We all know that it\'s not that rosy in the construction section - a new round of layoffs is planned at BM - see below for an example event that leads BM to shed workforce: The decision last week to slow down construction of Columbia St. Mary's new east side hospital has left about 160 tradespeople without work, according to the general contractor.
The number of construction workers at the site peaked at 500 about three months ago, but was reduced to about 375 tradespeople as the project advanced, said Pete Richards, the project administrator for general contractor CG Schmidt/Barton Malow JV.
After the layoffs last week, there are 211 people still working at the site. Most of the people laid-off were local workers, Richards said.
Columbia St. Mary's Inc. decided to slow down construction at the hospital, which will replace two hospitals -- St. Mary's, 2323 N. Lake Drive, and Columbia, 2025 E. Newport Ave. -- to preserve money during the economic recession.
The hospital will now open in fall 2010 instead of January 2010, said Leo Brideau, president and CEO of the Milwaukee hospital system.
CG Schmidt Inc., of Milwaukee, and Barton Malow Co., of Southfield, Mich., are joint contractors on the project.
Columbia St. Mary's broke ground for the $417 million Columbia St. Mary's Hospital Milwaukee in June 2005. The 513-bed, 670,000-square-foot facility will be located on 22 acres at North Avenue and Lake Drive. More details are available here: http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily18.html