May 2/8, 2022 | Engineering News-Record

Top 500 Design Firms Add Value With DEI, ESG Support

Design firms say clients are having more conversations about long-term programs.

Emell D. Adolphus

Jonathan Keller

April 28, 2022

No Comments

As much as COVID-19 has led more firms to put a focus on digital innovation, ENR Top 500 design firms are also finding themselves having deeper discussions with clients about long-term design packages that help cut carbon emissions, execute ESG goals and meet diversity, equity and inclusion markers for stakeholders.

Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial/Senator Thomas ‘Mac’ Middleton Bridge

ENR Top 500 Design Firms Invest in Technology to Do More

Technology is helping firms rescope their services to add more value, execs say.

Emell D. Adolphus

April 28, 2022

No Comments

ENR Top 500 design firms look to technology investments to do more with less staff.

ENR Top 500 Design Firm Revenue Pushed by Private Equity

For the sixth consecutive year, total revenue for the Top 500-listed firms increased. A closer look at the numbers tells the full story.

Jonathan Keller

Emell D. Adolphus

April 28, 2022

No Comments

Top 500 listed firms backed by private equity show boosted buying power with increased acquisitions and market expansion.

Pick the Low-Hanging Fruit in Reducing Embodied Carbon

Ron Klemencic

April 27, 2022

One Comment

Sometimes the solution to a complex problem is right in front of our eyes. If we look at the issue of carbon reduction differently than we have so far, one opportunity lies in reexamining fundamental floor-loading assumptions.

Pulse: Project News for the Week of May 2, 2022

April 27, 2022

No Comments

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Bentley Digital Twin Used for Engineering Assurance on Fusion Reactor

Jeff Yoders

April 27, 2022

No Comments

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project involves 35 countries collaborating to build an electricity generation experiment that may lead to renewable energy produced through nuclear fusion, a potentially revolutionary power source.

First Carbon Capture, EV Minerals Funds in Canada New Budget

Scott Van Voorhis

April 28, 2022

No Comments

Federal 2022-23 budget, released last month includes first-time funding and incentives for projects to stem climate change impacts; Aecon, FCC Construccion head group awarded big Toronto rail electrification project

Miller & Long team pours concrete at Amazon HQ2 2.JPG

Sustainable Materials

American Concrete Institute Pushes Toward Greener Concrete

ACI says new initiative will help concrete sector lower material's embodied carbon

Emell D. Adolphus

April 18, 2022

No Comments

The NEU center will play an integral role in the American Concrete Institute's goal of making the concrete sector carbon neutral by 2050.

Largest-Ever US Dam Removal Project Gets Federal Agencies' Nod

Undertaking is considered a proof-of-concept for similar large efforts

Mary B. Powers

April 21, 2022

4 Comments

Kiewit would start $445M Klamath River work next year to take down four dams in Oregon and California after FERC and Interior Dept. sign off on key environmental review.

FERC Propels Landmark Revamp of US Power Transmission

Mary B. Powers

April 24, 2022

No Comments

In a bipartisan approval April 21 of a proposed framework to plan and pay for new and upgraded US grid capacity to link booming clean power projects, the federal energy regulator aims to involve states up front and expand infrastructure planning to a 20-year-ahead cycle.

Caltrans to Break Ground on Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

Greg Aragon

April 18, 2022

One Comment

Caltrans is preparing to break ground on a massive wildlife crossing that will span 10 lanes across the busy 101 Freeway in western Los Angeles County.

Companies

KBR, Jacobs Settle Long-Running Power Plant Contract Dispute

Mary B. Powers

Debra K. Rubin

April 19, 2022

No Comments

Firms reach financial agreement over fixed-price project subcontract at giant Australian LNG site that was terminated by design-build firm CH2M, now a Jacobs unit, in 2017.

Companies

Bechtel Launches Manufacturing, Technology Business

Tom Ichniowski

April 12, 2022

One Comment

Former CFO Catherine Hunt Ryan will run unit, with target construction markets that include semiconductors, electric vehicles and data centers.

Richard Humann, CEO of H2M Architects + Engineers

Liability

Key Flint Negligence Lawsuit Witness Seeks to Drop Trial Role

H2M CEO found himself in awkward position after Veolia's acquisition of Suez

Richard Korman

April 28, 2022

No Comments

A potentially damaging witness seeks to avoid testifying against his company's own client.

Federal Policy

New NEPA Rule Restores Added Infrastructure Project Scrutiny

Phase 1 of changes to law governing environmental reviews still are narrow in focus, says one expert.

Pam McFarland

April 19, 2022

No Comments

White House reinstates required environmental review of project "cumulative impacts" that were removed by the Trump administration.

