Construction backlogs in the Midwest declined by 13%, from 6.34 months to 5.51 months, in the first quarter of 2013, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The period marked the second consecutive quarter of declining backlogs in the region, a trend ABC attributes to slow growth in states such as Illinois and Wisconsin. “The economies of those two states are among the most fragile in the nation,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.At present, Midwest backlogs are at their lowest levels in three years, according to ABC data. All other regions showed positive growth
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday announced plans to construct a $173-million stadium for DePaul University's Blue Demons adjacent to McCormick Place, the city's largest convention center. The stadium, slated to break ground next year, is part of a city initiative to create an entertainment and tourist district near McCormick Place. In addition to restaurants, the program envisions a pair of new hotels for the area, located south of the city's Loop.In February, Chicago's Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority announced plans for the first of the two hotels, a $400-million, 1,200-room facility intended to boost convention activity in Chicago. The
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into Schaumburg, Ill.-based Power Construction Co. as a result of a fatality that occurred at a construction site at Evanston's Northwestern University on Thursday. Michael Kerr, 57, of Dyer, Ind., died after being struck by a wood beam that fell from six stories at the site of the Bienen School of Music and the School of Communication, a project that broke ground last summer. Police reports indicate a construction crane knocked the 70-lb., 16-ft-long beam off the building at about 7:15 a.m. Kerr, who was struck in the head
Although their billings declined in March, architects continue to see growing demand for design services across all regions of the U.S., according to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Architectural Billing Index (ABI). AIA reports the ABI score slipped from 54.9 in February to 51.9 in March, but notes that any score above 50 indicates increasing demand for design work. March marked the eighth consecutive month the index scored above 50.“Business conditions in the construction industry have generally been improving over the last several months,” says AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker.“But as we have continued to report, the recovery has
Construction employment increased in 30 states in March but only one Midwest state, Wisconsin, was among those that logged gains, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Moreover, growth was relatively modest in Wisconsin, which added only 1,000 jobs (+ 1.1%) in March. Losses were mild in Missouri (-800, -5.2%) but significantly steeper in Ohio, (-9,500, -5.2%), Illinois (-8.500, -4.4%), Michigan (-4,000, -3.1%) and Indiana (-3,100, -2.5%).Midwest states also fared poorly in month-to-month comparisons. While Indiana (+900, 0.7) and Wisconsin (+200, 0.2%) eked small gains over February levels, Missouri (-3,400, -3.2%), Ohio (-3,300,
Ohio State University (OSU) has selected a team led by Messer Construction to undertake construction of a $370-million, 3,200-bed dormitory complex on its Columbus campus. The team was selected following a competitive review process that reduced project costs by $26 million, according to Jay Kasey, OSU's senior vice president for administration and planning. OSU issued a request for qualifications to competing firms in early December.In addition to Cincinnati-based Messer's Columbus office, team members include Miles-McClellan Construction. Columbus; Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, Pasadena, Calif.; Brailsford & Dunlavey, Washington, D.C; HKS Inc., Dallas; Schooley Caldwell Associates, Columbus; KZF Design Inc., Cincinnati; and
The City of Chicago and baseball's Chicago Cubs on Sunday announced an agreement to perform $300 million in renovations to the ball club's 99-year-old Wrigley Field and develop $200 million in hospitality, office and retail space on parcels adjacent to the iconic structure. Though plans must be formally submitted to Chicago's City Council, Planning Commission, and Landmarks Commission, the deal effectively ends years of negotiations between the city and Cubs management to upgrade Wrigley Field, the nation's second-oldest ball park, while providing additional sources of revenue to the Cubs franchise.In broad strokes, plans call for extending the park's frontage along
Although the U.S. construction industry added 48,000 jobs in February, the largest monthly gain in nearly six years, many Midwest states shed jobs during the same period, according to new data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). In year-over-year comparisons, Ohio lost 7,900 jobs and Illinois 7,500 jobs , the two steepest losses of any state in the nation. Indiana (-2,900,) and Michigan (-1,100) also lost jobs in February, indicating widespread weakness in the region.Among Midwest states, only Missouri (+4,600) and Wisconsin (+600) showed improvement.The region fared better in month-to-month comparisons, with Missouri (+4.3%), Indiana (+2.2%),
BoppDustin Bopp, principal with Bopp Architecture, has been named president of the American Institute of Architects' St. Louis chapter. He founded Bopp, based there, in 2008. Related Links: ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40 for 2013 Diane O'Keefe has been named vice president and Illinois area manager for global professional services firm Parsons Brinckerhoff. She is based in Chicago. O'Keefe joins the firm after a 30-year career with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, most recently as a regional deputy director of highways. She was instrumental in overseeing projects such as the $975-million Dan Ryan Expressway reconstruction.
Illinois will break ground on $486 million in road and bridge projects this spring, one of the largest early-season construction programs in the state's history, Gov. Pat Quinn indicated on Monday. “When the private economy isn't going at full tilt, and it needs to get going, we've got to make sure we supplement that with our public investments,” Quinn said during an appearance in Chicago. “All of this puts people to work and lays the groundwork for future economic growth.”Quinn said the program, which includes nearly 200 projects, will help create thousands of jobs.The majority of projects will be funded
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