Turning shipping containers into buildings isn’t a new concept, Travis Price says. Indeed, Price remembers writing a thesis that proposed plugging residential containers in and out of skyscraper frames. The Washington, D.C.–based architect recently explored this vision with the completion of SeaUA, a 24-occupant apartment building erected in the Brookland neighborhood. It is the capital city’s first residential project comprising shipping containers.

When it was time for DPR Construction to establish its San Francisco office, it quickly decided on a goal—create the city’s first net-zero energy use commercial building that would stand both as a workplace and a sustainability showcase. Also, to prove to prospective clients that lofty green goals were not only possible but practical, the contractor set out to renovate the space cost effectively. In San Francisco, that meant keeping the costs to less than $200 per sq ft for the 24,000-sq-ft building.

Intensive preconstruction planning and the use of specialists in historic restoration are credited with the successful revitalization of a faded Hollywood icon.

Since it opened in 1929, the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles was notable for its mixed architectural style, combining Roaring 20s-era glamour with ancient Jewish tradition. Hollywood studio moguls provided funding, materials and skilled studio set builders, such as mural painters, to help with the original construction.

The largest solar power generating project of its kind in the world, Ivanpah uses emerging technology to produce electricity through 173,500 heliostats connected to a dual-axis tracking system, allowing the mirrors to move on a pylon 360° for optimal reflection. In turn, the sun’s rays are directed onto boilers sitting atop three 450-ft-tall towers to create steam.

Vertical construction on the 1.16-million-sq-ft 605 West 42nd Street luxury residential tower is completed with remaining work set to finish some time next year, including enclosing and fitting out the building, say developer The Moinian Group and construction manager Tishman Construction.

Construction and design firms, along with project stakeholders across the Texas and Louisiana region, submitted more than 80 entries in this year’s regional Best Projects competition. Our independent panel of judges, representing diverse fields of expertise, selected 39 winners across 19 categories, described in detail in the following pages.

On December 3, Jennifer Horn and Maria Panichelli presented the second webinar in their core construction curriculum series for Women Impacting Public Policy and Give Me 5%. The presentation, entitled “Best Practices in Construction,” covered suggested best practices for before, during, and after conclusion of a construction project, in the context of both state and federal jobs. The presentation provides tips on contracting, documentation, compliance, and claims prevention strategies. Start implementing business practices that make the difference between a profitable construction project and one that exposes your company to financial risk .

Construction and design firms, along with project stakeholders across the Texas and Louisiana region, submitted more than 80 entries in this year’s regional Best Projects competition. Our independent panel of judges, representing diverse fields of expertise, selected 39 winners across 19 categories, described in detail in the following pages.

According to a new study by the University of Colorado. the use of prefabricated elements in the construction of a hospital in the Rocky Mountains saved millions of dollars.

The use of prefabricated materials was extensive in the construction of the 831,000 square foot Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver. Among the prefabricated components were exterior wall panels, the bathroom pods, headwalls in patient rooms and utilities, which were placed using pre-built racks that ran above the hospital’s corridors. Altogether, the hospital used 816 different prefabricated toilets and headwalls.

Colorado-based roofing company finds its niche in doing tough, creative work.  Specialty contractor Douglass Colony Group Inc. of Colorado has a penchant for tackling tough, often one-of-a-kind roofing jobs—from the historic Colorado State Capitol dome in downtown Denver to a health care company’s skyscraper headquarters.

Most regional contractors say they have plenty of work but are concerned about the availability of labor to do it.

Kelly Brough, CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, in a December 8 outlook for Colorado hosted by the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, said “We’re seeing (construction) workers go to higher paying jobs in other states, like Texas and North Dakota, and to other industries, like oil and gas.”

Denver’s upscale Cherry Creek North neighborhood is experiencing its biggest construction boom since the 1980s, with more than $500 million in commercial and residential projects going up, recently completed or planned. Demand from businesses and residents is driving the development.

A construction surge is forecast for both Colorado and Utah in 2015.  Construction starts in Colorado next year are expected to increase by 21%, with total new construction reaching $13.4 billion, according to a recent forecast from Dodge Data & Analytics

In Utah, 2014 starts are headed toward a 4% increase over 2013, at $6.3 billion, and DDA expects the Beehive State to reach $7.45 billion in new work in 2015, a 15% jump. That would be the highest total for new construction work in Utah since 2007.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New York District, has awarded a $25.6-million contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., Oak Brook, Ill., to deepen the Arthur Kill Channel located between Staten Island, N.Y. and Union County, N.J.

