September 4, 2023

Real-Life LEGO Set: Putting Together a New Way of Building

Structural materials have not changed all that much since reinforced concrete was introduced to construction in the late 19th century, but a fiber-reinforced, mineral composite system from a Florida company offers a new alternative.

Jeff Yoders

Scott Judy

August 30, 2023

6 Comments

Structural materials have not changed all that much over the years, but a Florida company offers a new alternative.

Water Report

US Moves to Come Clean on PFAS in Drinking Water

August 30, 2023

Water systems, and their design and construction experts, boost efforts to eliminate contamination from ubiquitous 'forever’ chemicals, a key component of widely used firefighting foam runoff—as federal rules, technologies and costs catch up.

Manufacturers of Prefab Tackle a Skeptical Marketplace

Jeff Yoders

August 30, 2023

No Comments

A different prefabrication and modular construction sector came out of the pandemic. Ambitious startups such as Skender Manufacturing and Katerra folded in the last few years, while one major health care designer lamented an industrywide pullback that saw many of the suppliers they work with cut back on custom, by-project fabrication to standardize on products like headwalls and bathroom pods.

Contractors Make a Bet on Prefab and Modular

Jeff Yoders

August 30, 2023

No Comments

Demands from clients and labor shortages are forcing some contractors into other methods of creating building assemblies, driving new investments in prefabrication and modular construction techniques.

Correctional Facilities

NYC to Reissue RFQ for Manhattan Jail Following Construction Market Changes

James Leggate

August 15, 2023

No Comments

City officials plan to replace the Rikers Island jail with facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens.

Transit

Amtrak May Revive $30B Dallas-Houston High-Speed Rail Project

Daniel Tyson

August 28, 2023

One Comment

The carrier said it is working with private rail developer Texas Central Partners to seek federal funds to further determine viability of reviving the stalled project.

Flood Mitigation

Corps Awards Two More Contracts for $3.7B Louisiana Levee Project

James Leggate

August 28, 2023

No Comments

Dynamic Group and EvCo Development will each build a section of the planned 17.5-mile West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee system.

Technology

Contractor Venture Platform Set to Grow Sustainable Building Startups

Affiliate of Boston-based Suffolk has closed on new $110-million fund focused on construction and property technology fields

Scott Van Voorhis

August 22, 2023

No Comments

Suffolk Technologies, an affiliate of the Boston construction firm, recently closed on a $110-million inaugural fund.

Sports Venues

Tennessee Titans Pick Turner-AECOM Hunt Team for $2.1B Stadium

James Leggate

August 17, 2023

No Comments

Tennessee Builders Alliance is slated to serve as construction manager-at-risk for the project to build a football stadium in Nashville.

Transportation

Four Design Teams Named for $4.6B Project to Clear Chicago Rail Bottlenecks

James Leggate

August 24, 2023

No Comments

The firms will plan the replacement or rehabilitation of nearly 100 bridges and other structures along a 6-mile stretch of Chicago's south side where more than 100 trans from six rail lines meet daily.

Maryland Shifts Big Beltway Fix From P3 to Public Funding

Jim Parsons

August 22, 2023

No Comments

State DOT dumps stalled $7.3B private developer approach of previous administration, but with public funding not in hand, design and construction is years away.

Buildings

Developer Names Contractor to Build Australia's Tallest Tower

James Leggate

August 16, 2023

No Comments

Australian contractor Multiplex is set to build the 1,169-ft-tall STH BNK By Beulah in Melbourne.

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Feds Tout Wind Market Even as Gulf Auction Draws Just One Bid

Debra K. Rubin

Mary B. Powers

August 29, 2023

No Comments

Germany-based RWE, which is developing offshore projects in New York and California, bid $5.6 million for its 102,000-acre site off Louisiana in the Aug. 29 Gulf of Mexico lease sale,

Environment

Biden Administration Restores Offshore Drilling Safety Rule

James Leggate

August 24, 2023

No Comments

A new Interior Dept. rule largely echoes changes made in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that were later walked back under the Trump administration.

Infrastructure

Work on Charleroi Lock and Dam in Western Pa. Nears Completion

Work on the $1.2B lower Monongahela River project began in 2004

Jeff Yoders

August 20, 2023

No Comments

Nearly 20 years after beginning construction and $1.23 billion later, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Charleroi Lock and Dam in Monessen, Pa., is scheduled to be completed later this year.

Construction Accidents

Portion of Indian Rail Bridge Under Construction Collapses, Killing Workers

James Leggate

August 23, 2023

No Comments

At least 18 people were killed in the collapse, state officials said.

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Eight States Join Suit Against $930M N.J.-Pa. Gas Line OK'd by Feds

Mary B. Powers

Debra K. Rubin

August 26, 2023

No Comments

States say Federal Energy Regulatory Commission did not consider New Jersey's claims that added capacity was not needed and would violate its climate change law.

