Articles

  • Issues Facing Construction

    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…

  • Rios Clementi Hale Studios Selected to Redesign Houston’s Jones Plaza

    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…

  • Dallas Center for Architecture Moves Downtown and Rebrands as “AD EX”

    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…

  • Joining the Elite: GP Industrial Contractors, Inc. Receives ISO 9001 Certification

    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…

  • Transportation & The Texas Environment — It’s About Time For A Better Way

    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…

  • Port Houston Jumps to Top 5 U.S. Container Ports

    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…

  • Ready for the Next Harvey

    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…

  • FIVE WAYS TO GET YOUR BUILDING PERMIT FASTER

    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 announces plans to develop a world-class tech facility in Austin

    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…

  • Houston Bond Issue Jump-Starts 237 Flood Control Projects

    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…

  • The State of Houston’s Rebound – How Smart-Growth is Helping the City Grow Up, Not Out

    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…

  • Morphosis Tapped to Design Texas Tech Universiteum

    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 —…

  • Havel Ruck Projects’ Open House in Sam Houston Park

    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,…

  • DFW Airport Receives DOT Commitment for $180 Million U.S. Secretary of Transportation presents Letter of Intent for infrastructure projects

    Subcontractors USA News Provider Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport recently received a Letter of Intent from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) committing up to $180 million in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funding for two end-around taxiway systems. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao delivered the Letter of Intent to the airport in person, underscoring the importance…

  • Lime Rock Resources to Acquire Oil and Gas Producing Properties in Texas

    Subcontractors USA News Provider Lime Rock Resources, acquirers and operators of producing oil and gas properties in the United States, announced recently that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire oil and natural gas properties primarily in Montague, Wise, Denton and Cooke Counties in Texas for approximately $230 million, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. The transaction represents Lime Rock Resources’ first…

  • Natural Gas: Fueling the Future

    Subcontractors USA News Provider ExxonMobil Chairman and CEO Darren Woods recently offered opening remarks at the World Gas Conference in Washington. It was fitting that this year’s event took place in the United States. After all, the U.S. is both the world’s largest consumer and producer of natural gas. New supplies from America’s shale revolution…

  • ExxonMobil Starts Up New Ethane Cracker in Baytown, Texas

    Subcontractors USA News Provider ExxonMobil said today that operations have commenced at its new 1.5 million ton-per-year ethane cracker at the company’s integrated Baytown chemical and refining complex. The new cracker, part of ExxonMobil’s Growing the Gulf Initiative, will provide ethylene feedstock to new performance polyethylene lines at the company’s Mont Belvieu plastics plant, which…

  • Tips for a Successful Young Professionals Event

    Subcontractors USA News Provider So you know you want to attract, retain and add value to the young professionals in our industry, but where do you begin? How do you get them interested and engaged? Young Professionals (YP) is a versatile term. A Young Professional can be: someone right out of high school or college…