Construction firms added jobs in 38 states and the District of Columbia between November 2013 and November 2014 while construction employment increased in 26 states and D.C. between October and November, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials noted that the list of states gaining jobs has varied significantly from month to month as the market remains extremely variable.

The Alliance Center in Denver will begin using the LEED Dynamic Plaque, a revolutionary building performance monitoring and scoring platform from the U.S. Green Building Council that helps change human behavior through dynamic data. It will be one of the first buildings in Colorado to utilize this technology.

The New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board will start $350 million worth of construction and improvements to the city’s sewer system in 2015, including repairs and upgrades to drainage canals, pumping stations, pipes and outdated power supply stations.

Hard Rock Construction of Metairie, La., is preparing to break ground on a $13.3 million intermodal terminal at the Port of New Orleans.

The 12-acre project will feature 10,000 linear ft of rail track and five acres of heavy duty paving to accommodate the transfer of intermodal containers between ships, trucks and trains. Hard Rock Construction will also install electrical, drainage and utility systems along with new water feeds for additional fire hydrants.

Once you have assessed your general contractors insurance needs , it is time to make sure that you are getting the best possible prices on your policies.  This website provides important insurance information to get a contractors insurance quote and to help you save on your next business decision.

A watchdog group focused on federal spending at the Savannah River site, a nuclear complex in Aiken, S.C., is raising new concerns about the delayed, $7.7-billion Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility project after the contractor filed a “routine” request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a 10-year construction extension.

Each policy renewal period you should review you general contractors insurance policy to make sure you still have the right coverages at the most affordable cost.   Here are some tips to review.

1) Equipment: Have you sold or bought any major pieces of equipment? If you sold any equipment, you may be able to reduce the policy limits on the business property portion of your general contractors insurance policies, which will cut your general contractors insurance premiums. However if you bought new equipment then you may need to increase your policy limits.

2) Employees: Have you had to lay off employees? Although workers compensation is sold separately from other types of insurance for general contractors, your premiums for this coverage can make a big dent in your bottom line. If you have reduced your workforce, see if you’re eligible for workers comp premium reductions. If you increased your work force then make sure to add all new employees to your worker compensation policy.

3) Vehicles: If you are no longer using as many vehicles in your contracting business, trucks,vans or automobiles, you will want to make sure that the vehicles that have been retired are no longer listed on your commercial auto insurance policies. Removing those vehicles from both the vehicle liability and collision coverages can add a few more dollars to your bottom line.  Yet also make sure to list any new vehicles and or vehicle changes so that you are sure that all vehicle are listed on your policy.

4) Increasing or Cutting Back Coverages: You will want to consider your options very carefully before cutting back on the general liability portions of your general contractors insurance. Construction is still a risky business, and the number of problem areas for which contractors are held responsible for such as lead paint, pollution, asbestos seems to grow all the time.  Therefore it is better in this case to have higher coverages then lower limits of coverage.

From the $4.6-billion Manhattan West complex to the $3.9-billion Tappan Zee Bridge replacement span, the 2013 start-up of megaprojects in and around New York City has brightened prospects for specialty contractors with work forces large enough to handle the loads, say industry executives. The trend is more than a welcome sign to a sector hammered during a recession that drove some firms out of business and forced others to implement major cost-cutting initiatives.

The project will ultimately expand Stamford Hospital’s campus footprint by 50%, but not before reshaping nearly every facet of the complex.  Stamford Hospital’s project team had nearly finished design and preconstruction work on a new three-story facility to house emergency, surgery and acute care services when the client added a request: Add a seven-story tower that the master plan did not specify for another decade.

At 103 years old, O’Connell Electric Co. has worked in every industry sector while staying close to its upper New York state home base. But with robust growth in certain markets, the firm is preparing to branch out as it eyes opportunities beyond its usual borders.

A Southtowns contractor is barred from doing business in the Town of Evans, because of so many complaints against him.  Gajkowski, 33, is accused of leaving home improvement jobs unfinished, and homeowners holding the bag.

Gajkowski has no insurance, pays no Workers Compensation, nor will town officials even issue him a building permit, so the town is taking an extraordinary stand.  Gajkowski has been warned by the town building inspectors, and the police, that he is not allowed to do any contracting work within the Town of Evans.