| August 1, 2012 | News for contractors and the construction industry |
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 | Join Gregg Schoppman of FMI and Tim Gray from Viewpoint Construction Software for a candid discussion on change orders, or view more entertaining videos that discuss the latest challenges facing construction companies today. |
| Infrastructure & Project Focus |  |  |
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- Concrete, steel work on San Francisco 49ers' stadium progresses
Construction crews working on the San Francisco 49ers' new stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., are focused on insertion of the stadium's steel supports and prefabrication of 2,000 concrete sections to be used for steps and walls. So far, the project has used 17,000 cubic yards of concrete, and more than 50 miles of underground pipe have been installed. SB Nation/Niners Nation
(7/30)      
- 22M pounds of concrete needed to build Grand Prix raceway in Md.
 Work has begun on the 12-turn, 2-mile course for Baltimore's Grand Prix event that involves the use of about 2,200 fence panels, 15,000 tires and 22 million pounds of concrete. "A two-mile race track, ordinarily, would take a couple of years to build. We're doing it in 30 days," said Tim Mayer of Andretti Sports Marketing. WBAL-TV (Baltimore)
(7/31)
| Economic Update | | |
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- Where were construction jobs added in the last year?
The number of construction jobs in 127 metro areas increased in the last year, and stayed the same in 48, according to analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, jobs were lost in 162 metro areas. Cities where jobs were added include: Houston, Phoenix, Knoxville, Tenn., and Washington, D.C. But New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, and Florida's Tampa-St. Petersburg didn't fare as well. The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.) (free registration)
(7/31), American City Business Journals/Phoenix
(7/31)
- Value of future contracts up in Mass., down in Texas, Pittsburgh area
The value of future contracts for nonresidential construction in Massachusetts was up 17% in June from year ago levels, and nonbuilding contracts were up 27%, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. However, not all places fared as well. In Texas, nonresidential contracts fell 19% and nonbuilding projects tanked, dropping 41%. In the Pittsburgh area, the value of the nonresidential contracts fell 75%. Banker & Tradesman (Boston)
(7/31), American City Business Journals/Houston
(7/31), Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
(8/1)
| Innovation & Green Building | | |
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- Public sector pushes sustainable building forward
Those who design and build in the public sector have done the most to advance sustainable building, writes Nancy Roberts. She says construction of hospitals, schools and public utilities often goes beyond compliance baselines and often takes the future into consideration and builds with a longer structural life in mind. A case in point is the new headquarters building of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which has earned LEED Platinum and is expected to last 100 years. The public sector also sees investment in green building technologies as cost-efficient in the long run, Roberts notes. TriplePundit.com
(7/31)
- Calif.'s $7B I-710 expansion aims to improve congestion, air quality
A draft environmental impact report for California's planned Interstate 710 Corridor Project that would cost up to $7 billion asserts that it could improve public health. "The project would improve air quality and public health, improve traffic safety, modernize the freeway design, and accommodate projected growth for population, employment, and economic activities related to goods movement," the report noted. Work on the project that may include the addition of up to 10 lanes and four truck-only lanes to the nearly 25-mile freeway is scheduled to start in 2020. CaliforniaWatch.org
(7/30)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Minn. court decision on I-35W bridge collapse concerns AEC sector
A decision related to the 2007 Interstate 35-W bridge collapse by the Minnesota Supreme Court could have repercussions for architecture, engineering and construction industry, according to industry officials. The court rulings could increase insurance rates for contractors and allow "[o]ther states [to] follow suit and if there's a mass disaster, the legislature could come in and sweep away the protection that they had relied on," said Bob Huber, Minneapolis construction attorney. "The cost of doing business in design and construction are now going to go up," said Tom Smith, American Society of Civil Engineers' deputy executive director. Minnesota Public Radio
(7/31)
| Association News | | |
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AGC’s Construction Project Manager Course
Dec. 2-7, | Dallas
AGC's Construction Project Manager Course (PMC) provides you and your project managers the chance to hone the skills necessary to work more efficiently, increase productivity and propel your construction business to the next level. Go to www.agc.org/pmc for more information.
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OSHA Standards for Construction (OSHA 29 CFR)
Compliance in the construction industry is made easier with this comprehensive 29 CFR 1926 book. Included you will find the 1903 regulations on inspections, citations, and proposed penalties; the 1904 regulations on recording and reporting occupational injuries and illnesses; pertinent 1910 general industry regulations; and every 1926 construction industry regulation. Order it here, or visit the AGC Store.
| Editor's Note | | |
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Connect with us on Twitter
Follow SB_AEC on Twitter for more construction news from AGC SmartBrief's lead editor, Jennifer Hicks. Join the conversation.
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