Codes and Standards

Colorado Adopts Its First Building Energy Performance Standard

James Leggate

August 22, 2023

No Comments

Regulation 28 applies to about 8,000 buildings, but some already meet the energy use requirements.

Transportation

UK's HS2 High-speed Rail Project Makes Progress Despite Challenges

Peter Reina

August 23, 2023

No Comments

But the megaproject's current chances of successful delivery was rated "unachievable" by the government's Infrastructure and Projects Authority in its recent annual review.

Natural Disasters

White House Outlines Plan to Rebuild Fire-Ravaged Maui

Pam McFarland

James Leggate Susan Halas

August 23, 2023

No Comments

But damage and economic impact cost could reach $6 billion, says a Moody's estimate, as President Joe Biden releases funds for emergency repairs and announces FEMA official as federal coordinator for long-term reconstruction

Highway Infrastructure

FHWA Awards Nearly $9M for Innovative Highway, Bridge Work

Tom Ichniowski

August 22, 2023

No Comments

Grants went to 10 projects in eight states and the District of Columbia.

Worley Fiscal 2023 Net Income Falls Steeply

Richard Korman

Debra K. Rubin

August 29, 2023

No Comments

Australian engineer-contractor reports revenue is up.

Legal

Michigan Contractor Executive Pleads Guilty in Bid-Rigging Case

James Leggate

August 18, 2023

No Comments

The charges result from an ongoing probe into anticompetitive conduct in the asphalt paving sector, officials say.

Construction Economics

Architectural Business Index Holds Steady for July

Tom Ichniowski

August 24, 2023

No Comments

Firms specializing in commercial and industrial projects report upbeat results; multifamily residential firms see a downturn.

New OSHA Reporting Rule: Will Public Data Be Wisely Used?

Richard Korman

August 30, 2023

No Comments

The absence of a fatality or an accident, someone said recently, “doesn’t mean the presence of safety.” Many people involved in safety will appreciate the significance of those words.

Pulse for the Week of September 4, 2023

August 30, 2023

One Comment

Project news from Dodge Data & Analytics.

Public Agencies Test Digital Twin Tool for Improved Asset Monitoring

Aileen Cho

August 30, 2023

No Comments

Public agencies are testing a tool that could take monitoring of bridges and dams to a higher level by using data from drones and sensors in a digital twin.

Construction Economics for September 4, 2023

August 30, 2023

No Comments

ENR’s 20-city average cost indexes, wages and materials prices. Historical data and details for ENR’s 20 cities can be found at ENR.com/economics

Enhancing Collaboration and Surpassing Traditional Design-Build Methods with Progressive Design-Build

Earn: 1 PDH; 1 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU

Progressive Design-Build is reshaping large infrastructure projects by addressing key issues with the traditional Design-Build approach. We'll explore how PDB fosters collaboration between owners, design-builders, and design teams to develop a well-defined scope and budget, plus minimizes cost overruns and reduces liability claims.

Our Publications

ENR

Cover Story

Real-Life LEGO Set: Putting Together a New Way of Building

US Moves to Come Clean on PFAS in Drinking Water

News

Manufacturers of Prefab Tackle a Skeptical Marketplace

Contractors Make a Bet on Prefab and Modular

NYC to Reissue RFQ for Manhattan Jail Following Construction Market Changes

Amtrak May Revive $30B Dallas-Houston High-Speed Rail Project

Corps Awards Two More Contracts for $3.7B Louisiana Levee Project

Contractor Venture Platform Set to Grow Sustainable Building Startups

Tennessee Titans Pick Turner-AECOM Hunt Team for $2.1B Stadium

Four Design Teams Named for $4.6B Project to Clear Chicago Rail Bottlenecks

Maryland Shifts Big Beltway Fix From P3 to Public Funding

Developer Names Contractor to Build Australia's Tallest Tower

Feds Tout Wind Market Even as Gulf Auction Draws Just One Bid

Biden Administration Restores Offshore Drilling Safety Rule

Work on Charleroi Lock and Dam in Western Pa. Nears Completion

Portion of Indian Rail Bridge Under Construction Collapses, Killing Workers

Eight States Join Suit Against $930M N.J.-Pa. Gas Line OK'd by Feds

Colorado Adopts Its First Building Energy Performance Standard

UK's HS2 High-speed Rail Project Makes Progress Despite Challenges

White House Outlines Plan to Rebuild Fire-Ravaged Maui

FHWA Awards Nearly $9M for Innovative Highway, Bridge Work

Worley Fiscal 2023 Net Income Falls Steeply

Michigan Contractor Executive Pleads Guilty in Bid-Rigging Case

Architectural Business Index Holds Steady for July

Departments

New OSHA Reporting Rule: Will Public Data Be Wisely Used?

Pulse for the Week of September 4, 2023

Public Agencies Test Digital Twin Tool for Improved Asset Monitoring

Construction Economics

Construction Economics for September 4, 2023

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