Members' Edge - January 18, 2017

AGC News

98th Annual AGC Convention Heads To Las Vegas

Make your plans to attend the 98th Annual AGC Convention, March 7-9, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV and seize your opportunity to cultivate new ideas and partners, see and hear about the latest in construction innovation, and leave with the tools to accelerate your business to the next level.

Visit https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/194634/440190 to view the full article online.

AGC Texas Building Branch Sets 2017 Legislative Agenda

The AGC Texas Building Branch has laid out its agenda for the upcoming 85th Legislature convening January 10, 2017 with its top three priorities being revising state lien laws, addressing construction defect claims, and recovering attorney's fees for state breach of contract claims.

Visit http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1119709320910&ca=172e174f-d086-4fb5-a17d-b53f04e9416d to view the full article online.

Coalition Asks Trump To Repeal Labor Mandate

President Barack Obama issued an executive order that mandated use of project labor agreements on large-scale federal projects, but a coalition of several trade groups, including the Associated General Contractors of America, have asked President-elect Donald Trump to rescind the order. The groups estimate that the mandate would add 12-18 percent to construction costs.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=420741&issueID=56207 to view the full article online.

Member News

Porter Hedges Attorneys Receive Board Certification In Construction Law

The Texas Board of Legal Specialization announced that Porter Hedges attorneys Amy Wolfshohl and Sean McChristian have received Board Certification in Construction Law. This is the first year that the TBLS has offered a certification in construction law and Texas is only the second state to certify construction lawyers (after Florida).

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=420742&issueID=56207 to view the full article online.

Linbeck Group Receives Distinguished Building Award for Cook Children‘s Medical Center Project

Linbeck Group, LLC recently received the TEXO Distinguished Building Award for its work on Cook Children‘s Medical Center South Utility Plant in Fort Worth. The achievement was celebrated at the TEXO Holiday and Awards Gala on December 2 in Grapevine, Texas.

Selected winning projects for the Distinguished Building Awards were based on difficulty in construction, original construction techniques involved, final appearance, quality of the finished product and the timeliness of the project’s completion. Linbeck received the award under the "Building Category" Building 5 ($30 - $75 M). The two-story, free standing 16,560-square-foot South Utility Plant project, which was completed in 2015, houses energy-efficient options to support the hospital’s new South Tower and increases the medical center’s energy capacity to serve future growth.

Visit https://www.linbeck.com/ to view the full article online.

Marek Brothers Systems, Inc. To Assist In Super Impact 17

Your help is needed! AGC Houston has been asked by Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., to assist in Super Impact 17, which is a joint program between Rebuilding Together and the National Football League. As a sponsor of Super Impact 17, Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., in partnership with AGC Houston’s Construction Leadership Council and ABC’s Young Professionals, has been tasked with renovating an existing structure to the Independence Height’s Welcome Center.

This building is approximately 800 square feet and is an existing wood framed structure on a wood pier-and-beam foundation. The scope of the project includes everything from site cleanup to the renovation of the exterior and interior of the building. On February 3, 2017, national sponsors will complete the exterior framing in conjunction with the reveal for Super Bowl Weekend and the remaining interior work will be completed by Marek Brothers Systems, Inc., AGC Houston and ABC volunteer crews.

Volunteers are urgently needed to help kick off this project on Saturday, January 21, 2017! If you are willing to help with the project:

Visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090449aca729a4fb6-cleanup to view the full article online.

FMI Corporation Acquires Kiley Advisors, LLC.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=421241&issueID=56207 to view the full article online.

News you can Use

Group Urges President-Elect To Pair Workforce With Infrastructure Measures

Construction employment increased in 211 metro areas between November 2015 and November 2016, the lowest number of metro areas to add jobs in four years, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said that contractors in many parts of the country continue to struggle with worker shortages and urged the incoming Trump administration to include workforce measures with its new infrastructure program.

Visit https://www.agc.org/news/2016/12/21/fewer-metro-areas-add-construction-jobs-during-past-year-group-urges-president-elect to view the full article online.

December Ushers In Increase In Labor, Material Costs

The IHS PEG Engineering and Construction Cost Index of construction labor and material costs increased 2.6 points to 53.3 in December after two months of declining prices. Labor costs increased in the Northeast, Midwest and Southern regions but stayed the same in the West.

