Building on Shifting Sands

Building on Shifting Sands

Building on Shifting Sands Millennium Tower in San Francisco is sinking and leaning. The 58-story tower has sunk 17 inches and tilted 14 inches since it was completed in 2008. Engineers want to drill hundreds of steel and concrete “micro piles” down to bedrock under...
O Captain My Captain

O Captain My Captain

O Captain My Captain Cruise Ship The Captain/Master of a large ocean liner does not steer the ship; that’s the Helmsman. He doesn’t navigate; that’s the First Officer. He doesn’t manage the deck staff; that’s the Bosun, or Boatswain. He doesn’t maintain the engines;...
Common Sense

Common Sense

COMMON SENSE by Brian Lines, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, University of Kansas Construction industry research usually begins with an everyday practical problem brought to a university faculty by construction industry professionals.  Unfortunately, the resulting...
Let’s Get Real

Let’s Get Real

“Let’s Get Real” In a recent article I wrote the following: “There is a downside to the great market we are enjoying because some construction enterprises will grow too fast and the rate of growth can be lethal. Most construction enterprises were involuntarily...
Liquidity

Liquidity

Liquidity If I learned anything from ten years operating the world’s largest workout firm for sureties engaged in construction bonding, it’s that liquidity (or the lack thereof) is the most important predictive metric on a construction company’s balance sheet....