Aging water infrastructure will cost U.S. businesses $147 billion over the next decade, says a new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers. America’s water and wastewater infrastructure systems are aging and overburdened, with many of them built around the turn of the previous century. Unless new investments are made, unreliable and insufficient water infrastructure will cost the average American household $900 a year in higher water rates and lower wages by 2020. American businesses can expect an additional $147 billion in increased costs, and the economy will lose 700,000 jobs by 2020. The report, “Failure to Act: The Economic
Construction equipment manufacturers anticipate overall business to close out 2011 with double-digit increases over last year in the U.S., Canada and worldwide. Growth is expected to continue but at a slower pace for 2012 through 2014, according to the annual business outlook survey of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. AEM is the North American-based international trade group representing the off-road equipment manufacturing industry. Each year the association polls its construction equipment manufacturer members about anticipated sales of the machines and equipment that build and repair roads, bridges, houses, offices, schools and other infrastructure worldwide. Respondents were asked to rank several factors affecting
SnapShot December 19, 2011 Submitted By: Jessie Robertson Business Development Steel Encounters, Salt Lake City The Regent at City Creek Center in Salt Lake City is a 20-story residential tower with four levels of underground parking that was completed earlier this year by Jacobsen Construction. The building is owned by City Creek Reserve and was designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, Portland, Ore. Photographer Alan Blakely took this photo from the roof of an adjacent parking garage using a Canon EOS 1D Mark III camera with a 35 mm Nikkor PC lens. The final image is a blend of several exposures.
Matthew Best has been hired to manage the Frisco, Colo., office of engineering firm Kumar & Associates Inc. Best is experienced in construction observation and materials testing. His background includes training and oversight of field and laboratory personnel, project management, scheduling, project oversight, budgeting, proposals and billing. Architect Brad Buchanan, one of the co-founders of Denver's Buchanan Yonushewski Group, joined RNL in November to lead the Denver design firm's commercial markets team. Buchanan has extensive experience in design-led, single-source project delivery and nearly all areas of design and construction. He is also the current chairman of the Denver Planning Board.Architect
On The Scene December 19, 2011 Mortenson Construction The Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, built by the Denver office of Mortenson Construction, was the site of the contractor’s 30th anniversary party on Nov. 3. More than 550 people joined Bob Hansen, vice president and general manager of the firm’s Denver office, in celebrating its three decades of building landmark projects in Colorado. Those include the Pepsi Center, Coors Field, Concourse B at Denver International Airport, the new addition to the Denver Art Museum, Stapleton redevelopment, Research Complex 2 at the Anschutz Medical Campus and the
Dates & Events Courtesy of Pinkard Construction Denvers Pinkard Construction received an Excellence Award from the Design-Build Institute of America this fall for its work on the Denver Central Platte Campus. Pinkard was part of the design-build teamwhich also included Denver design firm RNLthat built the $28-million service center for Denvers Public Works Dept. Pinkards team included (from left): Jason Murphy, senior superintendent; Dick Shiffer, senior principal; Rick Converse, senior estimator; Steve Burns, director of preconstruction; and Tony Burke, senior project manager. Courtesy of Mortenson Construction The Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, built by the
Morrison-Maierle Courtesy of McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics Helena can expect a solid uptick in residential building and some improvement in the non-building sector. Courtesy of McGraw-Hill Construction Analytics Non-residential construction is projected to nearly double in Helena next year. 1 Engineering Pl., Helena, Mont.President: Bob MorrisonEmployees: 100Founded: 1945What's New: This full-service engineering firm is working on three interstate interchanges, improvements at six airports and major upgrades at several water and wastewater facilities. Total Construction Starts Helena, Mont. Actual Actual Actual Actual ForecastTotal Construction 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012($ Millions)$100$50$98$69$88Non-residential$60$18$36$11$19Commercial and Manufacturing$50$8$22$3$10Stores and Shopping Centers$3—$5$1$3Office and Bank Buildings$40$1$1$1$3Hotels and Motels—$7$7$1$2Other Commercial Buildings$7—$8$1$2Manufacturing Buildings—————Institutional$10$10$14$8$9Education
The final piece of the funding puzzle for Utah Transit Authority’s TRAX light rail line to the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper was put in place on Dec. 12. Federal Transit Authority Administrator Peter M. Rogoff presented $116 million in federal funds to UTA and Draper city officials to help complete the rail extension. Photo by Brian Fryer FTA administrator Peter Rogoff addresses a gathering of construction workers, Draper City officials, residents and UTA directors on Dec. 12 in Salt Lake City to announce a $116-million grant to finalize funding for UTA's Front Lines 2015 project. Photo by Brian
Aging water infrastructure will cost U.S. businesses $147 billion over the next decade, says a new report from the American Society of Civil Engineers. America’s water and wastewater infrastructure systems are aging and overburdened, with many of them built around the turn of the previous century. Unless new investments are made, unreliable and insufficient water infrastructure will cost the average American household $900 a year in higher water rates and lower wages by 2020. American businesses can expect an additional $147 billion in increased costs, and the economy will lose 700,000 jobs by 2020. The report, “Failure to Act: The Economic
The amount that contractors pay for a range of key construction materials edged down 0.1% in November but climbed 6.2% from a year earlier, outstripping the increase in contractors’ bid prices for finished buildings, according to an analysis of producer price index figures released recently by the Associated General Contractors of America. Officials with the construction association warned that the cost squeeze on contractors, combined with declining public sector investments in construction, may drive many contractors out of business.“Price increases have moderated or even reversed direction at the moment for essential construction materials, but prices are likely to increase in