Prevailing wage rules required by the federal stimulus program may drive up costs and cause some projects to miss their goals, according to a new study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The study, ordered by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) and released on March 25, contends that 40 federal programs with construction funding authorized under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are now subject to the wage rules under the federal Davis-Bacon Act. Seven programs are brand-new, and 33 were not previously covered by the law. They account for $102 billion of the $309 billion appropriated for
GRAHAM Bruce J. Graham, a nearly 30-year partner of Chicago architecture giant Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and a driver of high-rise designs that now define the Windy City’s skyline, died on March 6 in Hobe Sound, Fla., at age 84. The cause was complication of Alzheimer’s disease, say published reports. Graham, degreed in both architecture and civil engineering, led design of Chicago’s first two buildings to reach or exceed 100 stories: the John Hancock Center in 1970 and the Sears Tower in 1974. Graham, who joined SOM in 1951 and was partner from 1960 until he left in 1989, pushed
To five-year-olds and many parents, learning math and science or studying engineering isn’t a very kid-friendly option. But a colorful new storybook for children by a couple of Texas engineers wants to change that. The authors say the book, which they have self-published and promoted, is the first written by licensed engineers to relate the engineering field to the world as kids see it. Photo: Alane Rivera Engineers Raymundo and Alane Rivera + Image Photo: Phillip Sada Engineers Raymundo and Alane Rivera are now preparing to go nationwide with their self-published book about engineering careers aimed at young children. “Rocks,
After nearly four years of legal challenges and revisions, contractors and unions face stiffer federal safety mandates after April 22 for lead-paint dust containment in homes and public facilities built before 1978 that are occupied by children under the age of seven. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says its Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule will reduce child lead-poisoning levels, but some construction groups are concerned about added cost for small contractors as well as insufficient worker training around the U.S. Union painters practice new lead-paint-abatement protection techniques. The rule, first proposed in 2006, requires renovation workers to be EPA-certified and
In a strongly worded response that was not a surprise to the U.S. military, a San Francisco-based official of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has raised concerns about the potentially major environmental and infrastructure damage from the planned relocation of thousands of Marines and others to the tiny Pacific island of Guam. EPA is concerned the movement of thousand of U.S. Marines, construction workers and others to Guam will harm its sensitive ecology and overstress infrastructure. In a Feb. 17 letter to Roger Natsuhara, acting assistant U.S. Navy secretary for installations and environment, EPA regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld says the
The fragmented construction business has too many subgroups, many say, but one now forming could be an industry wake-up call. The Construction Millennials of America, a small group of under-30 professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area who banded together in 2008 to network and share workplace stories, now hopes to expand and start influencing company strategy sooner rather than later. Photo: Jill Brown (Left); Jennifter Gross (Center); Doug Durbin (Right) Engineers Brown (left), Gross (center) and Durbin hope their new networking group for “under 30s” in construction will boost young employees’ career and company leadership skills. “Because of the
Three months after he was arrested for allegedly defrauding former employers URS Corp. and STV Corp., and clients, of more than $3 million in allegedly fabricated expenses, George Papadopoulos, an engineer and former vice president of those companies, will be in court March 22 following a not guilty plea to federal fraud and larceny charges last month in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston. He was released on $25,000 bail. “As a construction project manager, Mr. Papadopoulos had authority and discretion to make expenditures and seek reimbursement for them,” says a statement released on his behalf. “He believes these expenses are
While the federal stimulus program has helped many construction industry firms avoid the most immediate, far-reaching and detrimental impacts of the recession, it hardly has been a panacea for all or a substitute for tough strategic decisions. As markets shift, shrink or even disappear, some companies are scrambling to adjust, while others, having seen signs of tough times ahead, execute game plans adopted before the downturn hit. Source: EFCG *Based on responses from 75 engineer-constructors with revenue from $3 million to $7 billion, 85% U.S.-based. Survey conducted in January. Illustration: Rafael Ricoy Related Links: Rosendin Electric Juices Up Its Market
Rosendin Electric Inc., San Jose, Calif., is starting its 10th decade in business, now as the second-largest U.S. electrical contractor. But it’s still pushing into new market sectors and regions and refining corporate processes to compete in the post-recession economy. Photo: Rosendin Electric Inc. Alternative energy is a growing niche but has felt impacts of the recession. Related Links: Post-Recession Strategy for Firms Is the New Turning Point While nearly half the firm’s $893 million in 2008 revenue is in general building, it has read the tea leaves to move into more recession-resistant niches such as health care and mission
The family of Lee Strickland, a PBSJ Corp. engineering manager who was in Haiti during the Jan. 12 earthquake, has turned to the U.S. military for assistance in the recovery effort, according to a company spokeswoman. Strickland, who is transportation planning group manager for the Tampa-based firm’s Orlando business unit, had been in the Haitian capital staying at the Hotel Montana when the magnitude-7.0 quake struck. According to the company, he was set to provide technical advice on proposed development projects in Haiti at a workshop whose participants were to include top U.S. and Haitian government officials. “The decision for
