Rust Belt rebounding with major projects

by KELLY LIGNOS ZIV, Marketing/PR Manager, FieldLens | April 10, 2015

There’s nothing quite like seeing construction cranes dot a city’s skyline. Those cranes don’t just do the heavy lifting on jobsites – they are also symbols of economic health. In bigger cities like New York, cranes are a given. But in Rust Belt cities like Buffalo, Milwaukee, and Detroit, a crane on the skyline—even just one—is a source of pride and a symbol of hope.

Below are three of the biggest construction projects currently happening in Rust Belt cities, bringing cranes to their skylines, along with excavators digging in the ground, concrete being poured, jobsite trailers lining sites, and the thousands of construction jobs that come along with all of that.

Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus – Buffalo NY

In 2001, several regional medical institutions and neighborhood advocacy groups came together with the city of Buffalo to create a plan for a medical campus that would become the hub of medical treatment and research in Western New York. Coming in at around $1.4 billion, work on the 120-acre campus is well underway, bringing more than 1,000 construction jobs to the area and around 20,000 campus-based jobs once construction is complete.

Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons – Milwaukee WI

Upon completion, the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons will become Milwaukee’s second-tallest building, and its tallest built in more than 20 years. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was quoted in the Wall Street Journal, saying “It’s a sign that the economy is starting to come back.” The 550-ft, 32-story skyscraper is expected to be completed in 2017, costing $450 million and generating more than 1,000 construction jobs.

Red Wings Hockey Arena – Detroit MI

Construction of a new hockey arena and 45-block entertainment district is expected to break ground in Detroit as soon as permits are approved. The project will bring in more than 8,300 construction and other related jobs, and will cost around $650 million.

The author is public relations & marketing manager for NYC-based FieldLens. Before joining the software startup, she was a publicist for such authors as Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama, architect Toyo Ito, Charles Saatchi, Dieter Rams, and many more. Having grown up with a grandfather, father, and brother all owning industrial painting and concrete companies, her family ties to our industry comes full circle in her role with FieldLens.

This article first appeared at this author's LinkedIn page.