Magnificent Metal Monday – US Infrastructure Update

Photo Credit: Mario Tama via Getty Images

Construction Dive reported last week, “The U.S. is one step closer to a massive, much-needed infrastructure spending package.” The Senate voted last Wednesday to advance a bipartisan bill, which includes $550 billion in new federal funding for infrastructure. The bill will now enter a process of debates and amendments. Should the bill pass, it would inject funding into transportation, utilities and broadband spending. Senators voted to advance the package 67-32, with 17 Republicans joining all 48 Senate Democrats — and two Independents who caucus with the Democrats — in favor of advancing it.

Steel Mills Currently in Driver’s Seat

Credit: WorldSteel.com; stack of steel tubing 3d rendering

This month, Argus reports, “A year after one of the sharpest production contractions in the US steel industry, domestic flat-rolled mills are reaping the benefits of historically high finished steel prices, tight supply and record scrap margins. US steel production and mill utilization have remained below year-prior levels for nearly all of last year because of Covid-19-related drops in demand, keeping spot and contract steel supply limited amid higher demand.”

Magnificent Metal Monday – Construction Landscape 2021 Free Webinar

What’s In Store for Contractors Under the New Administration?

CONSTRUCTIONDIVE FREE ON-DEMAND WEBINAR

The future of construction looks bright as the new administration talks of multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure investments, improved labor access and getting a handle on the pandemic. However, before moving forward we must understand how the anticipated policies can impact employee wages, labor relations and work rules. 

Women in Construction Week

As Women in Construction Week continues, we look at ConstructionDive‘s “Construction Champions:” The industry’s top female leaders

After asking readers for details about the female leaders who are making a significant impact in construction, support and admiration poured in from colleagues, friends and family members, ConstructionDive received nearly 800 nominations highlighting exceptional women from across the country who are changing construction for the better. Out of the submissions, 59 women were highlighted in the article as shining examples of how female-driven intuition, dedication and intelligence are shaping the industry.

Top Construction Stories of 2020

Photo Credit: ConstructionDive / Flickr; Robert Couse-Baker

Throughout the year, we have turned to various industry news sources in an effort to bring you a wide array of stories and information relevant to the metal design, build and construction industry. As 2020 winds down, here is a “round-up” of top news stories from this year by one of our sources, ConstructionDive. As you can imagine, most of the top stories relate back to COVID, but there are a few others sprinkled in to round out the year. For a look back at some of their top stories, here is their list in order of readership:

Magnificent Metal Monday

Each year, National Roofing Week increases awareness about the significance of roofs to every home and business and shares the good deeds of the industry.

NRCA encourages members to participate in National Roofing Week by engaging in their communities and informing the public about the essential role roofs and professional roofing contractors play in every community. Continue reading to see how you can participate this week.

Construction Costs Decrease While Contractor Optimism Grows

While Construction Dive reports that “construction costs decrease for first time in ten years,” the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported last week that its Construction Backlog Indicator rose to 8.1 months in June, an increase of 0.2 months from May’s reading, indicating increased optimism among contractors. 

Construction Dive sites the following reasons as to why construction costs are projected to decrease:

• A variety of pandemic-related forces have caused construction costs to decline slightly for the first time in a decade, which could lead contractors to feel a pinch in profits.
• The Turner Building Cost Index, which measures costs in the U.S. nonresidential building construction market, fell to a value of 1177 in the second quarter of 2020, a 1.01% quarterly reduction from the first quarter. This is the first time the index from Turner Construction Co. has reduced in value since 2010.
• “Trade contractor competition has increased in many areas as they work to secure backlog due to uncertainty they have about future opportunities,” said Attilio Rivetti, the Turner vice president responsible for compiling the Cost Index in a press statement.

