Green technologies intended to improve efficiency and reduce dependence on natural resources have become common options for new buildings, changing many aspects of the construction industry. Many new buildings are being built with green technologies such as solar panels and rooftop gardens that help with climate control. Now, architecture firms that specialize in green technology and design are making a push to retrofit older buildings, according to The Buffalo News.

Brooklyn, one of New York City's residential boroughs, has recently seen a marked increase in the number of renters, which is driving the construction of new residence projects. According to Bloomberg, the number of renters has increased 9 percent in the past year, and many renovations and new building construction projects have cropped up around the populous neighborhoods of Brooklyn as a result.

California is planning to revamp its rail system to make way for a new high-speed rail line and improve upon existing tracks throughout the state. According to The Associated Press, the Federal Railroad Administration recently approved the first phase of construction on the Golden State's rail modernization project. Construction equipment will soon become a common sight along a 65-mile corridor from Fresno to Merced, as this is the first section of the planned 800-mile railway system to be built.

Traveling to Wichita, Kan., may be a lot easier soon, as construction is underway for a new $101.5 million terminal in the city's airport.

The Wichita Eagle reports that rain stopped the official groundbreaking ceremony for Air Capital Terminal 3 (ACT 3), but that didn't diminish the hope of what this project may accomplish. The grounds were actually broken a month ago for construction purposes, according to the news provider.

"There’s an old Irish saying, that when there's bad weather on the day of a wedding, the marriage will succeed," Victor White, the city's director of airports, told the news provider. "I hope that holds true for construction projects."

Typically, the only way to get a good look at military fighter jets is to attend an air show, but residents living near the Des Moines International Airport are being treated to regular displays of these aircraft. A construction project currently taking place at the airport resulted in the closure of the runway used by the Iowa Air National Guard's 132nd Fighter Wing, according to the Des Moines Register. The National Guard cannot simply stop training for the project, so flights have been redirected to another runway.

For the past two years, the West Wing of the White House has been strewn with construction equipment, cranes, excavators and trucks. Now, the $86 million project is finished, and The Associated Press reports the building appears as though it had remained untouched. This is because most of the work was done on the inner workings of the wing - replacing water lines, sewers and electrical wiring pipelines as well as updating the heating, air conditioning and fire control systems.

The night before the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, officials have announced that construction of the National September 11 Museum in New York City will soon resume. According to Reuters, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum Foundation and the Port Authority of New York found themselves in a stalemate concerning the budget for the project and work was halted as a result. The museum is being built on the site of the attack in Manhattan, which is also the site of the 9/11 Memorial that was completed and opened to the public last year, on the 10th anniversary of the attacks.

Chi-town commuters may be finding other routes to and from work if they rely on the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has already allocated $1 billion to renovate and repair a number of stations and stretches of track on this line, according to Crain's Chicago Business. The project is intended to repair major issues and update some of the older stations along this busy route.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) recently began construction on a 1.7-mile tunnel for Highway 99 near Seattle's Pioneer Square, and the public is invited to learn more about the project on location. According to SeattlePI.com, WSDOT invited local residents to take a tour of the project, with approximately 200 people showing up on Thursday to find out more about this extensive construction site.

Boston may be a small city, but it is still growing and building new neighborhoods such as Channel Center. The New England city's Seaport District, also known as the Innovation District, has been undergoing transformations in recent years to make it a more vibrant part of Boston, including the construction of many new business and residential buildings. State Street Corporation is planning to relocate its headquarters from various buildings around the downtown area to the Innovation District once its new home, One Channel Center, is completed, according to the Boston Herald.