Latest news with #SarahMartin
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction planning climbs again on core sector momentum
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Signs of life are returning to planning desks across the country, as momentum builds behind large-scale projects and complex builds, according to Dodge Construction Network. The Dodge Momentum Index, which tracks nonresidential projects entering the planning stage and leads actual spending by a full year, jumped 6.8% in June. Commercial planning climbed 7.3%, while institutional planning increased 5.7%, according to the report. 'Nonresidential planning steadily improved in June, alongside strength in warehouse, recreational, and data center planning,' said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. 'Planning momentum in other key sectors, like education, hotels, and retail stores, was more subdued.' Slower activity in those sectors is likely tied to caution around the economic outlook, said Martin. Weaker consumer spending expectations and uncertainty over project financing have caused developers to tap the brakes on new entries in those categories, she added. For example, a Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based construction company recently laid off nearly half of its workers due to delays on two major construction contracts. Yale University, among other higher education institutions, also paused 10 construction projects due to uncertainty around federal funding. Warehouse activity gained meaningful traction in June, and data center planning remained elevated, according to the report. On the institutional side, large recreational projects helped drive gains, while healthcare-related planning also continued to accelerate, according to Dodge. Despite some sector slowdowns, planning activity remains far above last year's weak June levels. The overall index jumped 20% year over year, with institutional planning up 46% and commercial planning up 11%. Even excluding all data center projects from 2023 through 2025, commercial planning would still be up 12% over the past year, and the overall index would have increased 23%, according to Dodge. A total of 40 projects valued at $100 million or more entered the planning phase in June, according to Dodge. Major commercial projects included: The $500 million Meadow Brook Technology Park data center campus in Middletown, Virginia. Phase 3 of the $300 million Project Blue data center in Tucson, Arizona. The $300 million Data City data center in Laredo, Texas. The largest institutional projects to enter planning included: The $340 million Cleveland Clinic Avon campus expansion in Avon, Ohio. The $150 million McKinney Amphitheatre Building in McKinney, Texas. The $135 million Harold Simmons West Overlook Park Buildings in Dallas. Recommended Reading Contractors say data center demand still growing, despite bubble fears Errore nel recupero dei dati Effettua l'accesso per consultare il tuo portafoglio Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati Errore nel recupero dei dati
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Famous faces turned into scarecrows for Castle Cary in Bloom
Feathers McGraw, Spongebob and Harry Kane are among those lining the streets of a town hoping to be recognised for its community Cary residents have made more than 120 scarecrows for the Britain in Bloom competition, which will be assessed by Royal Horticultural Society judges on a lot of effort has been put into the scarecrows, other attractions for Cary in Bloom include a living wall on the town's bus shelter, allotments, and a garden at the town's primary in Bloom said it aims to inspire community groups to make positive changes to their local environment, and residents will find out in the autumn if they have won a medal. Residents, businesses, and the local school have all been involved in Cary in Martin, headteacher of Castle Cary Primary School, said it had been "chaos" as 192 pupils worked together to make 14 scarecrows."Straw everywhere, sticks everywhere," she said."Total carnage." The Britain in Bloom campaign encourages people to make their community more said taking part can lead to an increase in visitor numbers, a stronger sense of pride of place, and funding opportunities to support Steiner, who helped organise Castle Cary's efforts, said: "We got the community to collect tin cans, plants were grown from seed and people nurtured them from spring." Carly Pattison from town business, Flowers and Home Somerset, said the efforts of Castle Cary residents had brought about "a great sense of community"."It's just a great bit of fun," she said."Lots of people are going to be about, as we all are at the moment."
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The 9 largest commercial construction starts of May 2025
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Total construction starts rebounded 13% in May but still lag last year's level of shovels hitting dirt, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts, which include office, hotel and healthcare work, jumped 18% in May, while nonbuilding activity, such as highways, bridges and utility projects, grew 20%. Residential starts ticked up 2% during the month, according to the data. The rebound offers some relief for contractors after a slow April, though economic uncertainty and ongoing policy questions may limit how long the momentum lasts, said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network, in the release. 'Construction starts rebounded across most sectors in May, bouncing back from a sluggish April,' said Martin. 'However, year-to-date figures remain below last year's pace. Ongoing uncertainty around trade policy and the economic outlook is likely to keep construction activity in check for the months ahead.' Here are the nine largest U.S. projects to break ground in May, according to Dodge: The $1.5 billion Sierra solar farm and storage project in Fallon, Nevada. The $1.2 billion Delta Blues advanced power station in Greenville, Mississippi. The $1.2 billion BART train control modernization in Oakland, California. The $900 million SpaceX Starship GigaBay facility in Brevard County, Florida. The $780 million University of Kentucky CTC Markey cancer treatment and ambulatory surgery center in Lexington, Kentucky. The $720 million Pfizer HQ residential conversion in New York City. The $705 million DSHS Western State forensic hospital in Lakewood, Washington. The $403 million Domino Sugar residential redevelopment in Williamsburg, New York. The $290 million Monmouth Square residential development in Eatontown, New Jersey. Nonbuilding construction starts surged in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $336 billion, according to Dodge. Utility work more than doubled with a 102% spike, while environmental public works jumped 9%. Highway and bridge starts, on the other hand, slipped 5% during the month, according to the