July 11, 2016

Workers' Voices

Construction Workers Open Up About Their Careers

Craft workers and supervisors seek economic security and good working conditions

July 7, 2016

Craft workers and their supervisors at the jobsite are indispensable elements of construction success, yet they are little known as individuals.

Construction Workers' Voices

Operator Comes By Earthmoving Honestly

The joys and frustrations of civil construction

Mike Anderson

July 7, 2016

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Michael Sager grew up in the construction business.

Construction Workers' Voices

Coming Full Circle Back to Electrical Construction

A former addict recovers and returns to the building trades

Pam Hunter McFarland

July 7, 2016

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For some, construction is a vocation. For Tyrone Ferrens, a journeyman electrician working in the industry has literally been a lifeline.

Construction Workers' Voices

Female Carpenter Loves Rough-and-Tumble Work

A damaged knee, but a healthy spirit

Luke Abaffy

July 7, 2016

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Natasha Arnold is the only 5’1” female carpenter’s apprentice working on San Francisco’s Transbay Transit Center—the biggest transportation terminal on the West Coast.

Construction Workers' Voices

A Jack-of-All-Trades Finds His Niche in Construction

A former undocumented immigrant settles in to legal work with green card

Johanna Knapschaefer

July 7, 2016

2 Comments

Late one spring night, Jose Lopez jumped a 10-ft concrete wall at the U.S.-Mexico border at Tijuana carrying only the $600 he had saved for his crossing.

Construction Workers' Voices

A Tradeswoman Melds Style and Glamour With Ironwork

Retaining women, not recruiting them, is the real issue, says Blue Coble

Scott Blair

July 7, 2016

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Bored of her decade-long career as a graphic designer, Blue Coble of Phoenix ditched her desk job and picked up a wrench instead.

Workers' Voices

Rodbuster Is Obsessed With Continuous Improvement

The 'Rodfather' looks back on his early career as a construction worker

Nadine M. Post

July 7, 2016

One Comment

At the end of the first day Tony Gerde, then 22, worked as a rodbuster—carrying rebar like a pack animal—he went home a wreck—with bruised shoulders, raw skin and his body aching from head to toe.

Workers' Voices

Security Is the Reward for Carpenter and Foreman

Construction worker Maurice O'Connor builds interiors of N.Y. skyscrapers, landmarks

Richard Korman

July 6, 2016

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Maurice O’Connor has reached a satisfying place in life by building out the interior walls in Manhattan’s landmarks and skyscrapers.

Workers' Voices

Carpenter Quotes Dalai Lama to Reflect on Global Career

Oregonian Rex Symank, 66, shares job skills with a younger generation on a giant U.S. military base-construction project in South Korea.

Debra K. Rubin

July 6, 2016

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Rex Symank, 66, is sharing four decades of experience with a younger generation on the U.S. military’s largest-ever base-construction project in South Korea.

Workers' Voices

Worries About Being Passed Over for Young Apprentices

Thoughts from construction worker Dave Perkins, an industrial steamfitter

Thomas F. Armistead

July 6, 2016

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“Life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue,” Johnny Cash sang. Dave Perkins adds that it’s difficult for an older construction craftsperson too.

Workers' Voices

Construction Workers: Tennessee Boilermaker Has a Special Mentor

For Wendy Overeem, craft work is literally all in the family

Pamela Dittmer McKuen

July 6, 2016

2 Comments

Wendy Overeem of Tullahoma, Tenn., was exposed to the construction trades early in life.

Workers' Voices

A Passionate Ironworker Worries About Speed Over Quality

Foreman Vince Gurneau keeps his hands in the construction work

Bruce Buckley

July 6, 2016

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Vince Gurneau calls himself a “working foreman.”

Workers' Voices

Construction As a Second Career

A onetime barber turns to construction work

Louise Poirier

July 6, 2016

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Shariel Sanchez was a barber for roughly the first 15 years of his working life.

Workers' Voices

Creativity Triggered By Plumbing Systems

A construction worker who first started learning skills from his father

Scott Lewis

July 6, 2016

One Comment

Wayne Williams began picking up construction skills as a youngster helping his father, an independent contractor who built custom homes and additions.

Workers' Voices

Highway Concrete Tester Achieves New Longevity Record

A construction worker who is still on the job at age 77

Mark Shaw

July 6, 2016

When Terry Jacobsen showed up for this first day of work with the Idaho Transportation Dept. in April 1959, he wasn’t thinking about starting a career in the transportation industry. He was barely 20 years old and just needed a job.

Water Quality

Is Flint’s Drinking-Water Crisis Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

Natural Resources Defense Council analysis claims 5,000 U.S. water systems have not monitored lead and copper content

Pam Hunter McFarland

July 6, 2016

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Environmental group's new analysis cites lead and copper problems in 5,000 US drinking water systems, but EPA questions some report conclusions

A Seattle Seawall Rises With Shaking and Salmon in Mind

Aileen Cho

July 6, 2016

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While the saga of the tunnel-boring machine dubbed “Bertha” has dominated headlines, another controversial but crucial project is progressing right next to the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement work.

TBM 'Bertha' Finally Rolling Along on Big Seattle Tunnel Job

Tim Newcomb

July 6, 2016

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Bertha, the world’s largest-diameter tunnel-boring machine, sits at a low point in its 9,000-ft bore under downtown Seattle.

