TraceyTim Tracey has been promoted to director of architect-engineer SmithGroupJJR's Chicago office, which employs 60 people. Tracey, previously design director for the office, is a member of the Lean Construction Institute Chicago Community of Practice Core Group. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening the office's holistic and integrated design process. Related Links: ENR Midwest People Showcase ENR People Cameron Trefry has been promoted to regional director and Dawn Riegel to director, interior architecture and design, with architect Ware Malcomb. Both are with the firm's Chicago office. ForceChristina Force has joined the St. Louis office of architect-engineer
Most Midwest states logged increases in construction employment in April, with Illinois and Indiana showing particular improvement following a tepid start to the year, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).By percentage, Michigan led the region (5,600 jobs, 4.3%), followed by Ohio (7,600 jobs, 4.2%), Missouri (4,000 jobs, 3.8%), Wisconsin (3,700 jobs, 3.8%), Illinois (5,200 jobs, 2.8%) and Indiana (-100 jobs, -0.1%).By comparison, Indiana shed 1,000 to 3,000 jobs in February and March. Job growth in Illinois was nearly flat, less than 1%, for the same period. Economists predict both states will benefit
After two consecutive months of growth, the American Institute of Architects Architectural Billings Index (ABI) plunged into negative territory in March, reflecting softening demand for design services in U.S. markets. The index slipped from 50.7 in February to 48.8 in March. Scores above 50 denote an increase in billings.“This protracted softening in demand for design services is a bit of a surprise given the overall strength of the market the last year and a half,” AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker indicated in a statement. “Hopefully, some of this can be attributed to severe weather conditions over this past winter. We
The majority Midwest of builders closed out the first quarter with better employment news than a year earlier, though key states, including Illinois and Indiana, continued to show tepid improvement, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Ohio (+7,800 jobs, 4.3%) led the region in March employment gains, followed by Michigan (+5,400 jobs, 4.1%), Missouri (3,800 job, 3.6%), Wisconsin (3,500 jobs, 3.6%) and Illinois (1,600, 0.8%). Indiana (-1,600, -1.3%) posted declines in year-over-year comparisons.In all, March construction employment increased in 38 states in year-over-year comparisons and in half of states in month-to-month comparisons,
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday unveiled a six-year, $14-billion plan for transportation construction he says would be bankrolled by federal, state and local funds. Quinn also indicated he plans to engage a panel of state lawmakers in developing a new capital program for the state. “We'll engage them very quickly,” Quinn told reporters.Illinois Jobs Now, a six-year $31-billion capital program funded by taxes on liquor, video gambling, candy and beauty products, is due to expire at the end of fiscal 2014. About $18 billion in funds were allocated toward transportation spending.Transportation for Illinois Coalition, whose members include several state
Detroit-based developer Olympia Development of Michigan has selected a consortium of three firms to construct a $450-million arena it plans to build for National Hockey League's (NHL) Detroit Red Wings. Detroit's Dowtown Development Authority (DDA) was expected to approve the selection Wednesday. The consortium Barton Malow-Hunt-White consists of Southfield, Mich.-based Barton Malow Co., Detroit-based White Construction and Indianapolis-based Hunt Construction Group, all veterans of sports stadium projects.White and Hunt previously collaborated on construction of Comerica Park and Ford Field, homes to Major League Baseball's Detroit Tigers and National Football League's Detroit Lions, respectively. Barton-Malow has worked on a variety of
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R.-Ill.) have requested a meeting with oil producer BP after a newly expanded BP refinery in Whiting, Ind., spilled up to 39 barrels, or 1,638 gallons, of crude oil into Lake Michigan last week. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicated it's unlikely the spill poses a hazard to the lake, Durbin and Kirk are seeking assurance the refinery can operate safely now that it has doubled capacity, to 405,000 barrels per day.“Any unanticipated spill is cause for concern, but given the Whiting Refinery’s recent expansion of its operations to double the
Demand for architectural design services in the Midwest rose only slightly in February, reflecting continued weakness in the region, according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Billings Index (ABI). Although the Midwest index rose more than a point, to 47.6, in February, a score of 50 or higher is required to denote increased demand for design work. By comparison, the national index remained flat, rising from 50.4 to 50.7 between January and February.Demand was strongest in the South (52.8), followed by the West (50.5) and Northeast (48.3).By sector, multi-family housing (52.5) performed strongest, followed by commercial/industrial (51.9), institutional
After disappointing month-to-month losses in December, construction employment rose in many Midwest states in January, despite brutal weather in many parts of the region, according to data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Indiana (-4,300 jobs, -3.4%) and Missouri (-3,300 jobs, -3.1%) failed to see job gains in January, while Illinois (2,900 jobs, 1.5%), Michigan (1,500 jobs, 1.1%) and Wisconsin (1,600 jobs, 1.6%) enjoyed modest upticks for the same period.By comparison, construction employment in Ohio (+8,000, 4.3%) surged for the second-consecutive month. In December, employment leaped by 4,000 jobs in Ohio.In all, construction employment increased
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