Photo courtesy of the City of Palo Alto/Mitchell Park Library Library project in Palo Alto tried for transparency by posting progress reports, change orders and city council webcasts. Related Links: Mitchell Park Library project website Project live webcam feed The city of Palo Alto, Calif., thought it was getting a bargain on a new library when it authorized a construction contract whose low bid came in $8 million below the estimated cost of $32 million. Now the savings are disappearing into $1.7 million in change orders, a year of delay and possible litigation at the project's end.The Mitchell Park Library
Rendering courtesy of SSE Alleged defects in turbine foundations as well as the impacts of the cost and schedule of repair work are the focus of competing claims by the owner and contractor Fluor Corp. on the Greater Gabbard wind project. EC Harris, which produced the disputes report, has no connection to the project. Related Links: EC Harris homepage Global Construction Disputes Report Ill Winds Blow Through Huge U.K. Wind Farm Project A new study suggests that the global construction industry is seeing longer disputes that involve smaller monetary stakes than in 2010, and that an improving business climate in