HardHatChat

AUGUST 13, 2013

'In commercial general construction, trends come and go…and, sometimes, come right back again. For instance, in Chicago, the Fashion Outlets of Chicago debuted on August 1 , marking the area’s first new Chicago shopping center development in 20 years. Its design is very impressive, but behind it is the traditional enclosed mall layout that took the country by storm in the 1970s and ’80s.

Retail 250

Retail Commercial Chicago Management 250

Construction Business Owner

AUGUST 28, 2013

'With the summer construction season winding down, now is an ideal time to consider adding a crawler excavator to your fleet. Selecting an excavator model, however, is just the first step. It is important to calculate the total cost of ownership on your asset. Many owners may think they have a handle on cost of ownership, only to find that incomplete calculations have caused their profits to fall shorter than expected.

Modeling 246

Modeling Profitability Design Construction 246

Construction Marketing

AUGUST 5, 2013

'The Construction Marketing Association is now conducting a national survey on the use of social media in the construction industry. Find out what social media networks your construction marketing peers are implementing, and which ones are working, by taking this quick and anonymous survey. These survey results will be shared at our upcoming Social Media Summit for Construction Brands Webcast on Thursday, October 17 2013 at 1 PM CST.

Construction 214

Construction IDEA Industrial 214

Viewpoint Construction Technology

AUGUST 7, 2013

'Now that it’s August and the start of school is right around the corner, retail stores are advertising “back to school basics.” Aside from the pens, pencils, and paper I grew up with, smart phones and tablets are now considered “basics” – how times have changed. All these promotions got me thinking about the basics of business, and particularly what makes a business successful.

Construction 176

Construction Retail Management 176

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The Verdantix Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2023 is an independent third-party analysis of 23 EHS software vendors (including Intelex) that provides an in-depth look at the technical capabilities, application breadth, innovation focus, and momentum of key environmental, health, and safety management software market players. The guide is essential reading for EHS software benchmarking, especially for understanding unique vendor strengths and capabilities.

Software

Constructonomics

AUGUST 18, 2013

'Over the last century there have been plenty of construction blunders that have left people asking “how could that happen?” Thanks to some overzealous developers in Spain, we are left asking that question once again. The massive InTempo Skyscraper in Benidorm, Spain was meant to represent prosperity to contrast the county’s economic woes. However the 47-story building has a major problem: there’s no elevator to take patrons up to the higher floors.

Safety 168

Safety Equipment Construction 168

Digger Blog

AUGUST 2, 2013

'In a fit of patriotism (possibly 13 months behind the arc of the London Olympics, or maybe on cue for the royal baby), our greying funsters have organised a parade down the Mall of 150 different vehicles that have been made in the UK. While your Jags, Astons, Rollers and Nobles lead the way, followed by black taxis and ice cream vans, the really meaty stuff brings up the rear.

Equipment 112

Equipment Construction Employment Industrial 112

Construction Business Owner

AUGUST 28, 2013

'If you were to search crane-related headlines for the month of July 2013, you would find the following among the results: “Crawler Crane Overturns”. “Crane Caught on Fire”. “Crane Overturns at Marina”. “Crane Hit by Lightning”. “Crane Operator Burnt”. “Crane Rolls down Embankment”. “Crane Line Hits Power Line”.

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Buisness Facilities Contributed Content

AUGUST 5, 2013

'By Business Facilities Staff. From the July/August 2013 issue . Every year, we treat our Rankings Report as a work in progress. We’re always striving to refine and expand our rankings categories, looking for the most valid metrics to justify our evaluations. As priorities for site selection requirements change, we adjust the rankings to give you our most credible assessment of which locations are meeting those requirements.

North Dakota 111

North Dakota Alabama Texas Louisiana 111

BD+C

AUGUST 6, 2013

'The average amount of space per office worker globally has dropped to 150 square feet or less, from 225 square feet in 2010, according to a recent global survey conducted by CoreNet Global , a leading association of corporate real estate managers at large companies throughout the world. The study is part of CoreNet Global''s ongoing advocacy of quality working environments and work experiences, and the group''s call to action to measure quality of life per square foot. read more.

Office 109

Office Environment Management Engineering 109

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As the use of Enterprise Resource Planning systems in the construction industry is critical to optimizing operations, it's critical that decision makers conduct a thorough software evaluation to find the one that best aligns to their needs.

