Industry News

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will award approximately eight to twelve grants, totalling $120 million, in early 2010 to higher education institutions and nonprofits to build or expand their scientific research capabilities. The grants, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestments Act of 2009, will be competitive, with Letters of Intent due to NIST by June 25, and full proposals by August 10. A variety of facilities--labs, test and measurement facilities, research computing facilities, observatories—will be considered.

Computer Guidance Corporation, developer of financial and project management software solutions for architecture, engineering, and construction companies, announced the launch of its eCMS construction management software solution on a SaaS (Software as a Service) platform. As a hosted solution, eCMS offers the same fully-integrated financial, project, and productivity management solution functionalities and benefits as the traditional enterprise-class eCMS system, but uses a hosted software business model and IT architecture.

A 1,000-acre Wake county site 12 miles from Research Triangle Park (RTP) may house another RTP-like development. “Veridia”  (a name combining Latin “veritas” or truth, and “verdant” meaning green, with “idea”) is the brain-child of Tom Hendrickson, a principal at Zebulon, NC-based Lookout Ventures real estate development company. Combining facilities for residential, retail, technology and biotechnology operations, as well as greenways and parks, the urban, sustainable development facilities may incorporate LEED guidelines.

Construction of the $38-million WSU Vancouver Applied Technology Classroom Building will begin this year.

Labor rates, material prices and competition in the commercial construction marketplace are combining to make this a great year to put up a building.