With Memorial Day passed, the construction industry is moving into its busiest season. Colleges have graduated and schools are about to let out for summer. Construction in Western PA is ramping up and the pool of labor has already “ramped” up. Hiring in the Pittsburgh MSA was reported last week as up 14,000 jobs April-over-April, an indication that the 1.5% employment growth is sustainable; and construction hiring helped lead the way.

Peters Township School District meets tonight to vote on contracts for the $89 million new high school. Low bidders for the electrical and HVAC withdrew their bids, making for more alternate decisions than expected. The Builders Exchange reported that Franjo Construction was awarded the $6 million expansion at Rose Plastics in California. UPMC is taking proposals from PJ Dick/Rycon, Mascaro/Barton Malow, Turner Construction and Massaro/AECOM Tishman on it $280 million expansion of Hillman Cancer/Shadyside Hospital. The Allegheny County Airport Authority has short-listed teams for A/E services and program management on its $1.1 billion Terminal Modernization Program. Finalists for A/E services are AECOM, Corgan/Michael Baker, Gensler/HDR and luis vidal + architects/CannonDesign. The program management finalists are AECOM, Jacobs and Parsons Transportation. Walnut Capital is bringing its final plans to the city for approval this week for Bakery Square 3.0, the rumored future site of Phillips. PJ Dick and Strada Architecture are the team working on the 328,000 square foot office building and 794-car garage.