Despite the addition of 21,000 jobs during January, the nation's construction industry unemployment rate jumped to 17.7 percent, up from 16 percent the previous month, according to U.S. Labor Department. However, construction employment is up by 116,000 jobs, or 2.1 percent, compared to January 2011, and is down from the 22.5 percent rate posted the same time last year.

The nonresidential building construction sector added 6,000 jobs in January and has added 12,000 jobs year over year, or 1.8 percent, as January employment levels stood at 662,000. The residential building construction sector added 3,000 jobs for the month and has added 14,000 jobs, or 2.4 percent, year over year as January employment levels stood at 575,000.

Construction spending during December 2011 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $816.4 billion, 1.5 percent higher than the revised November estimate of $804 billion and 4.3 percent more than the December 2010 estimate of $782.9 billion, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.

The value of construction in 2011 was $787.4 billion, 2 percent below the $803.6 billion spent in 2010.

Ending 2011 on a relatively strong note, total nonresidential construction spending increased 1.9 percent during December to $567.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Year over year, total nonresidential construction spending was up 4.5 percent.

Private nonresidential construction spending jumped 3.3 percent for the month and was up 11.4 percent from the same time last year. Public nonresidential construction spending increased 0.5 percent from November, but was down 1.8 percent from December 2010.

The Green Building Certification Institute has awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Platinum certification — the highest possible, most rigorous certification in the LEED system — to the University of Washington Tacoma's Russell T. Joy Building.
 
The Joy Building is the first in Tacoma and first in the University of Washington to achieve a Platinum rating in the "new construction/major remodel" LEED system. It is the second state-funded building to receive the recognition.

After an eight-month renovation, Pierce County will open the new ice rink at Sprinker Recreation Center on Saturday. The $6.5 million project included a new roof, a new rink and refrigeration equipment for the 35-year-old facility in Spanaway.

The ice rink portion of the building had been threatened with closure in 2010 because of structural concerns, but county officials found a way to address critical needs with existing funding.

Bill Ecker has joined Pease Construction Inc. as director of business development. He has more than 20 years of experience in the construction industry, and also has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental accreditation and is a Designated Design Build Professional.

Robin Corak has been named chief executive officer for Multi-Service Center, a Federal Way-based human services agency. She has held management positions with Multi-Service Center since 2005, the past two years as the agency's chief operations officer.

Joyce McDonald has been elected chair of the Pierce County Council. She represents District 2. Rick Talbert, who represents District 5 was named vice chair and Dick Muri, who represents District 6, was chose to serve as executive pro teem for a fourth consecutive year.

Mike Davis CSI, CDT, AACE, has joined Rush Commercial as business development manager/chief estimator. He has 26 years of design-build construction experience and has taught construction management at the post-secondary level.

Tacoma-based BLRB Architects will design the remodel for the historic Washington Elementary School building, if the Tacoma School Board approves the administration's recommendation at its Jan. 26 meeting.

A staff team selected BLRB as the top firm from among three finalists interviewed Jan. 11.

In a reflection of slumping, worldwide demand for construction, materials prices fell 0.2 percent during December, according the U.S. Department of Labor. Construction materials prices were down 0.9 percent during the fourth quarter but were 5.3 percent higher than a year earlier.

Steel mill prices fell 0.6 percent during December and were down 1.3 percent for the quarter. However, steel mill prices were still up 11.3 percent year over year. Softwood lumber prices decreased 0.4 percent for the month and were 2 percent higher for the quarter, but were down 0.4 percent for the year. Prices for nonferrous wire and cable slipped 0.1 percent for the month, were down 2.4 percent in the fourth quarter and were down 1.5 percent for the year.

Tacoma City Council will conduct a public hearing about proposed amendments to the Land Use Regulatory Code regarding large retail use at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31.

The Planning Commission recommended changes would add a requirement that all large-scale retail uses located within certain zoning districts that exceed specific size thresholds secure a Conditional Use Permit.

Olympia Federal Savings opened its branch in Belfair a year ago this month, and now the environmentally friendly designed building has been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Certification.

