For a second consecutive year, Illinois led all U.S. states in LEED-certified projects in 2014 on the basis of square feet per state resident, according to data compiled U.S. Green Building Council, the Washington, D.C.-based entity overseeing LEED certification programs.
A budget proposal by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker would borrow funds to support $1.3 billion in transportation projects over the next two years but delay construction of new buildings, including those in the University of Wisconsin System, to decrease overall levels of state borrowing.
Now that a small flotilla of barges has largely retreated, the main branch of the Chicago River no longer resembles a rush-hour jam on Lake Shore Drive.
Having long lagged other U.S. regions in economic recovery, the Midwest gained considerable momentum in 2014—welcome news to the region's construction industry.
Joel M. Carlins, co-chief executive officer with Chicago-based developer Magellan Group, spent his early years engaged in the intangibles inherent in the practice of law. Once a case or consultancy concluded, all that remained were files he stored in an office cabinet. Related Links: Owner of the Year 2011 Chicago Commission Greenlights 67-Story Residential Tower An encounter with the Salvation Army in the 1990s changed all of that. By then, Carlins had consulted building owners, designers and contractors, in addition to numerous area banks. He had also begun dabbling in construction, including the redevelopment of a rapid transit station. The
An environmental specialist who created three technical groups of more than 100 each, an architect who serves as global chair of social responsibility for a prominent design firm and an acclaimed marketing and branding expert are among the rising stars selected as ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40, an annual program recognizing young design and construction professionals from the region who have made significant contributions to their firms, professions and communities.
Illinois added 20,000 construction jobs in December, placing it among the nation's top five gaining states for a fourth consecutive month, according to year-over-year comparisons compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Texas (47,000 jobs), Florida (34,300) and California (26,000 jobs) placed stronger over the same period, AGC data indicate. Illinois also was among the top five gainers on a percentage basis, posting a 10% increase between December 2013 and 2014. Wisconsin added 12,400 jobs over the same period, placing it third among states on a percentage basis (12.7%). Illinois gained 6,000 jobs in month-to-month comparisons
After a precipitous slide in November, demand for design services in the Midwest eked its way back into positive territory in December, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA's Architectural Billing Index (ABI), reflecting the nine- to 12-month lead time between billings and construction, showed regional demand for design services rise to 50.8 in December, helping offset a slide from 54.4 to 49.8 between October and November. An ABI score of 50 or greater denotes growing demand for design services. The Midwest has demonstrated positive growth in six of the past seven months. By
Photo Courtesy Exelon Corporation EnergySolutions underestimated Zion's decommissioning cost by about $100 million. Related Links: EnergySolutions Inks Contract For Unique D&D Plan at Zion U.S. Nuclear Plants Provide Market Niche for Waste Disposal System Providers The company charged with decommissioning a nuclear powerplant in Zion, Ill.—among the largest undertakings of its kind in the nation—could face a financial shortfall before completing work on the $800-million project, according to Chicago-based former plant operator Exelon.Exelon officials indicated that, late last year, nuclear-waste management firm EnergySolutions informed them of a potential shortfall and how the company intended to address it. "They've kept us