Proposed federal legislation would provide funds for renovating foreclosed homes 
POSTED: Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 07:25 PM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
A group of Democrats has introduced to the U.S. Senate a new piece of legislation that seeks to rebuild the housing market – literally. The Project Rebuild Act would inject $15 billion into the rehabilitation of residential and commercial properties left vacant following foreclosure. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., introduced the bill. “Right now we’re in [...]
Women-owned construction firms on the rise
POSTED: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 11:21 AM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
When Tara Kramer, owner of Ri Ky Roofing in Portland, entered the construction industry 25 years ago, it wasn’t like it is today. “It was male-dominated, most definitely,” she said. “In fact, the company that I joined had 40 offices nationwide and they didn’t have any saleswomen.” A lot has changed. Today, women-owned businesses make [...]
Server farms in Oregon provide a healthy harvest
POSTED: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 03:45 PM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
Server farms are quickly becoming Oregon’s new cash crop, and construction contractors stand to reap the benefits. “I think Oregon is poised to grab an outsized share of the data center market for both this nation and the world,” said John Sheputis, CEO of San Jose, Calif.-based data center development company Fortune Data Centers. Sheputis [...]
For contractors, 2011 was a year of endurance
POSTED: Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:08 PM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
It’s no secret that the past few years have been tough for the construction industry. Since 2008, construction spending in the United States has decreased nearly $300 billion and has resulted in a 2 percent reduction in the nation’s economy, according to the American Institute of Architects. From all accounts, this past year wasn’t much [...]
Billings, construction lag in western United States
POSTED: Friday, December 30, 2011 at 10:31 AM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
Tags: American Institute of Architects' Architecture Billings Index
The winds of change are blowing. Talk to Dennis Cusack, managing principal for Portland architecture firm SRG Partnership Inc., and it’s almost as if he can feel it. “I think that’s one of the things that’s true of the entire industry – whether it’s a contractor or developer or an architect. It’s a different [...]
How to throw a sustainable shindig
POSTED: Monday, December 19, 2011 at 09:38 AM PTBY: Lee Fehrenbacher
Sydney Mead, director of events and Natural Capital Center Programs manager at Portland nonprofit EcoTrust – an organization focused on sustainable economic development – remembers a time about 10 years ago when it truly was not easy being green. After hosting a conference in Anchorage, Alaska, Mead said that she was surprised to find that [...]
