Related Links: ENR's 2012 The Year In Construction Photo Contest Winners Construction Photography Contest Judging Is Challenging And Rewarding Photo Contest Archives Runners-Up The moment our appreciation for the role of construction in civilization and society starts to drift, we begin to lose our regard for the resourcefulness that makes the construction world so inspiring. The moment we turn blasé about the wonder of the work, the contributions of all the minds and mighty efforts, we lose our gratitude for the splendid benefits of things as simple as clean running water and a roof over our heads.We value ENR's annual
ENR pointed its spotlight on some of the nation's most troubled infrastructure throughout 2012 with its ongoing Critical Infrastructure series, which chronicled how engineers are grappling with some of the biggest infrastructure challenges in a generation.
It's official: The New York State Thruway Authority has chosen a $3.14-billion bid by Tappan Zee Constructors as the plan for the next version of the 3.1-mile-long, 57-year-old Tappan Zee bridge.
Photo Courtesy of Rien van Rijthoven The hospital project in Castro Valley is seen as a proof of concept for a risk-and-reward-sharing contract with 11 signatories. Photo Courtesy of Novarka The enclosure will eventually entomb the reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear powerplant destroyed in the 1986 disaster. Related Links: An Unprecedented 11 Partners Propel Integrated Project Delivery at $320-million California Hospital California Hospital a Success Story for Integrated Project Delivery 'on Steroids' Sutter Health's first hospital built under a risk-and-reward-sharing contract with 11 signatories was completed six weeks early, within its $320-million budget and with no claims, according to DPR
New York & New Jersey Photo Courtesy of Gov. Chris Christie's Office Washed Out: Gov. Chris Christie vows to rebuild N.J.'s tourism trade, which is a staple of towns devastated by Sandy, including Seaside Heights. Photo by Patrick Cashin/MTA New Ride: MTA sets up temporary service in the devastated the Rockaways. Related Links: ENR New York ENR New York Featured News Sandy’s N.Y.-N.J. Wrath Tallies About $62.8B Immediately after Superstorm Sandy hit, N.Y. and N.J. officials said damage estimates would be staggering, but now they have tallied preliminary costs showing just how formidable the storm was. The combined total damage
BP Pleads Guilty to Felony Charges, Hit With Record Fines In a historic negotiated settlement announced on Nov. 15, BP agreed to plead guilty to felony manslaughter, environmental crimes and obstruction of justice and to pay more than $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties for its conduct leading to the devastating Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. The settlement, the largest of its kind in U.S. history, should give a boost to the cleanup and restoration effort in the Gulf of Mexico.A significant portion of the fines will go directly toward Gulf restoration and cleanup, Justice Dept. officials said at
Unemployment Eases Construction's unemployment rate declined in October to 11.4% from September's 11.9%, as the industry recorded a gain of 17,000 jobs in the month, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' latest monthly report. Any impacts on the job market from rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy would not start to be reflected until November's statistics. Stephen Sandherr, Associated General Contractors' CEO, said overall construction employment is not expected to show a major net change because of the hurricane. He said, "Even as some firms pick up work repairing damaged buildings and infrastructure, other firms will suffer as previously planned projects
New York & New Jersey Photo Courtesy of AP/Wideworld Overwhelmed: Days after Sandy, Seaside Heights and other New Jersey shore towns were still assessing damages. Related Links: ENR New York Featured News After Sandy, Region Sets Sights on Recovery As the tristate area began recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, officials were still struggling days after the Oct. 29th storm struck to assess the extent of damage, its cost and, tragically, even the death toll. Many areas were still flooded and without power three days after the storm, which slammed the region with dangerously high winds and disabled
Projects by Frank Gehry and Jean Nouvel, as well as ongoing work at the World Trade Center site, were inundated by the storm surge that accompanied Hurricane Sandy.
Photo Courtesy of Bridges to Prosperity Nonprofit Group Builds Footbridge in Rural Nicaragua Volunteers built a 164-ft suspension footbridge that allows people from several Nicaraguan villages to cross the Rio Jucuapa River safely near Jucuapa Abajo. Work ended on on Oct. 9. Turner Construction, New York City, and Flatiron Construction, Firestone, Colo., donated materials, expertise and personnel. The nonprofit group Bridges to Prosperity, Denver, supervised. The organization pinpoints key river crossing points for rural communities in need of health care, education and economic opportunities. It then recruits workers and collects materials. The organization also teaches footbridge design and engineering techniques
