Construction spending in May reached the highest level since December 2009 as widespread gains in private nonresidential construction, single-family and multifamily homebuilding more than offset a continuing downturn in public construction, according to an analysis of new federal data released earlier this week by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said they expect the disparity between private and public construction is likely to persist, although enactment of a federal highway and transit bill will cushion the decline in public spending.“It is encouraging to see such a broad-based pickup in private construction,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist.
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in May, fell further in June. The index now stands at 62.0 (1985=100), down from 64.4 in May. The Expectations Index declined to 72.3 from 77.3. The Present Situation Index, however, increased to 46.6 from 44.9 last month. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved slightly in June. Those claiming business conditions are “good” increased to 14.9% from 13.6%, however, those saying business conditions are “bad” increased to 35.1% from 34.7%. Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was mixed. Those stating jobs are “hard to get” increased to 41.5% from 40.9%,
At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $444.9 billion, new construction starts in May retreated 16% from the previous month, it was reported by McGraw-Hill Construction, a division of The McGraw-Hill Cos. The decline followed substantial gains for total construction in March (up 23%) and April (up 11%), which reflected the lift coming from two massive nuclear power projects. Without a similar lift in May, combined with a pullback for public works, the nonbuilding construction sector fell sharply. At the same time, nonresidential building in May showed improvement for the second month in a row, strengthening after weak activity in the early
The heat wave afflicting much of the U.S. claimed a construction worker near Tucson—a stark reminder of the danger heat poses to those in the building trades. Mark Geise, 44, died of apparent heat-related illness on June 19 while constructing a propane filling station at a Costco store. A resident of Indiana, Geise was employed by Seese Construction, Monrovia, Ind., according to his obituary. Photo by Aileen Cho/ENR Workers should take refuge in a shady, relatively cool spot and rehydrate if heat-related illness symptoms occur. Related Links: Arizona Workers Are Old Pros At Sweating In The Southwest Hot or Cold,
Most contractors don't have to worry about installing a catwalk high enough that an 8-ton Asian bull elephant on the ground can't reach a human handler walking across it, but that was one of the many challenges of building the Denver Zoo's new 10-acre, $50-million Toyota Elephant Passage exhibit. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record The most complex issue faced by the project team—led by the Denver office of general contractor Kiewit Building Group—was creating one of the most sustainable animal habitats in the world. The team recently learned it had succeeded when the exhibit became the first large-animal
Two harbor seals glided lazily through the water, glancing at the handful of construction workers putting the finishing touches on the new $18-million Rocky Shores exhibit at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Several weeks before the scheduled June 1 opening, the seals were getting accustomed to their new home, while Rizzo, the 14-year-old female polar bear from the Cincinnati Zoo, and three brown bears remained in quarantine a few more days before moving into their new enclosures.Workers from South Jordan, Utah-based Sirq Construction have just completed work on a project that has taken nearly two
Dwight H. Pullen Jr. has been appointed director of the aviation market at Denver-based CH2M HILL. Pullen will grow the global consulting firm's aviation business and partner with the international division to integrate CH2M HILL's new airports and air transport colleagues who joined the company with the recent Halcrow acquisition. He works in the firm's Englewood, Colo., headquarters. Related Links: Engineering News Record Architectural Record Steve Wakeman has been elected an associate stockholder with Boise architectural firm CSHQA. A senior project architect, Wakeman has been with the firm since 2005 and has more than 30 years of project experience, including
Construction firms in several states are closely watching how Arizona will implement the provisions of its immigration law left standing after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated three of the statute's sections. Photo Courtesy Office of the Arizona Governor: Jan Brewer Gov. Jan Brewer addresses the media following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the heart of SB 1070. Related Links: High Court Issues Split Ruling in Immigration Case Oral Arguments in Arizona Immigration Law Case The high court on June 25 struck down three key sections of Arizona S.B. 1070 but left intact one of its most controversial provisions,
Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital has begun a series of concrete pours on the first floor deck at the replacement hospital’s jobsite—at an elevation of exactly 5,280 ft—well suited for the newest hospital being built in the Mile High City. The Denver office of Mortenson Construction, the project’s general contractor, started the first concrete pour on May 17, and will eventually include 4,643 cu yd of concrete, becoming the foundation of the hospital’s 115,68-sq-ft first floor. Photo courtesy of Mortenson Construction The new hospital will eventually include 4,643 cu yd of concrete, forming the foundation of the hospitals 115,68-sq-ft first floor.
Confidence in the equipment finance market was at 59.2 in May, down slightly from the April index of 62.1, reflecting uncertainty about the pace of U.S. economic growth and concerns about global political and economic factors. The latest information comes from Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) in its May 2012 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI).Designed to collect leadership data, the index reports a qualitative assessment of both the prevailing business conditions and expectations for the future as reported by key executives from the $628-billion equipment finance sector.The May 2012 survey results include: • The overall
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