Illinois, Ohio and Indiana logged the highest construction job losses in the nation in April, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Illinois shed 12,900 jobs in April, followed by Ohio with 9,200 job losses and Indiana with 5,600 job losses. Michigan (-4,300 jobs), Wisconsin (-3,600 jobs ) and Missouri (-200 jobs) also recorded employment declines in April, AGC reports.In month-to-month comparisons, Vermont recorded the largest percentage decrease in construction employment (-6.3%), followed by Illinois (-4.3%) and Wisconsin (4.1%). Illinois also recorded the nation's highest job losses (-7,900 jobs) between March and April.In

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%),

The health care sector showed surprising strength in a year that held too few surprises for most Midwest builders. Image Courtesy of Indiana Dept. of Transportation The $763-million East End Crossing will span the Ohio River to connect I-265 in Indiana and I-265 in Kentucky. Related Links: ENR Midwest Top Starts for 2012 In 2012, health care providers were said to have shelved large building initiatives until the full effects of health care reform were known. Instead, many in the Midwest broke ground on major projects. “It's unusual and may be a sign that providers are working harder to attract