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A revolutionary ship-shaped building within a building that marks the beginning of a new genre of naval military training is built around technology, theatrics and special effects. The $82.5 million facility under construction at the US Navy's Great Lakes Naval Station, North Chicago, will be the ultimate in naval warfare simulation.

Las Vegas is starting to show the strain of 20 years of unrelieved excess in every field. Almost all infrastructure is nearing collapse with roads becoming congested, schools crowded, dwindling water supply and unrelented growth are distorting the market for construction labor and contracting capacity, also the real estate prices are rising.

Calpine Corp, the largest merchant power producer was pushed into bankruptcy by the federal government's half hearted attempt to restructure power market into a competitive arena. Merchant producers have learned their lessons and are emerging from bankruptcy tighter, more risk-averse and will not build plants to sell power on spec.

Fox & Fowle Architects PC, a New York City architectural firm, has developed the idea of converting the ubiquitous metal boxes into low-cost housing and working space. The firm's officials are discussing with the developers about making it a reality.

The Maine shipyard, Bath Iron Works, is upgrading its facilities in 2001 and installing a Land Level Transfer Facility at a cost of $241-million. The company is hoping the system will help it become more competitive and gain new contracts.

Desalination, which used to be regarded as difficult and expensive, is being increasingly seen as the answer to providing the world with fresh water. Technology has improved making it more possible and as water supplies dry up desalination is increasing.

Issues are presented concerning the demolition of the 900-Mw Maine Yankee nuclear power plant in Montsweag Bay, ME. The decontamination of the site is expected to cost an estimated $526-million and will be completed in 2004.

A listing of the top 200 environmental firms, which have been selected by 1999 contract value, is presented. Contracts won in the sectors of hazardous waste, waste water and water treatment, and the redevelopment of brown field sites are discussed.

The techniques used in the construction of Boston's innovative concrete and steel cable-stayed bridge are described. The bridge forms part of the 19 year, $12.2 billion Central Artery/Tunnel project, due for completion in 2004.

Innovations in tool designs for the construction sector contribute to increased productivity and worker safety. However, the resistance of contractors to try new tools has resulted in the decision of tool manufacturers to limit the development of new equipment. There is a need to educate the industry in its attitude towards the acquisition of tools. The industry must realize that buying ergonomic and safe tools is also an investment in the continued productivity of their workers.

Growth prospects for environmental engineering firms continue to be promising, as the market register record-breaking revenue for 1997 and 1998. For 1998 alone, the top 200 environmental firms generated a total of $26.7 billion in earnings, representing an 11% increase compared to the previous year. Much of this gain is attributed to the increasing number of hazardous, water and wastewater treatment projects awarded to environmental firms. Corporate consolidation also spurred market growth as proven by the acquisition of US Filter, which recorded a total of $5 billion in revenue for 1998.

The transportation industry is expected to surge in 1999 with the passing of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The bill has provided a total of $217 billion for the construction of highways and mass transit over the 1998-2003 period. Matching money from state governments are also expected to keep road construction running all around the country. In addition, aviation work also continues to grow in all regions as airports renovate their terminals and runways. However, states claim that this surge may shrink bidding lists and raise project costs.

European and Japanese-made construction equipment designed for tighter work spaces are increasingly being used at US construction sites. However, for every foreign-made construction equipment that has changed the way contractors conduct their work, there is another foreign brand which cannot penetrate the US market. Purchasing nonconventional equipment is still risky which many contractors are not willing to take. There are machines with proven advantages that still have not found wide acceptance. Walking hydraulic excavators from Switzerland and Germany are widely used in European mountainous terrain but have been relegated to ditch cleaning in the US.

Boston's ambitious $10.8 bil Central Artery/Tunnel project is a source of numerous engineering challenges to contractors, who must continue to erect large structures amid the daily traffic. The most challenging aspect of the project is the construction of the interchanges, including the South Bay Interchange. a $1.5 bil contract that intends to build five separate levels around nine railroad tracks near the South Station. The contractors had to build innovative machines, construction schedules and structures to satisfy safety, aesthetic and functional considerations.

Top executives of the Top 200 environmental firms attribute their success to the booming American economy, which allowed many businesses to prioritize environmental concerns along with other top corporate concerns. The top 200 firms posted an aggregate $24.1 bil in revenues in 1997, with hazardous waste cleanup and water and wastewater treatment business accounting for 38% of the total revenue. The two sectors also account for the large international accounts of the environmental firms, amounting to revenues of $5 bil from $3.4 bil in 1996.

