Two construction companies and two supervisors were charged with manslaughter and other crimes in the death of a worker who was crushed this year, authorities said Wednesday in announcing a task force to investigate misconduct in the booming building industry.

Chart courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of the Census Building permits issued in New York City rose for the sixth consecutive year, according to an analysis of data by the New York Building Congress. Permits authorizing construction rose 156% in Fiscal Year 2015 (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015) compared with FY 2014 with 52,618 permits issued for residential units in the just ended fiscal year, according to NYBC analysis of U.S. Census data The number of permits rose in each of the five boroughs, but Brooklyn experienced a 225% increase with 23,326 dwelling units authorized for construction in

Diagram courtesy of Clean Coalition New York is moving toward becoming one of the leading states in the nation in terms of microgrid installations. Earlier this month Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 83 communities in the state would each receive grants of about $100,000 to support microgrid projects. The awards are part of the governor’s Reforming Energy Vision that aims to revamp the state’s energy regulatory structure and were administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).There is no official definition of a “microgrid,” but it is generally understood to be the opposite of the centrally

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 28 unveiled a $4 billion construction project that aims to tear down and rebuild large parts of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. Image courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Pedestrian walkways, part of a $4 billion plan to develop LaGuardia Airport, would increase aircraft taxi space. The gateway project is being developed in concert with separate development efforts by Delta Air Lines, which operates in terminals A, C and D. “We are transforming LaGuardia into a globally-renowned, 21st century airport that is worthy of the city and state

Christopher O. Ward has joined AECOM as senior vice president and CEO of design and consulting services for the metro New York region, months after leaving a top executive role he had held since 2011 at Dragados USA, a unit of the Spain-based contractor and concessions firm. He left the Dragados role as executive vice president for major projects at the end of 2014, telling Crain’s NY Business that the expected public-private-partnership construction market “was not as large as it had been.” The firm was part of a design-build team that had been short-listed for the $4-billion Tappan Zee replacement

A joint initiative of Boston Properties Inc. Rudin Development and WeWork, in conjunction with the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. is developing a new 675,000-square-foot building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard to cater to the rapidly emerging technology and creative industries in Brooklyn. The $380 million building, Dock 72, will be one of the largest commercial buildings to be built outside of Manhattan in decades. Construction of the 16-story building is scheduled to begin in late 2015 with an anticipated tenant delivery in late 2017. The project will seek LEED certification. The site is centrally located within the Yard on a 60,000-square-foot strip

Solar power in New York State grew more than 300% between 2011 and 2014, according to the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo. A total of 314.48 MW of solar facilities was installed across the state as of December 2014. Solar capacity tripled, quadrupled or quintupled in every region of the state other than Long Island, which has more installations than any other region. In addition, numbers of projects at least doubled in every region. The largest increase in percentage of megawatts was in the North Country, followed by the Finger Lakes, Central New York and New York City. In addition,

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. has selected a developer and a new design plan for Pier 6, a controversial high-rise residence on the edge of a coastline park on the Brooklyn waterfront facing downtown Manhattan. The city controlled Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp. selected a joint venture of RAL Development Services and Oliver’s Realty Group to develop the two residential buildings from among the 14 bids submitted.The joint venture is making a $106 million upfront payment to acquire the long-term lease at the site and will also make annual payments on the 94-year lease, according to James Yolles, a spokesman for RAL.Community

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation on Monday released its long-awaiting findings on hydraulic fracturing making official the state’s ban on the practice. The finding came after a seven-year review during which time fracking in New York was on hold. The ban took effect immediately and applies to any oil or gas wells that require more than 300,000 gallons of water to frack.“After years of exhaustive research and examination of the science and facts, prohibiting high-volume hydraulic fracturing is the only reasonable alternative," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "High-volume hydraulic fracturing poses significant adverse impacts to land, air, water,