The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) formally recognized METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert as the 2018 Outstanding Public Transportation Manager today. Lambert accepted the award during a luncheon at the organization’s national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. “It is a tremendous honor to receive this award from my peers. Through innovation and collaboration, our team works each day to improve…
In an attempt to take action following Hurricane Harvey, the City of Houston has taken an aggressive, accelerated and largely emotional response by adopting onerous building and drainage regulation changes that went into effect on September 1. In April, city council passed revisions to Chapter 19, the City’s Floodplain Ordinance, which dramatically increase regulations on…
By: Helen Callier I’ve met a few people this year that have struggled in one way or another in obtaining the necessary permits on highway construction projects. From forgetting to fully assess site conditions for Rock Quarry to having modular trailers that lacked State seal of approval to getting started later than planned with environmental…
What Is an OSHA Safety Plan? An OSHA Safety Plan is a written document that describes the process for identifying the physical and health hazards that could harm workers, procedures to prevent accidents, and steps to take when accidents occur. The written safety plan is your blueprint for keeping workers safe. Many organizations compile their…
The empowerment of women in business is a passion that Brenda Erickson has carried throughout a career that has spanned more than three decades. That passion recently earned her recognition as one of the Top 30 Influential Women in Houston. Brenda has mentored more than 100 colleagues through their careers at ConocoPhillips. Additionally, she has…
At a recent Congressional hearing, Congressman G.K. Butterfield (NC-01) brought to light a very serious issue that the National Association of Minority Contractors has been echoing for some time now. There is a digital divide between minorities as tech consumers versus minorities as entrepreneurs or employees. These differences cannot be ignored. On one hand, the…
Several industry surveys and reports forecast continued growth in the construction industry. Albeit, the growth shows a modest 4.8% increase, different from the double-digit growth in previous years. Regardless, there is still a general sense of optimism. With continued growth and positive outlook in the construction industry, what can possible be keeping construction executives up at night? Below, I touch on the top issues facing the construction industry in 2018. Unpaid work Of course, finances are one of the major issues that keep construction executives up at night. With a responsibility to ensure the livelihood of their employees and their families, it is…
Houston First Corporation has selected Rios Clementi Hale (RCH) Studios to redesign downtown Houston’s Jones Plaza, unveiling one of the first specific transformations proposed by the 2015 Theater District Master Plan. The Los Angeles-based RCH Studios prevailed in a two-stage selection process, beating out a group of finalists that included Hood Studio (Oakland, California); Office…
In 2009, the newly established Dallas Center for Architecture was featured in Architectural Record. The article, by former TA editor Stephen Sharpe, Hon. AIA, discussed the challenge of attracting people to the space. The solution was a faceted glass wall facing the storefront and lit by an “enigmatic sequence of intense colored light.” The center…
Roosevelt Petry, Jr., CEO and President of GP Industrial Contractors, Inc. in Port Arthur, Texas, is no stranger to hard work. Petry prides himself on his company’s dedication to serving the industry with true skill. GP Industrial Contractors, Inc. offers 24/7 customer service, completed with immediate response, competitive pricing, qualified personnel and upgraded equipment. GP…
The Texas Bullet Train is set to revolutionize the way Texans travel between the state’s largest metropolitan regions – North Texas and Houston – while bringing one of the greenest transportation technologies in existence directly to the Lone Star State! The all-electric Bullet Train embodies decades of applied research, continual improvement and energy saving technologies, making it one…
Due to continued strong growth in loaded containerized cargo, Port Houston has surged higher in the rankings of the top container ports in the United States. Port Houston, which has been expanding rapidly in recent years, has climbed to become the fifth largest container port in the U.S., according to JOC Piers data covering the…
In August of 2017, Hurricane Harvey dumped more than four feet of rain on Houston, inundating neighborhoods and upending thousands of lives. While METRO is best known for its transit services including bus, light rail, and vanpools, what some may not realize is the integral role METRO played in aiding emergency response efforts to the…
Looking to get started with your construction project on time? The building permitting tips and insights below from Helen Callier, Permit Us Now, Contributing Writer will assist you in positioning for success. Know the Jurisdiction Time is Key Stay Notified Bank on Changes Avoid Horror Story Suspense Hurts Start Early Procrastination Costs Use Smart Resources…
H-E-B continues its path toward becoming a dominant force in the digital retail space, announcing that it has signed a long-term lease for a building in East Austin. The largest privately-held employer in Texas will develop a world-class tech facility and innovation lab for its growing H-E-B Digital team and Favor, the Austin-based on-demand delivery service that is a…
AUSTIN – Texas oil and natural gas companies added 800 upstream jobs* in July, marking the 20th consecutive month of job growth, according to data from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Texas has recovered 43% of jobs lost between the high point in employment in December 2014 and the low point in September 2016. Since…
More than $3 billion in flood risk reduction and repair projects can move forward in Houston following a vote held on Hurricane Harvey’s anniversary that authorized a $2.5-billion bond program. Those bonds will be used to fund 237 projects, including three large detention basins across the county. “We’ve already received approval from court to start…
Houston, Texas is a city known for the opportunity it brings to both businesses and residents in affordability, landmass and employment opportunities that attract populations from across the state, nation and globe. Much like the build out methods taken historically in the leading Texas city of Dallas, Houston has been adding on and building out its infrastructure more widespread each year. This…
With the exception of Marfa, it’s a tall order to find modernist architecture gracing the vast horizon of West Texas. However, an announcement from the Museum of Texas Tech University indicates that will change, at least in Lubbock to start. Museum leadership has selected one of the most innovative architecture firms in the country —…
A longtime Houston artist collective has struck again. Dan Havel and Dean Ruck of Havel Ruck Projects have been creating deconstructive art installations for more than a decade, utilizing neglected buildings destined for demolition. Their projects are artistic interventions into the architectural framework of derelict structures, warping their tectonic or material fabric to create interactive,…
