ICON, Lennar partner on largest 3D-printed community

Source: Lennar Corp., Miami Construction technologies company ICON and homebuilder Lennar will build the largest neighborhood of 3D-printed homes to date using ICON’s innovative robotics, software and advanced materials. Breaking ground next year, the 100-home community will be codesigned by the acclaimed architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).

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NAHB Institute’s premier report tracks deep dearth of workers

Sources: Home Builder Institute, Washington, D.C.; CP staff The residential construction industry faces a shortfall of 200,000 skilled trades workers, according to the Home Builder Institute’s inaugural HBI Construction Labor Market Report. “This persistent challenge endangers the affordability and availability of housing and hinders a robust economic recovery,” affirms HBI CEO Ed Brady, noting how labor represents approximately 30 to…

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Foundations group gauges form tie shortage impact on residential work

Sources: Concrete Foundations Association, Mt. Vernon, Iowa; CP staff The Concrete Foundations Association is leading an industry-wide effort to mitigate a pending steel form tie shortage across North American markets. Designed to withstand the fluid pressure of concrete placement, the ties structurally connect foundation and wall forming systems. Supply conditions of domestically produced and imported ties are reducing builders or…

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NAHB analysis shows doubling of concrete-framed home volume

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff Annual concrete-framed home completions climbed from 42,000 to 86,000 over the 2015-2019 window, according to a National Association of Home Builders analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. With lumber prices up more than 170 percent from mid-April through mid-September, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association cites market conditions favorable for…

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Lead forecaster: Infrastructure, housing, producer consolidation key to 2015

Sources: FMI Corp., Raleigh, N.C.; CP staff

Construction- and engineering-geared management consultant FMI views increased infrastructure spending levels, continued housing activity growth and accelerated market consolidation as linchpins to a successful year. In its U.S. Markets Construction Overview 2015 report, the firm observes:

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Housing rebound supports strong outlook for fiber cement products

Source: Freedonia Group, Cleveland

Demand in the U.S. for fiber cement products is forecast to increase 8.5 percent annually through 2017 to 2.9 billion sq. ft. (valued at $2.2 billion), according to Fiber Cement, a new study from market researcher Freedonia Group.

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NAHB Improving Markets Index expands to 30 metropolitan areas

Source: Rock Products staff

The number of improving housing markets continued to expand for a third consecutive month in November, rising from 23 to 30 on the latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index. The list dropped two metropolitan areas and added nine new ones—Fort Collins, Colo.; Hinesville, Ga.; Davenport, Iowa; Monroe, La.; Lima, Ohio; Williamsport, Pa.; Corpus Christi and Tyler, Texas; and, Cheyenne, Wyo.

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