Updates and Resources Related to COVID-19

It has been approximately five months since most states began their “lock-down” measures forcing members in our construction industry to react and quickly adjust to doing business differently. While the industry has shown great strength and resilience, designers, contractors, builders, manufacturers, etc, were forced to pivot and make necessary changes. So where are we today? How is the construction industry faring? Here is a round-up of some of the latest news and resources from several of METALCON’s partner associations and publications:

Magnificent Metal Monday – Infrastructure Bill Update

The Moving Forward Act’s Proposed $1.5 Trillion in New Investments Will Improve Range of Public Infrastructure, Creating Needed Demand for Construction While Making the Economy More Efficient (AGC)

With the current surface transportation authorization’s expiration date of September 30 drawing closer, lawmakers are turning their attention to passing a new infrastructure bill. As reported by Construction Dive, “Last week, House Democrats unveiled a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that includes almost $500 billion of green measures proposed as part of the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act earlier this month.”

Industry News Round-Up

With an immense amount of news streaming into your inbox, here’s a “round-up” of industry stories that caught our eye over this past week. Another source is METALCON’s weekly METALCONLive! Next week, Frank and Rob will continue with the theme “Build Back Better” as they are joined by special guests Ken Gieske from McElroy Metals and Ray Smith from AppliCad Software who will touch on sales strategies for the exterior building segment (REGISTER below).

• Updated “Coronavirus News” compiled by Metal Construction News including announcements of virtual conferences by MBCEA, IIBEC, FGIA, and ASHRAE; AIA’s new resource for safer re-occupancy of buildings and NRCA’s rescheduling of National Roofing Week.

COVID-19 Metal Industry News Round-Up

With COVID-19 continuing to rattle all areas of American life, how is the metal, design, building and construction industry feeling the effects? Here is a “round-up” of current news stories and helpful tips from various industry sources:

Status of Industry Events

Metal Construction News (MCN) has compiled a list of cancelled or postponed industry events going through the end of April and including one event in May. Click HERE to view the full list which will be monitored and regularly updated.

Women in Construction Week

Heidi Ellsworth being recognized as the first-ever WORLD AWARD winner NWIR Day last month!

Continuing our focus on Women in Construction Week 2020, we will be highlighting women who are making a difference and initiatives targeted to helping women advance in the roofing and construction industry.

Last month, the third annual National Women in Roofing Day was held on Sunday, February 2, 2020 prior to the start of the International Roofing Expo in Dallas. RCS partner and one of METALCON’s speakers, Heidi J. Ellsworth, kicked off the day, speaking about visualization for success. Heidi has played a key role with METALCON over the past two years, creating and leading several educational sessions about the importance of hiring more women in the industry.

Magnificent Metal Monday

Credit: Rainier Square/NBBJ

Construction of the 850-foot-tall, $570 million-to-$600 million Rainier Square Tower in Seattle is turning out to be a proving ground for innovation.

According to Construction Dive, “Aluminum components are being 3D printed with the resulting v-shaped nodes and connected squares of curtain wall forming a dramatic slope from the fourth to 40th floors. Aside from the impressive aesthetic, this method of production can also more easily accommodate last-minute changes.”

The article goes on to explain, “Structural engineer Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA) started out planning to use a reinforced concrete core for the building, said firm CEO Ron Klemencic, and about halfway into the project, it was clear that the tower would be too expensive and was going to take too long to build, making it economically unfeasible for the building’s owner, developer Wright Runstad & Co.” So after tabling the project for over a year, they needed an idea that would “jumpstart the project without busting the budget.”

Magnificent Metal Monday

Photo Credit: Fortune.com

Next-generation innovations were the focus this past weekend at the CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas. CES is the world’s gathering place for those who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. The show has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for 50 years. So with innovation and technology in mind, METALCON’s MMM focuses on drones in construction and how far they’ve come over the past several years. Construction Dive recently took a deeper look into the subject in their new series, “Tech 101.”

How will Construction Evolve in 2020?

