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February 13 2022 Vol. XXIII • No. 4
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded 1957.” 470 Maryland Drive • Ft. Washington, PA 19034 • 215-885-2900 • Toll Free 800-523-2200 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Inside
Building Austin’s ‘Second Downtown’ White Construction Breaks Ground On $3B Project A massive construction project meant to bring the largest transitoriented master-planned community to Austin’s second downtown is officially under way. Ground was broken at the end of 2021 on the first phase of the $3 billion, 66 acre project known as Uptown ATX. Crews from White Construction began initial activities on the first phase of the large-scale project, One Uptown, a $328 million mixed-use endeavor. Following its commencement of construction, the project was heralded as a game-changer by Jerry Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, joint-venture partner with Canyon Partners Real Estate. Located on the former IBM campus and at the crossroads of three major highways, Sweeney predicted that Uptown ATX “will accelerate the establishment of the area as Austin’s second downtown,” about 12 mi. north of Austin’s downtown. Bill Redd, executive vice president and regional managing director of Brandywine Realty Trust, explained how Uptown ATX will be accomplished. “Phase 1, One Uptown, situated on five acres, began in 4Q 2021 and will include 348,000 square feet of Class-A
By Joe Jancsurak
CEG CORRESPONDENT Doosan Infracore Veep Discusses Company’s Acquisition, Future...12
Industry Professionals Gather at World of Concrete...20
see AUSTIN page 44
Basics of Excavator Automation Technology...48
White Construction LLC photo
White Construction recently broke ground on the Uptown ATX project in Austin, Texas. (L-R) are Kelly Pollet, superintendent; Neal Moon, vice president; Donald Rutledge, project executive; Ryan Hanel, project executive; Kallie Luttrell, project engineer; Trish Walker, contract administrator; and Paul Tucker, superintendent. Not pictured are Rob Baugher, senior vice president; Hank Hundhausen, project executive; Kelly Linton, senior superintendent; Travis Chaney, assistant superintendent; David, Bood, senior project engineer; and Hillary Davis, contract administrator.
Filling the Bill: Contractors Optimistic in 2022 Construction Industry Plans to Bump Up Headcounts to Meet Job Deadlines
Table of Contents .........4
By Lucy Perry
Paving Section ......31-42
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Excavator Section .......... .............................. 45-72 Auction Section ....74-77 Business Calendar......77 Advertisers Index .......78
Contractors expect revenue and profit margin gains this year, and believe the workforce pool is strengthened through building enrollment in technical high schools and vocational training programs.
Two big construction industry outlook reports released in early January show promising construction industry stats where workforce is concerned. The supply-chain issues and labor shortages continue, yet respondents to both surveys said they plan to hire and increase staff this year. Contractors across the construction spectrum are encouraged to follow suit.
In its latest construction hiring survey, the AGC found that 74 percent of more than 1,000 member firms plan to add to their payroll in 2022. And three quarters of the civil contractors and engineers who responded to a recent quarterly survey by a Dodge Construction Network partnership are upbeat about their workload this year and plan to hire more workers to meet the need. The latest issue of the Civil Quarterly (TCQ) detailed survey results that show optimism
among civil contractors regarding the construction economy in 2022. Contractors believe worker shortages will still have a major impact, however. The survey found that approximately half of responding contractors expect revenue and profit margin gains this year. They also strongly believe the workforce pool is strengthened through building enrollment in technical high schools and vocational training programs. see JOBS page 30