Johanna Knapschaefer

July 6, 2016

No Comments

This summer, two northeastern utilities have launched residential solar and energy-storage pilot projects, designed to reduce ratepayers’ electricity costs while improving the grid’s reliability.

Project Delivery

Why Dallas Called for Do-Over On Big Drainage Tunnel Project

An audit followed disqualification of Odebrecht Construction's low bid on Trinity River watershed job

Scott Van Voorhis

Richard Korman

July 6, 2016

No Comments

After discarding both the low and second-low bids, the city of Dallas has decided to start over with a competition for a big drainage-tunnel prime contract in the Trinity River watershed in the east section of the city.

US Firm Wins Israel Offshore Gas Contract

Neal Sandler

July 6, 2016

No Comments

Houston-based engineer Wood Group Mustang has won the first major contract to develop Israel’s huge Leviathan offshore natural-gas field.

Global Infrastructure

US Rises on Spend Index; Saudi Arabia and Australia Fall

Debra K. Rubin

July 6, 2016

No Comments

Despite uncertainty in an election year, the U.S. made the top 10 for the first time in a biannual ranking of 41 global markets for infrastructure investment potential, says the survey author, Holland-based design firm Arcadis.

Engineering Educators Elect First Black Woman President-Elect

Chicago Designer Alan Bombick Dies at 61

Debra K. Rubin

July 6, 2016

No Comments

Bevlee Watford, associate dean for academic affairs at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, has become the first black woman to be president-elect of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Construction Costs

Strong Market Belies Fears About Building Construction in 2017

Will economic and political uncertainties cloud the future of the buildings market?

Gary J. Tulacz

July 6, 2016

No Comments

The market has been robust for several years and continues to be so today. However, many firms worry that economic and political uncertainties are starting to cloud the future of the buildings market.

2016 2Q Cost Report

Construction Costs Absorb Two Big Hits This Quarter

Tim Grogan Bruce Buckley

July 6, 2016

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Two big events hit construction this quarter: Brexit—that is, the British vote to leave the European Union— and the U.S government’s decision to increase tariff duties on Chinese cold-rolled flat steel by 522%.

2016 2Q Cost Report

Top Staff Gets Top Dollar

Bruce Buckley

July 6, 2016

No Comments

Staff-level construction employees continue to see salary raises on the upswing.

Florida To Invest $620 Million To Improve Water-Supply Needs

July 6, 2016

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A Florida water cooperative has voted to seek state funding for three projects, totaling nearly $620 million in estimated cost, to address water-supply needs beyond 2035.

Experience Counts in New Architects’ Licensing Program

July 6, 2016

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A program by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) to guide architectural professionals through their early career stages now requires licensure candidates to document 3,740 hours of experience in six areas of architectural practice, rather than the previously stipulated 5,600 hours in 17 areas.

Relocating Florida Wastewater Plant To Cost $108 Million

July 6, 2016

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The city of Fort Pierce, Fla., is considering a plan to relocate a wastewater treatment plant to allow for the redevelopment of the site.

Corps Signs 20-Year Facility Repair Pact Worth $1.2 Billion

July 6, 2016

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has signed an agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority; the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, which represents regional utilities; and the U.S. Southeastern Power Administration, a federal hydropower marketing agency, to provide $1.2 billion over 20 years for the repair of hydropower facilities.

Power Transmission Line Gets New Lease on Life

July 6, 2016

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The developer of the Grain Belt Express—a 780-mile, $2-billion high-voltage direct-current transmission line to deliver renewable energy from Kansas to Indiana—has applied to the Missouri Public Service Commission for approval to cross the state.

Energy

U.S., Canada, Mexico Set New Joint Clean-Energy Goal

Tom Ichniowski

June 29, 2016

No Comments

Countries' leaders aim for clean energy to account for 50% of electricity generation by 2025, up from 37% in 2015.

Pam Hunter McFarland

Tom Ichniowski

July 6, 2016

No Comments

As the Interstate Highway System enters its seventh decade, last year’s five-year, $305-billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act will provide only a slight funding increase to address the system’s infrastructure needs.

Oil Giant Cuts Global Deal for Construction Software System

Tom Sawyer

July 6, 2016

No Comments

Shell signs enterprise managed service agreement with Bentley for 4/5D construction technology

Software Bridges Design and Construction

Luke Abaffy

July 6, 2016

No Comments

A new version of a cloud collaboration software is simplifying 3D virtual-reality walk-throughs for Oculus Rift and letting users do more with PDFs.

Product Snapshot: All Terrain Crane and Road Paver

Jeff Rubenstone

July 6, 2016

No Comments

DeWalt Unveils Dual-Voltage Battery Platform

Jeff Rubenstone

July 6, 2016

No Comments

DeWalt launches new dual-voltage battery platform for power tools

Viewpoint

Get Creative Engineering Juices Flowing

A leading engineering educator speaks out

Jeffrey S. Russell

July 6, 2016

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The ability to generate useful, feasible, patentable—and often surprising—concepts will be a defining competitive advantage, says a leading engineering educator

Construction Economics: July 11, 2016

July 6, 2016

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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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