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R. W. Beck and Associates of Seattle, WA is a 51-year-old engineering firm that specializes in design and construction management-for-fee work in power and environmental markets. After near failure in 1985, Beck garnered fee revenues of $64 million in 1992. Some of Beck's construction projects are described.

Greater access across borders of the US, Canada, and Mexico is in store for construction and design firms of those countries, even if the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) does not pass the US Congress this summer. Officials from some companies represented at the North American Construction Summit held in Phoenix say the opportunities are already present. Construction aid is needed for some large Canadian projects, and the US and Canada have already agreed to a free trade pact. Mexico, however, is seen as presenting vast opportunities, since that country has big modernization plans for a number of cities, as well as highway and telephone infrastructure development. Most likely to have an advantage are large international firms that can also take part in financial arrangements, as great need for cheap money is seen.

A survey made by Professional Services Management Journal on design services fee indicates that architects and engineers are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. Design firms are forced to choose whether to set constant fees and increase the workload or lower the fees and lessen the workload. The options are discouraging since each entails potential adverse economic effects for the design firms.

JWP Inc is confronted with a shareholders' lawsuit and charges of improper accounting practices while its unit, JWP Mechanical/Electrical Services Inc, tries to regain normal business dealings. Several customers are closely monitoring how the company will recover from its $500-million debt problem and legal difficulties. There are some customers, however, who feel confident that JWP can still provide reliable construction services.

The renovation of the 108-year-old swing bridge over the Saugatuck River in Westport, CT, reduced the space under the structure making it impossible for boaters to pass. The Westport Mariners sued the state's Dept of Transportation for the structural design. The state agency, however, prepared a $1.8-million change contract to lift the bridge by two ft. Structural engineering firm Lev Zetlin Assoc Inc designed the lifting project.

Architecture, engineering and construction professionals, project owners, and operators were surveyed in a Document Exchange Study for the AEC Industry. It was revealed that fewer than one in five designers and constructors use web-based collaboration systems to exchange files, over half of documents are stored and archived both on paper and electronically, and users do nothing to secure their files despite concern over document security since it does not feature on top of their priority list.

The online construction equipment auctions are changing equipment sales in general by allowing people to see current market prices and locate hard-to-find information. Registered bidders have risen by about 25 percent where online bidders make up 25 percent of the total crowd.

Attendees at the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America's midyear meeting found their organization diversifying in previously unchartered areas. AGC took a year to plan and develop environmental initiatives of 'Constructing an Environmental Management System: Guidelines and Templates for Contractors' in conjunction with EPA.

The Internet is influencing the construction industry, as it allows people collaborate, even if their geographical location, hours, language or requirements are different. Construction companies have started having their project web-sites and gradually software vendors have also added more features to project web-sites that evolved from simply sharing documents to actually managing the process and working with data.

The expected rebound in concrete construction and equipment manufacturing in the United States is discussed. The show is considered to be an annual tradition for concrete contractors and producers.