Owners of older skyscrapers in NYC are plowing money -- $5 billion by one estimate -- into renovations with few guarantees they will recoup those investments soon as finance and tech clients gravitate to shiny new towers. "It's a horrible time to be coming to the market with these huge blocks of space," says Ruth Colp-Haber, CEO of Wharton Property Advisors.

Work on the exterior is nearly done at two Center Boulevard skyscrapers at TF Cornerstone's Hunters Point South development in Queens. These photos document progress at the towers of 46 and 56 stories, which will have nearly 1,200 residential units.

Construction is done on Skyline Tower in Long Island City, which is the the tallest skyscraper in Queens at 68 stories. Developed by FSA Capital, United Construction & Development Group and Risland US Holdings, the 802 residences are priced between $500,000 and $4 million.

Six tenets are at the core of lean construction, a set of collaborative practices for project management that help contractors meet challenges. Robyn Griggs Lawrence looks at how contractors use lean construction in conjunction with integrated project delivery and building information modeling.

Autonomous equipment from original equipment manufacturers and retrofits of existing machines are gaining acceptance from contractors. Joe Bousquin explores what users want in this equipment: safety, efficiency and control.

Community Board 2 in Manhattan has voted 37-1 to oppose Mayor Bill de Blasio's plan to rezone 56 blocks of SoHo and NoHo to add more than 3,000 apartments, claiming it would change the character of the area by allowing taller buildings and perhaps big-box retailers. Under NYC's rules for land use, the board's resolution is considered a recommendation.

Senators working on a bipartisan infrastructure bill failed to reach a goal of finishing Monday and instead got hung up on which types of projects to fund and how to pay for them. Senators might be called upon to work through the weekend to salvage the $1 trillion bill.

Healthcare construction, whether it involves renovations to occupied spaces or the development of new facilities, presents unique challenges and risks. Union carpenters and contractors are dedicated to partnering with healthcare professionals to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff and visitors. Our Infection Control Risk Assessment training program sets the industry standard. ICRA training is highly recommended for employees of contractors performing healthcare construction as well as professionals in facilities management, construction planning & design, maintenance, infection prevention, nursing, life safety, regulatory compliance and more. Click here to learn about this critical training.

It takes a great workforce to build the greatest city in the world. Union carpenters are that great workforce. Our members reflect the diversity of local communities and are equipped with the skills to perform work on every project according to the highest standards. In addition to building great projects, our members have equal access to the good wages, benefits and upward mobility that define middle-class opportunity.