FERC approves fourth train at $14B Freeport LNG terminal

FERC approves fourth train at $14B Freeport LNG terminal

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approvedconstruction of a fourth liquefaction train at Freeport LNG’s $14 billionLNG export terminal in Freeport, Texas. Freeport LNG filed its FERC application in June 2017. The liquefaction unit, which is expected to become operational in 2023, will be similar to three others in various stages of completion at the Freeport site,…

Texas DOT proposes $8B highway plan, overhaul of I-35 through Austin

Texas DOT proposes $8B highway plan, overhaul of I-35 through Austin

The Texas DOT has unveiled an $8 billion plan this week that would revamp Interstate 35 through Austin and alleviate traffic congestion through the capital city, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The project would see the addition of two sections of managed lanes in each direction on I-35 — one 12 miles and the other…

How a better project experience will win you more jobs

How a better project experience will win you more jobs

Selling your company’s services to prospective clients is challenging. While there’s a strong market for construction work and plenty of jobs to be won, competition is fierce and it can seem like owners are fixated on price. It’s understandably hard to balance your commitment to quality and your desire to innovate in an industry built on bidding wars….

Austin Commercial to manage construction of $240M soccer stadium in Austin, Texas

Austin Commercial to manage construction of $240M soccer stadium in Austin, Texas

Precourt Sports Ventures, the primary investor and operator of the new Major League Soccer franchise Austin FC, has chosen general contractor Austin Commercial as construction manager for the club’s new $240 million stadium in Austin, Texas. Gensler has signed on as lead architect and CAA Icon will be the project manager and Precourt’s representative. Crews will break…

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT RISES BY 16,000 IN MARCH AND 246,000 FOR THE YEAR AS WEEKLY HOURS HIT NEW HIGH AND UNEMPLOYMENT A NEW LOW FOR MARCH

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT RISES BY 16,000 IN MARCH AND 246,000 FOR THE YEAR AS WEEKLY HOURS HIT NEW HIGH AND UNEMPLOYMENT A NEW LOW FOR MARCH

Hiring Rebounds from Losses in February, Suggesting Demand for Construction Remains Strong; Association Calls for Career Training Funding and Immigration Reform to Continue Growth Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in March and by 246,000 jobs, or 3.4 percent, over the past year, according to an analysis of new government data today by the Associated…

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT INCREASES IN 44 STATES FROM JANUARY 2018 TO JANUARY 2019; 33 STATES ADD JOBS IN LATEST MONTH AS ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN TRAINING

Forty-four states added construction jobs between January 2018 and January 2019, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that the employment gains may not last without an increase in the number of…

South Texas county backs $1.8B steel mill project with new reinvestment zone

South Texas county backs $1.8B steel mill project with new reinvestment zone

Commissioners in San Patricio County, Texas, took the first step last week in securing a $1.8 billion Steel Dynamics mill for the Corpus Christi area by voting unanimously to create a reinvestment zone that includes the approximately 2,500-acre piece of land on which the company would build the plant, according to The Corpus Christi Caller…

Shop class is back, ready to tackle the construction skills gap

Shop class is back, ready to tackle the construction skills gap

Shop class is making a comeback in Texas, where immigration enforcement has left the construction industry with a lack of skilled workers, Dallas News reported. The Dallas-Fort Worth area alone is short about 20,000 to 30,000 construction workers. Once cut from the curriculum in many high schools and community colleges, shop is back, with a focus on skills…

Houston leads construction job growth for the year ending October 2018

Houston leads construction job growth for the year ending October 2018

The Houston metropolitan area, according to an analysis of federal employment data by the Associated General Contractors of America, created 25,600 construction jobs — the largest number recorded out of 358 U.S. metros and a 12% increase — from October 2017 through October 2018. The construction industries in the Phoenix (16,700 jobs; 14%), Dallas (13,200; 9%) and…

Turner and U of H’s Successful Collaborative Construction Class

Turner and U of H’s Successful Collaborative Construction Class

Turner Construction Company and the University of Houston’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) department hosted their first collaborative Turner Advanced School of Construction Management program on October 23-25. The three-day course was based on the foundation of the Project Management Professionals Certification tailored specifically to construction. The course was hosted by James A. Brownrigg from Turner…

5 Ways to Engage your Organization to Improve Win Rate

5 Ways to Engage your Organization to Improve Win Rate

As Business Development Leaders we are responsible for identifying and vetting opportunities that are good for our business. How we move and the steps we take after can be the difference between winning and losing. So where do you start? You start with who and what you know. Tapping the employees within your organization and…

Three Tips to Land Big Tech Construction Contracts

Three Tips to Land Big Tech Construction Contracts

The tech boom has influenced more than cell phones and ride sharing. Big tech brands are bringing out the best in construction companies with their desire for bigger, cooler and technologically advanced buildings. As innovative structures push the construction industry forward, contractors show how creative they can be. The latest example of structural innovation can…

Smarter Construction Tools

Smarter Construction Tools

New hardware that integrates with smartphones or tablets is becoming invaluable for measurement and quality control on jobsites. With a focus on MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) system energy performance, I have found several new tools that are indispensable additions to anyone’s field kit. Beyond MEP, these gadgets can assist with a range of construction…

Three ways construction leaders harness digital transformation

Three ways construction leaders harness digital transformation

The construction industry is lagging behind others when it comes to digital transformation. Some construction firms “are still using paper-based processes that can only be described as archaic,” according to a 2016 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s Strategy&.1 The industry’s old-school ways mean contractors waste time and money mailing revisions to blueprints, tracking paper receipts and…

Six Essential Factors to Consider Before Buying Construction Equipment

Six Essential Factors to Consider Before Buying Construction Equipment

There is an increase in infrastructure projects, which is a good reason for construction businesses to have equipment that will help them finish the projects on time, without compromising the integrity of the built structure. If the equipment is no longer helping you achieve that goal, it is time to replace it. However, this is…