Photo: AP/Wideworld div id="articleExtrasA" div id="articleExtrasB" div id="articleExtras" When ENR Southeast Region Editor Scott Judy heard about the illegal workers who were found hidden at a Florida Veteran’s Administration hospital project, he reacted to news reports by blogging, “These illegal workers were found hidden in a portion of the emerging facility’s roof, behind some scaffolding, in a place where they couldn’t get out without someone else’s help. Let that sink in. Wow.” Apparently, it did sink in, eliciting numerous replies. Our viewer’s comments ran the gamut from cynical (“What’s the difference between illegal workers and the AIG bailout?” says one)
ALI It is no secret that all levels of government are facing unprecedented budget deficits. While state and municipal revenues are dropping, infrastructure needs are growing and the question of sustainability is taking center stage. Can we afford to keep those infrastructure assets and all four million miles of paved roads in the U.S.? I work with asphalt every day, and I can tell you from my long experience that there are some good answers. Photo: Donna Short In 2006, the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System highlighted the contrast between the condition of the roads in recent years
STEVENS What is the most important class not taught in college? Or, to put it another way, what is the most important skill a construction professional should have? Answer: Managing construction’s craft labor. The labor component of any construction project is the largest opportunity to increase speed, lower cost, and improve quality and safety. It is the line item on any job-cost or profit-and-loss statement. It determines if you will meet, beat or fail to attain your goals. But the subject of managing craft labor is not taught as a focused course in most college construction programs. Without a course
Timing is everything. While writing this week’s cover story about the three amazing tunneling jobs that will expand New York City’s subway system, ENR Senior Editor Aileen Cho took a few hours away from work to attend a gathering of tunneling intelligentsia. Photo: Matthew Mauro Bloomberg praised The Moles’ role in the life of the city. CHO She was a guest at The Moles annual awards dinner on Jan. 26, when almost 2,000 heavy-construction experts gathered to honor leading executives Robert E. Alger, CEO of Lane Construction, and Peter O. Shea, executive vice president at J.F. Shea Co. Inc. In
SCHMIDT A key principle of virtually every engineering licensure law, standard of professional conduct and code of ethics is that engineers should always and only practice in the technical areas in which they are competent. The licensing process uses education, experience and examination to identify those who have presumably acquired sufficient competence. However, there is a loophole of sorts: In most jurisdictions, once engineers become licensed, it is entirely up to them to define their own areas of competence within the profession as a whole. Engineers typically feel like they have a pretty good handle on this. We think that
A Matter of Oversight We applaud the selection of Joe Collins as one of ENR’s 2010 “Top Newsmakers” (“Hoisting Hero Sent Clear Message to Industry When Voting for Higher Safety,” 1/12/2011) for his vote of conscience during negotiations that ultimately led to inclusion of third-party certification for crane operators in OSHA’s 2010 Crane and Derrick Standard. It was Joe’s knowledge and integrity that led to his nomination to represent the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) on the negotiated rule making committee. However, as someone who was involved in the entire process, I take umbrage with ENR’s assertion that
Credit Due For Design Of ‘Clouds’ and ‘Sails’ Regarding the recent article “No Walk On the Beach”, it should be noted that, in the New World Symphony's performance hall in Miami, Mayer Structural Design provided the light-gauge-metal structural design and geometry layout of the primary framing members for all the components, including the structural steel brackets and fittings, that make up the “sails,” “clouds” and high-ceiling acoustical panels. Mayer also developed the concept and designed the threaded rod-and-hanger system used to support the box beams that support the cloud and high-ceiling-panel joists. The firm also developed the concept of the
The arguments that in decades past helped produce record-breaking surface transportation authorizations don’t work any more. Not even the gas tax and the Highway Trust Fund, which make drivers pay and keep the money separate from other taxes, are sacrosanct. Transportation now needs a plan just to get by. After that, we should invigorate the user-fee concept with an eye toward replacing it with a vehicle-miles-traveled tax plan. If we require another sign of the need for change, we received it on the first day of the new Congress. The GOP-dominated House of Representatives adopted new rules that will allow
In addition to the amazing photo contest image, ENR has a new touch on the magazine’s cover this week. Our logo has been refined and our tagline updated to keep current with our digital transformation. ENR now delivers news to subscribers via electronic news alerts 365 days a year—not just once week —and on our website 24/7. Our print magazine, published 36 times a year, is “the construction resource” of the industry for analysis, data and commentary in addition to news. Photo: Sue Pearsall For ENR (From left) Joanne Foulke, Ted Keller, Debra Rubin, Richard Demler and Tom Sawyer reviewed
As young Gabe Spencer pictured here joins his mother for a construction jobsite ceremony, his hardhat isn’t regulation. But his clear fascination with the building process at age five might encourage us to think that the construction industry still has fans in the next generation. Hopefully, we can convince these kids that construction will continue as a good place to pursue a career when they grow up. Photographer/Submitter: Marc BarnesSubmitted while Barnes was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; he now works for the new U.S. Army Community Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va. Gabe Spencer watches intently as his
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