The state of Maryland experienced extreme ups and downs during January in the three construction categories reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Mid-Atlantic Construction. Robust gains in the residential and nonbuilding sectors overcame a huge drop in nonresidential contracts for an overall increase of 9% during the month, compared to last January. The value of new nonresidential construction contracts signed during January for future construction decreased by 69%, for an estimated value of roughly $69.4 million, down from last January’s nearly $224-million total. The value of new January residential contracts nearly doubled compared to the same period of a year
The value of new Pennsylvania contracts signed in January for future construction fell significantly compared to the same period of a year ago, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Mid-Atlantic Construction. The overall value for new contracts for the month was $949.2 million, or 26% lower than the preceding January. Pennsylvania’s nonresidential sector was singularly responsible for the overall downturn. Activity in this construction category fell to just $136.6 million, or 82% below last January’s total of $773.3 million. The state’s residential sector increased, however. Here, McGraw-Hill Construction reported nearly $171.3 million in new contracts, or 17% higher than last
The value of new Virginia contracts signed in January for future construction increased by 22% overall, compared to last January, according to McGraw-Hill Construction, publisher of Mid-Atlantic Construction. Despite the overall improvement, the value of new nonresidential construction starts fell dramatically, by 42%, compared to the same period of a year ago. McGraw-Hill Construction estimated the value of these new contracts at roughly $192.6 million, down from last January’s $347.2 million. The value of residential contracts increased dramatically, however. This category totaled nearly $290.5 million in new January contracts, or 81% higher than the preceding January’s total of roughly $160.2
With new legislation passed in New York City late last year, all of New York's buildings totaling more than 50,000 sq ft are required to submit to benchmarking and retro-commissioning, essentially putting those buildings' efficiency ratings up against other buildings across the country. Photo courtesy of Hines Property Management Engineers working on building management systems at a Morgan Stanley building in New York. Related Links: Greening an Icon: The Empire State Building Retrofitting Residential Benchmarking essentially ranks a building’s energy and water efficiency against similar buildings. The legislation specifies the use of the U.S. EPA’s Portfolio Benchmarking tool as the
Open windows in January are a just one sign of the energy inefficiencies that plague many multifamily buildings in urban areas. Studies of multi-family structures show wide variations in energy consumption per square foot with the least efficient buildings using seven times more energy than the most efficient. “These wide fluctuations mean many buildings are candidates for energy efficiency upgrades that can reduce costs and improve cash flow,” explains Andrew Padian, vice president for energy initiatives, The Community Preservation Corporation, New York. Photo courtesy of Steven Winter Associates At Jennings Hall at 260 Powers Street in Brooklyn, a steam boiler
Rockefeller University in New York has undertaken multiple projects to enhance its research facilities and modernize its historic campus to attract distinguished faculty. Slide Show Photo courtesy The Rockefeller University The Collaborative Research Center includes a new glass bridge building and renovation of the two existing laboratory buildings. Related Links: Selected Higher Education Projects Under Construction or in Design Back to Schools Green Crescent The school selected Turner Construction Co. of New York as construction manager for the Collaborative Research Center (CRC), the recently completed the Comparative Biosciences Center and the Welch Hall renovation. Turner has worked with the university
When the owners of the Empire State Building in 2007 decided to move forward with a new capital improvement plan, they were looking for standard improvements to get the building to Class A commercial status. At the time they were looking at traditional, "common sense" improvements, such as bringing the 25% to 30% of the building lacking air conditioning some thermal control. The Empire State Building retrofit was selected by the Clinton Climate Initiative as the first, symbollic project for its retrofit division. CCI is now partner in more than 250 retrofits in 20 cities across the world. The team
Faced with a growing enrollment, Quinnipiac University is building a new $300 million, 250-acre residential campus in Hamden, Conn., to house more than 1,500 students. Slide Show Photo courtesy of Shoreline Aerial Photography O&G Industries began construction on the $300 million, 250-acre residential complex at Quinnipiac's York Hill Campus in 2008. Related Links: Selected Higher Education Projects Under Construction or in Design Back to Schools Rock U Still Growing “The university’s goal is to have enough residence hall availability for the entire undergraduate population,” says Joseph Rubertone, associate vice president for facilities administration for Quinnipiac University, who adds that living
Developer Bruce Becker looked to the past to create his vision for 360 State Street, a cutting-edge green residential tower in downtown New Haven, Connecticut. Slide Show Photo courtesy of Becker + Becker The $150 million tower at 360 State Street in New Haven is being designed as a throwback to the once walkable and livable downtown New Haven in a now-sustainable environment. Related Links: Helping Hands Bright Spots in Connecticut The $150 million, 32-story project is located at the site of the former Shartenberg department store, which was razed in 1962 under a then-ambitious urban renewal scheme. Redevelopment plans
The financial meltdown and ensuing recession are forcing universities across the region to delay or scale back construction plans. Activity across the region in the higher education sector has slowed significantly since 2007. But there’s some good news. Despite the relative slowdown at both private and public institutions in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the Tri-State higher education market seems to have avoided the fate of other once-booming sectors such as residential and commercial building. Slide Show Photo courtesy of City University of New York Construction will begin this year on CUNY's Advanced Science Research Center at City College
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