Industry news, analysis and trends: Week in review

The latest construction industry news covering building and fire safety, resiliency, mitigation, energy efficiency, design, building science and technology and more that we’re reading, following and covering for the week of September 9.

How companies are adapting to the needs of an aging workforce

Engineering News-Record
Older workers, those ages 55 and up, are often seen as top assets in a contractor’s labor pool. They’re experienced and reliable—natural job site leaders, both by title and example. READ MORE

AIA and NCARB help launch coalition on complex professions and licensing standards

American Institute of Architects & the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
The new coalition called the Alliance for Responsible Professional Licensing will focus on educating policymakers and the public on the importance of licensing standards. READ MORE

Is cross-laminated timber the concrete of the future?

ArchDaily
New timber technologies are beginning to deliver similar opportunities – and even superior ones – to those provided by concrete. READ MORE

Resilient building efforts prompt FEMA strategy

US Glass News Network
As the nation sees an increase of natural disasters leaving the communities in their paths’ with billions-of-dollars’ worth of damage, several organizations are making an effort to reduce these costs through resilient building tactics. READ MORE

Seven trends making engineering and construction projects bigger and costlier

Engineered Systems Magazine
Large engineering and construction projects have changed beyond recognition in recent decades. Whether the project is an airport, a power plant, or a car manufacturing complex, sites are now much larger, more complex, and more expensive, meaning more is at stake if things go wrong. READ MORE

Cutting corners during installation leads to poor performance of cooling systems

ACHR News
Buying a new cooling system is a rare occurrence for most homeowners, and the majority know next to nothing about how their central air-source heat pump or air conditioner should be installed. That’s why they usually put their faith in their contractor to not only recommend the best equipment for their home, but to install it properly, too, so that they obtain the comfort and energy efficiency they were promised. READ MORE

National Institute of Building Sciences announces call for speaker abstracts

National Institute of Building Sciences
The 2020 Building Innovation conference and expo will feature 28 speakers over four days. READ MORE

Design for an aging population

Architect Magazine
Globally, the demographics of our population is shifting and growing older, a change that is being powered by more access to the right resources and education on health and well-being. This aging population requires a different approach to design, from where they live, work, and play. READ MORE

NCARB announces improved diversity and gender equity in annual report

Architect Magazine
This year’s NCARB By the Numbers also includes data on the public perception of architectural licensure and regulation. READ MORE

Engineers approve $100M retrofit for San Francisco’s ‘sinking’ Millennium Tower

Construction Dive
The plan involves drilling 140,000-pound piles, each of them 24 inches in diameter, 250 feet into bedrock underneath the building to relieve stress on compressed soil underneath. READ MORE

As construction worker shortage worsens, industry asks government for help

Fox Business
A worker shortage Opens a New Window. in the construction industry is worsening, and now the sector is hoping the government Opens a New Window. will get involved. READ MORE

The value of military veterans

The Peggy Smedley Show
The challenge for businesses today is finding a great employee for the future. Military veterans have unique skill sets and can help with team building, dealing with chaotic environments, help you study your competition and more. READ MORE

$6.875 billion available for climate resilience from HUD

Natural Resources Defense Council
Billions of dollars in much-needed federal funding are finally being made available to nine states and five local communities. READ MORE

Robots and drones are clocking in on construction sites

Arizona Daily Star
Drone painters, robot masons and bionic workers may one day be a common sight on construction sites. Advances in artificial intelligence, coupled with an ongoing labor shortage, have construction companies looking for options to the traditional laborer. READ MORE

Construction contractors lose confidence in June

Associated Builders and Contractors
U.S. construction industry leaders are somewhat less confident about near-term prospects for nonresidential construction but remain reasonably upbeat, according to the June 2019 Construction Confidence Index released by ABC. READ MORE

How to create a resilient city

US News & World Report
Improving the standard of living in cities starts with a relatively simple step: measuring performance. READ MORE

Big raise for AI-powered construction tech bringing “street view” to builders

ZdNet
OpenSpace, a company that utilizes helmet-mounted cameras and some fancy stitching software to create “Street View”-like scenes of jobs in progress, has just landed $14 million in Series A funding. The company’s tech is deployed globally in construction projects worth more than $50 billion. READ MORE

3D printing construction market worth $1,575 million by 2024

Yahoo Finance
The market is witnessing significant growth because of the growing demand from various end-use industries such as building and infrastructure. 3D construction printing has multiple features, such as time-saving, cost-benefit, and environmental friendly resulting in its increasing adoption. READ MORE

Weather changes and code changes

Building Magazine — Canada
Building codes are changing, with a movement afoot to harmonize codes across Canada. With the stage being set for change, this is a good time to review the Ontario system, and for adopting some of the strategies used in Florida to democratize code change. READ MORE

The dotted line: When contractors can walk off the job

Construction Dive
Certain project dynamics give general contractors or construction managers the right to stop work and bill for doing so. READ MORE

Can algorithms design buildings?

Architect Magazine
After decades of unsuccessful attempts to generate building layouts automatically, a spate of companies has suddenly proven it possible. READ MORE

“Building” a future in science with construction-based toys

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Spatial skills higher among those who played with construction-based toys and video games in childhood, according to a new CIRES-led study. READ MORE

How to land a government construction contract

Construction Dive
A procurement expert says common myths should not hold construction companies back from bidding on a sector that offers huge growth opportunities. READ MORE