In a recent article, Construction Dive offers five predictions on how construction will evolve in this New Year. Here are the top trends to expect in 2020 in the nation’s second-largest industry:

• Scrutiny into structural processes will aim to make catastrophes more impossible.
• Modular will see more momentum in the market.
• Diversity and equity come to the forefront through contract mandates.
• Automation will deliver efficiencies on jobsites without stealing jobs.
• Top contractors will continue to reconsider megaprojects with inherently high-risk contracts.

Industry News Round-Up

Here’s a round up of some top industry stories from this week:

CONSTRUCTION DIVE MODULAR BUILDER OF THE YEAR: SKENDER.

Chicago-based Skender, a traditional construction firm for 64 years that’s now primarily known as a modular builder, says it’s on the cusp of a proposition that is as efficient a business model as the industry can imagine. From Construction Dive’s point of view, Skender offers the most promising

MMM – Football and Vegas

Current status of new $1.9B Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas; Photo Credit: Construction Dive

We highlight Vegas again in this week’s Magnificent Metal Monday (MMM). While Musk’s underground tram (METALCON Blog Issue Nov 18) may not be finished in time for METALCON 2020, the new $1.9B Allegiant stadium will be! Construction Dive takes an inside look into the status of the project, on track to be completed by summer 2020.

New Tool to Map High Impact Construction Projects

Construction Dive has launched a new tool to map high-impact construction projects across the United States. Construction is an engine that powers the U.S. economy. Across the country, large-scale projects are shaping communities by enabling industry, improving transit and meeting changing demand for commercial space and housing.

Ice Ice Baby – Pittsburgh Fever!

PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA; Photo courtesy of The KMA Group

It’s a sports lovers week! First the NCAA Basketball Championship Game and now onto the Stanley Cup ice hockey playoffs. Why would we cover this for our METALCON readers you ask? If you haven’t already heard, METALCON 2019 is headed to Pittsburgh in October for the first time in its 28 year show history. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision of where the show will take place year over year. Given Pittsburgh’s illustrious history in the steel industry, along with the ongoing development of its downtown and convention district, selecting it for the 2019 show was an easy decision.

Magnificent Metal Monday

$25 Billion Hudson Yards opens Phase I in New York City

Aerial view of Hudson Yards, NYC; photo credit: https://www.corkeryconsulting.com.

Growing up near Manhattan, I was always struck by the city’s “something is always happening here” modus operandi. My recent visit was no exception … just when you think the “Big Apple” is out of room for big development, the amazing happens.

As reported by Construction Dive, Hudson Yards has been in the planning stages for two decades, according to Curbed New York, and under construction for about six. The entire 28-acre project, much of it built above former rail yards, is expected to add $19 billion to New York City’s gross domestic product each year. Construction and development costs through 2025 are expected to total $20 billion. 

Magnificent Metal Monday

Photo courtesy of Construction Dive, December 21, 2018

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of METALCON 2019, may be seeing a $700 million city enhancement project come to fruition in the near future. According to Construction Dive, local developer Millcraft Investments provided more information last week about the Esplanade, its planned $700 million, 15-acre mixed-use development along the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

What will 2019 look like?

Where’s the crystal ball when you need one? Without crystal balls, tarot cards or other mind-reading methods, we turn to the industry trades to help us “see into the future.”

Best of the Best of 2018

Grand Award winner in the 2018 Metal Construction News Building & Roofing Awards; photo courtesy of pod architecture + design, Rabbit Hole Distilling, and Prodigy Construction

You know it’s nearing the end of another year when “best of” lists for everything from music to toys to movies to fashion begin popping up everywhere.  The construction and roofing industry is no exception.  Here’s a round-up of some of the industry’s “best of the best” from 2018:

Magnificent Metal Monday

Photo courtesy of Construction Dive

Construction begins on Texas Border Gates

Despite resistance on behalf of many lawmakers to commit to additional funding and also risking a possible government shut down later this month over this issue, construction on the border wall between Texas and Mexico is ongoing.  Construction Dive recently reported, ” U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), along with the Army Corps of Engineers, announced the start of construction at another section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, with the latest contract worth up to $5.7 million.”