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From Webster-Kirkwood Times:  Having weighed several multi-million-dollar options, the Webster Groves City Council now favors a design concept that would replace the municipal aquatic center for a base cost of about $12 million — with options to do even more. During a work session on Tuesday, May 16, city leaders received the “master plan” report […]

From Marketplace:  Another piece of data from Friday’s jobs report that’s worth talking about: The labor force participation rate for women who are considered to be of “prime working age” — in the mid-20s to mid-50s — just hit an all-time high. This is a bit momentous, considering what happened in those early months of […]

From St. Louis Business Journal:  Schnuck Markets Inc. will hold a “grant reopening” celebration next weekend for its Crestwood location, which has undergone a total store remodel. The Crestwood store has received several new additions, like a food hall and Fresh Pour drink area, along with updates to its bakery, deli and seafood departments. The […]

From Area Development:  The passage of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) bolstered an unprecedented opportunity for states and cities to invest in sustainable infrastructure that was introduced in the 2021 $2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Both acts, along with a new crop of related programs, include provisions to expand the […]

From Construction Dive:  The rollercoaster ride of construction material prices is lining up to throw contractors for another loop. Although prices for key input commodities should continue to fall in 2023 and 2024, according to a report from Oxford Economics, the level still remains greatly elevated compared to pre-pandemic. About 82.5% of construction materials experienced […]

From Building Design & Construction:  When we spend time in nature, we instinctively feel its value. To quantify that value, the concept of “natural capital” has been developed so that organizations can measure its impact and thus make more informed decisions. Natural capital measures the services that ecosystems provide. These could be, for example, acting […]

From Construction Business Owner:  The past three years have shown the world what many of us already knew: Skilled trade jobs directly and indirectly impact nearly every facet of American life. It’s nearly impossible to watch the news without hearing stories about jobs, the economy and the workforce in general. In our post-pandemic world, people […]

From Area Development:  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics most recent report released on March 10, 2023, the unemployment rate for March was 3.5 percent. The unemployment rate has hovered at this level over the last 12 months, ranging between 3.5 percent and 3.7 percent, except for in January 2023 where it dipped to […]

From Construction Dive:  Dive Brief:  The U.S. construction industry recorded 383,000 unfilled jobs in April, up 68,000 from the previous month, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Wednesday. In spite of multiple economic challenges, demand for construction workers remains elevated, said Anirban Basu, chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors. “There are signs that higher […]

From Construction Equipment:  Construction employment increased in 231, or 65 percent, of 358 metro areas between April 2022 and April 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of new government employment data. Association officials said the lack of available workers to hire is keeping many metro areas from adding even […]

From Construction Dive: Dive Brief: On March 22, a speeding motorist crashed into a highway work zone on I-695 in Maryland, killing six construction workers. The incident received nationwide attention, but the Associated General Contractors of America has stated the crash is tragically common. “What happened to those workers on March 22 is sadly much closer to the […]

From Roads & Bridges:  The St. Louis area is booming with industrial growth thanks to improvements on the 70-mile corridor on Interstate 70 that runs from Foristell, Missouri to Marine, Illinois. Ushering in national manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors, the construction boom is evident along I-70. Ed Lampitt, Vice Chair of Cushman & Wakefield said that […]

For this year’s Construction Safety Week, the team at BJC’s Campus Renewal Project produced a video, “A Safe Work Environment Means Going Home After Work,” The video features interviews team member representatives,  who detail how safety is addressed on their jobsite. I’m a journeyman carpenter,” said Marco Smith of Sledroc Construction on the video. “I’ve […]

From Building Design+Construction:  Michael Kennedy, Jr. and Gyasi Haynes of KAI Enterprises, St. Louis, describe their firm’s effort to create a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion—and how their own experiences as black men in the design and construction industry shaped that initiative. Source.  

Innovative technology that creates a virtual representation of the seabed of ports and waterways and provides real-time information to shippers and port operators is now available and has the potential to impact freight movement much like traffic navigation apps have been a game changer for motorists. Details on the digital twin technology developed by Israeli-based […]

From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  The St. Charles County Council is sending $1.1 million more to the construction of a new boat dock at Klondike Park on the Missouri River near Augusta. The additional funding, which comes from a St. Charles County Port Authority grant, will pay for the construction of a boom to deflect debris […]

Spellman Brady & Co. is proud to announce that the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) has selected Christa Barr, CHID, EDAC, IIDA, NCIDQ, to join its “Marketing and Social Media Committee,” as well as its “Industry Partners Committee.” As a “Marketing and Social Media Committee” member, Ms. Barr will collaborate with a group […]

S. M. Wilson & Co., a St. Louis-based construction manager and contracting firm, is restructuring its technology department with the promotion of Jamie Berzon, CM-BIM to Chief Technology Officer and hiring of Brian Turner as Construction Technology Manager. Mark Patterson, who has been serving as the firm’s Chief Information Officer for nearly 18 years, will […]

CannonDesign is thrilled to share that the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) has selected Dani Sheley as its 2023 Member of the Year. IIDA shared the news on their website earlier this month. Each year, IIDA recognizes members demonstrating outstanding commitment, passion, professionalism and dedication to the IIDA and the design community through its ‘Of […]

Construction Management Partners, LLC (CMP) has hired Eva Chapin as senior project manager. As a senior project manager, Eva’s responsibilities will include the implementation of strategies to improve CMP’s core business services. Eva will act in specific project leadership roles and will have direct communication responsibilities with the clients and their project team. Eva has […]