Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff Thirteen months after pandemic panic and profound economic uncertainty compelled a guarded one- to three-year outlook for U.S. construction activity, the Portland Cement Association Market Intelligence Group reports that a key indicator of building and nonbuilding project volume grew year over year—a trend likely to continue in 2021 and 2022.
Read MoreTag: Construction
Silicon Valley mid-rise marks second deployment for rebar-free SpeedCore
Sources: Level 10 Construction, Sunnyvale, Calif.; CP staff After a convincing 2019 debut on Seattle’s 58-story Rainier Square Tower, the SpeedCore Concrete-Filled Composite Plate Shear Wall system is being used for the 200 Park project in downtown San Jose, Calif. Silicon Valley general contractor Level 10 proposed the concept to developer Jay Paul Co. as a means of saving up…
Read MoreLead economist tracks pandemic’s waning effects on construction
Sources: Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff An Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the construction industry added 110,000 jobs in March, bringing to 931,000 the number gained since April 2020, or nearly 84 percent of those jobs lost during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. The construction unemployment rate…
Read MoreChamber construction survey finds favorable commercial market prospects
Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C. Data from the first quarter U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index reveals contractors are growing more optimistic, mostly driven by a rise in revenue expectations. They also have better outlooks on hiring and equipment spending plans as business concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic lessen.
Read MoreDodge, BSD team to expedite material, product specification and procurement
Sources: Building Systems Design Inc., Atlanta; Dodge Data & Analytics, Hamilton, N.J.; CP staff A Building Systems Design and Dodge Data & Analytics partnership is geared to delivering specific and targeted material or product information at precisely the moment design professionals require. It will combine BSD SpecLink, cloud-based specification content and software, and the Dodge Sweets platform, spanning material or…
Read MoreCivil Engineering program offers 3D printing technology primer
Sources: Ohio University, Athens, Ohio; CP staff The Ohio University Russ College of Engineering and Technology presents concrete methods in “3D Printed Buildings Guide: Required Materials, Tips, and Resources” as part of a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree overview, posted here. The guide provides an overview of 3D-printed buildings; project scheduling and labor-saving advantages; challenges for adoption of the…
Read MoreBlock producers bracket 16 home designs in “March Masonry Matchup”
Sources: Block Strong Coalition, Orlando, Fla.; CP staff The Florida Concrete & Products Association and Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council-backed Block Strong campaign’s “March Masonry Matchup” presents a bracket-style challenge where participants vote for their favorite home design in the Sunshine State—from coastal-inspired to classic Mediterranean, each of robust CMU construction.
Read MoreReport tracks architectural trends driving construction materials selection
Sources: Frost & Sullivan, Santa Clara, Calif. Management consultant and industry analyst Frost & Sullivan offers predictions for the global construction market in a recent analysis, “Key Architectural Trends Determining Construction Materials Usage, Outlook 2021,” previewed here. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, renewed focus on environment-friendly and circular solutions, along with geopolitical issues are expected to affect the global construction industry for…
Read MoreACI loads 2021 Collection of Concrete Codes, Specifications, and Practices
Sources: American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff Available as an online subscription, a USB drive or nine-volume print version, the ACI Collection is the most comprehensive and largest single source of information on concrete design, construction, materials, and repair, with nearly 50 codes and specifications and more than 200 practices, including all guides and reports.
Read MoreMasonry interests affirm block construction economy, speed
Sources: Block Strong, Orlando, Fla.; CP staff Block Strong, a public awareness-geared partnership between the Florida Concrete & Products Association Inc. and Florida Concrete Masonry Education Council Inc., taps current Pennsylvania State University research to inform multifamily project specifications. Stakeholders especially note a) how construction materials can be an afterthought when developers and real estate investment trusts define the financial…
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