FMI, a provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, says in its Q3-2013 Construction Outlook that market sectors will continue to shift through the rest of 2013, reducing annual construction-put-place predictions (CPIP) to $909.6 billion, down nearly $4 billion from previous predictions. Early forecasts for 2014 show annual CPIP will experience moderate growth of 7%, rising to $977 billion. Major market predictions in the Q3-2013 Construction Outlook for next year include:• Residential construction — FMI continues to forecast traction in residential construction. However, the growth is expected to taper off to 12% in 2014.
Denver's Regional Transportation District received proposals from four design and construction teams Sept. 23 for the North Metro project that will ultimately extend commuter rail north from Denver Union Station through Commerce City, Adams County, Thornton and Northglenn. The four competing teams are Bechtel/Herzog joint venture; Graham, Balfour Beatty, Hamon Contractors; North Metro Transit Solutions, a Kiewit/Stacy and Witbeck joint venture; and URS Energy and Construction Inc.The teams are responding to the request for proposals RTD released on June 28. Graham Contracting Ltd. first approached RTD in February with an unsolicited proposal. After reviewing the initial proposal, RTD staff determined
A new Energy Department study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicates that by 2025, wind and solar power electricity generation could become cost competitive without federal subsidies, if new renewable-energy development occurs in the most productive locations. The report, “Beyond Renewable Portfolio Standards: An Assessment of Regional Supply and Demand Conditions Affecting the Future of Renewable Energy in the West,” compares the cost of renewable electricity generation (without federal subsidy) from the West’s most productive renewable-energy resource areas—including any needed transmission and integration costs—with the cost of energy from a new natural gas-fired generator built near the
Residents along Colorado’s northern Front Range were still battling at mid-day Friday the effects of what state officials are calling “historically significant” rainfall and “biblical floods” along the foothills and across the Denver metro area. Photo courtesy of CDOT The heavy rains pushed rivers and streams above their historic flood levels and washed out highways, like State Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon west of Denver. Photo courtesy of CDOT Highway 34 in the Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland, Colo., will be closed "indefinitely." Some communities, including Boulder and those along the I-25 corridor north to Fort Collins, have
The city of Golden, Colo., will move significantly closer to its renewable-energy goals with a new solar photovoltaic (PV) project managed and delivered by HVAC specialty contractor McKinstry. The project was approved at the Aug. 22 city council meeting. Coupled with earlier work by McKinstry, around 10% of the city’s energy use will come from renewable energy. “Golden is a leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Colorado,” said Phillip Saieg, McKinstry’s project lead. Solar panels will be placed at nine city facilities including the Tony Grampsas Gymnasium, the city’s maintenance shops, Splash at Fossil Trace, the 1250 Jackson Street Parking
Nearly three-fourths of construction firms across the country report they are having trouble finding qualified craft workers to fill key spots amid concerns that labor shortages will only get worse, according to the results of an industry-wide survey recently released by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials called for immigration and education reform measures to help avoid worker shortages. “Many construction firms are already having a hard time finding qualified workers and expect construction labor shortages will only get worse,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “We need to take
Colorado will receive $10 million in a U.S. Dept. of Transportation TIGER grant to add a fixed fire-suppression system at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels (EJMT) on I-70 west. The system is one of 52 projects in 37 states across the nation selected to receive funding. Photo courtesy of CDOT The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, 11,158 ft in elevation and 50 miles west of Denver, will get a new fire-suppression system. The fire suppression system would not completely extinguish a vehicle fire in the tunnels but rather buy critical time needed for first responders to safely approach the scene and take action. Historically,
The Colorado State University System is moving ahead with plans to launch a significant presence in Denver’s South Metro area early next year. The CSU-South Metro project is part of a strategic effort to showcase a new model for higher education that caters to both students and the business community, demonstrating how graduate and undergraduate programs can be delivered in a scalable, innovative and collaborative format. “This is something being driven by business leaders in the South Metro region, and we’re honored that they approached the CSU System as their first choice for a higher education partner,” CSU System Chancellor
Total construction spending hit a four-year high in July as private residential and nonresidential activity increased while public spending declined, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. “The patterns seen earlier this year reappeared in July, with strong year-over-year gains in single- and multifamily building, a range of results for private nonresidential categories, and deepening downturns in most public segments,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These trends are likely to hold for the remainder of 2013.”Construction put in place in July, $901 billion, was the highest mark since June
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in July, increased slightly in August. The index now stands at 81.5 (1985=100), up from 81.0 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 70.7 from 73.6. The Expectations Index increased to 88.7 from 86.0 last month. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions moderately declined. Those stating business conditions are “good” decreased to 18.4% from 20.8%, while those stating business conditions are “bad” was virtually unchanged at 24.8%. Consumers’ appraisal of the labor market was mixed. Those claiming jobs are “plentiful” decreased to 11.4% from 12.3%, while those claiming jobs are “hard
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