Dan Newcombe is a seasoned construction expert with 28+ years of experience working on domestic and international projects. Dan has extensive hands-on experience managing virtually every aspect of a construction project. His knowledge, experience, and incredible interpersonal skills make Dan an invaluable member of Beacon's team. We caught up with Dan recently and asked him some questions about working in the Construction Consulting field (click below for Dan's full profile and interview).
You may have seen the amazing video clips and photos on the news (or on social media) about the unique new music and entertainment venue which opened recently in Las Vegas, known simply as "Sphere." The massive spherical structure is covered (inside and out) with high-definition LED screens that can create visually stunning immersive experiences. Sphere officially opened on September 29, 2023 when the Irish Rock band U2 performed there, kicking off U2's 36-show residency at the venue...
The Roman Empire started expanding beyond the Italian peninsula in the 3rd Century B.C. By the second century AD, the Roman empire ranged from Britain’s Atlantic coast to Mesopotamia in the east (the current location of Iraq) and down to North Africa in the south. It is estimated that more than a 20% of the world’s population was under Rome's rule at the peak of the Empire's power. One legacy left behind from this great Empire are the ruins of many buildings, amphitheaters, roadways, seawalls, sewer systems, bridges, and aqueducts which are now historic sites scattered across Western Europe and other areas...
On September 8, 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to kickoff the first phase of a $9.5-billion construction project at the airport (see renderings in full article). In cooperation with a consortium of private financial sponsors ("New Terminal One"), the Port Authority of NY & NJ announced the start of construction on a new, state-of-the-art, 2.4-million-sf international terminal which will be located on the south side of JFK. The project is expected to create 10,000 jobs, including 6,000 jobs in construction. The new Terminal One will reportedly be more than twice the size of JKF's current Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 combined...
If you have visited the greater Boston area in the past two years, you most likely noticed one or more major construction projects underway or at least spotted some giant cranes looming in the distance. The city currently has many large construction projects underway, including major projects in the commercial, residential, educational, R&D, and public housing areas. The city's diverse economy is driving the need for new commercial space, particularly in the areas of biotech/life sciences, consulting, and technology. As a well-established center for higher education and a leading destination for young professionals seeking career opportunities in growing industries, the demand for residential space has also been growing fast. Click below for full article and project photos...
The Construction Financial Management Association (CMFA) 22nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference was held September 24-26, 2022 in Cambridge, MD. This year, Beacon Vice President Kieran O'Connor was a speaker at the event, participating as part of a panel of Surety industry professionals. The panel members focused on all of the following areas: (1) Trends in Surety results Mid-Atlantic & Nationwide; (2) Outlook for Underwriting and performance and losses of Surety and Subcontractor Default Industries; and (3) Legal or claim trends.
Looking at the topic from the Construction Consultant's perspective, Kieran's portion of the presentation covered current trends in the U.S. Construction Industry, Surety Claims trends, and Solutions to current challenges...
By John Yeung, Vice President, Beacon Consulting Group. Beacon's New York City office is a short walk from Penn Station, the busiest railway station in North America. More than 640,000 subway, commuter rail, and Amtrak passengers pass through the station on an average weekday. The station is a terminal for trains run by Amtrak (which owns the station), Long Island Railroad, NJ Transit, and the New York City Transit Authority (MTA), with more than 1300 arrivals and departures on weekdays. Because the station is nearly 60 years old and serves twice the number of daily trains (and passengers) as it did in 1970, Penn Station's underground areas can often feel over-crowded, dark/dreary, and very out-dated...
Bio concrete is a self-healing concrete designed to repair its own cracks. It was invented by a Dutch researcher, Hendrik Jonkers, at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Bio concrete is concrete with the addition of limestone producing bacteria utilizing a biochemical process called Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP). This article, written by Beacon Project Manager Myat Cyn, provides a great overview and introduction to this new technology...
Earlier this year, Mutual of Omaha and the Mayor of Omaha announced plans for a new $433-million skyscraper to be built in downtown Omaha. Although the project must still be formally approved by the Omaha City Council, many details about the project have been released by the city and Mutual of Omaha. The proposed tower (known as "Project Beacon") would be between 40 and 50 stories tall, up to 650 feet in height, with 800,000 square feet of office space and 2200 parking spaces. Depending on the final approved design, the tower could end up being the city's tallest building...
Beacon's team has consulted on some of the largest and most complex construction projects in the U.S. in recent years. However, our team also keeps abreast of other notable construction projects announced or underway. Beacon's Jim Bruno has compiled this summary of several interesting, large-scale projects planned and/or started in the U.S.
