Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/263143
28 • MARCH 2014 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Visit the World Fence News Crew at FENCETECH 2014, Booth 708! Get your special WFN name tag lanyard! March 6–8, 2014 • Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center, Las Vegas The Dodge Report manufacturing plants. For all of 2013, the Dodge Index averaged 109, up from 103 in 2012. "The construction industry in 2013 made progress towards estab- lishing a more broad-based recovery, after several years in which the upturn was more limited in scope," stated Robert A. Murray, chief economist for McGraw Hill Construction. "Housing continued to lead the way, strengthen- ing throughout much of 2013, and it was joined by a faster pace for com- mercial building, albeit from low lev- els. The institutional building sector registered a considerably smaller de- cline than in prior years, as its lengthy downturn appears to be ending. "The public works sector in 2013 showed surprising strength, helped by the start of several major projects even amidst restrained government spend- ing. Running counter in 2013 was a steep drop for new electric utility starts, after the robust amount reported in 2012," Murray stated. "For 2014, the prospects look good for total construction, with growth anticipated for housing and commercial building, while the institutional building sector at least stabilizes." Nonresidential building in De- cember slipped 7% to $168.6 billion (annual rate), pulling back for the sec- ond month in a row after its elevated pace in October, although its fourth quarter average was still 17% above what was reported in the first quarter. Several commercial categories in December paused from the improved activity registered earlier in the fall. New office construction dropped 44% from November, which had been lifted by the start of such projects as the $336 million Transbay office tower in San Francisco; in contrast, the largest office projects entered as December starts were an $80 million office com- plex in Cary, N.C. and a $73 million data center in West Des Moines, Iowa. Similar December declines were registered by hotels, down 42%; and warehouses, down 46%; although the latest month did include the start of an $88 million Amazon distribution cen- ter in Windsor, Conn. Store construction, which was the one commercial category that did not post a November gain, managed to in- crease 6% in December. The December pause for nonresi- dential building was cushioned by a sharp 110% jump for manufacturing buildings, which reflected the start of two massive chemical plants in Louisiana, each valued at $500 mil- lion. The institutional building cate- gories in December were mixed. Edu- cational facilities grew 5%, helped by the start of a $213 million medical re- search building in Boston and a $151 million college science building in Chicago. Healthcare facilities in December jumped 30% from the prior month's subdued amount, and featured ground- breaking for an $80 million hospital in Virginia and a $70 million cancer cen- ter in Wisconsin. The smaller institu- tional categories generally weakened in December, with public buildings (courthouses and detention facilities) down 32%; churches, down 44%; and amusement-related work, down 46% (compared to the previous month which included the $763 million Vikings Multipurpose Stadium in Minneapolis). The transportation terminal cate- gory retreated a slight 1% in continued on page 35 IGD INTERNATIONAL GATE DEVICES, INC. slidegate.net 1-800-557-4283 (GATE) Fax 610-534-9682 E/Z SLIDE™ HEAVY DUTY NYLON CANTILEVER ROLLER Also Available For Round Frames And Posts SQUARE Frame: 2x2 SQUARE Posts: 4" & 6" Send For Free Brochure Celebrating Our 30th Anniversary App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk Inc. and/or its affiliates in the USA or other countries. iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. FabCAD is a registered trademark of FabCAD Inc. Authorized Developer See Us At And METALfab 2014 MEMBER