The Modern Continental Construction Co. has become the most successful civil contractor in New England. The firm, which was founded by Italian immigrant Les Marino and Kenneth L. Anderson in 1967, has some $1.7 billion in CA/T contracts and an expected revenue of $603 million for 1998. The firm's success is credited to the charismatic and unfailing leadership of Marina, who will be awarded the Golden Door award for outstanding immigrants whose past recipients include Boston Pops conductor Arthur Fiedler and architect I.M. Pei.

The construction industry outlook for 1998 clearly shows how cyclical the business is. The F.W. Dodge division of the McGraw-Hill Cos predicted that the value of total construction contract awards will increase 3% in 1999, after the 2% increase in 1997 and 8% in 1996. The Portland Cement Association and the National Association of Homebuilders, on the other hand, reported a negative forecast, emphasizing a reduction in construction activity in 1998.

The Clean Water Act had some measure of success, but still much work has to be done-and money spent-to ensure safe water for all. Thanks to the legislation, more than 60% of the US' inland water bodies to day are safe for fishing and swimming, compared to less than 40% in 1972. Still, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that almost $140 billion has to be spent over the next two decades to upgrade the nation's wastewater treatment infrastructure.

One of the construction materials that has been enjoying incremental and accelerated growth is composites. Noted for their durability, composite materials offer contractors a cost-effective alternative for steels, wood and concrete. These light-weight, non-corrosive materials, which are actually defined matrices of polymeric substances, are mixed with other construction matters or reinforced by resins to achieve high-strength and versatility. Composites offer potential use for bridge deck and seismic retrofit of columns.

The top 200 environmental service firms in Engineering News-Record's annual survey were able to amass about $2 billion more in revenues in fiscal year 1996 despite a more volatile domestic business climate. The firms tapped new international markets, resorted to mergers with competitors, and intensified local projects to compensate for increased competition. Revenues for the 200 firms, which include US Filter Corp, OHM Corp., and EMCON, totaled some $22 billion compared to the previous year's $20 billion. Hazardous waste revenues comprised about 38% of total revenues which amounted to some $8,436.6 million.

Excavating machinery manufacturers are rolling out improved equipment to support the construction industry's struggle for increased productivity. The new excavators are user-friendly, automated, and mostly equipped with operation modes for multi-job operations. The designs also consider ergonomic issues, thereby improving operator's working efficiency, and ensuring worker safety as well.

Political and economic factors are forcing the environmental services companies to reinvent themselves and change the way they do business. Many firms are finding out that they now have to offer new capabilities, cost savings and project financing to retain existing clients and attract new ones as well. A listing of the top 200 environmental services companies according to revenue is presented.

Companies and agencies have varying beliefs on the implementation of business presentations, but innovative presentations continue to arise from changing technology. Design-build presentations are among the most expensive because of the comprehensive nature of the delivery system. Slides, CD-ROMs, animation and virtual reality are examples of innovative presentations. Still, the most essential elements of a presentation are content, credibility and chemistry.

The whole construction industry is greatly affected by the death of its top executives, who not only held key positions in their firms but were also influential decision-makers in the field. The accident had the affected firms coping with several issues all at once, from grief of the families and employees to succession mechanisms. Mechanisms such as counselors for the employees have been provided. However enormous the loss though, business has to continue and the firms will still have to move forward.

Construction companies are seeking out contracts by offering to invest in shares of the firm planning a construction project. Contracters have found that an equity investment assures them of additional profits from the operation in addition to returns gained from the contract itself. Other companies believe that equity investments are risky since they entail large amounts of capital. Meanwhile, firms such as Bechtel Group Inc. and Raytheon Engineers and Constructors International have already reaped the benefits of partnerships with their clients.

Travel and relocation is an inevitable way of life for many construction personnel. Construction managers, business development personnel and design consultants all have to contend with mobility, which is a key requirement to promotions and career advancement. While some enjoy the frequent moves, many of them, especially those with families, long for less travel and more permanence.

The architectural, engineering and construction sectors are experiencing a major upheaval marked by a flurry of mergers and acquisitions. Industry analysts predict that the industry will soon be divided into large international consolidated corporations and small specialty firms. Moreover, they noted that relationship building and synergy are the prime determinants of success in the emerging marketplace.

Members of the construction industry which have applied total quality management (TQM) to their production processes reported improvements in product quality, productivity and profitability. TQM enables companies to focus and respond to increase in customer satisfaction and employee performance. It adds value to work by increasing employee performance and enhancing relations among staff. Furthermore, TQM helps companies to identify the root causes of problems to create more effective solutions.

