Most Clicked AGC SmartBrief Stories
1. Some top contractors see recovery; others not as optimistic
AGC SmartBrief | May 17, 2012
There's been a slow turnaround in the construction industry as evidenced by information in ENR's Top 400 Contractors list, but not all are hopeful. Contractors building in the manufacturing, industrial and petroleum sectors have seen work pick up, and permits are being approved for pipeline and power work. Renovations and retrofits are increasing, but there is less work in the infrastructure and public buildings markets, and some fear that subcontractors and even some GCs will struggle. Engineering News-Record (05/14)
2. Photo story: Tunneling continues on NYC's $7.3B train-access project
AGC SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
Tunnel work on the $7.3 billion East Side Access Project that will link the Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal in New York City is being done around the clock, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Completion of the two-level, eight-track terminal that includes 17 escalators was set back a year because of drilling challenges. It should now be finished in 2019. Advocate (Stamford, Conn.), The (05/19)
3. Trends that building industry firms can’t afford to ignore in 2012
AGC SmartBrief | May 16, 2012
A ZweigWhite report indicates that trends in the architecture, engineering and construction industry this year include increased use of BIM; understanding the cost effectiveness of sustainable building; an emphasis on renovations and retrofits; greater focus on infrastructure, and creative solutions to funding issues such as public-private partnerships. "With 70 percent of construction firms reporting they expect an increase over the average of 5.2 PPP projects they worked on this year, it seems clear that PPPs will be increasingly popular," according to the AGC's 2011 Construction Hiring and Business Outlook. Structural Engineer magazine (05/2012)
4. $5.17B Honolulu rail project chugs along
AGC SmartBrief | May 18, 2012
Work on Honolulu's $5.17 billion, 20-mile light-rail project is moving along, with column holes up to 120 feet deep being filled with concrete to form a foundation for 30-foot-wide elevated decks. The above-ground section of the columns, which will use about 127,000 cubic yards of concrete, will soon be visible. Meanwhile, construction of a $21.8 million precast yard has been approved by the Federal Transit Administration. KHON-TV (Honolulu) (05/16) American City Business Journals (05/17)
5. Wash. state's floating bridge suffers concrete-pontoon setback
AGC SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
Post-tensioning work on a concrete pontoon caused the concrete to buckle in several places, which means the first pontoons for the Highway 520 floating bridge across Lake Washington in Washington state won't happen in June. Kiewit-General faces a delay of up to six weeks while recasting is done. However, the state Department of Transportation says time could be made up in other areas. Seattle Times, The (05/18)
6. NCDOT projects $30M in savings from interchange's "turbine" design
AGC SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
Using a "turbine" interchange design instead of a four-level stacked model will save North Carolina about $30 million when it upgrades the Interstate 85/485 interchange outside Charlotte. The design calls for 18 bridges, along with high-speed, high-capacity ramps that resemble a whirlpool. The design is relatively rare in the U.S. Engineering News-Record (05/21)
7. Magnitude 6.0 earthquake wrecks buildings in northern Italy
AGC SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck northern Italy, leaving several people dead and about 3,000 homeless. The quake caused severe damage to many historic churches and other buildings, including the clock tower on the 14th century Castello delle Roche in Finale Emilia. The earthquake triggered several aftershocks, including one measured at magnitude 5.1 that slowed rescue efforts. Seattle Times, The (05/20) Age (Melbourne, Australia), The (05/20) New York Times (tiered subscription model), The (05/20) Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (05/20)
8. Work on $1.3B Dallas hospital is on time, within budget
AGC SmartBrief | May 21, 2012
Work is progressing on schedule and on budget for the $1.3 billion Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. A parking garage has been finished; concrete walls and glass exteriors are being installed on the building; an 850,000-gallon water storage tank is to be set in place this month; and the central utility building will be finished this year. The project is set for completion by July 2014. American City Business Journals (05/17)
9. Poll: Jobs will grow faster than previously believed
AGC SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
An average of 188,000 jobs will be created each month this year, up from an earlier estimate of 170,000, according to a National Association for Business Economics survey. In addition, NABE projects unemployment will drop to 8% by the fourth quarter. "Expectations for housing, vehicle sales, employment and industrial production all improved in the current survey," economist Shawn DuBravac said. Hill, The (05/21)
10. $500M hospital built to withstand destructive storm in Joplin, Mo.
AGC SmartBrief | May 22, 2012
Joplin, Mo., is rebuilding the tornado-damaged Mercy Hospital to withstand severe tornadoes like the ones that devastated the area a year ago. The 10-story building will have eight stories above ground and two below; generators enclosed in a tornado-resistant concrete structure; stronger windows, and multiple power sources. The safety precautions will add between $8 million and $12 million to construction costs, bringing the total price to about $500 million. Springfield News-Leader (Mo.) (05/20)
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