Generating a sustainable, solar-supported energy for a multi-purpose school that connects a small mountain community, redesigning a water treatment facility and helping a small community locate funding for a safe water supply, developing aerial technology that monitors power lines to predict and prevent outages, preserving a dam that helps power a community and restoring a river that revived an ecosystem and revitalized a community – these were among the innovative project solutions employed by the American Council of Engineering Cos. of Colorado’s 2014 Engineering Excellence Award winners. Photo courtesy of ACEC Colorado Crews reconstruct the downstream powerhouse buttresses at the
The campus-wide project to increase the operational efficiency of the University of Colorado’s campus utility systems in Boulder has achieved a major milestone. Photo courtesy of JE Dunn Construction The East District Energy Plant is one of the cornerstones of CUs campus utility upgrade project. More than 150 field workers and representatives from the project team celebrated the topping out on Nov. 11. The team includes JE Dunn Construction, Denver; Lutz, Daily & Brain LLC Consulting Engineers, Overland Park, Kan.; The RMH Group, a mechanical and electrical engineering firm based in Lakewood; and LOA Architecture of Denver. The last piece
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined moderately in September, decreased sharply in October. The Index now stands at 71.2 (1985=100), down from 80.2 in September. The Present Situation Index decreased to 70.7 from 73.5. The Expectations Index fell to 71.5 from 84.7 last month. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions declined moderately. Those claiming business conditions are “good” decreased to 19.0% from 20.7%, however, those claiming business conditions are “bad” edged down to 23.0% from 23.9%.Consumers’ appraisal of the job market was less favorable than last month. Those saying jobs are “plentiful” was virtually unchanged at 11.3%
McGraw Hill Construction, part of McGraw Hill Financial, recently released its 2014 Dodge Construction Outlook. The report predicts that total U.S. construction starts for 2014 will rise 9% to $555.3 billion, higher than the 5% increase to $508 billion estimated for 2013. “We see 2014 as another year of measured expansion for the construction industry,” said Robert Murray, McGraw Hill Construction’s vice president of economic affairs. “Against the backdrop of elevated uncertainty and federal spending cutbacks, the construction industry should still benefit from several positive factors going into 2014. Job growth, while sluggish, is still taking place. Interest rates remain very low
The Regional Transportation District staff recommended to the RTD Board of Directors on Nov. 5 to move forward with a proposal from Graham, Balfour Beatty, Hamon Constructors (GBBH) to design and build Denver's North Metro Rail Line to 124th Avenue. The proposal commits to completing construction of the line to 124th by January 2018. GBBH has proposed building out the complete North Metro Line to 162nd, but RTD staff is recommending that the first phase of the project be built to 124th with currently available funding. Building to 124th Avenue as a first phase serves the majority of projected ridership
Terracare Associates, a Lakewood, Colo.-based commercial landscape maintenance and public infrastructure management contractor, has signed a new public infrastructure contract with the city of Cottonwood Heights, Utah (pop. 34,017). The Cottonwood Heights City Council unanimously approved in September a 42-month contract with Terracare Associates to provide all public works services to the community, including snow plowing, street and sign repairs, concrete replacement and storm drain maintenance.Contractual agreements between the city of Cottonwood Heights and Terracare Associates began on Nov. 1.“We spent a great deal of time with the cities of Lone Tree and Centennial in Colorado, where Terracare currently provides
The U.S. General Services Administration’s James F. Battin U.S. Courthouse project in Billings, Mont., and the Federal Center South Building 1202 Redevelopment project in Seattle, Wash., won a Design-Build Project Award at the 2013 Design-Build Industry Conference and Expo held in early November. The Conference and Expo highlights exemplary projects that not only achieve budget and schedule goals, but that also apply innovative design-build techniques and include integrated project management best practices.The James F. Battin U.S. Courthouse received an Honor Award under the category of Civic Buildings, and Federal Center South Building 1202 Redevelopment project received a National Design-Build Award
The AGC of Colorado Industry Gala and ACE Awards was held at the Hyatt Regency on Nov. 1. Photo courtesy of AGC of Colorado Project of the Year - Haselden Construction LLC - University of Colorado Hospital New Inpatient Tower AGC honored winners as follows (ACE - 1st Place, Silver - 2nd Place, Bronze - 3rd Place):Contribution to the Community• ACE - Intermountain Electric Inc. – Emergency Power Recharging Stations Project• Silver - JR Butler - The Colorado Freedom Memorial• Bronze - Jordy Construction - Asian Pacific Development CenterMeeting the Challenge of a Difficult Job – Subcontractor• ACE - Ludvik
The American Institute of Architects Colorado North chapter recognized its 2013 architectural design and honor award recipients on Nov. 1 during a presentation at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art in Boulder. Photo by David Lauer Photography Honor Award Winner - Sunshine Canyon House, Boulder The following three architectural design awards were selected from 24 entries submitted by members of AIA Colorado North. The awards were presented by Jury Chair Jeffrey L. Day of Min | Day, Omaha, Neb. (Note: Honor awards are the highest achievement, followed by merit, then citation.)Honor Award for Residential: LargeSunshine Canyon House, Boulder, by renée
Charles Keyes, a structural engineer with Martin/Martin Inc., is the 2013 recipient of the ENR Mountain States Legacy Award, given to an individual who has contributed significantly to the regional architecture-engineering-construction sector and the community. Photo courtesy of Martin/Martin Inc. Chuck Keyes stands on the construction site of Denver's Currigan Hall in 1967, where he led the structural engineering design for its patented space-frame system. Related Links: AIA Colorado Honors 2011 Award Winners ACEC Scholarships Keyes, 72, is beginning a "phased retirement" after 45 years at the Lakewood, Colo., firm and its predecessors. He is best known for his structural
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