Architecture
McMillan Pazdan Smith Honored with the Firm Award by AIA South Carolina
McMillan Pazdan Smith has received the highest honor that AIA South Carolina can award an architecture firm. The “Firm Award” recognizes a firm that exemplifies the very best of the profession. Before bestowing this award, the AIA South Carolina Board of Directors considers a firm’s body of work, their contribution to the profession, and service in the community….
If Buildings Could Talk 2: Celebrating 60 Years with Children’s Book Giveaway to Community Organizations
In celebration of World Architecture Day, we set out on an exciting mission to celebrate Little’s 60th anniversary by sharing the joy of design and sustainability with future generations through our “60 Books to 60 Organizations” initiative. What began as a goal to donate 60 books quickly grew beyond expectations, and we are thrilled to…
ABI August 2024: Architecture firm billings continue to decline
It has now been nearly two years since firms saw sustained growth. However, clients are still expressing interest in new projects, as inquiries into work have continued to increase during that period. However, those inquiries remain challenging to convert to actual new projects in the pipeline, as the value of newly signed design contracts declined…
Contracting
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in September, Contractor Confidence Improves
Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.6 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. The reading is down 0.4 months from September 2023. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog increased in every region except…
Nonresidential Construction Spending Inches Up in August, Says ABC
National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.22 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending decreased 0.1%,…
Construction Starts Increase 6% in August
Total construction starts rose 6% in August to a seasonally adjust annual rate of $1.2 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Residential starts rose 5%, nonbuilding starts gained 17%, while nonresidential buildings fell 2% in August. On a year-to-date basis through August, total construction starts were up 4% from the first eight months of 2023. Residential…
Energy
The Built Environment Blunder Causing Significant Carbon Emissions
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that, as of 2021, buildings consume 39.1% of U.S. energy and 75% of electricity,(1) which accounts for 16% of carbon emissions.(2) Creating a comfortable indoor environment by providing adequate light and temperature control uses most of this energy. Buildings that effectively insulate from moisture and wind while allowing fresh…
Duke Energy Awards $3.2 million to Innovative Education Programs
Duke Energy announcedit is awarding $3.2 million in grants to support 131 innovative K-12 education programs across the communities served by the company. “Bright futures begin in the classroom, and every child deserves a fair chance at academic success,” said Cari Boyce, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. “The grants we are making today are…
USGBC Launches LEED Zero Certification for Net-Zero Buildings
USGBC’s new certification program encourages net-zero operations for carbon emissions, water and energy use, and waste management. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched LEED Zero, a new program that will address net zero operations and resources in buildings. “Net zero is a powerful target that will move the entire industry forward,” said Melissa Baker,…
Engineering
Why Do You Need a Geotechnical Report?
Imagine this scenario: You find a great deal on a piece of land in a prime location and even have a potential tenant lined up. As you’re wrapping up your due diligence period, you are asked about a geotechnical report. You do some digging and find out it’s required for the deal to close. Worse…
HNTB Expands in the Carolinas with New Charleston Office
HNTB, a leading infrastructure solutions firm, has opened a new office at 4922 O’Hear Avenue, Suite 203, in the Garco Park development near Park Circle in North Charleston, bringing together professionals from planning, architecture and engineering. To celebrate its new Charleston-area office, HNTB hosted an open house attended by employees, clients, partners, local small businesses—including…
Structura Announces Acquisition of Fitzpatrick Engineering Group
The merger expands the firm’s Charlotte presence & their expertise in the healthcare, commercial, & industrial markets. Structura,Inc., a consulting structural engineering firm with offices in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina, proudly announces the acquisition of Fitzpatrick Engineering Group (FEG), a Charlotte-based structural engineering firm specializing in the healthcare, commercial, and industrial sectors. After opening a…
Equipment
Compass Group Invests in South Carolina Bridge Infrastructure Equipment Provider
Compass Group Equity Partners, a St. Louis-based private equity firm specializing in growing lower middle market companies, announced an investment in Anderson UnderBridge, a manufacturer and rental operator of mobile bridge inspection trailers and trucks utilized in the inspection and maintenance of bridge infrastructure. This partnership is the first step in the creation of a full-service…
Absolute Powerhouse: Next-Generation 2022 Toyota Tundra
With a plethora of adventure-ready, go-anywhere, been-anywhere vehicles cementing its foundation, the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra is born from a lineage of trucks and SUVs rooted in quality, durability and reliability. Its predecessors hit the million-mile mark on more than one occasion thanks to a team of engineers who built the truck above and beyond…
Caterpillar to Expand Hydrogen-Powered Solutions to Customers
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today announced it will begin offering Cat® generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen, including fully renewable green hydrogen, on a designed-to-order basis in late 2021. More immediately, the company will launch commercially available power generation solutions that can be configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25% hydrogen. These…
Facilities
Building, Supporting, Maintaining: Harper Announces New HarperXS Division
Harper General Contractors has long been a leading innovator in construction services in the Southeast. As they continue to evolve, Harper has seen the importance of pursuing new opportunities to grow and provide even more value to their clients and community. In 2015, Harper leadership saw a need to provide their current and future clients…
Eight Reasons Why You Need to Have Annual Plumbing Checks
Running a business can be a daunting feat. New problems will catch you off-guard and sometimes all you can really do is take the bull by the horns, and hope that everything will return to normal. Even a short business interruption can mean losing thousands of dollars! A business owner keeps an eye on the…
Five Electrical Safety Tips for Commercial Buildings
To some, a workplace may feel like a second home. It’s a place where employees form bonds and battle hardships together. Whether you’re a company CEO, a higher-up, or the owner of a commercial building, keeping your establishment a safe place for everyone will increase their productivity and give you peace of mind as well….
