Construction Forecast Issue Home

March 30, 2000

1999 was yet another busy year for Northwest construction. This year's special feature on the Construction and Equipment industries examines how local contractors and suppliers are dealing with the building boom and other issues affecting the industry.

A story by Sean Robinson looks at some strategies contractors are using to recruit young people into the construction industry. Another story dealing with personnel issues looks at how an influx of non-native English speaking workers is affecting job sites.

Like many industries, technology continues to change construction. The internet is quickly evolving from a resource of information to a resource of products, and contractors and suppliers are starting to take advantage of the efficiencies the Internet can offer. GIS technology is now being used as a dynamic project management tool for some construction jobs.

You'll also find the annual DJC Contractor's survey and an overview of the 2000 AGC of Washington Safety and Construction Excellence Awards. These, along with a host of other stories, have been compiled to provide DJC readers with a snapshot of the Construction Industry, and we hope you find it a useful resource.

Where have all the workers gone?
Contractors are beefing up recruiting tactics and adding benefits to attract employees during a labor shortage.

GIS maps a new way to do construction
As Geographical Information Systems gain popularity, more construction industry professionals want the lowdown on how to use it.

Contractor gets stung for tossing evidence
Keeping evidence intact is critical to construction defect disputes, despite who’s at fault.

Modular can be a boon for contractor and owner
In building the Quinault Beach Resort, BFC Frontier found using ready-built components cut two months off the schedule and saved $500,000 over the estimate for building units onsite.

Don’t let water problems drain your profit
The greatest threat to the schedule is down time while everyone decides how to deal with the dewatering problem and who will pay.

Contractor, King County face off over Redondo project
Caicos Construction’s lawyer discusses the Redondo Seawall case, telling what went wrong and how other contractors can avoid similar messes.

Contractors tackle language barriers for safety's sake
There's no universal language in construction: employers are responsible for communicating safety rules to non-English speaking workers.

Proposed EPA rules a costly blow to construction
Changes to the Clean Water Act would usurp local permitting authority, increasing red tape and costs for developers wanting to build in and around some waters.

Most contractors researching, purchasing online
The majority of construction contractors already research and make purchases online, according to a recent survey conducted by the Construction Industry Manufacturers Association.

The push is on to bring technology into construction
Research group says high-tech tools can cut construction costs, maximize quality and reduce project times.

Internet changing the way the world is built
The hands-on construction industry is entering cyberspace to build projects more efficiently.

Technology brings dealers, customers closer together
The Internet is becoming an essential tool for equipment dealers and contractors. It can make the equipment channel more cost effective, equipment usage more efficient and can improve the relationship between dealers and their customers.

Do PLAs deliver what they promise?
Project labor agreements, known as PLAs, have been adopted for publicly financed construction from Massachusetts to California, and have been adopted or are being considered for many public projects in Washington. But, whether they are good or bad for workers, contractors, owners and taxpayers, and what the real purpose and long-term effect of PLAs might be are key questions in a heated debate.

Building code inspections no defense for contractors
You can’t rely on public officials to ‘educate’ you about your code responsibilities.

Contractors scramble to keep up with demand
The cost of construction is rising but demand hasn’t slowed.

2000 DJC Construction Industry Survey
A survey of some of the top contractors in the Northwest, examining how the past year has been and what lies ahead.

2000 AGC of Washington Safety and Construction Excellence Awards
An overview of the winners of this year's AGC awards, including photos of the winning projects.