Design

Architects report reduced demand, expected revenue loss and signs of future slowing of starts

Construction industry surveys also show project cancellations and slowdowns as the coronavirus outbreak spreads nationwide and state and local governments stop most or some construction work.

By Kim Slowey • March 30, 2020

Engineering review of $1B, FIGG-backed Houston bridge identifies design issues

FIGG, the Engineer of Record, said it will collaborate with the other project designers in addressing third-party consultant COWI's "significant concerns." 

By Kim Slowey • March 17, 2020

Collaboration trumps competition in offsite construction industry, and other takeaways from World of Modular

Identity issues, marketing myopia and a lack of standards inhibit growth, but those factors are being slowly ironed out through industrywide efforts, according to sentiment at the conference this month.

By Joe Beeton • March 12, 2020

The pros and cons of design-build

The collaborative design-build delivery method can save time and money, but experts say there are key factors contractors should consider before making the switch. 

By Kim Slowey • March 09, 2020

Column

Modular Monitor: How GCs, trades and architects view offsite construction, by the numbers

Responses from a Dodge survey show that the professions are aligned on some aspects and at odds on others. Here's what the data might mean for the future of modular construction.

By Joe Beeton • March 02, 2020

AIA pushes back on possible Trump architecture mandate

The AIA said an executive order mandating neoclassical architecture styles for federal buildings would increase construction costs and schedules and result in sub-optimal buildings.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 25, 2020

Contractors increasingly involved in shaping blueprints through Generative Design practices

Proponents of generative design believe it can streamline the design process and allow contractors to exert influence that is beneficial to a project’s ultimate design.

By Kim Slowey • Feb. 12, 2020

Seattle's Rainier Square tower proving ground for reinforced concrete core alternative

The SpeedCore system allowed crews to top out the building in about half the scheduled time and saved the project more than $10 million.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 29, 2020

TxDOT seeks removal of FIGG from $800M Harbor Bridge design

The agency decided that the engineering firm's role in the 2018 FIU bridge collapse is "significant enough" to warrant asking Flatiron-Dragados to have another firm design the bridge's main spans. Last week, a Texas authority halted construction on another FIGG bridge. 

By Joe Beeton • Jan. 14, 2020

Construction of Houston ship channel bridge halted to fix FIGG design

The authority behind the $962 million Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge is giving FIGG Bridge Engineers three weeks to redesign the curved portion of the pylon legs and allow for an independent review.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 08, 2020

Column

Modular Monitor: Getting 'heads in beds' means building hotels in factories

When it comes to heralding the advantages of offsite construction, the hospitality segment is checking in newcomers to the method like no other.

By Joe Beeton • Jan. 06, 2020

Modular building made major headway in the commercial construction market in 2019

A lot of noteworthy movement in the modular building market this year meant that the headlines really started stacking up.

By Joe Beeton • Dec. 20, 2019

Report: 2019 record year for supertall construction

At 1,739 feet, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre in China was the tallest building completed in 2019.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 13, 2019

Regulation of bird-friendly glass windows set for all new NYC construction

The new rule would require that 90% of the external building envelope for the first 75 feet of new construction and major alterations be made of bird-safe materials.

By Kim Slowey • UPDATED: Dec. 11, 2019 at 1:02 p.m.

Dive Awards

Modular Builder of the Year: Skender

Skender says it's perfecting a business proposition that not only solves myriad problems the industry faces, but helps evolve construction as a practice into the most vertically-integrated, efficient process possible.

By Joe Beeton • Dec. 09, 2019

Largest mass timber structure in US goes up at U of Arkansas

At 202,027 square feet, Adohi Hall is the largest cross-laminated timber building in the U.S., according to Boston-based Leers Weinzapfel Associates.

By Kim Slowey • Dec. 08, 2019

The US has no BIM mandate. Does it matter?

While many countries require the use of building information modeling for some projects, the AEC industry in the United States relies on a non-mandatory standard.

By Jenn Goodman • Dec. 03, 2019

Column

Modular Monitor: Why does offsite construction matter?

This new monthly column will stack up knowledge from stakeholders and observers on the method's inroads, opportunities, challenges and trajectory for disruption.

By Joe Beeton • Dec. 02, 2019

Virgin Hyperloop One to use Autodesk BIM 360 for preconstruction route optimization, more

The hyperloop technology company says BIM and Autodesk cloud software will help it plan and execute rail construction more efficiently.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 27, 2019

Deep Dive

How the FIU tragedy could change bridge construction

Lessons learned from the deadly Miami bridge collapse could affect the design, safety protocols and contract language of similar future projects. 

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 22, 2019

Esports stadium in Philly may herald a trend and new construction niche

Comcast Spectacor teamed with Cordish Cos. and architect Populous to customize a game day experience unlike traditional sports venues. Continued growth in esports may create a new segment for contractors to target.

By Zachary Phillips • Nov. 21, 2019

Sponsored by InEight

Make benchmarking part of your pre-planning process

Setting unrealistic expectations in the plan is as bad, if not worse, than missing the mark during execution itself. This is where “pre-planning” and benchmarking come into play.

By Dr. Dan Patterson, Chief Design Officer, InEight • Nov. 12, 2019

Grenfell Tower materials likely didn't meet code, 'fueled' deadly fire

Officials in the U.K. have concluded in the first phase of their official inquiry that the fatal June 2017 incident in London​ was due to a combination of unsafe building materials and human error in the design process.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 04, 2019

$7.6M composite bridge in Florida nears completion, promises longer lifespan

The bridge uses fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) technologies instead of traditional concrete and steel construction in order to better combat rust and deterioration. 

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 24, 2019

Sponsored by DensElement, Georgia Pacific

Blow up your mindset: Recovery speed is about process and materials

Our disposition to want to maintain the status quo hinders a "build back better" philosophy and reconstruction in the aftermath of disaster.

By Nisha Brown • Oct. 15, 2019