"We don’t even have design documents together yet."
"We always work through the design teams and if needed, subcontractors, for any help we might need with the scope, schedule, or the budget."
Historically, this is what manufacturers hear when talking to owners, developers, or architects about products during the earlier phases of construction. The traditional process usually involves getting budget pricing for the conceptual and design phase, and then suppliers and manufacturers are pulled in at the
end of the bidding process to supply accurate pricing.
An alternative process is Early Supplier Involvement (ESI), which is a mechanism for involving preferred suppliers in the early phases of project design and development.
A construction contract can be a daunting document. It can be hundreds — if not thousands — of pages in length depending on the complexity of the project. In addition to the document that is signed by the parties, the full construction contract can include drawings, specifications, geotechnical reports, general conditions, special conditions, and other provisions. Understanding, digesting, and adhering to the volume of information found in a contract can be a monumental task.
While we would all like to believe the best in people, we, unfortunately, live in a world where we must keep our guard up – especially when we’re hiring people to come into our homes. Construction fraud is becoming a growing trend and is something that people must look out for when hiring contractors. Fraud can be broadly
defined as a deliberate deception to secure unlawful gain. While it might seem intimidating to sort through which contractors are legitimate and which are fraudulent, there are few ways to detect construction fraud before it happens! Read More
Dr. Bruce Yandle released his latest quarterly economic report. The report offers an optimistic forecast for 2018, finding a growing economy in better shape than at this time last year. He also offers predictions for the year ahead, examines America’s standing relative to other nations, and weighs in on the impact of the tax cuts. Read More
NAWIC chapters across the Carolinas have a wide variety of events planned for National Women in Construction (WIC) Week, which runs from March 4-10, 2018. In North Carolina, NAWIC has chapters in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Fayettville, Greensboro, Piedmont and Raleigh. In South Carolina, there are NAWIC chapters in Columbia and Greenville. Read More
CTE prepares students to be career-ready by providing academic, employability and technical skills through programs at high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges. Occupations and industries included in CTE are broken down into 16 Career Clusters and have a wide range, including construction. Preparing students for tomorrow's workforce and offering clear pathways to certifications and credentials are just a couple benefits that connect CTE directly to the construction industry.
Thanks to the generosity of the Coastal N.C. construction community, families at nine apartment communities administered by the Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA) are getting the opportunity to experience the love of reading. The ABC of the Carolinas and its local Council members played a big part in this initiative. Read More
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Girls Collaborative (NGC) are joining forces to build new pathways for girls to achieve educational goals that prepare them for future careers such as architecture. Read More
Construction spending in January was unchanged from December and was moderately higher than in January 2017, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, association
officials said further gains, especially in desperately needed infrastructure investment, would be in jeopardy if the administration adopts tariffs on key construction materials.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has produced the first-ever Small Firm Compensation Report, dedicated to the unique needs and structure of small architecture firms. The report includes data on compensation trends and employee demographics at small firms, which are defined as those legally structured as sole proprietorships (regardless of number of employees) and architecture firms with fewer than three architectural staff employees. Read
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Mooresville, NC-based Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced Track to the Trades, a new workforce development initiative that aims to provide innovative career alternatives and financial support for employees to pursue a skilled trade. Charlotte is one of the selected cities. The initiative comes at a time when the skilled trade industry is experiencing a rapidly declining workforce. Read More
