Masonry Magazine June 1985 Page. 34
Homebuilding Recovery
Lifts Total Construction
Contracting 12 Percent
With housing starts responding positively to lower mortgage rates, the value of contracts for total new construction advanced a seasonally adjusted 12% in March, 1985, to an annualized rate of $227.7 billion, McGraw-Hill's F.W. Dodge Division reported.
Residential building paced the latest month's solid gain in construction contracting with a 19% increase, boosting the Dodge Index from February's 145 to a near-record 162 (1977-100). The all-time high of 163 was reached in May, 1984.
Engineers' Role Growing
In Product Selection,
Claims New Report
The increased size and sophistication of engineered systems for offices, hospitals, factories and other building projects have thrust construction engineers into a pivotal role in selecting building products, according to a 12-page report prepared by the Sweet's Division of McGraw-Hill.
"In the past, architects, almost without exception, were the major decision-makers on the building side of construction," said Joseph V. Bower, national manager of Sweet's Consultant Group that prepared the report. They controlled the design and selection of materials and systems, and had a major voice in the choice of contractors and suppliers.
"Today, construction's increased magnitude and complexity mean that engineers are becoming equal partners with, and in some instances replacing, architects in key areas of product specification. Small wonder that the number of consulting engineering firms in the U.S. has doubled since 1970 to about 13,000."
To obtain a free copy of the Sweet's report, "Engineers in Construction Marketing." contact Joseph V. Bower, Sweet's Division, McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
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Mara Smith Honored by
Texas University
Mara Smith of Houston, Texas, America's best known woman brick muralist, was honored as a Distinguished Alumna by Texas Woman's University at its annual Honors Convocation.
Smith's commissions have included major works completed in 15 locations from coast to coast. Currently, she is carving six murals, which will total 1,136 sq. ft.. for the Pacific Northwest Bell Building in Seattle, Wash. Other major works in progress are located in Washington, D.C., Brandenburg, Ky., Hillside, III., and Bloomington, Minn.
Brick Superior for
Residential Building
Use, Says New Survey
Recent studies indicate that brick is more cost effective than most other materials for use in residential building. A survey taken by Professional Builder magazine showed that while home owners prefer brick siding by more than a 3 to 1 margin, they often end up using wood because of misconceptions and misinformation, primarily related to perceived costs.
The Brick Institute of America Region Nine (BIA-9), analyzed the costs of building with brick and found that over the long term, brick is actually less expensive to use than most other alternatives.
Practically no maintenance is required with brick, as it never needs painting and doesn't warp, split or peel. A brick home also has a 5%-7% higher resale value than an identical home.