Magnificent Metal Monday – 2023 Forge Prize Finalists

The American Institute of Steel Construction’s (AISC) annual Forge Prize competition celebrates emerging architects who create visionary designs that embrace steel as the primary structural component while exploring ways to increase project speed. AISC recently announced the three finalists, who will each take home $5,000 from the first round, will now have the opportunity to work with a steel fabricator before presenting their final concepts to the judges during a live YouTube event in late March. The winner will take home a $10,000 grand prize and be invited to present before an audience of the industry’s best minds at NASCC: The Steel Conference in April.

CONTECH Update for 2023

Taking a look at what’s new in the world of CONTECH for this year, ConstructionDive reports new releases including new products and updates from eTakeoff, eMod, Topcon, RedTeam and AirBolt, all aimed to help contractors keep construction projects running on time and on budget. In their 2023 outlook, Associate Editor, Matthew Thibault says, “Technology will be a key driver of progress and efficiency in 2023, and experts believe that the benefits are too useful to ignore in such tumultuous times.”

Magnificent Metal Monday – A Round Up of the Most Anticipated Projects of 2023 by ArchDaily

As the new year begins, we travel around the world to look at some exciting projects planned to open this year as compiled by ArchDaily, ranging in scale and program, from international airports to sculptural arts galleries or museum expansions. With a mix of cultural and commercial programs, the designs are located across five continents, with many under construction for multiple years. While all of the projects listed are incredible on so many levels, we’ve highlighted few stand-outs as to their use of metal to accomplish the unique design goals of the project.

S-5! Celebrates 30 Years and Announces New Products and Patents

S-5! exhibiting at METALCON last month in Indianapolis; Photo Credit: McBoat Photography

S-5!, one of the world’s leading developers of engineered, manufactured, metal roof attachments, is having a big year! Not only are they wrapping up their 30th anniversary year, but they just exhibited at METALCON for the 31st time! Additionally, they have introduced another new mounting product to the market adding to their family of clamps and attachments, and just announced 14 new patents awarded in 2022. On behalf of the METALCON team, we congratulate the S-5! family on their successes and thank them for their continued support and leadership in the metal construction community.

FINAL DAYS TO VOTE FOR METALCON’S TOP PRODUCT!

VOTE TODAY | DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 5

It is time for YOU to vote for the 2nd annual METALCON Top Product Awards!  Its simple and the survey will take less than 5 minutes. Select your favorite top product in each category at the bottom of each page of the survey. Categories include: accessories, insulation and weather barriers, paint and coatings, roll forming equipment, roof product, safety products, structures product, technology, walls product, and construction tools and equipment.

VOTING FOR METALCON’S TOP PRODUCT IS OPEN!

VOTE TODAY

The nominations are in for the 2nd annual METALCON Top Product Awards. METALCON 2022 exhibitors were invited to nominate their top metal products in a variety of categories and now it’s time for YOU to vote!  Its simple and the survey will take less than 5 minutes. Select your favorite top product in each category at the bottom of each page of the survey. Categories include: accessories, insulation and weather barriers, paint and coatings, roll forming equipment, roof product, safety products, structures product, technology, walls product, and construction tools and equipment.

MCN 41st Annual Contractor Survey Results

“Across the board, metal construction projects increased in number and size from 2020 to 2021.“

Photo Credit: Metal Construction News

Published on March 1, the MCN 41st Annual Contractor Survey sees a robust market environment in the metal construction industry, comparable to the overall construction market. Metal builders, roofers, wall panel contractors and light-gauge steel contractors all report that 2021 was better than 2020 and they anticipate 2022 being even better. According to survey respondents, MCN reports that metal building construction increased 12.9% in 2021, seeing a metal roofing 9.3% increase, metal wall panels 2.5% increase and light-gauge steel framing up 9.5% for exteriors and 3% for interiors.

TODAY at 1:00 PM — Expert Advice on How to Blast Past Pricing Woes on METALCONLive! REGISTER NOW

REGISTER TODAY! Eligible for 1 AIA LU

It is on everyone’s minds — the “trifecta of pricing woes” — inflation, supply chain, and talent shortage. Join this high powered panel of experts as the provide some clarity on the issues currently plaguing the industry and share real solutions to help you run your business and turn a fair profit. Join us for METALCON Live! TODAY at 1:00 PM, as Alex Carrick, Chief Economist at ConstructConnect, Tony Bouquot, General Manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA), and Frank Stasiowski, CEO & Founder of PSMJ Resources, Inc., come together to deliver up-to-the-minute breakthrough tactics for transforming your business results in the face of current headwinds. Get up to speed on supply chain disruption, sustainability, workforce challenges, cost-containment, and more.