Privatization of government-funded projects such as roads and bridges is slowly gaining popularity in the US. However, companies noted the privatization is a difficult and expensive endeavor since not all roads and bridges can prove profitable. Despite the difficulties, the federal government is intensifying its efforts to make privatization a viable process through new legislation. A discussion of several successful privatization projects is presented.

Hurricane Katrina has caused a major impact on construction costs and Davis Langdon the Sacramento-based cost consultant thinks the storm will increase overall costs for residential work 10 to 15% in the impacted region and 5 to 10% locally and less than 5% nationally. Some of the products which are likely to be struck by the inflation are cement, gypsum, plastic construction products, steel and plywood.

The fast track construction of the U.S. Capitol's underground Visitor's Center project, scheduled for a 2005 completion, is discussed. The project is significant as it marks the first time the Architect of the Capitol has made use of an outside construction management (CM) approach.

The construction industry is moving towards having program managers handle the management of consulting and planning, as well as operations issues of building contracting. Using a program manager allows project staffing to be handled externally to ensure the issue does not hinder the job in any way.

The use of round-the-clock webcams for managing construction projects and resolving critical delays is discussed, focusing on webcam vendor SmartConnect LLC.

Level 3 Communications Inc's ambitious 21,100-mile, $11 billion fiber optic network project is already ahead of schedule on a number of fronts, having closed 6,000 miles of the system's critical 16,000-mile intercity network in the US and Canada in a little over a year since construction started in Texas. The telecommunication company believes that this project will determine the success of the firm in the 21st century, which it predicts to be highly-reliant on Internet Protocol technology.

A survey conducted by ENR and Associated General Contractors of America on the attitude of equipment managers towards their jobs showed that an increasing number of managers are exploring options with which to effectively balance both equipment usage effectivity and labor. The survey showed that many equipment managers prefer to buy an equipment in terms of its range of performance and durability, as well as buying the equipment as a company asset. Many managers had to explore a variety of ways with which to address the labor aspect of their jobs, that of finding work options to retain as many talented equipment operators, while balancing other factors such as the seasonality of work and the high demand for experienced operators.

Transportation construction gets a new boost with the passage of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The bill, which replaces the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act of 1991, provides a record-breaking $204 bil in funds to finance various transportation projects. President Clinton has pledged to sign the bill into law despite previous threats to veto the earlier versions.

A temporary steel exoskeleton was used to brace the Gothic Revival exterior of Cornell University's historic Sage Hall while the interior of the building was gutted and replaced to meet modern standards. The exterior walls and the mansard roofline was saved with a system of struts and whalers located at four elevations on both sides of the wall. The support system consisted of 45-ft-tall towers anchored to concrete grade beams mounted on tensioned caissons sunk into the bedrock.

Many states are focusing on alternative bidding and project delivery to aid highway contractors in controlling costs and maintaining margins. Due to increased activity, most highway contractors have become selective, thus resulting in a fewer number of bidders on projects. Some states that have decided to experiment with alternative project delivery include Colorado, Oregon, and California. Florida, on the other hand, is just beginning to develop an innovative delivery system for its billion-dollar highway program.

Design-build, a concept that combines engineering and construction services, is a strategy used by building owners to help eliminate litigation costs. Many public and private contractors have turned to design-build projects since they are much quicker and easier to manage. The single-source, fast-track method is an ideal project delivery strategy for companies that are in the process of downsizing their in-house engineering staff and are seeking cost-effective alternatives in delivering services.

The Massachusetts Resources Authority has begun the construction of a new 17.6-mile MetroWest tunnel that will link greater Boston and its main reservoirs and replace the leaky Hultman Aqueduct. The tunnel, which is due for completion in 2003, is expected to carry 405 million gallons of water per day to 2.5 mil customers in Greater Boston.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is fast-tracking the expansion of Route 128 station in Boston in anticipation of a 50% increase in daily passenger count beyond the year 2000. The $44-mil expansion project involves the construction of a new garage, waiting space, covered walkway and two high-level platforms for commuters and Amtrak passengers. It also seeks to cut travel time between Boston and New York from four to five hours to under three by late 1999.

Kansas City, MO-based Pullman Power Products Corp. is investigating the construction accident in its Israel project. The accident occured at Pullman Powers Ruthenberg Power Station project where the scaffolding on a concrete chimney they were working on. The accident killed one American Pullman Power employee, along with three Rumanians and one Indian worker. The scaffolding collapse was the first for Pullman Power, which has extensive experience in chimney construction.