My boss at my first engineering job told me that a PE license and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee.
Now that’s one heck of a saying, and at 22 years old, I didn’t really get it. I eventually put two and two together and realized that since a cup of coffee […]
While we may not often talk about them, we all remember the dark ages. These are the years where work in the architecture, engineering, and construction field fell to levels not seen for, at a minimum, decades. I was not one of the lucky who lived in a castle with a moat, so I was […]
Everybody loves to get hung up in contract language. On construction projects, contractors, owners, and subs will fire contract language back and forth like missiles in what gets to be an arms race of legalities that negatively affects projects by creating panic and anxiety. When lawyers get involved, the language starts to get twisted and manipulated […]
I’ve spent the past four years starting a construction company through the public bidding process. While I have arguably been successful in doing this, it has not come without plenty of headache, heartache, and just plain unimaginable stress.
I’ve probably bid at least 100 public RFPs, but I’ve only been awarded less than 10. I’ve dealt […]
I will often get asked, “What is Constructonomics?”.
Actually, that’s a lie. I very rarely, if ever, get asked that question. I’m not sure why I lied about that, but most likely because that’s how a post like this would typically start.
Nevertheless, I do think about the question a lot […]
When it comes to planning out your business, top concerns are usually financing and the product itself. And while this is perfectly rational, you should spend a considerable amount of time determining where it is you want your office to be located. Location can affect the results of your recruiting efforts, company sustainability, and success […]
In 2012, stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are coming to a close. Since the construction industry was promised roughly $131 billion of those stimulus funds, I thought it’d be a good idea to check up on the effectiveness of the funding. I had a simple question: did construction […]
For many people, living green goes further than driving a hybrid car and recycling bottles. Green living is becoming an architectural fashion statement. From rammed earth to yurts to eclectic tree houses, creating a living space that doesn’t increase your carbon fingerprint is both eco-friendly and chic. Look at some of the innovative designs in […]
Preparedness has been a national buzzword since Hurricane Katrina, seven years ago this week. No matter the season or the location of the site, having a preparedness plan in place helps conserve materials and limit business disruption in case of emergency. Approach the plan step by step to turn a daunting task into a manageable […]
Planning and tracking LEED credits for a construction project is a difficult and time-consuming process. In the past, contractors (and LEED APs) had to rely either on pen and paper or general construction project management software to keep track of all the documents, photos, plans etc. association with LEED accreditation.
Today, however, technologies are making it […]
Back in the 1980s, a friend asked me to house sit, presumably to take care of her part-wolf-part chow puppy. She assured me that the dog would not be any trouble. She promised me that two or three daily visits to check on the dog would give her tremendous peace of mind. Along with her […]
In the construction industry, jobs are hard to come by. But a June report released by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) indicates that–at least in some states–it’s getting easier. In the report, the AGC finds that 20 states added new construction jobs. Over at the Software Advice website, I […]
While this may be a little past due, recognition is still warranted for the completion of the office space conversion project done by Constructonomics. The project was started on January 3rd, 2012 and completed prior to the May 3rd scheduled completion date. The total project costs totaled over $500,000.
The project involved conversion of an existing […]
The interior design and construction of a workplace can make a huge difference in worker productivity. A host of big and little things contribute how healthy, happy, satisfied and, above all, productive employees are in their work place. Among the most important of these are whether or not employees work in groups or have their […]
If you work in the construction industry, chances are you have heard of asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous, naturally occurring mineral that was once used extensively in various construction materials like insulation, cement and roofing. It was lightweight, and could resist high temperatures, electricity and chemical corrosion. In fact, it used to be hailed as […]