Join us LIVE and you can chat directly with our experts on the challenges your are facing! 

Hear from METALCON Live!‘s blue-ribbon panel of experts on the status of the metal construction and design industry, and how to get over the hump. Get up to speed on the supply chain disruption, sustainability, workforce challenges, cost-containment, and so much more!

Your FUTURE is NOW…..It’s time to get moving so join us to hear what others are doing… we promise it will change your thinking POSITIVELY.

In Just One Week – A METALCON Live! You Won’t Want to Miss! Expert Advice on Blasting Past Pricing Woes

REGISTER TODAY! Eligible for 1 AIA LU

It is on everyone’s minds — the “trifecta of pricing woes” — inflation, supply chain, and talent shortage. To provide some clarity on the issues currently plaguing the industry, METALCON has assembled a high powered panel of experts to share real solutions to the frustrations currently happening as you try to run your business and turn a fair profit. Join us for METALCON Live! NEXT Wednesday, April 6, as Alex Carrick, Chief Economist at ConstructConnect, Tony Bouquot, General Manager of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA), and Frank Stasiowski, CEO & Founder of PSMJ Resources, Inc. come together to deliver up-to-the-minute breakthrough tactics for transforming your business results in the face of current headwinds. Get up to speed on supply chain disruption, sustainability, workforce challenges, cost-containment, and more.

Join us LIVE and you will be able to chat directly with our experts on the challenges your are facing! 

Inflation, Material Delays and Labor Issues

Credit: Travelers

There is no question the “trifecta of pricing woes” is on everyone’s mind causing business owners and leaders to rethink, strategize, and get creative in order to maintain their profitability. Earlier this month, Construction Dive reported, “Despite a surprisingly strong U.S. January jobs report, nonresidential construction employment fell by 9,000 workers in the heavy and civil engineering sectors as an aging labor force retires or quits; according to The Associated Builders and Contractors, construction unemployment rate rose to 7.1% vs. 4% across all industries; and the third wild card: supply-chain snafus making it harder to count days to completion or shareholder profits.”

Magnificent Metal Monday – Top 10 Construction Industry Trends for 2022

According to BigRentz, Inc., the largest equipment rental network in the nation, “2022 will be a year of reemergence and growth in the construction industry despite rising construction costs and labor shortages.”

They added, “Since last year, the COVID-19 pandemic changed how the construction industry does business, from scheduling and closing projects to hiring workers to meeting with clients. Looking forward, many industry trends will be affected by the fallout from the pandemic. New technology continues to change the construction site, improve the ability to win projects, and increase profit margins. Trends and movements are changing the roles of industry professionals and frontline workers.”

Here are their top 10 must-watch construction industry trends for 2022 to help you stay competitive in the New Year –

MCN Reader’s Choice Awards 2021 Announced

Now it’s in 9th year, Metal Construction News (MCN) announced their 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards for top products in the metal construction industry. The top product for this year goes to Milwaukee-based Xena Workwear Inc. for their Omerga EH Safety Boot. The other products selected were incredibly varied and showed no clear pattern of preference. Ranging from insulated metal panels and perforated screens to curtainwalls and louvers, the products identified by MCN’s readers touch on every facet of the metal construction industry and show the breadth of the industry’s building product needs.

• 

  Omerga EH Safety Boot by Xena Workwear

• 

  Aluminum Stationary Awnings by Feeney, Inc.

• 

  TotalClad MW Insulated Metal Panels by CENTRIA

METALCON NEWS – RARE IMP PAVILION A FEATURE AT METALCON 2021

As Released to the Media —

“METALCON is the ONLY place you can compare and contrast the six IMP manufacturers now dominating the U.S. and Canadian markets,” said Judy Geller, METALCON’s Vice President of Tradeshows. “This is a rare opportunity!”  The MCA’s IMP Alliance comprises leading manufacturers, material suppliers and resellers who are dedicated to growing and increasing the use of IMPs in the construction marketplace. For the first time ever, AT METALCON, architects, specifiers, contractors, building owners, and government agencies will have an opportunity to visit with each company and see first-hand the newest products and visual illustrations of projects, in addition to receiving on-site product and technical guidance.  

