If Federal interest rates remain steady or even decrease, the construction industry should be in for a relatively robust 2024, according to forecasts from the Dodge Construction Network. Construction is predicted to show double digit growth in the areas of highways and bridges (+23), hotels and motels (+17), and maufacturing (+16).
“The overall value of construction starts is expected to rise 7% in 2024, following a 1% increase in 2023,
according to the Dodge forecast. The 2023 boost will bring total starts value to $1.124 trillion, with $1.206 trillion forecast for 2024.”
The growth isn’t limited to these sectors—construction of both single family and multi-family housing is also exepcted to increase, although those gains are more modest, as detailed here.
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Product: ALUCOBOND (MCM)
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company, Inc.
Architect: RJTR & Eskew Dumez Ripple
The collaborative project between Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio (RJTR) and Georgia Tech in Midtown Atlanta introduces a 416,500 sq. ft. high-rise research building, marking Phase 3 of Georgia Tech’s expansion in Technology Square. With two towers – one at 14 stories and the other at 18 stories – the design reflects diverse programming and pays homage to key philanthropic donors. The Scheller Tower, honoring Roberta and Ernest Scheller Jr., accommodates MBA and Executive Education programs, while the George Tower, named after Penny and Bill George, houses the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Unified by a central zone facilitating communal circulation, the towers converge into a monumental gathering space. The exterior promenade features a green roof terrace, enhancing the urban campus’s ecological identity, while the ground floor space embraces southern traditions, serving as a dynamic social hub with kinetic doorways merging indoor and outdoor areas to foster innovation and collaboration among students. MillerClapperton is fabricating and installing approximately 9,900 square feet of Metal Composite Material for this project.
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Over the past century, skyscrapers have undergone a remarkable evolution driven by a pursuit of height and architectural innovation. Ada Louise Huxtable’s assertion in “The Tall Building Artistically Reconsidered” emphasizes the skyscraper’s status as a symbol of the twentieth century, transcending traditional limits and reflecting humanity’s ambition to reach new heights. From the Burj Khalifa, towering at 2,717 feet, to earlier structures like the 1884 Home Insurance Building in Chicago, each skyscraper represents a marvel of engineering that shapes city landscapes and defines skylines. Despite not always being aesthetically pleasing, these structures remain a dream for architects, leading to a continuous quest for higher, more cutting-edge designs. From the Art Deco movement to modern neo-futuristic styles, skyscrapers mirror the evolution of urban architecture, telling a unique story of innovation and ambition in each city’s skyline.
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The contemporary urban landscape has evolved to incorporate sprawling interior spaces like mega-hotels, shopping malls, and transportation hubs, fundamentally altering the urban experience. This concept, termed Interior Urbanism, highlights the growing significance of interior spaces in urban design and dynamics. These spaces, once considered separate from urbanism, now play a pivotal role in shaping cities and fostering public activity. Inspired by the works of architects like John Portman, whose innovative designs transformed hotel lobbies into communal hubs, Interior Urbanism blurs the boundaries between public and private spheres. However, concerns about accessibility and ownership of these spaces raise questions about equity and civic rights. As people spend more time indoors, driven by factors like climate change and health concerns, addressing these issues becomes imperative for the creation of inclusive and livable urban environments.
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Recommendation: “Tuned Mass Dampers: The Silent Guardians of Bridges and Buildings Podcast”
Hosted By: The Structural Engineering Channel
From bridges to skyscrapers, minimizing structural motion is often achieved by using tuned mass dampers. As with any engineering feat, there’s much to consider to effectively withstand high winds, earthquakes, and other forces. In this podcast, Shayne Love provides insight into the complexities of modeling dampers, choosing materials, and even how engineers can most effectively present their ideas to clients.
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