Intermountain Contractor’s 2009 rankings of the Top Design Firms in the Intermountain region include architectural and engineering firms in Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Firms are ranked in several categories according to revenue from various regions. Related Links: 2009 Top Design Firms CH2M Hill topped this year’s ranking with just over $75 million in regional revenues. HDR, Inc. was second at a little more than $50 million, followed by J-U-B Engineers, Inc., Horrocks Engineers and MWH Americas. As it is every year, our staff goes to great lengths to contact design firms in the region via phone, fax and email.

We encourage clients to evaluate and incorporate environmentally sensitive building components, including realizing the benefits of the different levels of LEED certification. If done properly, such planning can be accomplished with very little impact on the cost of construction. Slide Show Photo: BWA Beecher Walker & Associates have designed some beautiful office buildings in recent years, including Grove Creek (this image), Millrock Park and RiverPark. As an architect,my role is to be the creative force in realizing our client’s vision. As a partner at Beecher Walker, my role is to mentor our team to understand this special partnership that must

The not-so-common oscillation method of drilling holes for enormous underground pillars of concrete proved to be an excellent solution in a construction area that called for careful mitigation. Slide Show Photo: UDOT Drilled shafts are nothing new in the bridge construction industry; along with pile foundations, drilled shafts are one of the two most common foundations used to secure large structures like bridges. In Utah, however, the not-so-common oscillation method of drilling holes for enormous underground pillars of concrete proved to be an excellent solution in a construction area that called for careful mitigation. The Utah Department of Transportation Region

Attitudes about urbanism are changing as people embrace the social, cultural, environmental and financial benefits of more urban lifestyles. Even in the still relatively young frontier cities of the western United States, urbanism is on the rise. Photo: Soren Simonsen When planning does not consider fully the implications of design, development, and transportation systems as interrelated elements of a city, the results can be devastating. Photo: Soren Simonsen Effective urban design increasingly requires a collaborative approach that integrates planning, engineering, design and development to create vibrant and habitable 21st century communities. photo: Soren Simonsen A well-planned and integrated city nurtures

Featured Product   October 2009 Sockets with a positive impact Rugged bolting, fastening and anchoring applications are tackled by the high-strength Hilti Impact Sockets. Available in standard and deep confi gurations, Hilti’s new lineup of Impact Sockets is built for quick attachment and durable performance. Hilti Impact Sockets are constructed of hardened alloy steel for long-lasting service. Use of the hardened alloy steel allows the socket walls to be thin for use in tight spaces, yet strong enough to handle diffi cult torque and working conditions. The quick attachment time of the new Hilti Impact Socket portfolio improves productivity. Two beveled

As owners and developers become more energy and environmentally conscious, design teams are required to carefully implement sustainable design principles. The building’s structure has a significant impact on the building’s embodied energy and the ability to achieve LEED points. CHRIS Embodied energy is defined as the available energy used in the work of constructing a building. A building’s structure accounts for about 25% of the building’s embodied energy but only about 10% of the building’s cost. A knowledgeable LEED AP structural engineer on your project can assist with sound sustainable design principles that can significantly reduce the building’s embodied energy.

The U.S. Green Building Council of Washington, D.C. recently announced that a performance by environmental advocate and nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow will help open its Greenbuild 2009 Conference, the world’s premier forum on sustainable buildings and communities. Related Links: ABC Utah Eyes 10th Safety Olympics OWATC Honors AGC’s Fullmer with 2009 Partnership Award AGC of America Reports Declining Construction Employment The Greenbuild International Conference & Expo is being held November 11-13, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. More than 25,000 people attend Greenbuild every year, and its increasing profile and size led the USGBC to open this year’s event at Chase

Richard Fullmer, apprenticeship and training director for the Associated General Contractors of Utah, was honored in July by the Ogden Weber Applied Technology College with a 2009 Partnership Award for his efforts in attracting new apprentices into OWATC’s program. Collette Mercier (far left), CEO and campus president, and Trina Hansen, apprenticeship program coordinator (far right) of the Ogden Weber Applied Technology College presented AGC of Utah apprenticeship and training director Richard Fullmer (second from right) with a 2009 Partnership Award for his efforts in recruiting new apprentices into OWATC’s program. AGC of Utah president/CEO Rich Thorn is also pictured. Related

ABC�s annual event promotes safety awareness in a fun, entertaining atmosphere; Ogden Weber Applied Technology College honors AGC�s apprenticeship and training director for his efforts at recruiting new apprentices into OWATC�s program; AGC of America reports on construction unemployment woes. Related Links: OWATC Honors AGC’s Fullmer with 2009 Partnership Award Singer Sheryl Crow to Help Open USGBC’s Greenbuild 2009 Conference AGC of America Reports Declining Construction Employment The Utah chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors will host its 10th annual ‘Safety Olympic’ competition September 10 at Wheeler Machinery in Salt Lake City. The popular event is a big hit

Construction employment fell by 76,000 jobs last month, seasonally adjusted, according to Stephen Sandherr, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, in reference to employment numbers released August 7 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “The last 12 months have seen 1,053,000 construction workers lose their jobs, emphasizing the negative impact the current economy is having on the construction industry in particular,” said Sandherr. He added that currently, 18.2 percent of construction workers are unemployed, nearly double the 9.7 percent overall unemployment rate, or 9.4 percent seasonally adjusted. Related Links: ABC Utah Eyes 10th Safety Olympics OWATC Honors AGC’s