A multiyear building boom, the likes of which hasn't been seen around here since the two North Shore stadiums and the David. L. Lawrence Convention Center were under construction, is on the horizon for Pittsburgh's contractors and architects.

By the end of this year, it's probable that a new Penguins arena will be under construction, as will a shiny new casino along the Ohio River. The Children's Hospital project will still be consuming workers, along with a new Westinghouse campus in Cranberry, the Allegheny River tunnel project, new skyscrapers and Downtown condos, and smaller projects, like outfitting power plants with air scrubbers.

The simultaneous projects mean the supply of local workers may at times struggle to keep up with demand. But that's a good problem to have, trade groups agree, and it shouldn't greatly impact construction schedules.

"It's going to put a strain on it. It's going to stay like this for four or five years," hopes Richard Stanizzo, business manager of the Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council. The council is the umbrella organization representing about 20,000 tradesmen and women in the seven-county Pittsburgh region.