Reno’s new molecular medicine center studies things at a microscopic level, but there is nothing minuscule about its significance. The University of Nevada School Medicine opened the $77-million multidisciplinary facility on Aug. 16. It’s the school’s first new research building in nearly 30 years. A unique public-private partnership in a slumping economy made the project a reality. The center received money from federal research grants, state sources and private backers, including the Whittemore Family Foundation. The Nevada Legislature earmarked $10 million for the center in 2005. The project additionally benefited from the recession with lower-than-budgeted pricing that enabled upgraded finishes
The Southwest Las Vegas Library and Service Center will be more than just book smart. The new building will house a library, auditorium and administrative offices under one roof for operational efficiency and cost savings. The $34-million complex broke ground in May 2009. It will open in March. Las Vegas-based Martin-Harris Construction is the general contractor, with URS Corp., San Francisco, as construction manager. “By combining design and construction of the service center with the new branch, the district will save nearly $4.5 million in construction costs and design fees over building two separate facilities,” says Jeanne Goodrich, Las Vegas-Clark
Hoover Dam, the Depression-era engineering marvel, turns 75 this month. While its new bridge crossing is set to open in November, the concrete monolith also is marking a dubious milestone this year�a 54-year low point for its water level, which threatens the dam�s hydroelectric output. Photo: Luetta Callaway As Hoover Dam celebrates its 75th anniversary, low Lake Mead water levels may lead to the eventual shutdown of the dam�s power-generating turbines. Lake Mead dipped to 1,085 ft in September, less than 40% of its capacity, following a decade of boom growth and drought. As a result, Hoover Dam may have
Hoover Dam, the Depression-era engineering marvel, turns 75 this month. While its new bridge crossing is set to open in November, the concrete monolith also is marking a dubious milestone this year—a 54-year low point for its water level, which threatens the dam’s hydroelectric output. Photo: Courtesy of Southern Nevada Water Authority Lake Mead reservoir level is at its lowest point in 54 years, putting electricity generation capability at risk. Engineered mitigation measures include a third water-intake tunnel and new turbine design. Lake Mead dipped to 1,085 ft in September, less than 40% of its capacity, following a decade of
Utah’s recent best-value infrastructure procurement for a $1.1-billion highway expansion and reconstruction came with a controversial, unexpected cost: a $13-million payout to the second-place proposer to end its protest of the award. Photo: Courtesy of UDOT Critics question UDOT Executive Director John Njord�s decision to make a big payment to team whose proposal came in second on major infrastructure best-value competition. + Image Photo: Courtesy of UDOT “In relative terms, it’s a small amount of money,” UDOT Executive Director John Njord says. “A lawsuit would have prevented us from being as creative as possible in the design-build process. “This was
A four-year-long legal spat over Hoover Dam Bridge project's collapsed cableways has come to a close with a private settlement stemming from an April 20 arbitration ruling. On Sept. 15, 2006, a refurbished 42-year-old cableway system leased from American Bridge Co., Coraopolis, Penn., toppled over during 50-mph winds, bringing construction to a halt and delaying completion by two years. The 1,900-ft-long, 277-ft-deep twin-rib arched bridge will now open in early November. Photo: FHWA View of the collapsed North and South Cableway Crane system at Abutment 2 area in Arizona after the 2006 incident. In 2005, a general contracting joint venture
A four-year legal spat over the Hoover Dam bypass project’s collapsed cableways has ended in a private settlement stemming from an April 20 arbitration ruling. A joint venture of Obayashi Corp., San Francisco, with PSM Construction USA Inc., Brisbane, Calif., will reimburse American Bridge Co., Coraopolis, Pa., an undisclosed amount for a cableway system that broke in 2006, causing a two-year delay. In 2005, the joint venture signed a two-year, $105,000-a-month lease with American Bridge Co. to use two pairs of refurbished, 330-ft-tall lattice-framed towers with 2,500 ft of 3-in-dia. cableway strung between them. The so-called high lines function like
Caterpillar Inc. is ramping up for several new capital construction projects following a record-setting second quarter of earnings. Photo: Courtesy Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar’s Model 336 excavator is one of the machines that will be produced at a new plant in Victoria, Texas. Fueled by industrial market strength in mining, energy and infrastructure, the Peoria, Ill.-based company, the world’s largest construction and mining equipment maker, saw second-quarter profits increase 91% to $707 million, up from $371 million a year ago. Cat previously trimmed staff last year, cutting 20,000 jobs, or about 18% of its workforce. “We have streamlined our organization from
Two years after making its first stab at rejoining organized labor, the Laborers International Union of North America is completing the reunion by returning to the AFL-CIO. The union, which bolted in 2006 to form an independent alliance with two other building trades, had reaffiliated with the umbrella group’s Building and Construction Trades Dept. in 2008. O’SULLIVAN The union rejoins the AFL-CIO after departing four years ago over a bitter dispute about the umbrella organization’s focus on political rather than grassroots organizing. The AFL-CIO re-affiliation becomes effective on Oct. 1. The laborers have shed 300,000 members in recent years amid
Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest construction and mining equipment maker, is shifting its economic engine into overdrive with several new capital projects following a record-setting second quarter. Photo: Caterpillar Inc. Cat's Model 336 excavator is one of the machines to be produced at a new plant in Victoria, Texas. Fueled by industrial market strength in mining, energy and infrastructure, the Peoria, Ill.-based company saw second-quarter profits increase 91% to $707 million, up from $371 million a year ago. Caterpillar has since upped its annual outlook based on higher expected machinery sales and revenue, which could top $40.5 billion. Other construction