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- 5 major transportation projects OK'd to apply for federal loans
Five transportation projects were chosen by the Department of Transportation to apply for Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans. Included are California's $1.3 billion State Route 91 project and $960 million Gerald Desmond Bridge replacement in Long Beach, and a $1.5 billion Interstate 35W project in Texas. "A little TIFIA goes a long way for communities that use these loans to leverage additional funding so they can tackle the big-picture transportation projects this country needs," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. Engineering News-Record
(4/25)     
- $2.4B expansion of Las Vegas airport will be finished in June
McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is close to finishing construction on its Terminal 3. The scope of work consisted of adding 14 new gates and constructing a 6,000-vehicle car park, a tram system and improved road access. Work was done while the airport was operational, which made it "challenging," said Don Wright, Bechtel’s project manager for the expansion. Airport-World.com
(4/24)
- $1.8B project in N.J. moves closer to restarting construction
Construction of the $1.8 billion Xanadu entertainment and shopping complex in New Jersey stopped in 2009 due to funding issues. Developer Triple Five took over the project and recently filed a new wetlands mitigation plan. This allows the project to secure the state and federal permits necessary for construction to restart, which would create hundreds of jobs. Work could begin in the second half of this year. The Wall Street Journal
(4/23)
- Miami to get $1B mixed-use development
A $1.05 billion mixed-use complex will be built in Miami starting later this year. The Brickell CitiCentre project, which includes improvements to the Eighth Street Metromover station, will feature about 2.8 million square feet of hotel, office, residential, retail and entertainment space. The project is expected to create 1,700 jobs during construction. It's the largest registered urban mixed-use LEED Neighborhood Development project in the planning stage in the U.S. GlobeSt.com
(4/23)
| Technology & Trends | |
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- BIM could help reduce instances of material failure
The number of instances of material failure at construction sites in New York City rose sharply this year, but building information modeling technology could help reverse that, say some. The software allows a building inspector to take a virtual tour before construction even begins and identify possible problem areas. BIM is “spectacular,” Louis Coletti, president of the Building Trades Employers’ Association, said. The Epoch Times
(4/25)
- A celebration of concrete architecture
Some may not find concrete buildings aesthetically pleasing, but that should be blamed on the design, not the material, writes John Bentley Mays. In this piece, he looks at the myriad uses and types of concrete and explains historical facts and technological advances in concrete architecture that are set out in a few publications dedicated to the ubiquitous material. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
(4/19)
| Sustainability & Green Building | |
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- Material innovation: Building for a sustainable future
As the construction industry shifts to using "green" products for a sustainable future, scientists are recreating the most basic materials such as concrete to make that goal a reality. This article notes developments of three innovative building materials: a phase-change material called "bioPCM" gel; Solidia's plastic-based concrete alternative; and Novacem's carbon-negative magnesium oxide-based concrete alternative, which absorbs more carbon from the air during its production process than it releases. ConstructionDigital.com
(4/23)
| Leadership & HR | |
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- Leadership diversity is good for business
Research found that when companies move beyond gender tokenism, they get a powerful boost to their bottom line, writes Dana Theus. "Bring the best women and men have to offer into your leadership class and, in the mix, you have a powerful resource for company growth and performance," she writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(4/23)
| Policy Watch | |
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- Senate votes to uphold new labor rules
The Senate voted down a resolution Tuesday that would have overturned new National Labor Relations Board rules that pave the way for a shorter time between the announcement of a union election and the vote. Republicans had opposed the rules. "All the [NLRB] has done is to send a clear message to employers: You can't abuse the process to buy yourself more time to intimidate workers," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. Philly.com (Philadelphia)/The Associated Press
(4/25)
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- ACI 318-11 Building Code is available
ACI 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete & Commentary, is a must-have standard for all professionals engaged in concrete design, construction, and inspection, containing the latest code requirements for structural concrete. Get your copy today.
- Strategic Development Council seeks concrete technologies to "showcase"
The Strategic Development Council is currently seeking new concrete technologies to "showcase" at upcoming sessions. Technology Showcases allow companies and/or individuals the opportunity to showcase their new, interesting, or innovative technologies that have the potential to improve and advance the concrete industry. Each new technology that is introduced at SDC gains exposure and possible assistance to address barriers and obstacles that are preventing or slowing acceptance of the technology within the concrete industry. Learn more.
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