Innovation

Is wood the future of campus construction? College buildings are test labs for a new kind of wood technology, but for all its support the latest trend isn't without its challenges. The University of Idaho has one architectural marvel on its campus with the "Kibbie Dome," a sports arena that dates to the 1970s and whose inside has been likened to a tin can cut in half, thanks to its arched roof of wood-and-steel trusses. Now it's gunning for another, right next door. The proposed 4,200-seat Idaho Central Credit Union (ICC) Arena will have a structure that consists primarily of wood,...

State Sees Surge in Female Construction Apprentices In Massachusetts, the share of women in construction union apprenticeships is almost triple the national average of women in construction. There were 619 women in joint union apprenticeship programs and 39 in non-union programs in 2019, according to Division of Apprentice Standards analyzed by the Policy Group on Tradeswomen’s Issues (PGTI). Work on the MGM Springfield and Encore Boston Harbor casinos represented 400 of those women, PGTI found, although the number of women in apprenticeship programs has been rising steadily since at least 2012, when it was under 200. According to the federal Bureau of...

Builders talk the future of construction at Digicon THE Construction Industry Federation will host CIF Digicon 2019 on June 13 in Croke Park. The event will examine how key stakeholders in the sector can better collaborate to create a more profitable, sustainable and efficient industry via digital technology. The Dublin summit will delve into the latest technologies and digitization of processes within the construction industry. It will provide deeper insights into key issues such as project management and job-site monitoring, VDC technology, big data in construction, and the road towards BIM 3 in virtual construction. Increased use of artificial intelligence...

Increasingly tech-enabled construction industry powers forward despite volatility Strong construction momentum will easily carry through the first half of 2019, despite project margins facing pressure from all sides. JLL’s Construction Outlook finds robust U.S. economic fundamentals will drive further growth of the sector, which in 2018 recorded a 5.1% increase in total construction value and a 4.5% increase in employment. Potential risks to the construction sector such as trade war escalation, deteriorating macroeconomic conditions and the worsening labor shortage, are largely balanced by potential boosts that include a large-scale federal infrastructure package, relief from tariffs and the continuation of 3.5% annual GDP...

Marines 3D-print concrete footbridge in field Marines from the 1st Marine Logistics Group at Camp Pendleton in California have completed construction of a usable, 3D-printed concrete footbridge as part of a field exercise. This was the first time in the Western Hemisphere that a bridge was 3D-printed onsite rather than in a controlled environment like a factory. The footbridge project, carried out with assistance from the Marine Corps Systems Command Advanced Manufacturing Operations Cell (AMOC) and the Army Corps of Engineers, was part of the Marines’ annual Steel Knight Exercise. During the course of construction, Marines were trained on how to...