In testimony before the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, the American Institute of Architect’s 2018 President Carl Elefante, FAIA, outlined critical steps the United States must prioritize in order to reduce greenhouse gases in the built environment. “The threat posed by climate change to our homes, cities, nation, and the planet…
Architecture
AIA Calls for Building Renovation, Stronger Building Codes at U.S. House Energy Subcommittee Hearing
Substantial Decline in Architecture Billings
Demand for design services in August took a markedly downward swing compared to July’s already soft score, according to a new report released today from The American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA’s Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score of 47.2 in August showed a significant drop in architecture firm billings compared to the July score of…
Demand for Design Services has Bolstered Compensation for Architects
Prolonged economic expansion, a near 50-year low unemployment rate, and a 40 percent increase in non-residential construction spending over the last several years has led to an increase in compensation for architects. Pay for architectural staff positions has risen by more than six percent per year since early 2017, according to the 2019 AIA Compensation…
AIA Outlines Initial Plan to Drive Climate Action
On the heels of announcing a landmark initiative to drive climate action, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is outlining an initial path forward for the organization and profession this morning in a new declaration, Where We Stand: Climate Action. “Climate change requires a holistic approach, addressing the interdependencies among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment,” said…
Contracting
Third Annual Teletrac Navman Construction Benchmark Report Shows Telematics Use Promotes Better Safety Outcomes
Teletrac Navman, a global software-as-a-service provider that leverages location-based technology for GPS tracking solutions, today announced findings from its 3rd Annual Construction Benchmark Report. The survey, which examined current issues influencing construction organizations, found as telematics adoption grows (90% in 2019 versus 79% in 2018), organizations are experiencing significant benefits, particularly around safety. Thirty-one percent say they…
Construction Input Prices Slide in September, Says ABC
Construction input prices fell 0.6% in September and are down 1.7% year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.7% for the month and are down 1.4% compared to the same time last year. Much of…
Procore Introduces Product Advancements at Groundbreak 2019 to Connect Everyone in Construction on a Global Platform
Procore Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of construction management software, today welcomed over 4,000 construction professionals to Groundbreak, the company’s annual conference that brings together everyone in construction for three days of networking, learning, and innovation. This year’s event highlighted Procore’s mission to connect everyone in construction on a global platform, with the introduction of product…
Dodge Momentum Index Posts Gain in September
The Dodge Momentum Index moved 4.1% higher in September to 143.6 (2000=100) from the revised August reading of 137.9. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by…
Energy
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,…
Dominion Energy Seeks Solar and Onshore Wind Generation Proposals
Dominion Energy is seeking bids for up to 500 megawatts of solar and onshore wind generation as part of a plan to develop 3,000 megawatts of additional solar and wind power under Virginia’s new Grid Transformation & Security Act (GTSA). The GTSA, which became law on July 1, 2018, paves the way for the largest…
Kings Mountain Energy Center Begins Operations
Cleveland County officially became home to one of the cleanest and most efficient power plants in the nation today, as NTE Energy’s Kings Mountain Energy Center (KMEC) formally began operations. Officials from NTE Energy joined with city, county, and state leaders Tuesday to cut the ribbon on the $500 million facility. The 475 MW natural…
Engineering
FMI Releases North American Engineering and Construction Outlook, Third Quarter 2019 Report
FMI Corporation, the leading provider of consulting and investment banking services to the Built Environment, is pleased to announce the release of its third quarter 2019 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. The publication offers comprehensive construction forecasts for a broad range of market segments and geographies in the U.S. and Canada, as well as…
Central Piedmont Community College’s New Student Complex Reflects Stewart’s Innovative Designs
Interdisciplinary design, engineering and planning firm Stewart is making an impact across the Carolinas. The firm recently reinforced its commitment to investing and growing in the community with the announcement of two new office locations in Columbia, South Carolina, and Wilmington, North Carolina, as part of its strategic growth plan. With existing office locations in…
Hussey Gay Bell Named 2019 ENR Top Southeast Design Firm
Hussey Gay Bell named to Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top Southeast Design Firms list – 1 of 19 Georgia firms to be recognized. Hussey Gay Bell is one of the region’s largest privately held companies and has grown considerably since its founding in 1958. With over 125 professionals in six offices throughout Georgia, South Carolina and…
