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August 19, 2015 • Vol. XXVII • No. 17 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
Construction Employment Sets Records
Originally constructed as a Sears mail-order processing warehouse and retail store, the historic Crosstown Concourse building is undergoing a dramatic renovation in downtown Memphis, Tenn. Considered an eyesore and primed for demolition just a few years ago, the 14-story, 1.5 million sq. ft. (139,354 sq m) art deco high-rise is being transformed into a mixed-use vertical urban village that will feature apartments, arts, dining, retail, education, office, health care and wellness components and green spaces. “We are currently more than five months into the construction schedule,” said Matt Futrell, senior project manager of Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc. of Memphis. “The bulk demolition phase is complete, and we’re focused on the building envelope restoration phase of work, such as masonry repairs, new roofing systems and new windows. “Many items are complete, but there are a few key efforts to note. Steel catwalk structures for new atria skylights have been placed on the roof, new reinforced concrete walls at the highest roof of the main tower — more than 190 ft. (57.9 m) in the air — have been formed and poured, approx-
Construction employment in July climbed to the highest level since February 2009, while the number of unemployed workers with construction experience shrank to a 14-year low, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the diminishing pool of available qualified labor may be having an impact on the industry’s ability to meet growing demand. “It is encouraging to see construction employment rising again, but the industry could hire many more workers if they were available,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “The lack of experienced construction workers may be impeding the industry’s ability to start or complete new projects. The recent acceleration in construction spending may soon level off unless the sector can draw in more workers with the right skills.” Construction employment totaled 6.38 million in July, the most since February 2009, but the total rose by only 6,000 in July and by an average of only 7,200 per month over the past five months, Simonson noted. The number of unemployed workers who reported last working in construction totaled 474,000, the lowest amount since 2001. “The sector’s job gains in the past five months have been intermittent and relatively sluggish
see CROSSTOWN page 36
see JOBS page 34
NPK DemoTrax Expands Staff…18
Considered an eyesore and primed for demolition just a few years ago, the 14-story, 1.5 million sq. ft. (139,354 sq m) art deco high-rise is being transformed into a mixed-use vertical urban village.
ICUEE Launches Dirty Boots Contest…40
Eyesore Cured in Memphis By Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT
McClam & Associates Expands Runway…51
Table of Contents ..............4 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ....................................43-47 Recycling Section ......51-64 Attachments Section ............ .................................... 75-80 Auction Section ..........83-93 Business Calendar ............87 Advertisers Index ............94
ASA Files Brief in Major Insurance Court Case The American Subcontractors Association, ASA of Texas, and other key construction industry organizations on July 31 filed an amici curiae brief in another major construction insurance coverage case that has percolated through the court system. The case involves the incorporation of a defective product into a refinery, but has widespread implications for contractors and subcontractors as to coverage for defective con-
struction and installation of particular parts, products and equipment into construction projects. ASA, ASA of Texas, the Associated General Contractors of America, Texas Building Branch — AGC and ABC of Texas filed the brief in support of appellant U.S. Metals Inc., in U.S. Metals Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Group, 2014 WL 465892 (5th Cir. Sept. 19, 2014).
“Whether AGC, TBB — AGC, ABC of Texas and ASA members can depend on their commercial general liability insurance policies for coverage for the many risks they face is a matter of continuing and urgent interest to them,” Patrick J. Wielinski and René R. Pinson of Cokinos, Bosien & Young, Irving, Texas, wrote in the brief. In the underlying case, U.S. Metals, the see ASA page 38