MATHER Airports are feeling the pinch of both the recession and airline financials more than ever, with negative impact on airport development. Many developing trends in airport design over the past 10 years respond to this economic reality. Programming for a new or improved airport facility is weighted toward maximizing value in those areas where passenger impact will be greatest. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" Security Apart from economics, the most visible changes in design have been security related as a result of Sept. 11, 2001. Security standards have impacted airport design substantially, with no small effect on the
Related Links: Colorado Ballot Measures Could Cost State Billions in Tax Revenues The debate over ballot measures 60, 61 and 101 has been anything but illuminating. According to the propaganda, voters should: • Vote yes to punish government at all levels for more than $1 billion in higher taxes and fees enacted without a vote of the people by Gov. Ritter and statehouse Democrats. • Or vote no because “The Ugly 3” will trigger a voter-approved recession and put thousands of people out of work. Frankly, both of those arguments are overwrought. All three measures offer some policy changes that
Falsework is coming down this month after supporting the construction of what officials believe is the only transit bridge in the world to cross over an active taxiway. Photo: Courtesy of Austin Bridge & Road Officials think mass transit guideway at Phoenix airport may be the only one of its kind to cross through active airspace. Falsework is coming down this month after supporting the construction of what officials believe is the only transit bridge in the world to cross over an active taxiway. The 740-ft-long cast-in-place box-girder bridge is the centerpiece of a two-mile-long transit system that will connect
New Mexico voters will have final say in the Southwest�s largest bond issue: a $155.2-million request for funding dozens of higher education and special school projects throughout the state, including $5.65 million for expanded classrooms at Dona Ana Community College and $10 million for a children�s hospital outpatient building in Albuquerque. Similar education bond issues have been approved by voters time and again in the state in recent years. Additional general obligation bonds up for statewide vote would provide $7.7 million for senior citizen facilities and $7 million for various libraries. Bond elections in the state�s most populous county, Bernalillo,
An oil worker is led to the edge of an offshore oilrig platform and given the command to jump into the icy waters below. The rational response, as you would guess, is an emphatic “no.” After all, why leave the comfortable confines of the rig for the unseen dangers below? But if that rig catches fire, you can bet the same worker will be the first to jump overboard to save his life. div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" It is that parable of survival that is facing nearly every general contractor today. If survival can only be assured if
The $240-million Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge opened to vehicle and foot traffic on Oct. 20th between Arizona and Nevada, 890 ft above the Colorado River. Last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood officially christened the “Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge,” which is named after former Nevada Gov. Mike O’Callaghan (1971-79) and professional football star turned soldier Pat Tillman. The sleek, elegant structure stretches across the Black Canyon a quarter-mile downstream from the dam. The 1,960-ft bridge will be North America’s longest single-span concrete arch when it opens to traffic later this month. “This magnificent bridge is proof positive that America
Las Vegas Strip resorts vie to be the hottest place in town, but Vdara, a recently opened hotel, literally can scorch those visiting the pool deck during certain times of the day. The 57-story, 1,495-room hotel is one of six towers at the $8.5-billion, 67-acre CityCenter complex, which opened last December. Photos Courtesy of CityCenter Land LIC Scorcher Hotel owner says it is trying again to fix the alleged �death ray� problem after a 2008 attempt. On Sept. 16, Vdara condominium owner and personal injury lawyer William G. Pintas complained to local media that the hotel�s south facade concentrated noon
Photo: Fred Holden Judges for Southwest Contractor�s annual competition honoring the best in design and construction have selected winners in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. Related Links: Arizona Winners Nevada Winners New Mexico Winners Southwest Contractor�s annual awards competition, now in its 13th year, honors the best in design and construction over the past 12 months. Categories ranging from Civil/Public Works to Retail acknowledge the excellent work and the variety of disciplines in the industry today. The staff of Southwest Contractor and this year�s panel of judges would like to thank all of the firms that took time to submit
Paolo Soleri, a renowned 91-year-old architect and urban theorist, finally will see a bridge he designed open on Dec. 11. Image by Clifton Greyeyes Rendering of the bridge and the south bank�s plaza. Photo by Stepehn Krystek Bridge structure placement took place on June 26. Photo by Stepehn Krystek CAID Industries fabricated the radiused stainless-steel panels that wrap around to create the outer and inner bridge edges. The $3 million cable-stay bridge provides a pedestrian crossing over the Arizona Canal from the Waterfront District on the north to Old Town on the south, just west of Scottsdale and Camelback roads.
T.L. Roof & Associates Construction Co. broke ground on the Legacy Apartments at Dove Mountain. Designed by Robinette Architects of Tucson, this project consists of 12 two-story apartment buildings totaling 168 units. Construction also includes a clubhouse/office building with pool and spa, putting green and six garage buildings. The project is scheduled to complete in September 2011 and will incorporate a number of environmentally sustainable elements. Image: Robinette Architects Legacy Apartments at Dove Mountain broke ground.