Products
Hess Announces New Mini Toy Truck Collection
Construction vehicle featured in 2024 collection. Hess Corporation announced the release of the newest Mini Toy Truck Collection for $35.99 with free standard shipping and Energizer® batteries included, exclusively at HessToyTruck.com. The annual release of the Hess Mini is a limited-production set of highly detailed, small-scale versions of classic holiday Hess Toy Trucks. This year’s 5-in-1 set includes a mix…
Carhartt Force Sun Defender™ Series Enhances UV Protection, Outworks the Heat
To help all hardworking people stay cool, fight sweat and stay protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays, Carhartt, America’s premium workwear brand since 1889, has launched the Force Sun DefenderTM series – its lightest performance gear solution to battle the heat and sun. The Force Sun DefenderTM line combines the workwear brand’s trusted durability with UV protection tough…
Championing Women in the Skilled Trades, Wolverine Launches Woman-Made
In time for Women’s History Month, Wolverine Boots and Apparel, the 140-year-old boot maker, has launched Woman-Made, spotlighting the remarkable accomplishments of women in the skilled trades. Rooted in a rich legacy of honoring the American worker, Wolverine aims to build a more inclusive future through an effort to add “woman-made” to the dictionary. Debuting today, the campaign’s anthem…
Suppliers
Hess Announces New Mini Toy Truck Collection
Construction vehicle featured in 2024 collection. Hess Corporation announced the release of the newest Mini Toy Truck Collection for $35.99 with free standard shipping and Energizer® batteries included, exclusively at HessToyTruck.com. The annual release of the Hess Mini is a limited-production set of highly detailed, small-scale versions of classic holiday Hess Toy Trucks. This year’s 5-in-1 set includes a mix…
FMI Advises Appalachian Insulation Supply and Wolf Pak Transport in Sale to Cameron Ashley Building Products
FMI Capital Advisors is pleased to announce the sale of Appalachian Insulation Supply, Inc. (AIS) and Wolf Pak Transport, LLC to Cameron Ashley Building Products (Cameron Ashley), a portfolio company of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. FMI Capital Advisors served as the exclusive sell-side financial advisor to AIS and Wolf Pak Transport for this transaction. Based…
Colony Hardware Announces Acquisition of New South Construction Supply
Colony Hardware, Corp. (“Colony” or the “Company”), a leading direct-to-jobsite distributor of construction materials and jobsite supplies, has announced the acquisition of New South Construction Supply, LLC (“New South”), a South Carolina-based value-added distributor of rebar, concrete, masonry, waterproofing products, and contractor supplies. “Bringing New South Construction Supply and Colony Hardware together is impactful in…
Sustainability
Dennis Quaid-hosted Viewpoint Project Reviews Sustainable Technologies with Industry Leaders in Building Sciences and Architecture
Viewpoint, the acclaimed educational program hosted by renowned actor Dennis Quaid, is thrilled to announce a series of upcoming episodes for the latter half of 2024, dedicated to exploring sustainable technologies in building sciences and architecture. By partnering with leading content providers and industry experts, Viewpoint Project reviews the latest advancements and best practices in sustainable…
Responding to Growing Demand, Duke Energy, Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor Execute Agreements to Accelerate Clean Energy Options
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Nucor today announced agreements to explore new and innovative approaches to support carbon-free energy generation and help utilities serve the future energy needs of large businesses in North Carolina and South Carolina. The announcement was made at the White House Summit on Domestic Nuclear Deployment. In memorandums of understanding (MOUs) signed…
Cemex and MPP Collaborate to Accelerate Decarbonization Projects
Cemex and the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), in partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, are collaborating to conduct an analysis of the potential of decarbonization levers at Cemex’s Balcones cement plant in Texas. This analysis aims to accelerate Cemex’s commitment to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. There are various technological pathways to decarbonize the cement industry and MPP is assisting…
More Operations
McMillan Pazdan Smith Honored with the Firm Award by AIA South Carolina
McMillan Pazdan Smith has received the highest honor that AIA South Carolina can award an architecture firm. The “Firm Award” recognizes a firm that exemplifies the very best of the profession. Before bestowing this award, the AIA South Carolina Board of Directors considers a firm’s body of work, their contribution to the profession, and service in the community….
If Buildings Could Talk 2: Celebrating 60 Years with Children’s Book Giveaway to Community Organizations
In celebration of World Architecture Day, we set out on an exciting mission to celebrate Little’s 60th anniversary by sharing the joy of design and sustainability with future generations through our “60 Books to 60 Organizations” initiative. What began as a goal to donate 60 books quickly grew beyond expectations, and we are thrilled to…
ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Rebounds in September, Contractor Confidence Improves
Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.6 months in September, according to an ABC member survey conducted Sept. 20 to Oct. 4. The reading is down 0.4 months from September 2023. View the full Construction Backlog Indicator and Construction Confidence Index data series. Backlog increased in every region except…
Nonresidential Construction Spending Inches Up in August, Says ABC
National nonresidential construction spending increased 0.1% in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $1.22 trillion. Spending was up on a monthly basis in 10 of the 16 nonresidential subcategories. Private nonresidential spending decreased 0.1%,…
