Outwardly, retail centers seem to have come full circle over the past 80 years, morphing from sidewalk shops that formed a main street during the first half of the 20th century to suburban strips in the ‘50s to the indoor malls of the ‘70s and now—back again to “town centers” which mimic the look and feel of those initial main streets. Over the past decade or so, two trends have conspired to undercut the traditional importance of shopping centers as focal points for the communities in which they are located. First, consumers now have tremendous opportunities to buy goods at
When it comes to the topic of construction jobs in Arizona, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that jobs have rebounded from the depths of the recession by nearly 20,000 jobs or so. The bad news, though, is that the 123,000 or so workers employed by the construction industry in November 2013 are about the same amount as worked in the industry in 1995, according to data released today by the Arizona Department of Administration.According to the data, total construction employment in January 2013 was 116,600 which included 76,100 in specialty trades. In November 2013,
A recent decision of the Colorado Court of Appeals in the case of “Stresscon Corporation v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America” provides an insight into insurance coverage under a contractor’s comprehensive general liability insurance policy. While the decision may be reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court at a later date, it does appear to express the law as it now stands in Colorado. In the case, Stresscon fabricated concrete structural members that were being installed on the project when a panel fell, one workman was killed and another injured. Travelers, Stresscon’s comprehensive general liability insurance carrier, refused to defend
Nearly 50 years since the last neighborhood streetcars rumbled though Salt Lake City, the S-Line marks the return of that transit option to the city. The first phase of the project eschews the street for a reclaimed rail corridor with green space and trails. Photo by Brian Fryer The S-Line uses the same vehicles as the TRAX light rail system, with some modifications to the exterior. Inside, the cars have more room for standing passengers and bicycles. With a blast of celebratory fireworks and the sounding of a train bell, officials from the Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake and South
Gov. John Hickenlooper joined Colorado Dept. of Transportation and federal, state and local officials to preview the new eastbound Interstate 70 Twin Tunnel bore near Idaho Springs on Dec. 7. After just eight months of rock blasting, rock bolting and paving, the third lane of eastbound I-70 between east of Idaho Springs to U.S. 6, including through the Twin Tunnels, opened to traffic. Photo courtesy of CDOT The $106-million Twin Tunnels Project added one eastbound lane. Photo courtesy of CDOT This is the first of several projects designed to improve safety and mobility along the I-70 mountain corridor. “The I-70
The Children’s Hospital recently marked completion of its new Colorado South Inpatient Facility in Lone Tree, Colo. A ribbon cutting was held on December 4 at the CHC South facility, and the first patients arrive on December 19. Rendering courtesy of Davis Partnership The four-story, 180,000-sq-ft, full-service hospital includes inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. The facility is a four-story, 180,000-sq-ft, full-service hospital that includes inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. Other components of the project comprise a main-level entry that opens up to a two-story glass atrium, complete with food service for patients and families.Imaging, emergency and surgical departments are all
Overall, construction materials prices fell 0.5% in November and are up only 1.1% year over year, according to the Dept. of Labor’s Dec. 13 Producer Price Index. Nonresidential construction materials are down 0.6% for the month and are 0.7% lower than the same time last year. “November represented another month of remarkable stability for construction input prices,” said Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Although many investors predicted significant inflation this year due to expansionary monetary policies in much of the developed world, there continues to be a lack of significant inflationary pressures both globally and nationally.”Overall,
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation says in its November 2013 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI) that overall confidence in the equipment finance market is at 56.9, an increase from the October index of 54.0. The report says the November index demonstrates an overall steady industry outlook despite continuing concerns about the U.S. economy and the negative impact of federal government fiscal policies. Designed to collect leadership data, the index offers a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $827-billion equipment finance sector.When
Mortenson Construction marked completion of the concrete construction of Charles Schwab’s new Colorado campus with a topping-out ceremony at the project site on November 1. Photo courtesy of Mortenson Construction The steel structure for the retail building was also topped out at the ceremony. Each of the two approximately 220,000-sq-ft office buildings was topped out. The ceremony was attended by all 250 workers on site. When complete, the two LEED-Gold-targeted office buildings will have the capacity to house approximately 2,800 employees.The campus also includes an amenities building that connects the two office buildings, as well as a separate 17,000-sq-ft retail
Colorado-based contractor White Construction Group is partnering with Humphries Poli Architects of Denver and the Elitch Gardens Historic Theatre Foundation to restore one of the classic landmarks of northwest Denver, the Elitch Gardens Theatre. Photo courtesy of White Construction Group In addition to life-safety and other infrastructure upgrades, this phase of the project includes renovations to the scene-changing pit and backstage structures. Built in 1891, the Elitch Theatre was a prominent part of Colorado culture for a century, hosting performers such as Grace Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, Edward G. Robinson, Mickey Rooney and Robert Redford. The theater screened Colorado’s first
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