Utility and rail infrastructure for Tucson’s Sun Link is complete and light rail service will begin in July — the first such service since the Old Pueblo Trolley was suspended when Sun Link began construction in 2011. The project, also known as the Tucson Modern Streetcar, overcame challenges including tie-overs for water lines, two large Fourth Avenue street festivals, and the presence of historic civil infrastructure, according to members of the project team.“Normally, our approach is to locate all of the obstructions along a utility route, and then dig like crazy in between them,” said Sun Link Construction Superintendent Stanton
Kenneth Bowyer of All Crane Rental of Florida won the 2014 MCM & CIC Crane Operator Skills Championship last week in Las Vegas, Nev., beating out other operators from throughout the U.S. and Canada, including two entrants who qualified at CONEXPO-CON/AGG. By John Guzzon An operator navigates a barrel through a slalom course during the MCM & CIC Crane Operator Skills Championship last week in Las Vegas, Nev. By John Guzzon James Tom of Bakers Welders and Crane, Zanesville, Ohio measures his skills against a simulator at the CIC booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG March 3. First runner-up is Bruce Gay, a
Tres Amigas and Broadview Energy recently announced agreements have been reached in a move designed to guarantee the viability of the project that backers hope will lead to the development and construction of up to 500 megawatts of wind energy generation in northeast New Mexico. Minneapolis-based NRS LLC is the manager/developer for Broadview Energy, with currently has about 2,000 megawatts in active development around the country, and a history of successful wind farm development, principally in Midwest and Western states.“Our associate, Robert Walker, has been working on acquiring the transmission path from New Mexico to California for several years,” said
The 13-story Art Deco Professional Building at Central Avenue and Monroe Street in the heart of downtown Phoenix has been sold to CSM Corporation and will be converted into a premium select-service hotel. Image courtesy CSM Corporation Rendering of the Professional Building at Central Avenue and Monroe Street in downtown Phoenix. The building originally opened in 1932, housing the offices for Valley Bank and Trust and the Maricopa County Medical Society above. It is traditional Art Deco style with strong vertical lines, a central tower with setback wings and windows, and decorative grills above the main entrance. at Monroe Street
Two painters died late Wednesday morning when their boom lift tipped over at the Lower Buckeye Jail in Phoenix. The lift, owned by H&E equipment, was parked on a hill and the men were painting a six-story building, said Lt. Brandon Jones, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The lift had been placed on a downhill slope on the jail's northwest side. The men were working for Riddle Painting and Coating, a contracted vendor.Inmates in the recreation yard of the county jail facility saw the painters fall and reported it to correctional officers. The men were transported to
Ever since the great downturn stalled the Southwest construction industry more than four years ago, each new year has brought with it an optimistic attitude that things would get better. Although the downturn lasted longer than most would have hoped, if activity is as robust as projected in the year ahead, 2014 might finally be the year when the Southwest construction market is able to focus more on growth than recovery. photo courtesy of JB Henderson Construction Construction employment is expected to continue its upward trend as contractors land more work. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record ENR Southwest's
Now that the downturn appears to have finally ended and the upward slope has begun, those individuals that not only survived, but thrived during those hard times are poised to be the leaders of the next boom.
The Sahara Hotel and Casino, backdrop for the 1960s heist movie "Ocean's Eleven," is making a comeback after shutting its doors in 2011. The iconic Las Vegas resort, originally built by Del E. Webb, is undergoing a $415-million makeover that will restore its former swagger. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Renovation, however, is tricky due to decades of patchwork improvements and piecemeal additions done by various owners resulting in spotty construction records.Project contractor PENTA Building Group of Las Vegas began refurbishing the 4-million-sq-ft complex at 2535 South Las Vegas Blvd. in February. The construction contract is valued at
SydnorDouglas B. Sydnor has joined Gensler's Phoenix office as a senior architect. Sydnor is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and has more than 35 years of experience in the Phoenix area, most recently as president and CEO of Douglas Sydnor Architect and Associates in Scottsdale. He received a master's degree from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record HaggDouglas Haag has been promoted to chief administration officer for Sundt Construction. He joined the firm in 2010 as director of administration. Haag will lead the company's strategic management
The national construction unemployment rate (seasonally unadjusted) went from 8.6% in November to 11.4% in December, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. The rate was still a year-over-year increase from 2012 when the construction unemployment rate was 13.5%. “Construction employment edged down in December (-16,000). However, in 2013, the industry added an average of 10,000 jobs per month. Employment in nonresidential specialty trade contractors declined by 13,000 in December, possibly reflecting unusually cold weather in parts of the country,” according to a news release Jan. 10 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.In the U.S. Southwest, the recent trend
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