Deep Dive: Page 5
Industry insights from our journalists
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Sidewalk Labs is building a smart city entirely of mass timber. What could go wrong?
North America is on the cusp of a mass timber revolution, and the Waterfront Toronto project is leading the way. But the material faces major obstacles.
Kira Barrett • Aug. 5, 2019 -
The Dotted Line: 7 invoice mistakes that waste time, money
It’s not uncommon for general contractors and subs to make costly errors that prevent them from getting paid on time, which experts say are often avoidable.
Kim Slowey • July 30, 2019 -
Employer or employee: Who’s to blame for OSHA violations?
If a contractor has trained its employees on safety rules and a few workers refuse to follow procedures, it sometimes comes down to individual worker misconduct.
Kim Slowey • July 25, 2019 -
ICC v. UpCodes: Can a private organization copyright the law?
UpCodes adds access to new building codes and other regulations for its subscribers, but not everyone agrees as to how the tech startup goes about it, especially the International Code Council.
Kim Slowey • July 17, 2019 -
5 ways small, minority-owned firms can build success
Contracting firms run by minorities, women, veterans and other groups that aren’t traditionally favored in the industry can reap the benefits of unique opportunities if they follow a few simple steps.
Kim Slowey • July 10, 2019 -
Recent deadly accidents, new regulations put crane safety in the spotlight
While crane companies bear the brunt of safety obligations for operators and equipment, general contractors and developers aren’t off the hook and need to know their roles, industry experts say.
Jennifer Goodman • July 2, 2019 -
Contractors face uncertainty in US trade war with China
The tariffs have been just one pressure on construction costs, experts say, but it’s hard to determine if that’s due to actual material increases or to the threat of the unknown.
Kim Slowey • Updated July 1, 2019 -
More construction firms see the value of lean
Companies like Skender, Brasfield & Gorrie and Southland Industries are leveraging lean construction practices to save time, money and resources.
Kathleen Brown and Jennifer Goodman • June 12, 2019 -
Model-based approach smooths twists and turns of Texas linear park project
Converting an active drainage ditch to a cultural centerpiece in San Antonio required collaborative risk mitigation by Sundt, HDR and others.
Kathleen Brown • May 29, 2019 -
Top software firms: Contractors hungry for tech integration
Interoperability, especially between tools seen as “cool,” helps both small and large firms make the most out of limited resources.
Kim Slowey • May 29, 2019 -
$1.6B LAX expansion team highlights BIM, AR/VR and other tech for staying on budget, schedule
The design-build team behind a massive Los Angeles International Airport project recently outlined the benefits they’ve found in sharing models across stakeholders.
Joe Beeton • May 29, 2019 -
The Dotted Line: How to make the most of contingency funds
Contractors should make sure that contract language is as detailed as possible to clarify which items qualify for the reserved funding.
Kim Slowey • May 28, 2019 -
Where safety innovation fits in the heads-down construction environment
Underscoring pilots’ low risk and prioritizing people are two strategies to introduce new technology within tough project cost and schedule constraints.
Kathleen Brown • May 20, 2019 -
Video game-like tech draws younger, more skeptical workforce to construction
The modern jobsite’s move to simulators, controllers, VR headsets and more is bucking the perspective that careers in the industry are all grunt work.
Jennifer Goodman • May 15, 2019 -
What future high-speed rail developers can learn from the California bullet train
Privately funded projects can better withstand political winds and private investors are set up to perform more intensive due diligence.
Kim Slowey • May 9, 2019 -
The Dotted Line: What makes a successful RFP
Owners seek contractors who flesh out a detailed request, giving them a ready plan of attack if they win the project.
Kim Slowey • April 30, 2019 -
Deal or no deal: PLAs in the construction industry
The project labor agreement fight has reached the federal level as unions and private associations plead the case for and against.
Kim Slowey • April 25, 2019 -
The top OSHA fines of Q1 2019
Leading violations show that once again, inspections focused heavily on fall protection.
Kim Slowey • April 16, 2019 -
Test lab for timber technology: college campus construction
With 34 mass timber college buildings completed or in the works across the country, the technology is seeing a lot of support despite challenges.
Hallie Busta • April 10, 2019 -
Strategies to keep light-rail projects on track
Planning, collaboration and alternative delivery methods can be key in the face of land acquisition, funding, cost and other challenges.
Kim Slowey • April 10, 2019 -
Clark rebuilds century-old DC tunnel despite pitfalls
Using progressive design-build, Clark Construction demolished an urban underpass and rebuilt two in its place for CSX rail — without halting train traffic or getting tripped up by strenuous environmental reviews.
Joe Beeton • April 3, 2019 -
3D-printed precast concrete molds for redeveloped NYC landmark a first
The innovative approach to the 42-story tower in Brooklyn created a variety of exterior panels reminiscent of sugar crystals, a nod to the site’s historic past as the Domino Sugar Factory.
Amy Howell Hirt • April 3, 2019 -
How to keep cash flowing from one project to the next
A shortage of liquidity can put a contractor in jeopardy, experts say, offering financial advice for juggling new and existing business.
Kim Slowey • March 28, 2019 -
BIM and design-build pair well, but new habits are needed
BIM fills the space where traditional silos have been broken down, facilitating collaboration between designers and contractors and relaying real-time changes, but that’s only when it’s used properly.
Kathleen Brown • March 27, 2019 -
The Dotted Line: What contractors need to know about construction integrity monitoring
Owners are protecting their investment by hiring a second set of eyes to watch the project, and contractors just might learn something from the experience.
Kim Slowey • March 26, 2019