Author: Jessica Ritter Holmes

Houston Approves New Flood-Resistant Building Regulations

More than six months after Hurricane Harvey dropped enough rain on Houston to make the Earth’s crust sink roughly two centimeters, city officials are passing new construction rules designed to mitigate damage from catastrophic flooding events in the future. On Wednesday April 4, the Houston City Council approved regulations which update the requirements for structures… Read more »

Dallas-Fort Worth Leads the Nation in Tower Cranes

Tower Cranes

Did you know that four of the nation’s five fastest-growing cities are located in Texas? The Lone Star state has grown at a remarkable pace in recent years, thanks to a combination of factors including affordable housing markets, high-paying jobs and low tax burdens. You can see signs of this growth spurt in communities throughout… Read more »

How Can Timber Mats Protect Sensitive Wetland Ecosystems?

As human populations continue to expand, it is more important than ever to protect sensitive ecosystems such as wetlands. The wetlands are most vulnerable when they are traversed or constructed upon, especially when heavy equipment is involved. Thankfully, a great solution exists: the use of timber mats. What are timber mats? To create timber mats,… Read more »

Texas Oil Industry Adds 12,000 Jobs in Six Months

Drilling for Oil

The oil business is booming in the state of Texas right now. According to the Houston Chronicle, which cited an index that tracks energy activity throughout Texas, oil companies in the state have added approximately 12,000 new jobs in the last six months. This brings the total number of oil and gas-related jobs in Texas… Read more »