Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.9 months in September 2019, down 0.1 months or 0.8 percent from August 2019, when CBI stood at nine months. “[The] backlog reading indicates that pre-existing trends will remain in place,” said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu. “In recent months, public construction […]
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Following a two month decline in demand for design services, architecture billings got a bounce in October, according to a report from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The Architecture Billings Index (ABI) score in October is 52, up from the September score of 49.7. This score reflects an increase in design services (any score […]
Leaders of the U.S. construction industry remained confident through September 2019 regarding near-term prospects for sales, staffing levels and profit margins, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Construction Confidence Index. However, the level of optimism continues to dim. For the first time since January, fewer than 50 percent of contractors expect profit margins […]
The 2020-2021 calendar has been set for the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) conferences, the new home of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA). Registration for the FGIA Annual Conference Feb. 10-13 will open in mid-December. For more information, visit aamanet.org/events. FGIA 2020 events: FGIA Annual Conference: Feb. […]
The Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) reported the top five style and performance trends in the U.S. and Canada in 2020 will be: Trend 1: Show of Strength Toughening up a home’s exterior to prepare for climate extremes isn’t just a necessity, it’s a trending style for 2020. Delicate detailing is out, while the use of […]
The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) announced registration is open for its Building Innovation 2020 Conference in Arlington, Va., April 6-9. The show attracts a wide array of attendees including building and construction experts, government officials, contractors, engineers, architects and scientists. “We are reinventing Building Innovation 2020, crafting a unique event that is a […]
During the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Atlanta, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that more than 100 cities and communities have now achieved LEED certification. The City of Atlanta, this year’s Greenbuild host city, marked the 100th certification. USGBC launched LEED for Cities and Communities in 2016 as a globally consistent […]
At the annual Greenbuild conference in Atlanta, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) launched Insight, a new data-driven tool that highlights building project design features that can lead to better performance. Insight is available as a feature of the Arc platform and provides information on the design attributes of LEED certified buildings within a specified […]
During its annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Atlanta, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced LEED Positive, a vision statement and LEED development roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED that is regenerative. “We must do all we can to leverage our tools and resources to scale up reductions […]
The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA-I) gave its Alexander Schwartz Award to Robert (Bob) Wadsworth, of Innovative Energy in Lowell, Ind. Wadsworth is the second Alexander Schwartz Award recipient. He has been engaged in the reflective insulation industry for more than 35 years. Wadsworth has been an active member of RIMA-I, is a past […]
Kingspan has today launched a major 10-year strategy to play its part in reducing the world’s carbon emissions by 45 percent by 2030, as determined in the Paris Agreement, and contribute towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Planet Passionate strategy is made up of 12 ambitious targets, addressing the impact of […]
In October, estimated not seasonally adjusted construction unemployment rates increased nationally and in 34 states, fell in 13 states and were unchanged in three states on a year-over-year basis, according to an analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data released today by Associated Builders and Contractors. As of October 2019, the construction industry employed […]
Seasonally adjusted construction employment increased from October 2018 to October 2019 in 41 states and the District of Columbia, declined in eight states and was unchanged in Colorado, according to an analysis by Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Texas added the most construction jobs (51,400 jobs, 6.9 […]
New York City-based Marcum LLP’s Construction Services Group published its Marcum Commercial Construction Index for the third quarter of 2019, a report titled “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” On “the good” side, Marcum’s third quarter index points to increased public construction spending, growing backlogs, falling input prices, the ongoing U.S. economic expansion, a […]
Walker, Mich.-based Tubelite Inc. introduced a client development manager trainee program. The program will be used to train aspiring sales professionals to successfully promote Tubelite’s storefront, curtainwall, entrances and daylight control systems to glazing contractors and architectural teams. Cameron Shooltz, client development manager at Tubelite for Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and western North Dakota, completed the […]
AIA Illinois gave its Frank Lloyd Wright Award to the Chicago Public Library West Loop Branch for enhancing the natural and built environment of a community through the new design or renovation of an individual building. Formerly part of the campus of a television production company, the interiors of the original buildings had been heavily […]
The Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and owned and operated by Informa Exhibitions, concluded in Atlanta in November, where more than 10,000 members of the global green building community gathered. Greenbuild 2019 featured four days of inspiring education sessions and keynote speeches every day of the conference. […]
The Cold-Formed Steel Engineers Institute (CFSEI) will host a webinar, “Steel Deck on Cold-Formed Steel Framing,” on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. EST. The webinar is designed for architects, engineers, building officials and contractors. Participants are eligible for 1.5 professional development hours (PDHs). Based on the Steel Deck Institute’s (SDI) “Steel Deck on Cold-Formed […]
The Freedonia Group recently announced its new study, Roofing. According to the study, U.S. demand for metal roofing is expected to rise 2.7% per year to 32.63 million squares in 2023. This above average rate of growth will be spurred by: continuing interest in the use of metal roofing as a weather-resistant alternative to such […]
The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) elected its 2020 Board of Directors at the association’s annual meeting held December 3-4, 2019 in Scottsdale, Ariz. The 2020 board members are: Steve Browning, Vulcan Steel Structures – ChairGreg Pasley, Butler Manufacturing – Vice ChairRon Ambrosius, Inland Buildings – Past ChairKen Nichols, American Buildings Co.Dave Tomchak, Bay Insulation […]
Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu forecasts continued momentum for the construction sector next year but advised an overall “wait-and-see” approach based on leading and lagging indicators and economic uncertainties, according to a 2020 economic outlookpublished in Construction Executive magazine. Although ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator—a leading indicator that reflects projects under contract yet […]