The Design-Build Institute of America

Welcome to the first issue of Design-Build Insight, a weekly e-newsletter that keeps DBIA members up-to-date on what's happening in the world of design-build project delivery. Right now, everyone wants to know where the opportunities are and what sectors of the industry are recovering fastest. Nobody has a crystal ball, but DBIA monitors the media closely for design-build news and market trends. Now, you can too. Every Thursday, DBIA will deliver the most relevant stories to your inbox. In addition, links to current RFPs/RFQs for design-build services will be provided so you don’t have to monitor DBIA's website to see what’s out there. Design-Build Insight is exclusively for members and will also include timely information about DBIA events, discounts, and promotions to help you leverage the maximum value from your membership in DBIA.
Enjoy,

                                 Lisa Washington, CAE
                                 Executive Director
                                 Design-Build Institute of America

CTC approves two regional design-build projects
The A to Z of Building Technology
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) took historic action and authorized two regional projects to move forward under the state's new Design-Build Program. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)/Department of Transportation (Caltrans) ExpressLane Project (I-10 and I-110) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project are the first local design-build projects authorized by the CTC under the landmark legislation (Senate Bill 4, SBX2 4) signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The CTC had previously authorized three Caltrans projects at their meeting.More

Tight-diamond design eyed for 13-101
Savage Pacer
A tight diamond layout is emerging as an alternative concept for the intersection of Highway 13 and County Road 101. The design changes are part of the ongoing process between the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. In addition to the design changes, the price tag has gone up from $15.3 million to $20 million. The new concept came about after Federal Highway Administration reviewed the project and questioned the weaving movement that would be required of motorists coming north on TH 13 and trying to merge with motorists traveling west and then how all those motorists in those lanes could safely merge onto a ramp leading to the Bloomington Ferry Bridge and onto Highway 169 north. More

CC&L GVest traditional infrastructure LP to help build 10 new schools in Alberta, Canada
Investment Executive
Connor Clark & Lunn GVest Traditional Infrastructure LP has invested in a public-private partnership (P3) initiative with a net present value of $253 million to build 10 new schools in Edmonton, Canada and the Calgary, Canada region of Alberta. Under the terms of an agreement with the Alberta government, B2L Partnership (Build II Learn) will design, build, finance and maintain the new schools for a 30-year term. CC&L GVest Traditional Infrastructure LP is an equity partner in the B2L consortium, which includes Graham Design Build Services and Bird Construction as builders and Honeywell as the maintenance and renewal provider.More

MW Builders of Texas awarded five projects in past 60 days, totaling $106 million in contracts
EarthTimes
MW Builders of Texas, a general construction contractor, has been awarded more than $100 million in contracts over the past 60 days for a variety of projects around the country. The Temple-based contractor specializes in commercial, government, and educational construction contracting. MW Builders of Texas will start construction on the following five new contracts immediately: Advanced Individual Training (AIT) Complex in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., ($49,677,000) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District awarded MW Builders of Texas a Design-Build Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) in the amount of $49,677,000 for the design and construction of the AIT Complex in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.More

Orlando general contractor signs design-build healthcare renovation contract
EarthTimes
The design-build contract is a six-phase renovation of the 4,628 square foot psychiatric facility. It is valued at $256,575 and is scheduled to be completed by August. The facility will be fully occupied during construction. As such, Orlando general contractor D&G will only be able to work six hours per day while the residents are in school. More

Senate construction awarded design-build contract
Boston Real Estate
Senate Construction Corp. of Shirley, Mass., was awarded the Design-Build contract to construct J. C. Madigan Inc's new Sales, Installation and Service headquarters. The 76,000-square-foot facility will be visible from Route 2 on a 66-acre parcel on Old Union Turnpike in Lancaster, Mass., J.C. Madigan, Inc has been supplying New England with truck equipment for over 55 years and will be consolidating their three facilities to Lancaster, Mass., which will better serve their clients through the operational efficiencies that will be achieved at a single location.More

SFO's new terminal two set to open next spring
Pleasanton Weekly
For those who use San Francisco International Airport and wonder just how long it will take to complete the Terminal 2 renovation, here's an update. Terminal 2 has been under construction since August 2008. The new sustainable, state-of-the-art terminal is undergoing a $383-million renovation. "There has been no effect on businesses or airport procedures," Ray Quesada said during a media tour of the construction.More

$60 million airport for Aleutian Islands
Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
The Alaska Department of Transportation is seeking a design-build contractor for the new Akutan Airport on Akun Island, which is in the Aleutian Islands. The project's estimated cost is $50 million to $60 million. Work would include design and construction of a 4,500-foot paved runway, a taxiway, apron, support buildings, and a ramp and pad for hovercraft.More

Birdair tapped for South American stadium
Business First of Buffalo
Birdair Inc. has been awarded a design-build contract for one of Argentina's major sports and entertainment stadiums. Amherst-based Birdair was selected to provide the cable structure and fabric roofing system for La Plata Stadium in La Plata, Argentina. Birdair will engineer, construct and install a 312,545-square-foot tensile roof over the stadium.More

Blaine council gets road update
ABC Newspapers
Proposed improvements to Main Street/125th Avenue (County State Aid Highway 14) were on the workshop agenda for Blaine City Council members. Specifically, city leaders received an in-depth look and explanation of the trailblazing design-build process Anoka County, Minn., will use to improve the key roadway. More

GeoStructures accelerates construction on Virginia hot lanes
Washington Business Journal
GeoStructures Inc. has secured several additional contracts for retaining walls and ground improvements related to construction of Virginia's High Occupancy Toll lanes on the beltway, reports citybizlist.com. The design-build contractor has completed work on more than one-third of its original contract for sound walls, and it will proceed with construction of mechanically stabilized earth walls, tieback retaining walls and ground improvements. The $1.4 billion design-build project is set for completion in 2013.More

Contractor selected to replace I-85 bridge
Salisbury Post
The state has selected a contractor to replace the 55-year-old Yadkin River bridge, an N.C. Department of Transportation. Pat Ivey, District 9 engineer for Transportation Department, said construction on the bridge will begin this fall on the first phase of the project, which also includes widening the interstate in Rowan, N.C., and Davidson, N.C., counties. He said the firm chosen to do the first phase will be revealed in early May. Ivey spoke about the Yadkin River Bridge project during the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce's Forum.More

SDI to design, build new ops center for LAX
Security System News
SDI, a systems integrator focusing on the aviation space, has announced a $2.3 million contract with the City of Los Angeles to design and implement a new Airport Response Coordination Center for LAX. The command center will bring together not only a variety of security systems and technologies, but also as many as 26 other disparate systems involved in operating the airport. More