New York Governor Andrew Cuomo included emergency design-build authorization as a part of his State of Emergency Declaration for the Commissioner of Transportation and the Commissioner of General Services.
The declaration was issued in response to Winter Storm Jonas which dumped over 18 inches of snow in parts of the state. The action allows, “the Commissioner of Transportation or the Commissioner of General Services to award design-build and best value contracts without following the proscribed procurement process.”
The Design-Build Institute of America said in a press release, “Over the years, design-build has proven itself particularly capable of handling disaster recovery efforts. Used in the rebuilding after Super Storm Sandy, this is not the first time the state of New York relied on design-build to help the state quickly rebound from a natural disaster.
“Also playing a large role in rebuilding Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, design-build and its single point of contact for design and construction forgoes many of the inefficiencies of traditional project delivery that are unworkable during an emergency situation."
Related Stories
| Oct 16, 2014
U.S. military concerned about climate change putting bases at risk from floods
Among the challenges the armed forces may face is rising sea levels that could put Navy docks and other installations under water in places like Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, and other coastal locations.
| Oct 16, 2014
Fannie Mae releases white paper on energy performance of multifamily buildings
The least energy efficient multifamily property may be spending $165,000 more in annual energy costs than a similar property operating the most efficiently, according to a new white paper released by Fannie Mae.
| Oct 16, 2014
Energy Department sets green building standards for federal agencies
LEED Silver may be used, and in some instances, the Green Globes program may be substituted, according to a new regulation by the U.S. Department of Energy.
| Oct 16, 2014
New York City’s climate plan includes tripling of solar energy
New York City’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 includes tripling the amount of solar power generated from city-owned buildings.
| Oct 15, 2014
Drones may soon assist code inspectors for construction in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Labour announced that they will start using drones to help inspectors record when construction sites are breaking laws.
| Oct 9, 2014
California authorizes increased use of design-build on state projects
Under the updated law, the Department of General Services and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may use design-build on projects in excess of $1 million.
| Oct 9, 2014
New York City releases guide for retrofitting buildings against floods
Part of the city’s response to widespread flooding as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the manual offers retrofitting strategies that will enable property owners to reduce the risk of damage and disruption from coastal flooding.
| Oct 9, 2014
Seattle puts restrictions on micro apartments
The Seattle City Council passed new rules that new studio apartments in the city must measure at least 220 sf and contain at least two sinks.
| Oct 9, 2014
Cities get creative with stormwater management
Cities around the world are crafting stormwater management policies that include natural and manmade methods to store and absorb runoff to reduce flooding.
| Oct 2, 2014
Fannie Mae study says affordable rental units more energy efficient than market-rate units
Fannie Mae’s new report on energy usage in the multifamily sector found that affordable properties use 28% less energy per unit and are 29% smaller than market-rate properties.