Construction employment rebounds after record drop in April

June 5, 2020 2:13 pm Leave a comment

A worker fixes a building façade on Friday in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The construction industry nationally added 464,000 new jobs in May — the largest monthly increase in construction jobs since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the data in 1939. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

After seeing the largest drop in construction employment on record in April due to the coronavirus, May brought the biggest-ever rebound in employment, as businesses began recalling workers faster than economists thought.

Tagged with: ABC coronavirus unemployment

The new post-coronavirus bathroom

June 5, 2020 1:23 pm Leave a comment

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the most desired bathrooms were well-stocked and well-cleaned.

Tagged with: Bradley Corp. coronavirus

Small-scale hospital planned for Waukesha

June 5, 2020 12:25 pm Leave a comment

Ascension Wisconsin has announced its plans to open a new small-scale hospital in Waukesha. The Ascension Wisconsin Hospital will provide access to primary, specialty, hospital and emergency services.

Tagged with: health care

Union carpenters reach 3-year deal despite COVID-19 concerns

June 4, 2020 3:04 pm Leave a comment

Union officials say they've reached a deal with contractors that raises wages for Wisconsin carpenters while balancing concerns that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a prolonged economic slowdown.

Nation’s public schools need major repairs, report finds

June 4, 2020 2:28 pm Leave a comment

An employee of Irwin Seating Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, secures one of 671 seats to the floor in the auditorium at Menomonee Falls North Middle School, a project VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee, worked on in 2017. Based on a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, many school districts are left on their own to pay for building repairs but often lack the necessary dollars, leaving them stuck with aging buildings that can pose health and safety risks. (File photo by Kevin Harnack)

The majority of U.S. public school districts need to make major building repairs in at least half of their schools, yet many districts are unable to pay for updates or have postponed them to improve security in case of a shooting, according to a federal report.

Tagged with: referendums VJS Construction

BUILDING BLOCKS: Bristol Highlands Commerce Center

June 4, 2020 10:45 am Leave a comment

(Rendering courtesy of HSA Commercial Real Estate)

Bristol, a town by the Illinois border in southeastern Wisconsin, is adding a total warehouse capacity of over 1 million square feet in the business park.

Tagged with: Building Blocks HSA Commercial Real Estate* Pinnacle Engineering

Pandemic could slow projects already prone to delays, report finds

June 3, 2020 3:48 pm Leave a comment

The coronavirus outbreak is likely to exacerbate delays on projects already prone to blown deadlines, according to a Moody's analysis released this week.

Tagged with: coronavirus

James Peterson elected to roadbuilders hall of fame

June 3, 2020 3:36 pm Leave a comment

A national roadbuilders group has unanimously elected Medford's James Peterson into its Transportation Development Hall of Fame.

Tagged with: James Peterson James Peterson Sons

Former Local 139 president Donald Shaw Sr. dies at 91

June 2, 2020 3:17 pm Leave a comment

Donald Shaw Sr., the longtime leader of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139, died last week at the age of 91.

Tagged with: International Union of Operating Engineers Local 139 Local 139 Terry McGowan

Despite union objections, Waukesha considering $94M offer on water pipeline project

June 2, 2020 2:59 pm Leave a comment

Over objections from a union group, the Waukesha Common Council on Tuesday was planning to consider a non-union company's $94 million offer for part of a project to build a water pipeline to Lake Michigan.

Tagged with: Construction Business Group Robb Kahl SJ Louis Construction Waukesha