Engineering Firm Revenues Expected to Rise
Engineering service revenues in the United States are forecast to advance 3.8% per annum in nominal terms through 2023, according to Engineering Services: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. Demand for services from domestic engineering service establishments is closely tied to domestic construction expenditures, which are forecast to rise 4.3% per year…
Equipment
Williams Scotsman to Acquire Acton Mobile
WillScot Corporation (NASDAQ:WSC) (“Williams Scotsman”) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement whereby Williams Scotsman International, Inc. will acquire the entity that owns Acton Mobile (ActonMobile.com) from Prophet Equity for a cash purchase price of $235 million, subject to customary adjustments. Brad Soultz, president and chief executive officer of Williams Scotsman, commented,…
EquipmentWatch Establishes New Standard for Standby and Idling Cost Calculation
EquipmentWatch, a leader in data, software, and insights for the heavy equipment industry, has expanded its Cost Recovery product to include hourly cost rates for standby and idling equipment. These new rates are a welcome addition to the standard Rental Rate Blue Book active use rates specified by the Federal Highway Administration, most state DOTs,…
Ritchie Bros. to Close Raleigh-Durham Location as Buyers Move Online
Construction and industrial equipment sales group Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Incorporated (NYSE:RBA) will be closing five locations across North America in a move to focus on online sales and larger locations. In an email to employees, Ritchie Bros. CEO Ravi Saligram said the closure of small sites comes as more people are taking part in auctions…
EquipmentWatch Announces Lowest Cost of Ownership Awards Winners
Today, EquipmentWatch named the winners of the 2017-2018 Lowest Cost of Ownership Awards. The announcement was made during the awards ceremony held during EquipmentWatch’s 1st annual customer conference, Traction. The winners represent the models, within their respective equipment types, with the lowest five year total cost of ownership and were identified using proprietary EquipmentWatch Ownership…
Facilities
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….
8 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…
Survey Reveals Majority of Facilities Teams Are Unprepared for Catastrophes
Survey statistics in the just released eBook, “Information Management for Facilities and Operations” show that building managers and their facilities teams aren’t as prepared for the next catastrophe as they’d like to be. Released by AIIM Market Research and ARC Document Solutions, the eBook highlights trends in facilities management on preparedness and recovery, including cloud…
Maintenance
Culvert Rehabilitation Project Features InfraSteel
The InfraSteel culvert rehabilitation solution is chosen by the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina for its Booker Creek Culvert at Elliot Road Rehabilitation Project. The InfraSteel slip-liner will preserve the existing failing bridge structure and avoid a road closure. According to InfraSteel executive Cullom Walker, “Elliot Road is busy and intersects heavily traveled US…
Products
Clemson’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute Celebrates Five Years Promoting “Wood is Good”
CLEMSON – Trees have provided a viable building material for centuries, and although steel and concrete have taken center stage in contemporary construction, lumber is making a comeback. Building with wood has a number of advantages. For the past five years, Clemson University’s Wood Utilization + Design Institute (WU+D) has been educating individuals in the Southeast about…
NC State Researchers Develop Technique to Characterize Strength and Failure of Cement
Researchers from North Carolina State University have, for the first time, used a “micropillar compression” technique to characterize the micro-scale strength of cement, allowing for the development of cement with desirable strength properties for civil engineering applications. “The information collected using this technique can be used to better understand the behavior of concrete when it…
Lumber Tariff to Impact Construction Costs
As construction material price are rising, the US Commerce Department took action that will contribute to an additional rise in the prices of a key building material. Wilber Ross, US Commerce Secretary has announced a new 20% tariff on imports of Canadian softwood lumber. The US currently imports about $5.66 billion worth of softwood lumber…
Culvert Rehabilitation Project Features InfraSteel
The InfraSteel culvert rehabilitation solution is chosen by the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina for its Booker Creek Culvert at Elliot Road Rehabilitation Project. The InfraSteel slip-liner will preserve the existing failing bridge structure and avoid a road closure. According to InfraSteel executive Cullom Walker, “Elliot Road is busy and intersects heavily traveled US…
Suppliers
Metromont Corporation to Acquire Shockey Precast Group
