BD+C's roundup of the top construction market news for the week of August 18 includes the latest architecture billings index from AIA and a BOMA study on the nation's most and least expensive commercial real estate markets.
AIA ARCHITECTURE BILLINGS INDEX UP AGAIN IN JULY
The ABI, a leading indicator in commercial construction, was up more than a full point last month, to 52.7 (any score above 50 means increased billings). The number was above 50 in every region and every market sector tracked by the AIA. New projects index also up dramatically, to 66.7, from 62.6 in June. http://www.bdcnetwork.com/aia-architecture-billings-rise-july
FIVE MOST (AND LEAST) EXPENSIVE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETS
At the top: Stamford, Conn. ($16.11/sf), New York, Grand Rapids, Mich., Newark, N.J., and San Francisco. At the bottom: Stockton, Calif. ($3.57/sf), Fresno, Calif., Huntsville, Ala., Virginia Beach, Va., and Albuquerque, N.M. Total operating expenses were down 3.9% overall from 2011 to 2012, BOMA says, crediting maximization of operating efficiency. http://www.bdcnetwork.com/5-most-and-least-expensive-commercial-real-estate-markets
2013 WILL BE A RECORD YEAR FOR HOTEL RENOVATIONS
Duro-Last blogger Drew Ballensky reports that the U.S. hotel industry is expected to spend $5.6 billion on capital expenditures this year, beating the prior record set in 2008. NYU's Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality says 20% of hotels will receive improvements this year. http://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/2013-will-be-record-year-hotel-renovations
CODE AMENDMENT IN DALLAS WOULD LIMIT EXTERIOR REFLECTIVITY
Proposal would limit exterior reflectivity of "visible light" to 15%, in attempt to cut down "undesirable" and "potentially hazardous" glare. Potential "non-green" side effect: use of dark or tinted glass that interferes with daylighting. Of note to all designers and glass/enclosures manufacturers. http://www.bdcnetwork.com/code-amendment-dallas-would-limit-building-exterior-reflectivity
Also see: Top construction news for the week of August 11, 2013
Related Stories
| Nov 10, 2011
Skanska Moss to expand and renovate Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
The multi-phase terminal improvement program consists of an overall expansion to the airport’s footprint and major renovations to the existing airport terminal.
| Mar 2, 2011
Cities of the sky
According to The Wall Street Journal, the Silk Road of the future—from Dubai to Chongqing to Honduras—is taking shape in urban developments based on airport hubs. Welcome to the world of the 'aerotropolis.'
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Aug 11, 2010
JE Dunn, Balfour Beatty among country's biggest institutional building contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 50 Institutional Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, Arup, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the nation's 75 largest international design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 International Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Clark Group, Mortenson among nation's busiest state/local government contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 40 State/Local Government Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit /giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, CH2M Hill, AECOM top BD+C's ranking of the 75 largest federal government design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 Federal Government Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Jacobs, HOK top BD+C's ranking of the 75 largest state/local government design firms
A ranking of the Top 75 State/Local Government Design Firms based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
| Aug 11, 2010
Clark Group, Hensel Phelps among nation's largest federal government contractors, according to BD+C's Giants 300 report
A ranking of the Top 40 Federal Government Contractors based on Building Design+Construction's 2009 Giants 300 survey. For more Giants 300 rankings, visit http://www.BDCnetwork.com/Giants
