New York State Dept. of Transportation officials swiftly are preparing design concepts for a new crossing to replace the Crown Point Bridge, abruptly closed in October due to unexpectedly high levels of pier deterioration. Meanwhile, contractors are racing to build temporary vehicular ferry-terminal facilities at Lake Champlain between New York and Vermont as a stopgap measure. Photo: AP/Wideworld New York-Vermont crossing was shut down abruptly on Oct. 16 after inspectors found unexpectedly severe pier deterioration, possibly due to ice pressure. + Image NYSDOT, in conjunction with the Vermont Agency of Transportation, on Oct. 16 shut down the 80-year-old, 2,184-ft-long steel

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is in the beginning stages of a $72 million plan to expand the Syracuse VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Center in Syracuse, New York which will include the addition of more than 160,000 sq ft to the medical center as well as extensive renovations to the existing facilities. Image: Clark Construction Group, LLC The $72 million plan to expand the Syracuse VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury/Disease Center will include the addition of more than 160,000 sq ft as well as extensive renovations to the existing facilities. The centerpiece of the project, the

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s Board of Commissioners recently authorized more that $340 million worth of contracts to help replace antiquated mechanical train controls on the 101-year-old system with state-of-the-art, computerized signals. The overall signal project which consists of replacing the signals throughout the PATH line’s 43 track miles and 13 stations, while the new communications equipment will also be installed inside 130 of the new PATH railcars that have an operating engineer’s cab is expected to cost $580 million and is a major part of the Port Authority’s $3.3 billion plan to modernize the entire

The 76-story Beekman Tower topped out today in Lower Manhattan, just months after developer Forest City Ratner stopped work on the site and threatened to cap the structure at 40 stories because of high project costs. Photo: Staff The 1.1-million-sq-ft Beekman Tower is one of the earliest success stories of New York City's Recovery PLA. The Frank Gehry-designed residential high-rise is a major victory for New York City’s Construction Industry Partnership (CIP), which, in May, agreed on a project labor agreement designed to keep troubled projects moving during the recession. Beekman Tower, helmed by construction manager Kriesler Borg Florman, Scarsdale,

New York City-based Structure Tone is banking on a boost to its institutional and base-building capabilities in acquiring L.F. Driscoll Co., a major construction-management-at-risk firm in metropolitan Philadelphia. The deal, announced Nov. 16, allows Structure Tone to leverage Driscoll's experience in healthcare, higher education and high-rise base building. Photo: L.F. Driscoll Co. Philadelphia contractor built city's landmark Comcast Center Financial details of the deal, which combines two major construction contractors and two of the nation’s largest privately-held CM-at-risk firms, were not disclosed. Structure Tone ranks 6th on ENR’s list of the Top 50 CM-at-risk firms; Driscoll ranks 37th. Structure Tone

Dia Art Foundation is having a homecoming. On November 6 the nonprofit organization announced it will construct an exhibition space at 545 West 22nd Street, just steps from a facility it shuttered five years ago. Currently Dia�s staff and board are writing a program for the new building. Its director, Philippe Vergne, says architect selection should take place within several months. The site of Dia�s future home in Chelsea. Dia was established in 1974 to support large-scale, site-specific art, such as installations by Donald Judd and John Chamberlain in Marfa, Texas, and Walter De Maria’s The Lightning Field in New

After nearly three years of deliberation and modifications, a project by Foster + Partners at 980 Madison Ave on New York’s Upper East Side has received approval from the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. For 980 Madison Avenue, the developer initially wanted to add a pair of intersecting towers to the building. In May 2008, a revamped scheme was proposed that featured a five-story addition with a screen made of bronze-colored rods. The scheme that finally was approved is smaller and lighter. “Although it's taken a long time, we believe we've found a positive way to embrace the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s comments that

Despite reports of stalled skyscraper projects across the globe, at least one super tall tower is moving forward: On October 21, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, New York City, unveiled its slender, cone-shaped design for what will become one of Asia’s tallest building. Image courtesy KPF Kohn Pedersen recently unveiled the design for Lotte Super Tower 123, planned for Seoul, South Korea. The Lotte Super Tower 123, named so due to its 123 stories, will be built over a transportation hub near the Han River in the Jamsil shopping and entertainment section of Seoul, South Korea. The light-toned glass and metal-accented

The NDR Group Hosts a Barbeque Event  November 2009 Also, Noble Strategy, LLC holds a grand opening ceremony. The New York Building Congress recently held a forum in the Hilton New York’s Trianon Ballroom located on 1335 Avenue of the Americas between 53rd and 54th streets in which New York City Council Speaker, Christine C. Quinn discussed the recently-adopted fiscal year 2010 budget for New York City, including the city’s capital program. (L-R): F.J. Sciame Construction Company Chairman and CEO, Frank J. Sciame, New York City Council Speaker, Christine Quinn and New York Building Congress President, Richard T. Anderson. (Photo courtesy

Photo courtesy of The Berman Group, Inc. MBI Group and The New York City School Construction Authority worked closely to coordinate the planned demolition and construction on the school’s 50,000-sq-ft, six floor renovation. Related Links: Work on Brooklyn Arena Could Begin Soon Construction Costs Fall in NYC PB Acquired by British Construction Firm Developer of Pier 57 Transformation Announced Mohegan Sun Selects Cubellis to Design and Build Two New Restaurants NYC Announces New System to Track Inspectors Leaguers Headquarters Breaks Ground in New Jersey NYC Public School Converts to Condos Turner Selected to Serve on Two Green School Projects Shaw