Major metro areas across the region saw significant increases in construction employment in September, according to year-over-year comparisons compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America. In raw numbers, the Chicago metro area posted the nation's fourth strongest showing, adding 9,000 jobs (7%) during the period. By comparison, Cleveland added 6,100 jobs (17%), St. Louis 5,100 jobs (8%), Indianapolis 3,300 jobs (7%), Milwaukee 2,100 jobs (8%), and Detroit 1,600 jobs (8%), Only Houston (13,500 jobs, 7%), Los Angeles (10,100 jobs, 9%) and Dallas (9,900 jobs, 9%) outperformed Chicago in September. In all, construction employment increased in 236 out of
Chicago-based Cronus Chemicals indicated Wednesday it intends to construct a $1.4-billion fertilizer plant in Tuscola, Ill., about 20 miles south of Champaign, Ill., an undertaking that will bring between 1,500 and 2,000 construction jobs to the region. Tuscola competed for more than a year for the project against Mitchell County, Iowa. Cronus initially evaluated more than 75 potential sites in nine states before narrowing the field to Illinois and Iowa. It is unclear whether Cronus received incentives to locate the plant in lllinois. FutureGen Industrial Alliance Inc., a global consortium power producers and electric utilities, previously considered the Tuscola site
The Illinois Department of Transportation on Tuesday broke ground on the first phase of a $255-million project to restore passenger rail service between Chicago and the region's Quad Cities, located near the Illinois-Iowa state line. Initial work will focus on executing $23 million in track, signal and capacity improvements to accommodate additional trains at a BNSF rail yard in Aurora, Ill., once service between Chicago and Moline, Ill., commences. Additional work will involve grading and drainage upgrades, with renovations scheduled to conclude next summer. As planned, a future phase will include track, signal, station and rolling stock improvements on 53-miles
Consumer review service Angie's List Inc. plans to undertake expansion of its Indianapolis headquarters, including renovations to a 176,000-sq-ft former Ford manufacturing facility owned by Indianapolis Public Schools. The company, co-founded by Angie Hicks in 1995, also plans to construct a 1,000-space parking facility adjacent to its campus, sited on the city's east side. Angie's indicated the additional space will accommodate 1,000 new employees while consolidating an additional 800 from multiple area locations. The $40-million project is key to ongoing revitalization of the city's East Washington Street corridor, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard indicated in a statement. Indiana Economic Development Corp.
After years of delays, Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs on Monday launched the first phase of a multi-year $575-million program to renovate and expand Wrigley Field, one of the league's oldest ballparks. Demolition work is proceeding despite a lawsuit filed in August against the City of Chicago and its Landmarks Commission by owners of several surrounding buildings. The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Courts, asks a judge to throw out a July decision by the commission to allow construction of seven outfield signs, which owners contend will block the views of clubs that view games from their rooftops. Although
One of Chicago's most prominent and underutilized parcels will be the site of a 34-story, 690-unit apartment tower, completing a redevelopment plan for the property begun in the late 1980s. Los Angeles-based developer CIM Group indicated earlier this month it has secured permits required to construct the tower atop a five-story mall located on Block 37, a parcel sandwiched between Daley Plaza and retailer Macy's in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Architect for the project is Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates. When completed, the tower will be the largest apartment building to rise in the Loop since 2010, when
Large specialty contractors experienced greater gains than small to mid-size firms as the region's construction industry negotiated its road to recovery last year.
Forces of nature as mighty as a polar vortex and as miniscule as endangered mussels haven't waylaid work on Michigan's $274-million Karegnondi Pipeline, a new raw-water conduit that will snake east from the banks of Lake Huron to treatment facilities in Genesee, Lapeer and Sanilec counties along its 67-mile trajectory.
HartNathan Hart has been named project manager in the concrete group at St. Louis-based general contractor CM Tarlton Corp. As senior project engineer and project engineer with the firm, Hart previously worked on a parking structure for Lambert International Airport's main terminal in St. Louis. Related Links: ENR Midwest People Showcase ENR People Sherri Pingel and Diane Pence have joined Faith Technologies, a Menasha, Wis., electrical and specialty systems contractor, as vice president of value-added purchasing and vice president of strategic sourcing, respectively. Pingel had been supply chain manager for Switchgear Power Systems in Winneconne, Wis. Pence was an equipment
Illinois added 11,100 construction jobs (+5.8%) in August, trailing only Florida, California and Texas in year-over-year comparisons, according to data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Indiana (7,600 jobs, +6.2%), Michigan (3,400 jobs, + 2.6%) and Wisconsin (3,000 jobs, +3.0%) also logged solid gains for the same period, while Ohio (-1,500 jobs, -0.8%) and Missouri (-400 jobs, 0.4%) logged declines. The region didn't perform as well in month-to-month comparisons, with most states posting declines or modest gains. Illinois (2,300 jobs, 1.2%) made the strongest showing for the period, followed by Wisconsin (500 jobs, 0.5%), Missouri (200
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