Industrial

Help Everybody Everyday

AUGUST 27, 2013

'There’s a lot of advice on how to get traffic to your website. But how do you know whether or not your firm’s website gets enough? You could easily spend $30,000 or even $100,000 on a flashy new website. But if not enough people see it, is all that money really worth it? Nobody gives you any guidance on this subject and all your contemporaries claim they get thousands or millions of hits per month (which is a meaningless statistic ).

Architecture 101

Architecture Statistics Site DC 101

Contractor Magazine

AUGUST 1, 2013

'Moen Incorporated has announced the promotion of Kevin Campbell to vice president and general manager of its Commercial Business Unit, effective immediately. read more.

Commercial 91

Commercial Management 91

Digger Blog

AUGUST 8, 2013

'Lynch Plant has supplied a long-reach JCB JS220 for excavation work at Farringdon Station. The Crossrail station being built here is split into two worksites - the Eastern Ticket Hall (ETH) and the Western Ticket Hall (WTH), both surrounded by residential and commercial properties and typically congested London streets. The JS220 is working at the Eastern Ticket Hall removing spoil.

Engineering 91

Engineering Regulation Residential Consulting 91

Construction Business Owner

AUGUST 28, 2013

'In the recent Tax Court memo Kurek v. Commissioner, the Tax Court explains that businesses relying on the independent contractor designation—namely, construction companies—are going to receive additional scrutiny from the IRS. Concerns over the collection of payroll taxes and the ability to avoid providing benefits have increased the IRS’s weariness about the designation, especially in light of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.

IRS 227

IRS Design Contractors Construction 227

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Choosing the right procurement software is a crucial step in ensuring third-party risk management, process governance, and bidding efficiency. With so many procurement solutions to choose from, it can be overwhelming without a frame of reference and a solid starting point. This free buyer’s guide will cover: Benefits of Procurement Software –– Why do you need it?

Procurement

Buisness Facilities Contributed Content

AUGUST 5, 2013

'By Business Facilities Staff. From the July/August 2013 issue . Baton Rouge, LA has been named our top-ranked metro for Economic Growth Potential. Louisiana’s capital has had great success in executing the state’s strategy of bringing together business and higher education in innovative public-private partnerships that spur initiatives in new high-growth sectors.

Metro 110

Metro Memphis Louisiana Mobility 110

BD+C

AUGUST 23, 2013

'With an average cost per square foot of $16.11, Stamford, Conn., is the most costly U.S. market for commercial real estate, according to a new study by the Building Owners and Managers Association International. New York and San Francisco are also among the nation''s priciest markets. read more.

San Francisco 101

San Francisco Commercial New York Office 101

Help Everybody Everyday

AUGUST 4, 2013

'Cover letters are one of the most important pieces of a proposal. Unfortunately, 99% of the cover letters I’ve seen during my Brutally Honest Proposal Critiques are cr*p. The problem stems from common misconceptions about the cover letter’s place in the current proposal environment. Lets look at three misconceptions that can lead to epic cover letter failure.

Pennsylvania 81

Pennsylvania ABC US America 81

Contractor Magazine

AUGUST 29, 2013

'Green training leads to saving water, energy and dollars. If you are a plumber, chances are you know how important water conservation is to the trade. Green Plumbers USA accredits Green Plumbers that go through its 32-hour accreditation in environmental and technical topics, and when finished with this program, he or she will have expertise in home water-efficient products, heating and cooling appliances, hot water heating, solar hot water and water conservation. read more.

Green 84

Green Residential Commercial Contractors 84

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Contractors

Digger Blog

AUGUST 22, 2013

'The new models include 14 EC140D and six EC220D excavators, taking the total number of Volvo machines in the Lynch fleet to over 200, sitting alongside A25, EW140, EW210, EC290 and EC360 models. “We have been buying Volvos for the last 10 years,” says Merrill Lynch, operations director with L Lynch Plant Hire. “There is no doubt that it is a solidly built, premium product, which always rewards us with strong residual values.

Modeling 83

Modeling Equipment Products Employment 83

Construction Business Owner

AUGUST 28, 2013

'Here are a few accidents that might cause you to think about your safety compliance if your construction company works with renewable energy: 2008 – A solar technician was electrocuted when the solar panel metal railings he was carrying came into contact with overhead utility lines. 2009 – A solar installer was carrying panels on a roof when he crashed through a skylight and plunged 40 feet.

