As part of an effort to tighten up on companies that misclassify employees as independent contractors, the U.S. Dept. of Labor is considering proposing a rule that would set additional record-keeping and notification requirements for employers concerning their workers' status. Deputy Labor Secretary Seth Harris told a Senate hearing on June 17 that some employers deliberately misclassify workers as independent contractors or "leased" or outsourced workers and can gain an advantage in the market over competitors that adhere to the law. Harris said the department's Wage and Hour Division is mulling a proposed regulation that would require companies to carry
Contractors For Kids Raises Money for Child Illness June 2010 Contractors for Kids, the largest Long Island charity supported by the construction, architecture, and real estate community raised $140,000 at a dinner dance reception to support local families affected by serious child illness. Pictured from left: Michael Costa, Partner at Armao, Costa & Ricciardi CPAs PC and CFK Board Member; Kevin G. Hamey, Principal of Stalco Construction and Chairman of CFK Executive Board; Frank Strcich, Principal of Omni Risk Management and CFK Board Member; Steve Levy, Suffolk County Executive; Natalie Weinstein, radio talk show host and President of Natalie Weinstein
President Obama has directed agencies to dispose of unneeded office space and to take other steps to economize in the federal government's sprawling real-estate portfolio. Related Links: White House Executive Order Memo The goal is to save at least $3 billion by Sept. 30, 2012, said Obama. In an executive order issued on June 10, Obama said, "For decades, the federal government, the largest property owner and energy user in the United States, has managed more real estate than necessary to effectively support its programs and missions. Both taxpayer dollars and energy resources are being wasted to maintain these excess
The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by New York-based Thornton Tomasetti, a structural engineering firm has awarded a $9,000 grant to the California Polytechnic State University chapter of Engineers Without Borders for the construction of a $68,000 healthcare clinic in Camilo Ortega, Nicaragua. Cal Poly students will lead the design and construction of the new healthcare facility. Photo courtesy of Engineers Without Borders-Cal Poly Chapter The Thornton Tomasetti Foundation which was first established in 2008 provides funding for fellowships, scholarships and internships for undergraduate students and those planning to pursue graduate studies in building engineering, design or technology.
One World Trade Center has reached a construction milestone by rising 260 ft above street level. Upon its completion in 2013, it will become the tallest office building in the United States reaching 104 stories. Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Currently standing at the 26th floor level, the 1,776-ft-tall office building is being designed by David Childs of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is scheduled to reach a height of 50 stories by the end of 2010. To date, more
As part of a $550 million capital improvement plan at the Empire State Building, renovation on the building’s observatory has begun with Aragon Construction of New York acting as General Contractor for the project, which began in late May. Along with JCJ Architecture of Hartford, Conn., Aragon is revamping the 86th floor observatory with completion scheduled for September 2010. Refurbishment of the 950-sq-ft observatory deck will include both interior and exterior alterations such as the renovation of the granite flooring, the stone wainscoting wall surrounding the inner deck, and two, four-tier staircases. Aragon is also replacing the current glass work
Upset with a perceived lack of opportunities for Richmond, Va.’s minority contractors, the executive director of the NAACP’s Virginia state conference has threatened “direct action” against current and planned city construction projects. King Salim Khalfani alleges that only 6% of city contracts have minority involvement in planning or construction, reported the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Unless that figure is improved, Khalfani said, the NAACP will disrupt various projects. One tactic would be parking unmarked dump trucks at construction sites to block access. The organization is focusing on projects that are publicly funded or receive government-backed financing. Potential targets include the Richmond Redevelopment
ALEXANDRIA, Va. � Firms looking to boost sagging bottom lines and gain more-robust public-sector construction markets generated a record attendance of more than 550 at this year�s federal and military workload briefings, sponsored by the Society of American Military Engineers in March in Alexandria, Va. Traditional pockets of �milcon� work�such as in base closure and housing�are winding down, officials said. But overseas expansion and new initiatives in energy conservation and facility �quality of life� upgrades are boosting work for the short term, just as new conference attendees were boosting their profiles. The SAME event preceded by one day testimony from
On April 8, 2010, seven Virginia families were awarded $2.6 million in damages by New Orleans federal Judge Eldon Fallon in the pending Chinese Drywall class action litigation. This significant verdict permitted recovery of extensive elements of the claimed damages and made some potentially damaging factual findings. Taking a deeper look at the case highlights the critical importance of understanding applicable law. Crossing a border from one state to a neighbor can have a tremendous potential impact on the legal landscape, rights and risks that attach to a construction project. Findings, Reaction The judge�s opinion contains a number of interesting
THOMAS The American Institute of Architects granted honorary membership to Dr. Gail Thomas, president and CEO of The Trinity Trust Foundation in Dallas. It is one of the highest honors the AIA bestows on a person outside the profession of architecture. Thomas’ efforts to improve cities and her support of the arts and architecture were keys to her election. LEO A DALY in Dallas named John Kraskiewicz its new COO. He is also a vice president of the firm. Kraskiewicz holds a bachelor’s of architecture, a master’s of architecture and a master’s of business administration with a specialization in real
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