Articles

  • CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT RISES BY 1,000 IN NOVEMBER AND 146,000 IN 12 MONTHS; SLOWING JOB GAINS MAY BE SIGN OF LABOR SHORTAGES, NOT SLUMPING DEMAND

    Construction employment increased by 1,000 jobs in November and by 146,000, or 2.0 percent, over the past 12 months, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said recent modest monthly increases in industry employment likely reflect the difficulty contractors are having in finding workers rather…

  • World’s largest hard rock water tunnel boring machine debuts in Dallas

    The City of Dallas unveiled the Big Tex tunnel-boring machine (TBM)  at the Mill Creek Drainage Relief Tunnel. The 38-ft by 230 ft long machine is the largest hard rock water tunnel boring in the world at the time tunneling begins. Big Tex will be used to dig a tunnel designed to provide flood protection for east…

  • Generational Diversity and Its Impact on the Construction Industry

    Family-owned businesses are the heart of the construction industry. Literally. It is the most frequently encountered ownership model in the world and impacts the global economy significantly. The generational leadership of a family business is credited for developing entrepreneurial talent, a sense of loyalty to business success, long-term strategic commitment, and corporate independence.   According…

  • Three firm leaders describe how to survive an economic downturn

    What can architects do to prepare for financially turbulent times? The last several years have seen a major boom in the architecture business, but now a period of slower growth indicated by the Architecture Billings Index is pointing toward an impending downturn. In preparation, three firm leaders—Tim Dufault, FAIA, president and CEO at Cuningham Group; Carole Wedge, FAIA,…

  • THE STATE OF THE PORT: PEOPLE MAKE IT POSSIBLE

    Port Houston Commission Chairman Ric Campo delivered the 2019 State of the Port Address at the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual event November 21. He reported solid revenues and tonnage numbers, and expectations for continued growth. He also emphasized that the success of the port is made possible by the people who work in the Port…

  • Houston Set to Lead the Way in Space Economy

    As the first word spoken by Apollo 11 astronauts from the surface of the moon in the summer of 1969, Houston has long been synonymous with space exploration.   Thousands of aerospace industry experts, entrepreneurs and government leaders gathered in Houston last week to address strategic issues impacting the commercial space industry at SpaceCom, the international Commercial Space…

  • AECOM weighs in on long distance Texas hyperloop construction

    In a presentation to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (CAMPO) Transportation Policy Board in Austin, Texas, AECOM’s Steven Duong updated the regional planning agency on high-speed transportation options between the Texas cities of Forth Worth and Laredo, with several stops along the Interstate 35 corridor. Scoring the highest in its evaluation was a hyperloop…

  • Sleep deprivation among U.S. workers a growing problem, study finds

    More than 1 out of 3 U.S. working adults aren’t getting enough sleep, and the prevalence of sleep deprivation has increased significantly since 2010, according to researchers from Ball State University. The researchers analyzed 2010-2018 data from more than 150,000 working adults who participated in the National Health Interview Survey to determine the frequency of short sleep…

  • OSHA Enforcement and Compliance Increases in 2019 To Keep America’s Workforce Safe

    The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) fiscal year (FY) 2019 final statistics show a significant increase in the number of inspections and a record amount of compliance assistance to further the mission of ensuring that employers provide workplaces free of hazards. OSHA’s enforcement activities reflect the Department’s continued focus on…

  • Good vibes: Research finds benefits of wearable tech device that vibrates to warn of hazards

    New wearable technology could help prevent struck-by and caught-between injuries and incidents, found a study from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas released last month by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR). The study outfitted workers with waist belts with vibrating motors to detect possible nearby hazards. The tactile system, designed to notify workers through…

  • YOU CAN LAUGH AT PERMITTING WORRIES IF YOU FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE 7 TIPS

    When the most gifted artist ever – Kanye West – is denied a building permit in Wyoming, do you toss up your hands and say, “if it happens to Kanye, how can I get my permit”.  Or do you shake your head from side-to-side and give up?  Or do you complain that jurisdictions are getting…

  • Technology and Innovation in Oil and Natural Gas Revolutionized Modern Life

    Few industries can match the rapid rise of technology and innovation of the Texas oil and natural gas industry. From the state’s first gushers to modern day hydraulic fracturing, a relentlessly pioneering spirit has been the driving force for the industry that has defined Texas. Over the decades, as technology evolved, game-changing innovations gleaned from…

  • State Legislators, Academics and Energy Executives Discuss Importance of Oil & Gas Midstream Sector at Kickoff Symposium for Lamar University’s Newly Created Center for Midstream Management & Science

    The importance of the midstream sector of the Texas oil and natural gas industry and its role in connecting record production of oil and natural gas to the downstream advances in refining and liquefaction technologies was examined today at the kickoff symposium for the newly created Lamar University Center for Midstream Management & Science. The…

  • New Master Subcontract Agreement by ConsensusDocs

    The ConsensusDocs Coalition just published the new Standard Master Subcontract Agreement Between Constructor and Subcontractor and the Standard Project Work Order. The master agreement (ConsensusDocs 755) provides the general terms and conditions between a Constructor (general contractor, design builder, construction manager) and a Subcontractor. The 755 addresses terms and conditions such as indemnification, notice requirements,…

  • DOD will start requiring contractors to meet cybersecurity standards next month

    The Department of Defense (DOD) will roll out its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) in January 2020 so that it can ensure contractors on government projects have the necessary cybersecurity practices in place to protect the controlled unclassified information (CUI) to which they are privy. The type of information the DOD is trying to protect includes data…

  • ExxonMobil, FuelCell Energy expand agreement for carbon capture technology

    Agreement to optimize carbonate fuel cell technology for large-scale carbon capture  ExxonMobil exploring opportunities to deploy technology within its operations  The agreement, worth up to $60 million, will focus efforts on optimizing the core technology, overall process integration and large-scale deployment of carbon capture solutions. ExxonMobil is exploring options to conduct a pilot test of…

  • $810M phase of Texas Rangers sports, entertainment district construction approved by Arlington council

    The Arlington, Texas, city council voted to continue its partnership with the MLB’s Texas Rangers, Loews Hotels & Co, a wholly owned subsidiary of Loews Corp., and The Cordish Cos., and is moving forward with an $810 million expansion of Arlington’s Entertainment District.   The city extended the term of the district’s Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which will help fund improvements…