Safety

UK Government, Builders Reach $3B Deal for Fire Upgrades to Towers

Peter Reina

April 14, 2022

No Comments

Agreement with at least 35 large residential developers will cover cost of fire protection measures in unsafe buildings more than 11 m tall on which they worked over the last 30 years.

Project Delivery

Iowa Governor Weighs Bill To End Design-Build Carveout

Legislation would no longer allow universities to use DB

Jeff Yoders

April 16, 2022

One Comment

In Iowa, CM at-risk would be allowed on all vertical construction but universities could not use DB project delivery, under state legislation passed by both houses.

Smart Road Pilot P3 Gets Green Light in Kansas

Aileen Cho

April 21, 2022

No Comments

Integrated Roadways will install smart pavement blocks at interchanges in the city of Lenexa, Kan.

Maryland's Purple Line Readies for Restart

Light rail project spins back up with new financing arrangement

Jim Parsons

April 22, 2022

One Comment

New financing sources and design-build team are in place; cost increases by 75%.

Blaze Destroys Wood-Framed Hotel Project in California

C.J. Schexnayder

April 14, 2022

No Comments

Investigators said fire was abetted by the lack of fire-rated materials in the structure, part of a $100-million development in Camarillo set to open later this year.

Legal

Contractor Disputes Report Amid Amazon Warehouse Collapse Lawsuit

Area first-responder concedes report highlighted by wrongful death case lawyer was only preliminary

James Leggate

April 18, 2022

No Comments

The lawyer representing the family of a worker killed in the Dec. 10 disaster highlighted a report by an engineer who joined rescue efforts.

Pensacola Bay Bridge Passes Piledriving Milestone

Jim Parsons

April 27, 2022

No Comments

Delayed Pensacola Bay Bridge project heads toward completion.

Transportation

Feds OK Continued Study of New Chesapeake Bay Crossing

Jim Parsons

April 25, 2022

One Comment

Maryland has received federal approval to conduct an environmental study to help find a location for a new Chesapeake Bay crossing.

Sports Construction

Prospects Appear to Worsen for Restart of Stalled NFL Facility

Carolina Panthers say team has pulled out of project

Jim Parsons

April 20, 2022

No Comments

The Carolina Panthers football team is terminating a contract with the city of Rock Hill, S.C., for an $800-million headquarters and training facility.

Regulations

OSHA Moves to Oust Arizona Worker Safety Enforcement, Administer Federal Standards

James Leggate

April 20, 2022

No Comments

OSHA says Arizona has been delinquent in adopting national safety standards since 2015.

Federal Contracting

IIJA Buy America Guidance Draws Flak From AGC

Tom Ichniowski

April 18, 2022

One Comment

Associated General Contractors of America criticizes required waiver provisions in new guidance, while U.S. steel groups applaud efforts to bolster purchases of U.S.-made building materials.

Construction Economics for May 2, 2022

April 27, 2022

No Comments

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

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Our Publications

ENR

May 2/9, 2022

Cover Story

Top 500 Design Firms Add Value With DEI, ESG Support

ENR Top 500 Design Firms Invest in Technology to Do More

ENR Top 500 Design Firm Revenue Pushed by Private Equity

News

Pick the Low-Hanging Fruit in Reducing Embodied Carbon

Pulse: Project News for the Week of May 2, 2022

Bentley Digital Twin Used for Engineering Assurance on Fusion Reactor

First Carbon Capture, EV Minerals Funds in Canada New Budget

American Concrete Institute Pushes Toward Greener Concrete

Largest-Ever US Dam Removal Project Gets Federal Agencies' Nod

FERC Propels Landmark Revamp of US Power Transmission

Caltrans to Break Ground on Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing

KBR, Jacobs Settle Long-Running Power Plant Contract Dispute

Bechtel Launches Manufacturing, Technology Business

Key Flint Negligence Lawsuit Witness Seeks to Drop Trial Role

New NEPA Rule Restores Added Infrastructure Project Scrutiny

UK Government, Builders Reach $3B Deal for Fire Upgrades to Towers

Iowa Governor Weighs Bill To End Design-Build Carveout

Smart Road Pilot P3 Gets Green Light in Kansas

Maryland's Purple Line Readies for Restart

Blaze Destroys Wood-Framed Hotel Project in California

Contractor Disputes Report Amid Amazon Warehouse Collapse Lawsuit

Pensacola Bay Bridge Passes Piledriving Milestone

Feds OK Continued Study of New Chesapeake Bay Crossing

Prospects Appear to Worsen for Restart of Stalled NFL Facility

OSHA Moves to Oust Arizona Worker Safety Enforcement, Administer Federal Standards

IIJA Buy America Guidance Draws Flak From AGC

Construction Economics

Construction Economics for May 2, 2022

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