report. Despite May's bounce, nonbuilding activity remains 2% lower on a year-to-date basis. Utility work has declined 22% so far this year, while environmental public works dropped 5%. Highway and bridge construction, on the other hand, is up 6% year to date, according to Dodge. Nonresidential starts climbed to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $459 million in May, led by a 28% jump in commercial construction projects. Retail, office and warehouse projects all posted gains, while institutional starts rose 19% amid stronger healthcare activity. Manufacturing activity, in contrast, dropped 13% over the month. Through May, nonresidential starts ticked down 6% compared to the same period last year. Commercial starts remained up 6%, while institutional activity dipped 2%, according to the report. Residential starts improved to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $368 billion. That growth came entirely from the multifamily sector, which jumped 15%, while single-family starts declined 5%. So far this year, residential groundbreakings declined 5% compared to 2024, with single-family starts down 9% and multifamily up 5%, according to Dodge. Recommended Reading The 9 largest commercial construction starts of April 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
23-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Lennox Unveils Elite Series EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump Designed for Compact Homes Français
The Lennox Side Discharge Heat Pump is a compact unit designed for efficient, quiet operation. DALLAS, June 23, 2025 /CNW/ -- Lennox Residential HVAC, industry-leader in home comfort solutions, announced the launch of the Elite Series EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump, combining efficient performance and space-saving design. "The Side Discharge Heat Pump gives homeowners in zero-lot-line or narrow-lot homes access to a high-efficiency heat pump without needing extra space," said Sarah Martin, executive vice president and president of Lennox Home Comfort Solutions. "As more homeowners consider all-electric solutions, we are committed to expanding our product range to help our dealers meet their needs." The EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump features a narrow cabinet designed for easy installation in space-limited areas, such as zero-lot-line homes. Its variable-capacity design adjusts output to align with household comfort needs while supporting energy efficiency. With ratings up to 19.00 SEER2 and 10.00 HSPF2, the unit is built to help reduce energy use and may contribute to lower utility costs throughout the year. A precision-balanced, direct-drive fan enables sound levels as low as 54 decibels, comparable to an electric toothbrush. The EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump is compatible with multiple Lennox smart thermostat product lines, allowing users to manage settings through various smart home platforms. The unit qualifies for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, a federal incentive for high-efficiency home upgrades. Additional utility or regional incentives may apply. 1 The EL18KSLV Side Discharge Heat Pump is available to purchase through local Lennox dealers. For details, visit ABOUT LENNOX Lennox (NYSE: LII) is a leader in energy-efficient climate-control solutions. Dedicated to sustainability and creating comfortable and healthier environments for our residential and commercial customers while reducing their carbon footprint, we lead the field in innovation with our cooling, heating, indoor air quality, and refrigeration systems. Additional information is available at For media inquiries, contact [email protected]. 1 Lennox Industries Inc. ("Lennox") is not a tax advisor and does not make any representation, warranty, guarantee or other assurance as to whether a particular matchup qualifies or is eligible for tax credits. Moreover, the tax laws are subject to change. As a result, Lennox highly recommends that you consult with a tax advisor regarding your qualification for the tax credits in your circumstance and verify and review the applicable tax laws and regulations.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Warehouse, hotel construction lift commercial planning
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Nonresidential construction planning rebounded in May after a slow April, as a sharp uptick in institutional project activity helped drive overall growth, according to Dodge Construction Network. The Dodge Momentum Index, a benchmark that tracks nonresidential construction planning and leads actual spending by a full year, increased 3.7% in May. Institutional planning surged 10.5%, led by education and recreational facilities, while commercial planning inched up 0.8%, according to the report. 'Nonresidential planning continued to accelerate in May, primarily driven by strong project activity on the institutional side of the DMI,' said Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. 'Planning momentum moderately improved on the commercial side as well, following subdued growth in that sector over the last few months.' Data center planning, which fueled most commercial gains, returned to more typical levels in May, according to Dodge. Martin added that 'increased economic and policy uncertainty' will likely persist in the near term, though said the current pipeline remains stable. Within the commercial sector, stronger activity in warehouse and hotel planning helped offset the slow pace in the office and retail categories, according to the report. On the institutional side, a surge in education and recreation projects led the gains, though healthcare planning dipped slightly. Nevertheless, planning activity remains far ahead of last year's pace, according to Dodge. The index jumped 24% compared to May 2024, with institutional planning up 47% and commercial planning up 15%. However, if the data excludes all data center projects between 2023 and 2025, commercial planning would have grown 4% over the year, and the total DMI would be up 17%, according to Dodge. A total of 33 projects valued at $100 million or more entered planning in May. Major commercial projects included: The $486 million Evolve Energy Partners data center in Warrenton, Missouri. The $366 million LEGO warehouse and distribution facility in Prince George, Virginia. The $330 million Summit Crossing data center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The largest institutional projects to enter planning included: The $500 million Honda Center renovation in Anaheim, California. The $238 million phase 2 of the Sterling Bay Pacific Center research and development building in San Diego, California. The $201 million patient tower at Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Recommended Reading Data centers, but little else, prop up construction planning Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