Metromont Corporation, a manufacturer of precast concrete materials, announces its plan to acquire Shockey Precast Group of Winchester, Va. “The Shockey Precast Group has an outstanding reputation. Don Shockey has built a quality operation and organization. Our culture and business models are very similar which will make for a smooth transition that’s beneficial to both…
Carolina Comfort Air Recognized as the #3 Top Volume Trane Dealer in the Nation
With a 4000% growth since 2007, Carolina Comfort Air was recently recognized among Trane’s top volume performers in the country. The award is based on purchase volume of Trane equipment in residential, light commercial, and new construction. Winners are selected based on their ability to implement Trane’s technical and business acumen, and they are required…
Acton Mobile Completes Asset Acquisition of Mobile Office Units from Mobile Mini
Acton Mobile (ActonMobile.com), America’s mobile facilities company, announced today the acquisition of Mobile Mini’s mobile office fleet in Tennessee. This is the second asset acquisition from Mobile Mini within the last two years. “In addition to Acton Mobile’s remarkable organic growth during 2016, this transaction will further accelerate our market penetration throughout Tennessee, North Carolina…
Culvert Rehabilitation Project Features InfraSteel
The InfraSteel culvert rehabilitation solution is chosen by the Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina for its Booker Creek Culvert at Elliot Road Rehabilitation Project. The InfraSteel slip-liner will preserve the existing failing bridge structure and avoid a road closure. According to InfraSteel executive Cullom Walker, “Elliot Road is busy and intersects heavily traveled US…
Sustainability
New Report from the U.S. Green Building Council Shows that Climate Action Requires Putting People First
A growing number of Americans believe environmental problems are an important issue, according to the latest research report from Living Standard, an initiative of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The report, called Standard Issue Volume II, sampled 1,850 adults across the U.S. and found that while most people believe environmental problems are important, they do not…
Ameresco Begins Phase Two of Energy Savings Project at the Medical University of South Carolina
–Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced that it has begun phase two of a comprehensive energy savings project at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), one of the nation’s top academic health science centers and the largest medical school in South Carolina. MUSC financed this project under an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) and…
AIA Outlines Initial Plan to Drive Climate Action
On the heels of announcing a landmark initiative to drive climate action, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is outlining an initial path forward for the organization and profession this morning in a new declaration, Where We Stand: Climate Action. “Climate change requires a holistic approach, addressing the interdependencies among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment,” said…
U.S. Green Building Council Report Reveals Prominence of LEED Certification Among Major Retailers Pursuing ESG Goals
Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released a new report, LEED in Motion: Retail, showing the prevalence of LEED certification in retail spaces around the world. LEED is used in more than 12,500 retail locations globally, allowing major brands like TD Bank, Starbucks, 7-Eleven and more to demonstrate achievement of ESG goals to their investors, customers…
More Operations
Third Annual Teletrac Navman Construction Benchmark Report Shows Telematics Use Promotes Better Safety Outcomes
Teletrac Navman, a global software-as-a-service provider that leverages location-based technology for GPS tracking solutions, today announced findings from its 3rd Annual Construction Benchmark Report. The survey, which examined current issues influencing construction organizations, found as telematics adoption grows (90% in 2019 versus 79% in 2018), organizations are experiencing significant benefits, particularly around safety. Thirty-one percent say they…
Construction Input Prices Slide in September, Says ABC
Construction input prices fell 0.6% in September and are down 1.7% year-over-year, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices fell 0.7% for the month and are down 1.4% compared to the same time last year. Much of…
Procore Introduces Product Advancements at Groundbreak 2019 to Connect Everyone in Construction on a Global Platform
Procore Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of construction management software, today welcomed over 4,000 construction professionals to Groundbreak, the company’s annual conference that brings together everyone in construction for three days of networking, learning, and innovation. This year’s event highlighted Procore’s mission to connect everyone in construction on a global platform, with the introduction of product…
Dodge Momentum Index Posts Gain in September
The Dodge Momentum Index moved 4.1% higher in September to 143.6 (2000=100) from the revised August reading of 137.9. The Momentum Index, issued by Dodge Data & Analytics, is a monthly measure of the first (or initial) report for nonresidential building projects in planning, which have been shown to lead construction spending for nonresidential buildings by…
