More than 40 million passengers fly in and out of Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix every year. City officials couldn't risk stifling this sizable economic engine during construction of a much-needed passenger train project. Related Links: PHX Sky Train Phase 1 Takes Flight - ENR Southwest (June 2010) Phoenix Airport Sky Train Project Performs First Test Run To stay out of the way of planes, PHX Sky Train's guideway design takes it 90 ft over an active taxiway—billed by airport officials as a worldwide first—and then dips underneath two more taxiways before rising up to pass over a passenger
ALLREDChristian Allred was hired as a senior low voltage designer for the Phoenix office of Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm. Allred has more than 10 years of experience, predominately in upgrading systems at detention facilities. He will be responsible for expanding Dewberry's services to justice architecture clients in the Southwest on projects that include security electronics, telecommunications and detention equipment. Allred attended ITT Technical College, where he majored in computer-aided design. Related Links: ENR Southwest's People Page Southwest People Showcase Gallery J.B. Henderson Construction Co. Inc., Albuquerque, added numerous personnel to its microelectronics, government and commercial construction sectors.
ENR Southwest's annual survey of general contractors shows that 2011 was a transition year for the industry. Many firms were still feeling the effects of the recession, while others saw revenue jump dramatically. Related Links: ENR Southwest's Top 82 General Contractors GC of the Year: Building Relationship Gives Okland a Boost Contractors in Arizona fared best, with 2011 revenue climbing to $4.7 billion, a rise of nearly 16% over 2010.Sundt Construction, Tempe, Ariz., saw revenue rise 28%. "The key to success has been our diversity of market sectors," says Eric Hedlund, chief operating officer at Sundt. The company performs civil,
The heat wave afflicting much of the U.S. claimed a construction worker near Tucson—a stark reminder of the danger heat poses to those in the building trades. Mark Geise, 44, died of apparent heat-related illness on June 19 while constructing a propane filling station at a Costco store. A resident of Indiana, Geise was employed by Seese Construction, Monrovia, Ind., according to his obituary. Photo by Aileen Cho/ENR Workers should take refuge in a shady, relatively cool spot and rehydrate if heat-related illness symptoms occur. Related Links: Arizona Workers Are Old Pros At Sweating In The Southwest Hot or Cold,
Image Courtesy of Tohono O'odham Nation If built, the Tohono O'odham's West Valley Resort, near Glendale, Ariz., will include a hotel, convention space and a casino. Related Links: Arizona Governor Trumps Tribe A bill written to block construction of a resort-casino near Glendale, Ariz., could face an uphill battle in the Senate. Passed by the House on June 19, the measure is the latest move by the project's opponents—including the city of Glendale, Gov. Jan Brewer (R-Ariz.) and regional tribes with competing gaming establishments—to halt the estimated $184-million project.The resort-casino was to be built on a 54-acre site purchased in
Related Links: Arizona Workers Are Old Pros At Sweating In The Southwest Hot or Cold, Weather Plays a Big Role In Job Productivity A heat wave over much of the U.S. last week claimed a construction worker near Tucson—a stark reminder of the danger heat poses to those in the building trades. Mark Geise, 44, died of apparent heat-related illness while constructing a propane filling station at a Costco store. A resident of Indiana, Geise was employed by Seese Construction, Monrovia, Ind., according to his obituary.The Marana Police Dept. and OSHA are investigating. It was the third heat-related death of
Construction firms in several states are closely watching how Arizona will implement the provisions of its immigration law left standing after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated three of the statute's sections. Photo Courtesy Office of the Arizona Governor: Jan Brewer Gov. Jan Brewer addresses the media following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the heart of SB 1070. Related Links: High Court Issues Split Ruling in Immigration Case Oral Arguments in Arizona Immigration Law Case The high court on June 25 struck down three key sections of Arizona S.B. 1070 but left intact one of its most controversial provisions,
The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down three key provisions of Arizonas tough immigration law but upheld one of its most controversial sections. Related Links: High Court Issues Split Ruling in Immigration Case Oral Arguments in Arizona Immigration Law Case Construction firms in several states are closely watching how Arizona will implement the provisions of its immigration law left standing after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidated three of the statute's sections.The high court on June 25 struck down three key sections of Arizona S.B. 1070 but left intact one of its most controversial provisions, which requires police to check
Related Links: Text of court's opinion in Arizona v. U.S. The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down three key provisions of Arizona’s tough immigration law but upheld one of its most controversial sections, which requires police to check the legal status of anyone they detain whom they suspect is in the United States unlawfully.In the court's opinion, handed down on June 25, the three provisions were invalidated on a 5-3 vote and the fourth provision was upheld unanimously.Arizona companies in construction and other industries now will be watching how the state begins to implement the parts of the law left
A second school in the Green Schoolhouse Series of volunteer-built schools for low-income communities broke ground this morning in Phoenix. The new 6,000-sq-ft structure is being added to the existing Orangewood School campus near 19th and Glendale avenues, and will be built solely by volunteers with materials donated by a variety of industry companies. Related Links: Read about the first green schoolhouse here Designed to achieve LEED-Platinum certification upon completion, the new school for the Washington Elementary School District will be devoted to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, but will also be a teaching tool in itself to
