California-based Charles Pankow Foundation has announced a grant to the University of Washington for development of the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) to advance transparency in the construction industry. By enabling a performance-based approach to embodied carbon reductions in design, procurement, and construction, the EC3 team aims to provide climate conscious building owners tools to make more informed decisions about the materials going into their projects.
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MANUFACTURERS – DECEMBER 2017
John Harris has joined the Besser Co. Technical Service team, bringing 25 years of hands-on block and brick production experience plus plant management skills. Based in Phoenix, he will be on the front line working to bring the latest technology and new equipment to manufactured-concrete producers.
Read MoreORGANIZATIONS – AUGUST 2017
After working with the Concrete Reinforcement Steel Institute since 2011 as a founding cosponsor, the American Concrete Institute is exclusively overseeing Adhesive Anchor Installer (AAI) certification. Developed in response to a National Transportation Safety Board request following a fatal Boston Central Artery/Tunnel precast panel anchor failure, the certification program is now available in 40-plus locations.
Read MoreMajor specification support specialist references NPCA Plant Certification
Sources: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.; CP staff
Following a rigorous review and documentation process, Arcom has elected to include NPCA Plant Certification in precast related content of the MasterSpec program, which the Salt Lake City firm operates for the American Institute of Architects. Architects and engineers use MasterSpec to create construction specifications and choose from prequalified certification programs; the change in precast concrete content will push NPCA certification into more contract documents.
Read MoreNCMA, NRMCA, PCA align with AIA-led Resilience Building Coalition
Sources: American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington, D.C.; CP staff
AIA and National Institute of Building Sciences officials, along with representatives of 38 design and construction industry organizations, have released “Preparing to Thrive: The Building Industry Statement on Resilence – Helping communities construct a more certain future,” a progress report surrounding a 2014 Resilience Building Coalition initiative.
Read MoreResilient Building Codes host recognizes NCMA, AGC, AIA deliverables
Sources: White House Briefing Room; CP staff
Along with the federal agency actions stemming from the Conference on Resilient Building Codes, the White House cited related measures unfolding at the National Concrete Masonry Association and Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, plus architectural, engineering and construction peer groups.
Read MoreABC, AIA & NAHB economists underscore residential, nonresidential market health
Source: Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.
“The nonresidential construction sector gained momentum over the last year and should continue to expand into 2016,” affirms ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The construction industry has benefited from increased stability stemming from low materials prices and greater certainty regarding federal budgeting and monetary policy, although a lack of appropriately skilled labor will remain a challenge for contractors. ABC predicts the nonresidential construction segment will experience 7 percent nominal growth in 2016.”
Read MoreAIA tracks spike in projects idled by financing issues
Sources: McGraw-Hill Construction, New York; American Institute of Architects, Washington, D.C.
Drawing on McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge data, a new AIA report finds the share of projects—led by those in the education and multifamily sectors—stalled due to financing problems has nearly doubled since 2008. “Stalled Construction Projects and Financing” correlates the challenges of construction financing to the incidence of stalled projects in the U.S.
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