REGISTER BY 8/27 FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING!

HOT OFF THE PRESS! CHECK OUT THE METALCON DIGITAL SHOW GUIDE PRODUCED BY METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS FOR ALL SHOW DETAILS.

METALCONLive – TODAY AT 1PM – How to Avoid Condensation by Roofing Industry Expert

Here’s what’s coming up next on METALCON Live! — Your FREE business-boosting resource for NEW solutions, NEW strategies and NEW ways to grow your business.

Earn 1 FREE AIA LU!

[REGISTER TODAY] Stay Ahead of the Curve in Metal Construction by Attending MCA’s Virtual Summer Meeting – Starts TOMORROW

• 

• 

MCA’s Virtual Summer Meeting will provide you an opportunity to gain insight in industry trends, and forecasts that will help you make educated decisions for metal in construction. Over 3 days, you’ll learn, connect, and advance your expertise about metal in construction. REGISTER TODAY! Don’t miss industry experts including Joanna Blaney, Meghan McDermott, Jim Bush, Judy Geller, Keith Prather, and Paul Giovannoni speak on important industry topics.

Mark your Calendar for MCA’s 2021 Virtual Summer Meeting, June 14-16

• 

• 

MCA’s Virtual Summer Meeting will provide you an opportunity to gain insight in industry trends, and forecasts that will help you make educated decisions for metal in construction. Over 3 days, you’ll learn, connect, and advance your expertise about metal in construction. REGISTER TODAY!

METALCON Live! TODAY @ 1PM EST – Rail-less Solar on Metal Roofs

Earn your CE certificate. NABCEP approved course – CEU 1.5 JTA & RE Elective AIA – 1 LU|HSW Course #: MRIL2142

SOLAR IS ONE OF THE HOTTEST TOPICS CURRENTLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY – LEARN THE TECHNIQUES AND AFFORDABILITY OF RAIL-LESS As solar mounting technologies evolve to improve installation efficiencies and reduce material and labor costs, some developers and installers on the job site often find it daunting to keep abreast of changing technologies and adapt their operating procedures accordingly. This seems evident by phobias some people have about rail-less PV mounting for metal roofs, while many others claim it is a piece of cake and saves a fortune. A few small shifts in thinking can produce huge savings in labor, material, and logistics, so it is worth a look. The shifts pertain to the mechanics of installation and a couple of other aspects of a project, such as wire management. This course will unpack metal roof installations with a brief overview of the various types of metal roofs and their advantages for PV. Wire management techniques will be presented along with other best practices and “how-to’s” for installing rail-less solar systems on metal roofs. Methods for installing various accessories from microinverters to home runs will also be covered. Learn from experts in the field – Shelly Higgins AIA, CSI, IIBEC, NWiR Architectural and National Accounts Director @S-5! and Mark Gies Director of Solar Business @S-5! Learning Objectives: • Learn why a metal roof is a perfect solar platform. • Define the advantages of rail-less solar PV mounting systems. • Understand how solar on metal roofs prove to be the most economical and the most eco-friendly. • Learn best practices for design and deployment of wire management. • Describe best practices for installation techniques and other balance of system (BOS) components.

Register for FREE access to ‘Rail-less Solar on Metal Roofs’ happening LIVE today at 1:00 PM EST.

And the Crystal Ball Says …. Trends in Metal Construction and Design: 2021 and Beyond

EPISODE AIRED ON WEDNESDAY 5/5 — WATCH ON DEMAND!

This week’s METALCONLive! featured industry economists who presented recent findings from this past year to identify the trends and help members of the metal construction industry navigate through the rest of the year and beyond. PSMJ Senior Principal David Burstein and Ken Simonson, chief economist with The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), both presented comprehensive and encouraging data all pointing in the direction of a robust year in metal construction, while still highlighting some challenges that lie ahead.

MCN Top Metal Builders of 2021

As posted on May 1, 2021 by Metal Construction News

“The pandemic defined the year, but the labor shortage continues … “

Each year when MCN compiles this list, they are faced with the challenge of trying to identify metal building contractors from metal building erectors. For the 2021 Top Metal Builder list, they have attempted to separate the erectors from the contractors and starting next year, the goal will be to create two separate lists of Top Metal Builders and Top Metal Erectors.

