Construction employment increased in 30 states in March but only one Midwest state, Wisconsin, was among those that logged gains, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Moreover, growth was relatively modest in Wisconsin, which added only 1,000 jobs (+ 1.1%) in March. Losses were mild in Missouri (-800, -5.2%) but significantly steeper in Ohio, (-9,500, -5.2%), Illinois (-8.500, -4.4%), Michigan (-4,000, -3.1%) and Indiana (-3,100, -2.5%).Midwest states also fared poorly in month-to-month comparisons. While Indiana (+900, 0.7) and Wisconsin (+200, 0.2%) eked small gains over February levels, Missouri (-3,400, -3.2%), Ohio (-3,300,
Ohio State University (OSU) has selected a team led by Messer Construction to undertake construction of a $370-million, 3,200-bed dormitory complex on its Columbus campus. The team was selected following a competitive review process that reduced project costs by $26 million, according to Jay Kasey, OSU's senior vice president for administration and planning. OSU issued a request for qualifications to competing firms in early December.In addition to Cincinnati-based Messer's Columbus office, team members include Miles-McClellan Construction. Columbus; Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, Pasadena, Calif.; Brailsford & Dunlavey, Washington, D.C; HKS Inc., Dallas; Schooley Caldwell Associates, Columbus; KZF Design Inc., Cincinnati; and
The City of Chicago and baseball's Chicago Cubs on Sunday announced an agreement to perform $300 million in renovations to the ball club's 99-year-old Wrigley Field and develop $200 million in hospitality, office and retail space on parcels adjacent to the iconic structure. Though plans must be formally submitted to Chicago's City Council, Planning Commission, and Landmarks Commission, the deal effectively ends years of negotiations between the city and Cubs management to upgrade Wrigley Field, the nation's second-oldest ball park, while providing additional sources of revenue to the Cubs franchise.In broad strokes, plans call for extending the park's frontage along
Although the U.S. construction industry added 48,000 jobs in February, the largest monthly gain in nearly six years, many Midwest states shed jobs during the same period, according to new data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In year-over-year comparisons, Ohio lost 7,900 jobs and Illinois 7,500 jobs , the two steepest losses of any state in the nation. Indiana (-2,900,) and Michigan (-1,100) also lost jobs in February, indicating widespread weakness in the region.Among Midwest states, only Missouri (+4,600) and Wisconsin (+600) showed improvement.The region fared better in month-to-month comparisons, with Missouri (+4.3%), Indiana (+2.2%),
The health care sector showed surprising strength in a year that held too few surprises for most Midwest builders. Image Courtesy of Indiana Dept. of Transportation The $763-million East End Crossing will span the Ohio River to connect I-265 in Indiana and I-265 in Kentucky. Related Links: ENR Midwest Top Starts for 2012 In 2012, health care providers were said to have shelved large building initiatives until the full effects of health care reform were known. Instead, many in the Midwest broke ground on major projects. “It's unusual and may be a sign that providers are working harder to attract
Some 450 construction workers are converging on a site in Pardeeville, Wis., to convert the state's largest source of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and mercury pollution into a poster child for cleaner, greener emissions. Peak periods will push the number of workers on site past 600 as crews assemble an air-quality control system and the facilities required to house it at Columbia Energy Center, a coal-fired electrical station undergoing $627 million in upgrades, including construction of SO2 and mercury-reduction systems. Related Links: ADM Moves to Advance Carbon Storage Efforts Power Company Goes Lean to Build Clean "There isn't time to complete
The health care sector showed surprising strength in a year that held too few surprises for most Midwest builders. Image Courtesy of Indiana Dept. of Transportation Related Links: Midwest Top Project Starts for 2011 A Rocky Road Back To Regional Recovery In 2012, health care providers were said to have shelved large building initiatives until the full effects of health care reform were known. Instead, many in the Midwest broke ground on major projects."It's unusual and may be a sign that providers are working harder to attract privately insured patients, now that reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid are being squeezed,"
BoppDustin Bopp, principal with Bopp Architecture, has been named president of the American Institute of Architects' St. Louis chapter. He founded Bopp, based there, in 2008. Related Links: ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40 for 2013 Diane O'Keefe has been named vice president and Illinois area manager for global professional services firm Parsons Brinckerhoff. She is based in Chicago. O'Keefe joins the firm after a 30-year career with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, most recently as a regional deputy director of highways. She was instrumental in overseeing projects such as the $975-million Dan Ryan Expressway reconstruction.
Illinois will break ground on $486 million in road and bridge projects this spring, one of the largest early-season construction programs in the state's history, Gov. Pat Quinn indicated on Monday. “When the private economy isn't going at full tilt, and it needs to get going, we've got to make sure we supplement that with our public investments,” Quinn said during an appearance in Chicago. “All of this puts people to work and lays the groundwork for future economic growth.”Quinn said the program, which includes nearly 200 projects, will help create thousands of jobs.The majority of projects will be funded
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