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…

Gensler Designs Texas’ First Full Mass Timber Building in Fredericksburg

Gensler Designs Texas’ First Full Mass Timber Building in Fredericksburg

The first full mass timber structure in the nation to use southern yellow pine cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels is set for completion in September 2019. Designed by Gensler’s Dallas office, the First United Bank in Fredericksburg has the distinction of being the first full mass timber construction project to be completed in Texas as well…

STUDY: Texans want to ride the high-speed train!

As the Texas high-speed train moves closer to construction, demand is accelerating at high speeds, according to a recent comprehensive study of the entire alignment – the most comprehensive review ever conducted of the travel market between Houston and North Texas. As an investor-owned project, decisions are based on data, and Texas Central engaged one…

Texas A&M System partners with City of Houston to implement capital improvement and energy efficiency upgrades at Hobby and Bush Airports

Texas A&M System partners with City of Houston to implement capital improvement and energy efficiency upgrades at Hobby and Bush Airports

The Houston Airport System’s two international airports will undergo major infrastructure and equipment upgrades and much-needed renovations through a design and construction management agreement with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a member of The Texas A&M University System. The projects at William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport will reduce the…

Port Houston Takes Action to Accelerate Widening of Houston Ship Channel

Port Houston Takes Action to Accelerate Widening of Houston Ship Channel

Keeps Greater Interests of Houston Ship Channel at Forefront The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met in special session Monday and moved to accelerate widening of the Houston Ship Channel, the nation’s busiest waterway. “The Houston Ship Channel is open for business for all and will continue to be,” said Chairman Ric…

AI, robotics safety a bigger concern to construction industry than job security

AI, robotics safety a bigger concern to construction industry than job security

A Volvo Construction Equipment survey of 205 U.S. and U.K. construction workers found that 31% of respondents were fearful that artificial intelligence and robotics would replace them on jobsites. While that is a common conception about the technology, an even larger chunk, 46%, was concerned about perceived safety risks involved with that kind of machinery….

WHEN IS A PERMIT REQUIRED ON A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT?

WHEN IS A PERMIT REQUIRED ON A RESIDENTIAL PROJECT?

Many home repairs do not require a permit, yet like clockwork, this time of year in late Spring, our phones start ringing with questions about when a permit is needed.  From contractors to home owners and even house flippers, here are a few questions that we have answered. “We are widening our bathroom doors and…

ConocoPhillips Donates $1 Million to Support Data Science at the University of Houston

ConocoPhillips Donates $1 Million to Support Data Science at the University of Houston

ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) today announced a $1 million contribution to the University of Houston’s College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM) to help meet growing demand for data science education. This donation marks the first of several planned contributions by ConocoPhillips to support data science curriculum at multiple universities. The contribution to the University of…

OP-ED: Offshore Exploration Promises Jobs, Affordable Energy

OP-ED: Offshore Exploration Promises Jobs, Affordable Energy

Strong U.S. natural gas and oil production is revitalizing communities in state after state. It’s well-known that increased energy production has cut costs for families – at the pump and in-home utility bills. But leading the world in production has also given U.S. businesses a leg up, generating a manufacturing resurgence. To list just a…

Debt Collection, Part 3: Post-Judgment Remedies

Debt Collection, Part 3: Post-Judgment Remedies

Here we are at the final stage. You covered your bases during the pre-application process, decided to extend credit to the consumer, took steps to reduce your risk while the credit relationship was still good, followed the proper protocol when it came time to collect the debt, and won a judgment following a successful lawsuit….

US intelligence wants to develop tools to detect construction projects around the world

US intelligence wants to develop tools to detect construction projects around the world

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence’s Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) office has issued a draft grant offer for the development of a system that can detect construction activity worldwide. The announcement is part of the agency’s Space-based Machine Automated Recognition Technique (SMART) program. The new machine learning technology must have broad-area search functionality…

Women in the Workforce MARGARET WU: BREAKING BARRIERS

Women in the Workforce MARGARET WU: BREAKING BARRIERS

For me, overcoming professional barriers is all in a day’s – or life’s – work. I began my career in 1976 as the first woman with advanced degrees to work at ExxonMobil’s renowned research lab in Edison, New Jersey. Fast-forward to today, a few years after my retirement, and I am the first woman from…

How is big oil transitioning to power the future?

How is big oil transitioning to power the future?

Windmills. Electric cars. Solar panels. When the cost and performance of emerging technologies improves, incumbents get nervous. Eventually the oil age will end, and it won’t be because we’ve run out of oil. Something better will come along. Something cheaper. It’s inevitable, and the question is how the oil and gas companies of today become…

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…

House Bill 4342 Moves Ahead

House Bill 4342 Moves Ahead

Following an April 16 hearing, House Bill 4342 was approved by the House Public Education Committee the next day. HB 4342 now advances with the committee’s full support. HB 4342 would add a licensed architect to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) Board of Directors. TxSSC is the official, university-supported research center at Texas State whose mission is to…