Construction
Rob McManamy
DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes

Yesterday, DEWALT, accompanied by Procore, announced their new WiFi Mesh, which promises to increase wireless connectivity on the jobsite. We talked to two DEWALT executives about the new product — here's what they had to say.

DEWALT shifts to solve jobsite WiFi woes
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Data-driven design propelling collaboration

"Data-driven design" suggests an impersonal, robotic process that replaces human creativity with cold numbers. But at our latest BuildIdeas Breakfast, we learned from IBM Watson and Detroit Mercy Hospital that it can mean greater customer satisfaction.

Data-driven design propelling collaboration
Business
Rob McManamy
Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge

Despite wavering venture investment, the clean energy market is still growing from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Here, the annual Clean Energy Trust Challenge gives us a welcome opportunity to check in on multiple, vibrant efforts to implement power innovation.

Hawaii, Vermont, RI see clean energy surge
Cities
Rob McManamy
Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations

If cities will yield the richest data upon which tomorrow's most consequential decisions will be based, then it is no surprise they were a recurring topic at last week's BuiltWorlds Summit. To see some of the actionable insights that were shared, read on.

Cities, data drive BW Summit conversations
Architecture + Design
Rob McManamy
Obamas unveil Presidential Center design

Just days after the former First Lady urged architects not to neglect inner cities, she and her husband came home to Chicago this week to reveal their vision for a $500-million community hub that they hope will reinvigorate a long-struggling community.   

Obamas unveil Presidential Center design

AGC of America

Preconstruction Q&A: AGC, Sinclair offer best practices

Preconstruction Q&A: AGC, Sinclair offer best practices

Jack-of-all-trades Tim Sinclair is the new chair of AGC's Specialty Contractors Council. We talked with him about the group's growth and what he sees as a healthy surge in collaborative pre-construction between general contractors and subs nationwide.

How CIO Fara Francis oversaw the AGC's IT revolution

How CIO Fara Francis oversaw the AGC's IT revolution

Since 2006, Charlotte Fara Francis has seen a world of change as CIO for the Associated General Contractors of America. We recently chatted with her about her unique role in helping to steer old-school contractors onto the information superhighway.

Water pressures: 7 hopeful signs

Water pressures: 7 hopeful signs

From New Orleans and Amsterdam to Flint, MI, and Teheran, cities across the globe are frantically racing to upgrade their fragile water systems ahead of the coming surge in urban repopulation. Here are seven reasons for urgent optimism about our water future

Labor pains: Industry woos next-gen recruits

Labor pains: Industry woos next-gen recruits

Labor Day Special: Even before the Great Recession caused countless construction workers to flee our industry, skilled labor shortages were growing. Today, with demand strong, the need is even greater. Here, we look at efforts underway to address the crisis.

7 Memorable Moments from the AGC-IT Forum

7 Memorable Moments from the AGC-IT Forum

See IT... Learn IT... Build IT... That was the simple, bottom-line theme of this year's 8th annual conference of the AGC-IT Forum, which returned to Chicago earlier this month. Here is our unscientific roundup of some highlights that resonated.

July Jobs Jolt: Construction finds summer stride

July Jobs Jolt: Construction finds summer stride

Finally, construction workers across the land are donning their hard hats and returning to work, en masse. If most of you already knew that, then at least the numbers have finally caught up. Here, we take a midsummer pulse check of hiring and the economy. 

Calling All Hard Hats: Labor Still Lagging Demand

Calling All Hard Hats: Labor Still Lagging Demand

Despite a continuing stream of new work, the U.S. construction industry is continuing to see its labor pool drain. Now, the latest BLS jobs report has prompted AGC, ABC and others to express concern that the labor shortage will soon hold the economy back.

Huh? Explaining May's Dip in Construction Jobs

Huh? Explaining May's Dip in Construction Jobs

What the heck just happened? The U.S. construction industry is still chugging along at an extraordinarily healthy clip. So, how did we manage to lose 15,000 jobs in May? Great question. BuiltWorlds decided to ask AGC, ABC, and HardHatHub for some answers.  

Safety Culture: Tech Helping Workers Take Lead

Safety Culture: Tech Helping Workers Take Lead

Safety first? Actually, according to an important new study released this month, safety appears to be gaining even more importance as AEC firms embrace new technology and practices to attract skilled workers and win new work. Download the report. 

Dust-up: New OSHA Silica Rule Stirs Challenge

Dust-up: New OSHA Silica Rule Stirs Challenge

OSHA last week drastically reduced the permissible level of silica dust particles that U.S. construction workers may be exposed to over the course of a normal work day. Now, as labor celebrates, contractor groups have taken OSHA to court to block the new rule.

Labor Struggling to Keep Pace as Contracts Continue Surge

Labor Struggling to Keep Pace as Contracts Continue Surge

U.S. nonresidential construction activity has returned to levels not seen since 2009. But the surge in new contracts is such that some areas now actually find themselves slowing down to wait for the labor supply to catch up.

Women: Why Are There Still so Few in Our Industry?

Women: Why Are There Still so Few in Our Industry?

We kick off National Women in Construction Week with words from NAWIC board member Liz Evans of the AGC of Washington. She speaks with 'Engineer Girl' Patricia Galloway and other inspiring figures who are changing our industry for the better. 

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Level of Accuracy: When the virtual world meets The Real One

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Level of Accuracy: When the virtual world meets The Real One

No doubt, the use of technology has vastly improved our prefabricated products, but it also has created a culture less tolerant of any so-called mistakes in the field. David Francis, AGC's BIM Forum MEP Group chair, seeks to reconcile the discrepancies.

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Survey Finds Tech Use Rising, Investment still Lagging

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Survey Finds Tech Use Rising, Investment still Lagging

Tech researcher and product tester James Benham returned to Chicago last week for a rousing presentation to AGC-IT on the findings of his latest industry survey and the state of overall tech usage in our industry.

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The construction worker of the future

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The construction worker of the future

Last week, the ConAppGuru visited Chicago to present at the annual AGC-IT Forum. Here is another presentation he also made to AGC last month on the high-tech jobsites of tomorrow, and the evolved workers who will populate them.

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Chicago team wins CIRT-ACE Mentor Nationals

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Chicago team wins CIRT-ACE Mentor Nationals

Earlier this week, the Construction Industry Round Table hosted presentations from the three finalist high school teams at the 9th Annual CIRT-ACE Mentor Program National Design Competition in Washington DC. Mentored by VOA, Chicago's Team #1 emerged the winner. Here are the details.

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