Construction continues on the new $450 million Stamford Hospital, with a curtain of thermal glass increasingly sheathing the already-topped facility.
The builder, Skanska, based in Sweden with a New York City headquarters, said the Unitized Curtainwall window installation recently began on the north side of the hospital's new building. The product is made by Wisconsin-based Apogee Wausau Group.
The exterior wall is being installed using panels of approximately 8 feet by 16 feet. A total 2,805 panels will eventually enclose the building.
The Curtainwall method features a window system with no roof or floor loads. It consists of metal, glass and other surfacing material and is hung from the face or top of the building's floor slabs, according to Wausau.
The hospital is expected to begin receiving patients in spring 2016. In addition to the windows, heavy electrical equipment is being installed now, a spokesman said.
Bill Fallon is editor of the Fairfield County Business Journal. For more of his work and that of the journal, please visit www.westfaironline.com
Gilbane's Summer Construction Economics Report Predicts Strong Industry Growth Could Be Slowed by Skilled Labor Shortage
Good News/Bad News Scenario: Forecasted Growth Will Be Impacted by Fewer Trained Workers, Reducing Productivity
Providence, RI (PRWEB) September 03, 2014
Gilbane Building Company, an award-winning, global leader in the construction industry, today announced the Summer 2014 edition of its in-house economics report, Building for the Future - Construction Economics: Market Conditions in Construction. The report predicts rapid growth coupled with the lack of skilled, experienced labor and the ability to meet schedule will be some of the most important industry issues to address over the next few years.“The good, if not, great news is that the most favorable, forward-looking conditions support expectations for strong industry growth in 2015,” said Ed Zarenski, a Gilbane estimating executive with more than 40 years in the construction business. “Very active markets will drive escalation to climb more rapidly than we have seen in six years.” He added, “The challenge of anticipated workforce shortages will have a detrimental effect on labor cost, productivity, the ability to readily increase construction volume and the ability to complete projects on time.” CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Officials Hold Groundbreaking for Costco
NEW BRITAIN — Most people shudder at the sight of a golf course divot. However, when a phalanx of shovels during the Costco groundbreaking dug up small piles of dirt Wednesday at Stanley Municipal Golf Course someone shouted out, “It’s all good.” And it was. Just ask Mayor Erin Stewart. “I’m so pleased Costco has finally gotten to this point,” Stewart said. “As mayor of the great city of New Britain I couldn’t be happier.” Mayor Stewart; Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman; Tim Stewart, president of the Greater New Britain-Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Joe Montesano, project coordinator for Costco Wholesale all had something to say about the four-year effort to bring the warehouse store to a site south of Westfarms Mall. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Bridge work to close 17 in Middletown this weekend
MIDDLETOWN >> A portion of South Main Street near the Durham town line will be closed to traffic this weekend so crews can quickly replace a bridge that spans Long Hill Brook. Rep. Matthew Lesser (D-Middletown) issued a press release warning motorists that Route 17 in Middletown between Route 155 (Randolph Road) and Wesleyan Hills Road will be closed to through traffic beginning 7 p.m. on Friday and will running through 3 p.m. Monday. This DOT project was awarded to J. Iapaluccio Inc. of Brookfield at a cost of $1,652,051, is being administered by the construction office in Rocky Hill and scheduled for completion in November. According to the state Department of Transportation, the project consists of the replacement of Bridge No. 02190 using a rapid construction technique to compress the time to 68 hours for replacement of the structure due to the high traffic volumes in the area. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Two new solar systems proposed for Meriden
MERIDEN — Evansville Avenue could soon become an alley of solar panels with two new systems being proposed and another set for construction at the landfill.
Proposals by a California solar energy company call for one set of panels on the east side of Evansville Avenue at the city’s water pollution control facility, while the other would be installed on the west side of the road at Meriden-Markham Airport. There is an estimated cost savings of around $1.8 million over 20 years. San Mateo, California-based SolarCity Corp. approached the city about the idea. The company would be responsible for financing, designing, installing, maintaining and monitoring the solar panel systems. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
TORRINGTON — The City Council and Board of Finance on Tuesday unanimously approved sending a $52 million plan to upgrade the city's sewer plant to referendum on Nov. 4. Meeting in a joint session, the finance board and council heard from Jerry Rollett, public works director; Raymond Drew, Water Pollution Control Authority administrator, and Christopher Pierce of Wright-Pierce engineering. They all said the sewer plant must be upgraded to meet changing state standards. The sewer plant, built in 1939, hasn't had any major work done since 1994. "We have been working on this facilities plan for the city for many years," Pierce said. "We are looking at a comprehensive upgrade." Pierce noted the electrical system at the plant is 40 years old, and the state now more stringently regulates the outflow of nitrogen and phosphorous into waterways. The upgrades will address the primary treatment process. Additions will include a new receiving facility for septic waste and a fourth treatment tank for the primary process. Existing tanks will be repurposed for nitromary process. Existing tanks will be repurposed for nitrogen removal. Other installations include a phosphorous removal process, a sludge dewatering system and a new secondary clarifier. Construction is expected to cost $42 million. The other $10 million will be allocated as follows: contingency, $2,110,000; technical services, $6.3 million; value engineering, $150,000; legal, administrative and financing, $420,000. CLICK TITLE TO CONTINUE
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed an agreement Wednesday under which United Technologies Corp. will invest up to $500 million in facilities upgrades and $4 billion in research and other capital expenditures in the state over the next five years. Under the terms of the agreement, UTC will build a new corporate headquarters for Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford and keep it in the state for at least 15 years, and will also keep Stratford-based Sikorsky's corporate headquarters in the state for at least five years. UTC will exchange about $20 million per year in unused tax credits to finance construction, up to a maximum of $400 million. The credits will be offset with tax reductions over 14 years, based on UTC's level of jobs, wages and investments.