Safety 179

Safety Overhead Accidents Construction 179

Buisness Facilities Contributed Content

AUGUST 5, 2013

'Posted by Heidi Schwartz. Impact Forecasting , the catastrophe model development center of excellence at Aon Benfield (the global reinsurance intermediary and capital advisor of Aon plc), has issued its mid-year natural disaster analysis, which aggregates the key global natural disaster perils data for the first half of 2013. The data shows that economic losses from global natural disasters during the six month period ending June 30 totaled $85 billion* (compared to $75 billion in 2012), which

Insurance 108

Insurance Forecasting United States Modeling 108

BD+C

AUGUST 21, 2013

'Chicago, IL.– Chicago-based Magellan Development Group, one of the Midwest’s most prolific large-scale, mixed-use developers, is building a national footprint through two mixed-use projects in Minneapolis and Nashville. Exclude Content: Yes. read more.

Chicago 93

Chicago Minneapolis Nashville Housing 93

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Supply chain challenges and rising material costs are forcing specialty contractors to pay more for what they need to complete each job. Following a simple set of principles, this easy-to-follow guide can help you manage job costs, ease the pains of accounting, and run a more profitable businesses. If you are a Specialty Contractor or Self-performing GC, you do not want to miss out on this essential guide!

Contractors

Construction Equipment

AUGUST 23, 2013

'Construction employment increased in 201 of 339 metropolitan areas between July 2012 and 2013, according to analysis of federal data by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Despite the gain, AGC officials say employment in the construction sector remains below peak levels in most areas.

Employment 76

Employment Metro AGC Construction 76

Contractor Magazine

AUGUST 29, 2013

'INDIANAPOLIS — Some place, somewhere in the United States is experiencing drought conditions today. It’s become a constant part of life in America. Plumbing manufacturers have been under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency to keep reducing the amount of water used by plumbing fixtures, and much work remains to retrofit old, water-hogging plumbing fixtures. read more.

Indianapolis 79

Indianapolis United States Residential Commercial 79

Digger Blog

AUGUST 14, 2013

'Hitachi Construction Machinery presented the new ZW220-5 wheel loader at Bauma. Comfort was one of the most important considerations for the design of the new ZW220-5. The cab is more spacious than the previous model, because the heated air-suspension seat can slide further back, providing more leg room. The tilting telescopic pop-up steering column has also been repositioned to create additional space.

Travel 74

Travel Engineering Environment Regulation 74

Construction Business Owner

AUGUST 21, 2013

'(August 19, 2013) - Construction employment continued its spotty improvement in July, as more states posted year-over-year gains but most states posted decreases compared with June, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data. Association officials said the steady improvement in employment in many states was welcome news, but cautioned that the industry''s recovery was still fragile.

Employment 176

Employment America News Construction 176

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Research reveals 96% of respondents are very or fairly optimistic about their organization’s growth prospects for the next year. The InEight Global Capital Projects Outlook also finds over half see digital technology as the greatest growth opportunity. But these are only some of the findings. Don't be kept in the dark when it comes to the future. Read the report today!

Construction

Buisness Facilities Contributed Content

AUGUST 2, 2013

'Baton Rouge, LA has been named the top-ranked metro for Economic Growth Potential in Business Facilities’ 9th Annual Rankings Report. “Louisiana’s capital has had great success in executing its strategy of bringing together business and higher education in innovative public-private partnerships that spur initiatives in new high-growth sectors,” said BF Editor in Chief Jack Rogers.

Metro 104

Metro Mobility Alabama Ohio 104

BD+C

AUGUST 21, 2013

'The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) saw a jump of more than a full point last month, indicating acceleration in the growth of design activity nationally. As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending. read more.

Architecture 91

Architecture AIA Engineering Design 91

Construction Equipment

AUGUST 14, 2013

'New construction starts are forecast to increase 6 percent in 2013, to $506 billion, according to the Midyear Update to the 2013 Construction Outlook from McGraw Hill Construction. This is the same rate of increase for total construction starts that was predicted in October 2012 and follows the 8 percent gain that took place in that year.

Forecasting 72

Forecasting Construction 72