Visit http://www.forconstructionpros.com/news/12290948/construction-costs-end-2016-on-a-high-note to view the full article online.

Flood Insurance Reform On Agenda For 2017

Congress is expected to focus on flood insurance reform in the spring, as the National Flood Insurance Program will expire Sept. 30. Some lawmakers support the development of a private flood insurance market as part of reform.

Visit http://www.nationalmortgagenews.com/news/compliance-regulation/pitfalls-ahead-for-flood-insurance-reform-in-2017-1093568-1.html to view the full article online.

U.S. Economy To Grow 2.2% in 2017

The American economy will grow 2.2% in 2017, according to economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics. Those surveyed also predicted a 4.7% unemployment rate and an increase of 2.3% for consumer prices. The improved number is still lackluster by historical standards. U.S. economic growth averaged 3.1 percent a year from 1948 to 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. But the business economists say Americans need to get used to slow growth: 80 percent of those surveyed believe the potential growth rate of the American economy will remain at 2.5 percent or lower over the next five years

Visit http://bigstory.ap.org/article/fed898ea6817402180da864d1c066cfa/get-used-it-economists-see-new-normal-slow-growth to view the full article online.

2017 Is Shaping Up To Be A Bigger Year For Skyscrapers In Houston

Houston is in the middle of a construction boom, with several new skyscrapers completed and others still under construction. A Houston Chronicle article featuring the new towers, includes a photo gallery of the new towers.The Market Square Tower is 498 feet tall, excluding it from the list of Houston's 30 tallest skyscrapers by roughly five feet. The second tallest skyscraper to be built this year was the BHP Billiton Tower (477 feet), found at 1500 Post Oak Boulevard. Three other skyscrapers, Marriott Marquis Convention Center Hotel (395 feet), Hilcorp Energy Tower (346 feet), and Le Meridien Hotel (338 feet) were also built in 2016.

Visit http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/How-Houston-s-newest-skyscrapers-measure-against-10820269.php to view the full article online.

Crane Watch: Mapping Houston's Major Construction Projects

In August 2016, the Houston Business Journal launched Crane Watch, an interactive map with details of major construction projects currently underway in the Houston area.

Project categories include education, hotel, industrial, medical, mixed-use, office, residential, retail and other. In addition to the project’s location, each description includes size, developer and/or owner, estimated completion date and other aspects. Companies are encouraged to add data to the map.

Visit http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/datacenter/crane-watch.html to view the full article online.

Divergys Presents Seminar On Cyber Security In Construction

On January 26 from 10-11 a.m., AGC Houston member Divergys will present a seminar on Cyber Security specially designed for the construction industry. Learn what every construction company must have in place now to avoid cyber attacks, data breaches, lost productivity, as well as stolen intellectual property.

Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/pdf/Construction_Cyber_security_webinar.pdf to view the full article online.

Join Houston Revit Users Group!

AGC Houston members are invited to join the Houston Revit Users group, which meets on the second Tuesday of the month. Revit and BIM application users range from beginner to expert skill levels. Since 2002, the Houston Area Revit Users Group (HARUG) has been the main resource in the area for Revit Users, AutoCAD Architecture (previously Architectural Desktop), AutoCAD and other BIM-related tools.

Visit http://www.meetup.com/RevitHouston/ to view the full article online.

ACE Mentor Program Houston Hosts Building Blocks Breakfast

Join ACE Mentor Houston to celebrate our current mentors and to hear what is new for the ACE Mentor Program for 2017.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Networking/Breakfast: 7-7:30 a.m.

Annual Update & Awards: 7:30-8 a.m.

Speaker/Program: 8-8:45 a.m.

Featuring Guest Speaker Diana Eidenshink, Interim Executive Director, ACE Mentor Program America

Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ace-mentor-program-houston-building-blocks-breakfast-2017-tickets-30727740499 to view the full article online.

FKP Architects Hosts Reality Reboot Hackathon

When: February 17th-19th

Where: FKP Houston Office - 3737 Buffalo Speedway, Suite 1200, Houston TX 77098

Website: https://reality-reboot.com

Deadline for application: Monday, January 23rd

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/hca-nwl/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=421242&issueID=56207 to view the full article online.