Current Events in Construction Archives

In June of this year, President Obama announced his plan to address climate issues. The EPA has announced a number of new regulations that are scheduled for public comment and finalization in the fall of 2014 in furtherance of the President’s agenda. Some of these new regulations have the potential to significantly impact the coal and Marcellus Shale industry, as well as the construction infrastructure that goes along with it, in Pennsylvania.

A subcontractor debarred by the City of Philadelphia has lost its legal fight to dispute the debarment for violations of minority participation rules. The City previously debarred JHK, Inc., because it had allegedly misrepresented its minority work volume. JHK formally disputed the debarment and its claim was heard by a special Debarment Panel under the auspices of the City Finance Department.

News reports in the last several hours indicate that a building at the corner of Market and 22nd Streets in Center City Philadelphia has collapsed and buried between 8-10 people.  There was construction work going on in the area, including demolition work to bring one of the buildings down.  It is assumed, but officially unknown, whether the demolition work was the cause of the building collapse.

Philly.com reports that a deal has finally been struck between Post Brothers and the Philadelphia trade unions in relation to the Goldtex construction project. Congressman Bob Brady brought the two sides together at the Sheet Metal Workers union hall this week and brokered at least a temporary peace.

Some new numbers compiled by Battelle and R&D Magazine suggest that construction spending is on the rise in the research sector of the economy. It seems lab owners in all disciplines are interested in building new facilities or renovating existing ones in order to keep up with ever changing technological advances and to meet certain “green” goals or safety concerns.

Alvin H. Butz, one of the Lehigh Valley’s largest construction companies, has broken ground on a new project in Allentown. Phase II of the Butz Corporate Center is a $10 million building located on Hamilton Street. The 6 story, 50,000 square foot Class A office and retail space will bring approximately 150 jobs to the Allentown area. It follows on Phase I of Butz’s corporate center project, which opened in 2006 and is estimated to have created 200 jobs in the city.