LEED is an internationally recognized mark of excellence in green building and provides building owners with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable sustainable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Despite the addition of 17,000 jobs during December, the nation's construction industry unemployment rate jumped to 16 percent last month, a sharp increase from 13.1 percent during November, but down from 20.7 percent the same time last year, according to the latest report by the U.S. Labor Department.

For all of 2011, the construction industry added 46,000 jobs (0.8 percent) – representing the best industry performance since January 2007. The average annual construction unemployment rate during 2011 was 16.4 percent, down from 20.6 percent during 2010 and 19 percent in 2009.

The South 9th Street project in downtown Tacoma will resume Jan. 9. Work will begin with the demolition of the sidewalk adjacent to 302 S. 9th St. and will then progress uphill to the corner of South 9th Street and Market Street.
 
Traffic control will be in place on Jan. 5 and Jan. 6. The revisions will include closing the two eastbound lanes (downhill). The remaining westbound lanes (uphill) will be reconfigured to provide one traffic lane in each direction.

Westside residents and businesses are calling on newly elected Mayor Stephen Buxbaum and the new Olympia City Council to reject a city staff-approved 7-Eleven at Harrison Avenue and Division Street.

After the city planning staff and the city's administrative law judge approved the 7-Eleven over the objections of residents and the SW Neighborhood Association, Dan Leahy, a long-time resident of the Westside, sued the city in Superior Court to stop the 7-Eleven.

Total nonresidential construction spending increased 0.9 percent during November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $555.7 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. However, total nonresidential spending is down 0.1 percent from one year ago.

Private nonresidential construction spending was unchanged for the month but is 4.5 percent higher than November 2010. Public nonresidential construction jumped 1.8 percent during November but is still down 4.4 percent year-over-year.

America's Credit Union is beginning 2012 with an eye on expansion.

ACU plans to open two branches in Yelm this year. The credit union is building a new branch that is scheduled to open during February. A branch inside Walmart is scheduled to open during March.

The Tacoma Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the city's large scale retail moratorium during its meeting next Wednesday.

A draft of the commission's recommendation letter to City Council states:

" … our primary recommendation is to institute a Conditional Use Permit requirement for large scale retail uses in most of the areas of the city where they are allowed. This approach will better align the Land Use Regulatory Code with existing Comprehensive Plan policies that specifically support a discretionary land use permit requirement for large scale retail development, particularly within the Mixed-Use Centers.

What's the connection between Olympia and the construction of the 1776-foot tall One World Trade Center building at Ground Zero in New York? You might be surprised.
 
"We all have our perspective on what's not working, whether the topic is politics, media, the environment or the economy," said Michael Zimmerman, academic dean and provost for The Evergreen State College. "The newest Evergreen Magazine offers a different focus. It highlights what is working and tells the stories of people with ties to Olympia – Greeners with inspiring stories, who simply make the world better."

The Master Builders Association of Pierce County has selected its 2011 Awards of Excellence recipients.
                                                                                                            
Honorees include:           
 
• Builder of the Year:  Rick Hjelm, Phase II General Contractor Inc.
• Remodeler of the Year: Matt Rock, M.R. Construction Inc.
• Company of the Year: ServiceMaster of Tacoma, Milgard Windows & Doors
• Associate of the Year: Cathi Mahan, Mahan & Co.
• John Slott Recruiter of the Year: Kent Arola, Wind River Homes
• The Robert Camp Award: Kurt Wilson, SoundBuilt Northwest

The City of Gig Harbor will be undertaking a major road construction project to replace a section of Point Fosdick Drive from Olympic to 56th Street, and 56th Street from Point Fosdick to Olympic Drive.  The project is expected to begin during the first quarter of 2012 and continue into summer 2013.

The current two-lane roadway will be reconstructed to two through lanes with a designated center turn lane.  It will also include new sidewalks on each side with curb and gutter, planter strips, underground storm drainage and decorative street lighting. Overhead utilities (power, telephone and cable) will be relocated underground.