The 60,000-sq-ft Research Innovation Center on Colorado State University’s Foothills Campus has earned LEED-Gold certification. The Research Innovation Center, or RIC, was funded by a $52-million bond issue. Constructed in 2010, the facility includes several Biosafety Level 2 labs supporting the university’s infectious disease research. Much of the building is occupied by independent entrepreneurs and researchers. The building also hosts a 7,700-sq-ft vivarium operated by CSU’s Lab Animal Research department.To construct the RIC building, the university’s Facilities Management Department worked with The FWA Group, Fort Collins. CSU officials worked closely with architects to design an aesthetically pleasing and energy-efficient laboratory.“Early on,
Construction firms are failing faster than in recent memory, and the majority of contractor failures result not just from market forces but also from decisions made by contractors themselves—internal decisions that deviate from sound business practices. These mistakes place additional strains on a company’s staff, systems and financial capacity. As deviations from sound business thinking grow, the resulting risks increase exponentially. Construction is always an extremely competitive business. That fact is not limited to territory or project type. With limited local opportunities available to some contractors, expanding beyond their territory or normal scope of work becomes tempting, but that injects additional risks into the equation. A new territory
A return-to-work program is a practical approach to returning injured employees to a safe and productive work environment. Although injured employees may be unable to perform their regular jobs, they can often do alternative, productive work while recovering fully from injuries. A return-to-work program can reduce the cost of lost time due to injuries and can keep an injured employee contributing to your organization. Injured employees who stay at work also receive support from co-workers and feel productive. Companies of any size can implement and benefit from an effective return-to-work program.Here are some tips for creating a successful program:• Establish a few return-to-work jobs before
On the heels of President Obama’s announcement of his new jobs proposal, largely centered around infrastructure investments, and still reeling from the impact of the recent debt ceiling battle, it’s time for Congress and the rest of America to brace themselves for another big battle. It’s one that is sure to incite the “no tax under any circumstances” sentiment that has swept the nation courtesy of the Tea Party and will have large implications for each of us. On September 30, the federal gas tax, currently at 18.4 cents per gallon, is scheduled to expire. And if it is not
Construction costs have increased to about the same levels they were in September 2007, according to a recent report from construction consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall. From the last year and a half of quarterly upticks in construction bid prices, RLB reports it is clear that construction costs have passed their low point and are heading upward. The concern is that bid prices are rising less quickly than the combined cost of labor and materials, says RLB President and Global Board Member Julian Anderson.“Our July 2011 figures show that bid prices are now in danger of actually falling below the
Construction employment showed little movement in August, dipping 5,000 below the July total but remaining 4,000 higher than a year ago, according to a recent analysis of new federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said the numbers are consistent with a pattern of small gains followed by slight decreases, as demand for construction remains weak. “This report continues a long-running zigzag pattern of minimal up-and-down changes in construction employment,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The free-fall has ended, but the seasonally adjusted employment total in August—5.5 million—has been virtually unchanged for a
The number of construction fatalities declined by nearly 10% between 2009 and 2010 and by almost 40% during the past five years, according to a recent analysis of new federal data prepared by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials pointed to an industry-wide commitment to improving workplace safety as a key reason for the safety improvements. “This industry has made safety a top priority in good times and bad, and the new data shows those efforts are helping save lives,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “But even one fatality is too many, which is
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved slightly in July, plummeted in August. The index now stands at 44.5 (1985=100), down from 59.2 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 33.3 from 35.7. The Expectations Index decreased to 51.9 from 74.9 in July. Consumers’ appraisal of present-day conditions weakened further in August. Consumers claiming business conditions are “bad” increased to 40.6% from 38.7%, while those claiming business conditions are “good” inched up to 13.7% from 13.5%. Consumers’ assessment of employment conditions was more pessimistic than last month. Those claiming jobs are “hard to get” increased to 49.1%
Denver drivers frustrated with long commutes along the U.S. 36 corridor between Boulder and Denver could get some relief after federal transportation officials finalized a $54-million loan in early September that will add nearly 10 miles of express lanes and other improvements between Pecos Street and the Interlocken Loop. The loan represents the final finance piece for the $306-million project scheduled to begin construction next spring. Representatives from the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and the High Performance Transportation Enterprise signed the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan, which carries a 3.58% interest rate and must
There are two types of warranties: express and implied. Express warranties are those found in documents such as contracts, product warranties that come with the products, or may even be warranties made verbally by one of the parties to a contract or purchase.Implied warranties are warranties created by the law, by legislation or by the courts. For example, Colorado appellate courts have established that homebuilders impliedly warrant that their houses be habitable. That means that they can be conveniently occupied for residential use.In the construction industry, one of the most prominent implied warranties is that owners who provide plans and
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