One of the harshest construction markets in decades is reminding contractors why it’s great to be a specialist, but even better to have many specialties. Contractors across the New York region are reaching into new markets to find business, but they’re taking many different paths. Related Links: Fit for Survival Crystal Ball Blues For Structure Tone, a decision to pursue work in the health care sector started several years ago, says Robert Mullen, the CEO. To establish a foothold, the $2 billion construction manager started modestly. “We were able to get some small projects with major health care institutions just

Construction industry faithful who thought 2009 was painful should stop thumbing through this year's calendar. Most observers say the region's market is going to get worse. At least in 2009, many contractors had backlogs to finish, even if they were lighter than normal, says Mike Kolakowski, CEO of KBE Building of Farmington, Conn. “I think 2010 will be a challenging year for a lot of companies,” he adds. “I believe that we’ll start to see some positive signs in 2011 but not feel the effects until the middle to end of that year and into 2012.” Related Links: Fit for

As the demand for information technology has exploded, so, too, has the need for data centers housing servers, storage devices and networking gear. And though the financial crisis and ensuing credit crunch severely constrained data center construction with many projects put on hold or canceled, the sector is still seeing plenty of activity and is expected to surge as the recovery gains strength. Photo: Gilbane Building Work underway on an HVAC system for a recently completed data center project. Related Links: Buffalo Roost Despite the slowdown, 2 million-sq.-ft. of data center development is underway in New Jersey, says Michael Pembroke,

The storm clouds over the New York region’s construction industry had formed in late fall 2009 as project backlogs emptied and new jobs were few on the horizon. But that bleak juncture is when some general contractors and construction managers geared up for investments – even some that escaped them during the dizzying market boom of recent years. Related Links: Contractors Stretch for New Markets Crystal Ball Blues Top Contractors For Structure Tone, a decision to diversify its expertise was part of a long-term strategy – one the market bust didn’t deter, says Robert Mullen, CEO of the New York-based

Since their inception in 1996, the New York Red Bulls soccer club has been a team without a real home. The Major League Soccer franchise has been forced to play at Giants Stadium, a sprawling, cavernous facility built for American football that never gave off that “home field” advantage you look for in a permanent home. Photo: New York Red Bulls After nearly 15 years playing on turf at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, the New York Red Bulls’ new $200 million facility in nearby Harrison will allow them to play on natural turf - Kentucky Blue Grass. Photo: New

The construction market in North Jersey is not unlike most in the Tri-State region. Private jobs are hard to come by – and even harder to find – and most firms, large and small, find themselves pitted against steep competition for every small health care, education and transportation project that goes out to bid. Photo: Turner Construction Co. Turner Construction Co. is building the $447 million University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro. Photo: Turner Construction Co. Turner will finish the 630,000-sq-f, 237-room Princeton medical facility in 2011 Related Links: New Home “There’s a fairly significant amount of work on

There is an old engineering adage that says you can’t have faster, better and cheaper all at the same time. Yahoo is out to prove this adage wrong with its new data center under construction in upstate New York. The facility, located 30 miles northeast of Buffalo in Lockport, N.Y., is being billed by the company as one of the greenest and most energy efficient building of its kind in the country. Powered by renewable energy from Niagara Falls, the data center’s design takes advantage of the region’s climate to cool the facility using 100 percent outside air. Photo courtesy

Skanska USA announced that its building unit in San Antonio was the recipient of multiple health-care construction awards at the 2009 Annual Excellence in Construction Competition hosted by the Associated Builders and Contractors of South Texas. Skanska won the Mega Projects Award, the Healthcare Award, the Institutional Award and the Gold S.T.E.P. Award for Safety. Skanska USA also announced it has completed construction on the Texas Southmost College Arts Center Building in Brownsville. MIYAKODA MENDENHALL LONG TBG Partners promoted employees at three of its four Texas offices. In Dallas/Fort Worth, Kent T. Mendenhall was promoted to principal; in Houston, Yan

New York City's construction industry produced 106,500 jobs in January 2010, it's lowest showing in 58 months, according to a report released by the New York Building Congress. January's numbers brought construction employment down 12% from January 2009 with 121,300 jobs and 16% from January 2008 with 127,500 jobs. In October 2009, monthly construction employment dropped below 120,000 for the first time since February 2007, and has declined in each month since. These numbers include contractors, skilled laborers and specialty tradesmen. They do not include construction workers who work for government agencies, architects, engineers and other off-site workers. "In the

Stalco Construction is currently serving as general contractor for a $30 million capital improvement program that includes additions and renovations at the Ward Meliville High School in East Setauket, New York and renovations at two Junior High Schools and three elementary schools within the Three Village Central School District in Long Island, New York. Photo by Lauren Mancuso courtesy of Wilk Marketing Communications John A. Grillo of Port Jefferson, New York is serving as the architect and interior designer for the entire program and has designed the additions for the high school in accordance with The Collaborative for High School