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November 13, 2013 • Vol. XXV • No. 23 • 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • Fax 215-885-2910
Inside
New Music City Center a Hit in Nashville By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Described as the largest construction project in Tennessee’s history, Nashville’s new downtown convention center also is the state’s most costly endeavor. Spanning more than six blocks, the $585 million Music City Center was completed on schedule, despite wicked weather, a tight schedule and a herd of pachyderms who temporarily invaded the space. “The Music City Center is such a great addition to Nashville, because of the positive economic impact it will have on the city for years to come,” said Charles Starks, president and CEO. “At the Nashville Convention Center [NCC],
Walther Farms Expands Spud Production…8
see NASHVILLE page 24
Unique Pr oject Under Way in Sout h Fla. …12
ConExpo Retro See page 32 for an ongoing series of highlights from past ConExpos as they were reported in the pages of CEG.
Music City Center photo
Crews used 110,000 cu. yds. (84,101 cu m) of concrete, 14,000 tons (12,700 t) of structural steel and 13,500 tons (12,246 t) of rebar to build the structure, which features a modern exterior glass curtain wall and limestone panels.
Total Impact of Commercial Construction in Ala. Tops $10B
Table of Contents ................4 Truck & Trailer Section ........ ......................................42-44 Recycling Section ...... 45-60 Attachment & Parts Section ......................................61-65 Auction Section ..........78-91 Business Calendar ............82 Advertisers Index ..............90
By Michael Tomberlin AL.COM
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) The commercial construction industry has close to a $10 billion annual economic impact on Alabama, the firstever study of its kind found. The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama commissioned the first detailed look at the economic impact of the construction industry on the state. The findings by Keivan Deravi, economics professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, were surprising to ABC Alabama officials. • The total economic impact of the commercial construction industry in the state is more
than $9.6 billion. • The economic output — payroll and nonpayroll expenditures — of construction is more than $9.3 billion, making it the largest industry in the state, accounting for 41 percent of all output in Alabama. By comparison, all of manufacturing accounts for 19 percent of output and the services industry accounts for 16 percent. • Construction accounts for 150,000 jobs in the state, 116,644 of which are direct jobs. Commercial construction alone accounts for 61,858 direct jobs in the state. The construction industry is responsible for 56 percent of all of the state’s jobs. • Construction in Alabama has an annual paysee ALABAMA page 28
Construction Creates 20,000 Jobs in Sept. Construction employment rose by 20,000 in September and the industry’s unemployment rate fell to a six-year low of 8.5 percent, while construction spending increased for the fifth consecutive month in August, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials cautioned that the data does not address any potential impacts from the recent federal government shutdown. “Both of these reports show the industry was doing relatively well before the federal government shutdown forced many firms to hit the pause button,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “But the shutdown likely disrupted a wide variety of projects and may have caused private investors and developers to delay decisions about new projects or plant expansions. As a result, future spending and hiring gains may be weaker.” see JOBS page 87