People+Firms

The world's largest retail design firm, Callison, just got larger with the acquisition of Dallas-based retail architect RYA Design Consultancy. RYA specializes in U.S. and international department store and specialty retail brands, including Printemps, Palacio de Hierro, and Shinsegae. The new Callison RYA Studio will merge staff and clients into Callison's existing retail practice at its Dallas and New York offices.Shawmut Design and Construction, Boston, has promoted 16-year Shawmut veteran Brian Stys to the newly created position of VP of marketing and business development.Riverside, Calif.-based general contractor J.D. Diffenbaugh has named Jeff Dale president.Clayco, St. Louis, has appointed Scott Higgins director of government construction and design.The Orlando office of VOA Associates has named Daryl LeBlanc, AIA, and Thomas Matzke, CSI, LEED, AP, associate principals.Geoffrey Stryker, PE, has joined STV Inc. as a senior structural engineer and project manager in the firm's Transportation and Infrastructure Division. Stryker will be based out of STV's Harrisburg, Pa., office.Nashville, Tenn.-based Gresham, Smith and Partners has named eight staff members owners: Tim Arendt, Ken Baker, Roddy L. Boggus, Jody Braswell, Lori Lange, David Stewart, Jody Vance, and Mark Warriner.Chicago-based Environmental Systems Design has named David P. Callan, PE, LEED AP, senior VP chief technical director. Callan, a BD+C 40 Under 40 winner, specializes in the design of high-performance and sustainable building projects.

Building Design+Construction's monthly Market Intelligence Report offers a snapshot of the health of the U.S. building construction industry, including the commercial, multifamily, institutional, and industrial building sectors. This report tracks the latest metrics related to construction spending, demand for design services, contractor backlogs, and material price trends.

MFPRO+ New Projects | Apr 16, 2024

Marvel-designed Gowanus Green will offer 955 affordable rental units in Brooklyn

The community consists of approximately 955 units of 100% affordable housing, 28,000 sf of neighborhood service retail and community space, a site for a new public school, and a new 1.5-acre public park.

Construction Costs | Apr 16, 2024

How the new prevailing wage calculation will impact construction labor costs

Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond, two pivotal changes in federal construction labor dynamics are likely to exacerbate increasing construction labor costs, according to Gordian's Samuel Giffin.

Mexico’s TecSalud Health Sciences Campus is under design

Healthcare Facilities | Apr 16, 2024

Mexico’s ‘premier private academic health center’ under design

The design and construction contract for what is envisioned to be “the premier private academic health center in Mexico and Latin America” was recently awarded to The Beck Group. The TecSalud Health Sciences Campus will be located at Tec De Monterrey’s flagship healthcare facility, Zambrano Hellion Hospital, in Monterrey, Mexico.

Market Data | Apr 16, 2024

The average U.S. contractor has 8.2 months worth of construction work in the pipeline, as of March 2024

Associated Builders and Contractors reported today that its Construction Backlog Indicator increased to 8.2 months in March from 8.1 months in February, according to an ABC member survey conducted March 20 to April 3. The reading is down 0.5 months from March 2023.

Laboratories | Apr 15, 2024

HGA unveils plans to transform an abandoned rock quarry into a new research and innovation campus

In the coastal town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., an abandoned rock quarry will be transformed into a new research and innovation campus designed by HGA. The campus will reuse and upcycle the granite left onsite. The project for Cell Signaling Technology (CST), a life sciences technology company, will turn an environmentally depleted site into a net-zero laboratory campus, with building electrification and onsite renewables.

Codes and Standards | Apr 12, 2024

ICC eliminates building electrification provisions from 2024 update

The International Code Council stripped out provisions from the 2024 update to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that would have included beefed up circuitry for hooking up electric appliances and car chargers.

Urban Planning | Apr 12, 2024

Popular Denver e-bike voucher program aids carbon reduction goals

Denver’s e-bike voucher program that helps citizens pay for e-bikes, a component of the city’s carbon reduction plan, has proven extremely popular with residents. Earlier this year, Denver’s effort to get residents to swap some motor vehicle trips for bike trips ran out of vouchers in less than 10 minutes after the program opened to online applications.

Laboratories | Apr 12, 2024

Life science construction completions will peak this year, then drop off substantially

There will be a record amount of construction completions in the U.S. life science market in 2024, followed by a dramatic drop in 2025, according to CBRE. In 2024, 21.3 million sf of life science space will be completed in the 13 largest U.S. markets. That’s up from 13.9 million sf last year and 5.6 million sf in 2022.