The builders broke an unwritten rule that prohibits anything surrounding the palace from exceeding 100 meters high, or about 330 feet.

In all of 2003, builders broke ground on 1.85 million homes, an 8.4 percent increase over 2002 and the best year for home building since 1978.

Inside, builders have broken through each level of the old department store to create a floor-to-roof atrium.

Separately, the Commerce Department reported that builders broke ground on new homes at an annual pace of 1,242,000, after seasonal adjustment.

When the builders of the Gotthard tunnel broke through in 1880, he was not invited to attend.

The Economy April housing starts fell 17 percent, as builders broke ground on new homes at a rate of just 1,115,000.

Later that month, the builder broke ground.

Last week's report that builders broke ground on fewer new homes in May, it added, "may give a more current view of housing activity."

And builders broke ground on 7.9 percent more new homes in September.

And builders broke ground on 7.9 percent more new homes in September, erasing nearly all the drop in housing starts over the preceding two months.