By Nicole Wrona • June 14, 2013
  • $52M half-mile underground tunnel built in Nev.

    The Lake Mead connector tunnel in Nevada is finally finished.

    By Nicole Wrona • June 13, 2013
  • Skeleton found at N.C. construction site

    Police are searching for clues to answer questions surrounding a set of bones discovered at a construction site.

    By Nicole Wrona • June 13, 2013