September Construction Slides 7%

New construction starts in September retreated 7% to $399.1 billion (annual rate), slipping back after the improvement shown during the prior two months.

Nonresidential building in September fell 7%, given more weakness for the commercial structure types (stores, hotels, offices) as well as a diminished amount of school construction.

Offsetting some of the downward trend was strengthening for healthcare facilities, public buildings, and manufacturing plants.

Transportation construction climbed with help from ARRA funding.
Courtesy of McGraw-Hill Construction Stimulus Special Section

Visit Concrete Form Exchange

Whether you have idle concrete forms you'd like to sell, or whether you would like to purchase used forms to increase your inventory, the new ConcreteFormExchange.com site might be the place for you!

For a small fee, you can post a list of equipment with photos, add contact information, and you're set! It's fast and simple, and there's no middlemen and no commission.

Searching this new site for used forms is free! You have direct access to sellers, and it's easy to find what you need by form type or manufacturer.

13th Annual Construction Financial Management Conference

WHO: AGC of America and the Construction Financial Management Association
WHEN: October 22, 2009 thru October 23, 2009
WHERE: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada Jointly sponsored by AGC and CFMA, the 13th Annual AGC/CFMA Conference was developed in response to a need for programs and workshops designed specifically for financial professionals in the construction industry.

Get the latest information on:

• Strategies for Economic Downturns
• Construction Tax Update
• Ownership Transfer Techniques
• Investing in Today’s Volatile Markets
• Risk Management

Find out more!

Environmental Foundations

The construction of the Manitoba Hydro Downtown Office Building signaled a revolutionary change in the way Canadian architects approached building design. Targeting a 60% reduction of energy compared to the Model National Energy Code for Buildings, the new Hydro office tower surpasses C-2000 requirements.

Manitoba Hydro has a mandate to promote energy efficiency and this is represented in the design and construction of their new office tower in downtown Winnipeg. In an effort to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status, which promotes expertise in "green building" through a comprehensive project certification, the Rapid Clamp forming system was a natural choice. Rather than use a traditional low re-use, job-built plywood system to form the foundation walls of the building, the contractor chose the modular, reusable Rapid Clamp forming system with a reusable Taper Tie. The steel Rapid Clamp frame and resin-coated plywood face of the panels allow for maximum cycling before re-facing. The Rapid Clamp system features a simple, hand-operated clamp system to configure gangs, eliminating the need for electric or pneumatic tools.

Through the use of the Rapid Clamp forming system, combined with all the special design features of the new office tower, Symons is helping to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable development for generations to follow.

Free Online Courses from the SBA

For many years, the SBA has provided classes in a wide variety of important subjects for small business owners. Many of these classes are now available online for free at http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses/index.html. In general, the courses are self-paced and take 30 minutes to complete. Most courses require a brief online registration.
Topics covered include:

• Starting a Business


• Surviving in a Down Economy


• Business Management


• Financing and Accounting


• Marketing and Advertising


• Government Contracting


• Business Planning


• E-commerce


• International Trade


• Federal Tax Training

Symons is the Best Buy

In 2001, Best Buy contracted with architects Perkins & Will and Opus Architects & Engineers to design a new corporate headquarters to consolidate their operations which were scattered around the Minneapolis area.

A unique design element of the Best Buy Campus is the 215,000 sq ft, two-level connector called the Hub. The Hub is intended to create an environment that is "fun, flexible and productive, while acting as a catalyst for learning, collaboration, community and creative solutions." Best Buy wanted the Hub to be an interaction space promoting what they call "casual collisions" between employees fostering a sense of familiarity, teamwork and an open exchange of ideas. The 1000 foot long Hub also links the four office towers to the 7,000 car, 2 million sq ft, five-level parking ramp.

Government Loans Available

As part of the the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the U.S. government has provided extra funding for business loans. See http://www.GovLoans.gov for types of loans, qualifications, and applications.