Early autumn of 2010 may well have been the rock bottom point for the New York region�s design and construction market. That�s when it was clear that its few active sectors � healthcare, K-12 schools, and higher education � had backlogs drying up and new projects delayed, adding to gloom that had already enveloped private commercial and residential construction. Related Links: Subcontractors in Distress Labor Contract Showdown And then came the New Jersey governor’s announcement that the state was abandoning its commitment to the $8.7 billion Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel project – which would have built a passenger rail tunnel and
Few construction industry leaders believe they�ll see a turnaround in the first half of 2011 in the New York region. But they may see one an important milestone by midyear when 30 New York City labor-contractor collective bargaining agreements are set to expire on July 1. Related Links: How To Get Work in 2011 The current crop includes some of the biggest unions, including the steamfitters, operating engineers, carpenters, and laborers. And a standoff looms over costs, says Louis Coletti, president and CEO of the Building Trades Employers’ Association. Coletti says contractors are getting pressure from owners’ groups, such as
While some signs suggest the economic downturn has reached bottom, construction activity in the New York region still languishes with little optimism for a quick rebound. �It�s very much a mixed picture in terms of what to expect,� says Kenneth D. Simonson chief economist of Associated General Contractors of America in Arlington, Va. �Construction is now at or close to its low point and should start showing improvement in most categories by the end of 2011.� Related Links: How To Get Work in 2011 Data from McGraw-Hill Analytics indicates a slight decline in new starts in 2011 as compared to
Among the darkest clouds looming over 2011 for the New York region�s construction industry is the state of subcontractors � and how many of them may falter this year. Related Links: How To Get Work in 2011 “The subcontractor community is starting to see the wear and tear of this recession,” says Joe Hogan, v.p. for building services at the Associated General Contractors of New York in Albany. “The risk of subs defaulting on projects is getting greater, and [general] contractors now have to look for signs of stress.” Contractors and subcontractors generally aren’t the best judges of their own
In an announcement that could jump-start offshore wind development along the Atlantic seaboard, Google and investment firms Good Energies, New York, and Marubeni Corp., Tokyo, said Oct. 12 that they are backing the development of a 350-mile underwater high-voltage DC transmission line from Northern New Jersey to Norfolk, Va.
With a $215-million budget, the rehabilitation of a two-mile stretch of Route 18 in New Brunswick, N.J., was the largest project in the history of the N.J. Department of Transportation when it broke ground in March 2005. One of the state’s most congested corridors, the route saw 85,000 motorists daily and is a critical connection to Rutgers University, the world headquarters of Johnson & Johnson, three major hospitals and the New Brunswick Station rail lines. Photo Courtesy Of The Conti Group Related Links: Best of 2010 Given the project’s complexity and impact on the local community, team members carried out
Design of the $31 million Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at SUNY Stony Brook, N.Y., is the ultimate example of an institution practicing what it preaches. Related Links: Best of 2010 “In a nutshell this building walks the walk and talks the talk,” says Barbara Chernow, Stony Brook’s vice president for facilities and services. AERTC, located at Stony Brook’s Research and Development Park adjacent to the campus, is the centerpiece of a partnership among academic institutions, research institutions, energy providers, and corporations created to develop advanced sustainable energy and storage technologies. Flad Architects, New York, teamed with Stony
Related Links: New Meadowlands Stadium High-Tech Extra Points No element of football and construction is more similar than the importance of teamwork. Protecting the quarterback and not leaving a wide receiver vulnerable for a vicious tackle on a reception are basic football tenets that aim to prevent injuries. But the project team on the New Meadowlands Stadium went farther than the standard practices when it tackled the topic of safety for workers on the $1.6 billion project. The team used a multi-layered plan to inculcate and reinforce safety thinking at every step of the project, starting with mandatory drug tests
The master plan New York’s Lincoln Center decided to undertake in early 2000s required opening up the campus of performing arts centers and increasing engagement with the city at large. The renovation and expansion of the Juilliard School, which is, in addition to a performing arts school, also a place of study in multiple disciplines, was a particularly challenging project. But long before the team started analysis on all the different acoustical needs of the existing 1969 building and the additional 39,000 sq ft of space, the approach was laid down that would guide the entire capital plan. Photo Courtesy
With its highly-sustainable design and luxury finishes, The Lucida is a first-of-its-kind condominium on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The 20-story 500,000-sq-ft building represents the redevelopment of 11 contaminated Brownfield lots. Multiple “green” aspects were added to the building’s design, which is seeking LEED-NC Silver certification. A strict air quality plan was enforced, including the use of low VOC paints, glues and carpets and air-tight sealing of units. More than 20% recycled and regional material content was used and more than 80% of construction waste was recycled. Water runoff is reduced by the courtyard garden, which uses a lightweight soil that
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