An environmental specialist who created three technical groups of more than 100 each, an architect who serves as global chair of social responsibility for a prominent design firm and an acclaimed marketing and branding expert are among the rising stars selected as ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40, an annual program recognizing young design and construction professionals from the region who have made significant contributions to their firms, professions and communities.
Illinois added 20,000 construction jobs in December, placing it among the nation's top five gaining states for a fourth consecutive month, according to year-over-year comparisons compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Texas (47,000 jobs), Florida (34,300) and California (26,000 jobs) placed stronger over the same period, AGC data indicate. Illinois also was among the top five gainers on a percentage basis, posting a 10% increase between December 2013 and 2014. Wisconsin added 12,400 jobs over the same period, placing it third among states on a percentage basis (12.7%). Illinois gained 6,000 jobs in month-to-month comparisons
After a precipitous slide in November, demand for design services in the Midwest eked its way back into positive territory in December, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects (AIA). AIA's Architectural Billing Index (ABI), reflecting the nine- to 12-month lead time between billings and construction, showed regional demand for design services rise to 50.8 in December, helping offset a slide from 54.4 to 49.8 between October and November. An ABI score of 50 or greater denotes growing demand for design services. The Midwest has demonstrated positive growth in six of the past seven months. By
After issuing an executive order to freeze all state contracts for projects in the planning and development stage, Ill. Gov. Rauner has authorized the Illinois State Tollway Authority (ISTA) to proceed with more than $1 billion in projects this year. The freeze, issued Jan. 12, Rauner's first day as governor, applied to all executive branch agencies, ISTA included. Because ISTA projects are financed by tolls, they do not impact massive state deficit Rauner has vowed to address. The decision clears the way for ISTA to execute $1.6 billion in project this year, including $840 million in bridge and road work
Cincinnati officials and Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) are investigating the cause of an overhead exit ramp collapse that killed a construction worker and injured a semi truck driver on Interstate 75 (I-75), five miles north of the Ohio River. The collapse occurred at about 10:30 p.m. on Monday as crews were preparing to demolish the ramp as part of a project to increase capacity on I-75. The collapse, which killed 35-year-old Brandon William Carl, an Augusta, Ky., native, left southbound lanes of the interstate littered with several hundred tons of concrete and steel. “Our teams are surveying the situation
Chicago-based Golub & Co. and Los Angeles-based co-developer CIM Group have broken ground on a 41-story, 397-unit apartment tower in Chicago's South Loop, fueling a boom some analysts predict could add nearly 9,000 residences to downtown Chicago by year-end 2016. Earlier this year, CIM broke ground on a 34-story, 690-unit apartment tower atop a four-story mall in Chicago's Loop, the largest such project to rise in the district in years. Both projects join new fewer than 17 residential developments under construction in downtown Chicago, including a 402-unit tower undertaken by Chicago-based developer John Buck Co. and a 498-unit project by
After five consecutive months of growth, demand for design services declined in the Midwest in November, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects. AIA's Architecture Billings Index, reflecting the nine- to 12-month lead time between billings and construction spending, reported a near five point slide for the region, from 54.4 to 49.8, between October and November. Scores above 50 denote an increase in billings. By comparison, the South extended its growth streak to six months, though billings dipped modestly, from 58.4 to 57.9, for the same period. The West likewise logged its six consecutive month of
On the heels of news that Chicago-based Magellan Development Group is joint-venturing with a Chinese firm to construct an 89-story residential structure that will stand as Chicago's third tallest, the city's planning commission has approved plans by developer Related Midwest, Chicago, to construct a 67-story residential tower just blocks away in the city's Streeterville neighborhood. When completed, the 2.2-acre project, designed by New York City-based architect Robert A.M. Stern, will house 250 apartments and 100 condominiums, scaling back plans that originally called for a 67-story structure containing 400 apartments and 100 condominiums. The redesign was prompted by concerns about increased
Illinois added 12,000 construction jobs in November, placing it among the nation's top five gaining states for a third consecutive month, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Only Texas (47.300 jobs), California (40,800 jobs), Florida (34,900 jobs) and Washington (12,800 jobs) posted stronger showings for the same period, AGC data indicate.In October, Illinois added 14,800 construction jobs, the fourth largest gain among states in year-over-year comparisons. The state added 11,700 jobs in September, placing it third among states. On a percentage basis, Illinois (6.2%) placed 10th among job-gaining states in year-over-year comparisons,
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