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.
Denver-based developer Continuum Partners, one of the master developers of Union Station, is planning a high-profile, mixed-use development that will be a key piece of Denver’s new Union Station neighborhood. Rendering by Semple Brown Design and BOKA Powell, courtesy of Continuum Partners A view of the new development from 16th Street shows both the hotel (left) and the office building. Rendering by Semple Brown Design and BOKA Powell, courtesy of Continuum Partners View from the Union Station: The Kimpton-operated hotel is the taller building on the right, with the office building and ground-floor retail and restaurants on the left. The
The American Council of Engineering Cos. of Colorado (ACEC/CO) recently presented top engineering awards to outstanding Colorado engineers who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and commitment to advancing consulting engineering. The honorees are: Karen Maestas, URS Corp., was honored as ACEC/CO ‘s 2014 Outstanding Woman in Engineering. The award recognizes an outstanding woman in a leadership position for professional achievements in the engineering profession who is also a visible role model for young engineers.Maestas manages a complex portfolio of mine reclamation projects that has grown annually from $500,000 in 2007 to more than $8 million in 2013. The projects involve many
Construction employers added 15,000 workers to payrolls in February despite harsh winter working conditions, raising industry employment to the highest level since June 2009, according to a recent analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, association officials noted that as the industry adds jobs, many firms report they are already having a hard time finding skilled workers. “The rate of construction hiring has outpaced job growth in the overall economy for the past year,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “During that time, all construction segments have added workers.”Construction employment totaled 5,941,000 in
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