by Tom Finan, Executive Director/Co-Founder, Construction Forum In a shining example of what can be accomplished with collaborative effort by the St. Louis Region’s construction industry, the St. Louis Construction Cooperative (SLCC) has rolled out a comprehensive career path website for construction skilled trades career paths. https://stlouisconstructioncooperative.org/ The website, which was built on past work […]
From KCUR: A Missouri S&T professor has received a National Science Foundation Grant to study ancient Rome’s recipe for concrete to see if a modern version can incorporate its longevity and durability. Many ancient Roman structures made of concrete are still standing nearly 2,000 years after they were built. A chemical engineering professor at Missouri […]
From KMOV:Â More than one year after St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed off on a $37 million dollar grant program dedicated to North St. Louis, applications have yet to be approved. In May of 2022, Jones signed Board Bill 82 into law. However, eligibility restraints based on geographical boundaries and the need for aldermanic […]
From Area Development: The surge in industrial projects experienced over the last five to seven years has further stressed labor markets, so it’s not surprising to see the top three site selection factors related to labor force considerations. Additionally, we are surprised that the percentages are not higher on energy costs. As the labor market […]
From Quartz:  The number of electricians employed in the US is at an all-time high in April, and they’re being paid better than ever. But can America sustain the supply of skilled tradespeople needed for these roles? This area of the job market has been setting records setting records in employment since late 2021 and shot […]
From St. Louis Magazine: Just recently, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the Regional Business Council, in partnership with the University of Missouri–St. Louis, published a report that declares that the St. Louis metro has a homicide crisis. Among the report’s key findings: The St. Louis region’s homicide rate is among the highest in the U.S., […]
From Fast Company: A giant trapezoidal building with a donut hole in the middle rises from the flatlands of a former ranch outside Tampa, Florida. Clad in shiny metal, the building has a futuristic gleam, and an equally futuristic feel inside, with state-of-the-art science labs, robotics studios, and media centers. Squint, and it’s a tech […]
From Industry Week: It looked like an erupting volcano, says Celia Reyes when describing watching her dad weld for the railroad and in their garage when she was a kid. When she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps in pursuing the same career path, she would be met with a number of challenges. In […]
From St. Louis Business Journal:Â The newest office building in St. Louis is up and running, one of a pair of new office towers that began construction during the pandemic. Before officially opening to its first tenant in March, the $250 million Forsyth Pointe development, at the intersection of Forsyth and Brentwood boulevards in Clayton, […]
From Area Development: In recent years many companies have been propelled to recalibrate priorities for their location strategies and resulting real estate footprints. The top site selection factors for occupiers today include the following: Availability of skilled labor — As demonstrated in this survey, skilled labor availability is still paramount, ranking #3 among the site […]
From Mid Rivers News Magazine:Â At its May 30 meeting the St. Charles County Council approved Bill No. 5182, sponsored by council member Matt Swanson (District 1), that authorizes an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Wentzville for design and right-of-way work for the future construction of David Hoekel Parkway. The vote to approve was […]
Señor Pancho’s Cantina, a new Mexican restaurant, will open in a 45,000-square-foot mixed-use building now under construction within The Prairie multi-family community in Dardenne Prairie, MO developed by Mia Rose Holdings. Owner: Victor Arellano-Guzman The restaurant, owned and operated by the previous owners and chef of Don Emiliano’s Restaurante Mexicano in O’Fallon, MO, will bring […]
by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum will be carrying the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular […]
Al Droste & Sons Construction, a full-service provider of general construction services, is celebrating their 90th anniversary this year. Ownership and management of the business, which has been in the Droste family for four generations, will be continued by the latest generation, Nate Droste, and Jeff Droste. In 1933, Alvin Droste decided to found his […]
BEX Construction Services launched the start of its 10th year in business on June 1 with a ribbon-cutting for its new 6,700-square-foot headquarters in Maryland Heights, Mo. BEX staff members were joined by subcontractors, vendors, and representatives of the City of Maryland Heights and the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce. Bexy the Bear, transported from […]
This week, Louis Kelly, Forum drone photographer and owner of Drone Eagle LLC, captures progress on the new Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County Library. The new branch, to be named the Clark Family Branch, is expected to be completed in late 2023 and will replace the former Headquarters building at 1640 S. […]
From Marketplace: New numbers out from the Census Bureau this week on construction spending in the month of April. Overall, builders spent a bit more than they did the month before — and about 7% more than a year ago. Dig down a bit deeper in the report and you’ll see that spending on the […]
From Fox 2: A $350-million family resort and entertainment district visioned for the Lake of the Ozarks region officially gets the green light. The Osage Beach Board of Aldermen approved development plans Thursday for a large resort and entertainment district known as “Oasis at Lakeport.” The site will offer rides, attractions, hotels and restaurants, in […]
From Webster-Kirkwood Times:Â Â A major construction project is in the planning stages for South Elm Avenue, between Glendale and Watson roads, with work anticipated to begin in 2027. Todd Rehg, director of public works for the city of Webster Groves, spoke to the road reconstruction project at the May 2 city council meeting. Rehg said the […]
From Call Newspapers:Â After beginning development in 2018, Lutheran High School South in Affton broke ground on the $18 million Lutheran South Center for the Arts May 3. The anticipated completion date is fall 2024. Head of School Jonathan Butterfield said the completion date is not set in stone, as many factors could play into […]
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