When McKinsey released a report in February 2017 about construction’s productivity gap, much attention was given to the industry’s abysmal 1% annual productivity growth rate, which is less than half of the 2.8% global construction growth rate. However, McKinsey’s report said U.S. contractors could increase productivity in part by “infusing digital technology, new materials and…
Natural gas has become the No. 1 fuel source for electricity generation in the U.S. As a result, increased use of natural gas and other lower-carbon energy sources is driving down overall emissions. Specifically, from 2005 to 2016, the U.S. has reduced its CO2 emissions from power plants by 24 percent while increasing its power generation by 1…
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…
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…
Construction growth remains sluggish; for architects, embracing technology’s role in the numbers, as well as in design, can make a difference The economy continues to be strong overall, yet construction continues the two-steps-forward-one-step-back momentum it has seen for most of the recovery. According to the latest data analyzed by ConstructConnect, the overall economy weakened in the first…
From Arup to SimpsonHaugh and Partners, architects are reaping the efficiencies of automated design. AIA partner Bentley Systems explores what’s happening and what’s to come. As most designers know, architecture is a blend of art and science. The architectural design process requires the designer to synthesize a lot of varied information and evaluate all possible ideas. Automated…
Port Houston held a small business forum focused on doing business with the port’s maintenance services team Sept. 27. Senior Director of Maintenance Paulo Soares shared some of the port’s best practices and procedures for procuring operations and equipment-focused contracts. The port’s maintenance department is responsible for the purchase, support and repair of terminal equipment,…
Salini Impregilo brings global experience, having built more than 4,000 miles of railway infrastructure, and will lead civil construction consortium Selection of multinational civil engineering contractors strengthens civil construction group for Texas line Announcement marks latest addition of expertise on America’s first high-speed train project Texas Central, developers of the high-speed train, has engaged the…
In 2015, women accounted for only 2.2% of production occupations in construction, which is one-sixth the level of “all other industries.” One of the challenges facing women in the construction industry is finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. This is a serious issue because PPE that does not fit properly will not adequately protect…
At first glance, the concept of the “fatal four” may sound like a scare tactic implemented by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) to keep construction workers on their toes. However, these four hazards accounted for nearly 64% of construction worker deaths in 2016. OSHA has even determined that eliminating the risks of the…
With hundreds of billions of dollars and many more construction opportunities on the horizon for contractors, some jurisdictions are scrambling to handle the work load for plan reviews to issue building permits. And with recent hurricane-impacted areas along the Florida Gulf Coast and in the Carolinas, jurisdictions will become even more stretched. For contractors with…
ExxonMobil today said it will join the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), a voluntary initiative representing 13 of the world’s largest oil and gas producers working collaboratively toward solutions to mitigate the risks of climate change. The CEO-led organization focuses on developing practical solutions in areas including carbon capture and storage, methane emissions reductions and…
Natural gas – it heats our homes, powers our appliances, generates electricity and can even fuel vehicles. This versatile and abundant resource is helping to drive a manufacturing renaissance across America and contributing to emissions reductions all over the world. Though natural gas is in the news quite a bit, many people only associate it with home…
You’re an engineer on a tight schedule to design a power supply for a robot that will automate a factory. Or maybe you’re designing the power supply for an automotive braking system. Or a remote-controlled toy airplane. Or a smartphone. You’ve got decisions to make. You need a switching regulator for DC/DC conversion, but there…
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…
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…
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…
According to the US Energy Information Administration, buildings account for 44.6 percent of United States CO2emissions. As the architects who design those buildings, how can we continue to protect the world we care about? And what can architecture firms do to help? Thomas Jacobs, AIA, has been working on those very questions. As the past chair…
Last fall, AIA held a two-day summit called the Practice Innovation Lab (PIL). Hosted by the Young Architects Forum, emerging professionals from around the country met to develop new models for architectural practice in intensive team-based charrettes that yielded surprising results. Chief among the conclusions was that the next generation of architects will not be content to settle for…
Turner Construction and the University of Houston, specifically the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) department, recently partnered together for the renovation of the newly renamed Fertitta Center as well as for the Turner Advanced School of Construction Management program. The HUB program at the University of Houston was established to assists HUBs in the bid process…
