Construction employment expanded in 215 metro areas, declined in 80 and was stagnant in 44 between June 2013 and June 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. “Contractors have been expanding their workforce in about two-thirds of the country for several months in a row,” said Ken Simonson, the association's chief economist. “Some metro areas are adding workers at a strong clip, but the gains remain modest and sporadic in many localities.”Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas added the largest number of construction jobs in the past year (11,700 jobs, 10%), followed
New construction starts in June advanced 6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $549.7 billion, the highest level so far in 2014, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. Nonresidential building strengthened after pulling back in May, with the lift coming from the start of several large manufacturing plant projects. Modest gains in June were also reported for housing and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities). During the first six months of 2014, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $254.1 billion, up 1% from the same period a year ago.June’s data raised
Nonresidential fixed investment expanded 5.5% and residential fixed investment expanded 7.5% during the second quarter of 2014, according to a July 30 release by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Overall, real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 4% (seasonally adjusted annual rate) during the second quarter of 2014 following a 2.1% decrease (revised from -2.9%) in the first quarter.“The robust second quarter growth was primarily driven by higher consumer and business spending,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The 4% reading on second quarter GDP blew away consensus expectations of 3%, and the first quarter wasn’t quite as
The $56.5-million Morgridge Family Exploration Center, the latest addition to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS), has earned LEED-Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Photo by Rick Wicker, Denver Museum of Nature and Science The $56.5-million Morgridge Family Exploration Center is the second DMNS project to receive LEED Gold or higher. DMNS partnered with architecture firm klipp|gkkworks and general contractor GH Phipps Construction, both of Denver, on the five-story, 126,000-sq-ft addition, which opened to the public in February.“Earning LEED-Platinum certification allows the museum to continue its goal of informal education about sustainable practices,” said Elaine Harkins,
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved in June, increased again in July. The index now stands at 90.9 (1985=100), up from 86.4 in June. The Present Situation Index increased to 88.3 from 86.3, while the Expectations Index rose to 92.7 from 86.4 in June. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions improved in July. Those claiming business conditions are “good” edged down to 22.7% from 23.4%, while those stating business conditions are “bad” was virtually unchanged at 22.7%. Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was more favorable. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” increased to 15.9% from 14.6%, while those
The commercial real estate development industry grew at the strongest pace since the economic recovery began in 2011, according to an annual report on the state of the industry recently released by the NAIOP Research Foundation. The report, titled “The Economic Impacts of Commercial Real Estate,” determined that the economic impact realized by the development process rose 24% over the previous year, the largest gain since the market began to recover in 2011. Direct expenditures for 2013 totaled $124 billion, up from $100 billion the year before, and resulted in several economic contributions to the U.S. economy:• Total contribution to
The Chubbuck Diverging Diamond Interchange, which connects U.S. 91/Yellowstone Highway over the Interstate 86 system in Chubbuck, Idaho, has received the Idaho Transportation Dept.’s 2014 Excellence in Transportation Award in the Large Design category. ITD sponsors the Excellence in Transportation Awards to recognize outstanding initiatives in developing, planning and implementing transportation projects throughout the state.The project replaced an existing bridge, provided increased capacity for the current interchange and increased safety. Engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff worked closely with ITD District 5 to lay the groundwork for this innovative freeway interchange solution.PB provided preliminary engineering, which was then used to evaluate interchange types
Denver International Airport’s fourth solar array is now on-line, bringing the airport’s total solar-generating capacity to 10 MW. Photo courtesy of DIA The new solar array can offset an estimated 2,200 metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions per year. The Solar IV array is located on the north side of DIA’s property and can generate up to 2 MW, or 3.1 million kW-hours of solar electricity annually. The array has the capacity to offset an estimated 2,200 metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions each year and generate enough electricity to power about 500 typical Denver residences.The developer for the Solar IV project
The Colorado Dept. of Transportation started work on the Eastbound I-70 Peak Period Shoulder Lane (PPSL) project in mid-July. It will create a temporary eastbound express lane on I-70 between Idaho Springs and Empire. Completion for is scheduled for fall 2015. The project, part of CDOT’s comprehensive plan to improve travel in the I-70 Mountain Corridor, will upgrade 13 miles of Eastbound I-70 within CDOT’s existing right-of-way. The upgrades will create a wide shoulder that, during peak travel periods, will operate as a third travel lane as a tolled option for motorists.CDOT says the express lane will be “dynamically priced”
The patients were the celebrities when Children’s Hospital Colorado, the Ryan Seacrest Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation celebrated the late June opening of a new, state-of-the-art multi-media broadcasting studio at the Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Courtesy of GH Phipps TV personality Ryan Seacrest interviewed celebrities who attended the studio opening at his request, including members of the singing group Lady Antebellum. Patients walked or were assisted down a red carpet to get to the hospital atrium, where they could watch the curtains part on the glass-walled Seacrest Studio on the east side. Seacrest and his family attended the
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