Colorado has more jobs than ever before, but recovery from the Great Recession continues to elude some areas of the state.Those are some of the findings included in a recent report from Colorado State University’s Regional Economics Institute (REI). The report notes the economy in the northern Front Range has seen the most job activity, while the Colorado Springs and Grand Junction areas continue to lag. “Although the state economy overall has performed better than the nation since the end of the recession, many Colorado communities, businesses and individuals are still struggling with the aftermath,” said Martin Shields, who directs
The Colorado Dept. of Transportation begins work in mid-March on its first continuous flow intersection (CFI) project at the U.S. 160/550 west intersection near Durango. Map courtesy of CDOT The CFI reconfigures the highway by allowing vehicles to cross to the left side of the highway before the intersection. CFIs reduce congestion and increase safety at high-traffic intersections, based on other CFIs constructed nationwide. The first CFI in Colorado was built in 2010 by the city of Loveland on Madison Avenue for access onto Eisenhower Blvd./U.S. 34. The one near Durango is the first CFI on a Colorado state highway.“This
After starting out the year on a positive note, there was another minor increase in the Architecture Billings Index (ABI) last month. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine- to 12-month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. The American Institute of Architects reported the February ABI score was 50.7, up slightly from a mark of 50.4 in January. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score above 50 indicates an increase in billings). The new projects inquiry index was 56.8, down from the reading of 58.5 the previous month.“The
The city of Denver opened in mid-March its first compressed natural gas fueling station. The station has 70 CNG pumps that will be utilized by city vehicles. Photo courtesy of City of Denver The citys new CNG fueling station cost $2.5 million to build. CNG is a cleaner-burning fuel that generates less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and greenhouse gas emissions compared to regular diesel. Denver has already purchased 19 CNG vehicles and is anticipating having 40 vehicles, or about 40% of its trash and recycling fleet, running on CNG before the end of 2014, the city says.In addition to the
There are currently about 15,000 apartment units but only 300 condominium units under construction in metropolitan Denver. Why? The answer is simple: Homeowners association lawsuits.For several decades there has been a cottage industry composed of lawyers, engineers, architects and homeowner association management companies who have collaborated in bringing lawsuits against condominium developers, design professionals and contractors claiming defects in design and construction. Some of those lawsuits have been meritorious, some borderline and others without foundation.The result of these lawsuits has been to discourage developers, design professionals and contractors from doing any new condominium projects, despite what many believe to be
Construction materials prices expanded 0.7% in February and are up 0.6% over the past year, according to the March 14 producer price index release by the U.S. Dept. of Labor. More specifically, nonresidential construction materials prices are up 0.7% for the month and are 0.4% higher than the same time one year ago. “February marks the second consecutive month in which construction materials prices expanded briskly,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Construction materials prices experienced a remarkable lack of volatility during the last three quarters of 2013; however, that trend appears to be firmly behind us.”Overall,
At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $486.7 billion, new construction starts in February were essentially the same as January’s amount, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. After the strong finish to last year, the construction start statistics have shown lackluster activity during the first two months of 2014. The flat pace for total construction starts in February was due to a mixed performance by major sector—less nonresidential building but more housing and public works. For the first two months of 2014, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were reported at $66.7 billion, down
From December to January, construction jobs were slightly down in Nevada and Arizona, and slightly up in New Mexico, according to statistics made public this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Nevada, there were about 59,500 jobs in January up from 58,300 jobs in December, and reflecting a 4.4% year-over-year increase on the month. The state’s overall unemployment rate was 8.7% in January, down from 9% December. Nevada’s civilian labor force numbered 1,367,600 in January, up from 1,364,700 in December.In Arizona, there were about 125,000 construction jobs in January, down from 125,300 construction jobs in December, while
Bob Harper, vice president of Gilbane Building Co., has rejoined the firm's business unit in Phoenix as senior business development manager after three years in Houston. He has worked at Gilbane for 44 years.Harper Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Edward "Ned" McKnight has joined Shepley Bulfinch as a senior member of its health care design practice in Phoenix. McKnight is a member of the American Institute of Architects.Paul Kinne has returned to Panattoni Development Co. as development manager in Reno. He had been vice president of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada and had been at Panattoni
As the largest and most diverse municipality in the Southwest, the city of Phoenix has pushed the boundaries of development and construction. As an owner, the city has worked with nearly every construction firm in the Southwest and has influenced scores of others with its drive to collaborate and streamline its construction processes.
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