Magnificent Metal Monday – RAiNA

Newly Formed RAiNA Offers Many Benefits to Construction Industry

Just over a year ago, the Rainscreen Association in North America (RAiNA), an international not-for-profit industry association dedicated to serving the rainscreen market in North America, was founded, and is now the leading authority on rainscreen assemblies.

RAiNA provides a forum for designers, trades, test agencies, and material suppliers to gather to determine best practices, interpret and inform codes, as well as educate and address technical concerns in the industry.

SELL AND BUY IN-PERSON AT METALCON 2021

METALCON Exhibit Floor 2019

Do you offer game-changing metal construction and design solutions? Are your products and services ready to meet the pent-up demand of eager buyers seeking new innovations? Are you ready to get back to business with a SAFE return to in-person meetings?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to exhibit at METALCON 2021! As vaccinations continue to roll out and concerns of the spread of the virus cautiously ease, in-person events are slowly resuming including trade shows. Recently, a trio of fashion shows was held in early February at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Trade Show News Network reported, “With the tactile nature of the fashion industry, many buyers and exhibitors were eager to move their networking and deal brokering back to an in-person format.” Not unlike the fashion industry, the metal construction industry has also thrived when buyers have the opportunity to see the products demonstrated in person.

Women in Construction Week

As Women in Construction Week continues, we look at ConstructionDive‘s “Construction Champions:” The industry’s top female leaders

After asking readers for details about the female leaders who are making a significant impact in construction, support and admiration poured in from colleagues, friends and family members, ConstructionDive received nearly 800 nominations highlighting exceptional women from across the country who are changing construction for the better. Out of the submissions, 59 women were highlighted in the article as shining examples of how female-driven intuition, dedication and intelligence are shaping the industry.

Magnificent Metal Monday – eSports Arenas

Proposed Shanghai International NCC&Esports Center; Photo credit: Building Design+Construction

Last week we featured two new stadiums built for the world of “traditional” sports. How about arenas for eSports? eSports describes the world of competitive, organized video gaming and is one of the fastest growing sectors of the sports and entertainment industry. While eSports is digitally based, the industry increasingly needs a variety of physical spaces to house its in-person events, so a boom period is starting around building competitive gaming infrastructure.

Magnificent Metal Monday – Post Super Bowl Issue

On behalf of the METALCON team, we excitedly congratulate the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS on their Super Bowl victory! METALCON and the beautiful city of Tampa have long enjoyed a relationship over the history of the show and we can’t wait to return THIS year. Let’s help Tampa continue to make history by coming together in October with record attendance for METALCON 2021 scheduled for October 6-8! REGISTER TODAY.

In the spirit of the Super Bowl, 2020 welcomed two new stadiums to the National Football League that continue to raise the bar in the construction and technology world. Allegiant Stadium, the new home for the Las Vegas Raiders, opened in a prime location on The Strip in Las Vegas and SoFi Stadium opened in Los Angeles as the new home for the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers.

Construction Safety Training Saves Money and Lives

NEW Safety Training Program starting February 18 presented by METALCON

Is it worth your company’s time and money to invest in preventative safety training? The answer is a resounding YES!

According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), “The charts and summaries in the 2020 Safety Performance Report present the clearest picture yet of the remarkable impact that leading indicator use has on a company’s safety performance: fewer disrupted or lost lives and a safer, more productive jobsite regardless of the size of the company. In fact, companies that engage in leading indicator use are, statistically, considerably safer than their peers. The ABC created the report in 2015 to address the issue of not having sound data to prove the correlation between the use of measures companies can take to keep workers safe on jobsites and the number of incidents that occur.

Top Construction Stories of 2020

Photo Credit: ConstructionDive / Flickr; Robert Couse-Baker

Throughout the year, we have turned to various industry news sources in an effort to bring you a wide array of stories and information relevant to the metal design, build and construction industry. As 2020 winds down, here is a “round-up” of top news stories from this year by one of our sources, ConstructionDive. As you can imagine, most of the top stories relate back to COVID, but there are a few others sprinkled in to round out the year. For a look back at some of their top stories, here is their list in order of readership:

Magnificent Metal Monday

ConstructConnect‘s Top 5 Coolest Buildings of 2020

Despite the pandemic, construction carried on and the “top lists” of this year’s architectural marvels are rolling in. ConstructConnect‘s criteria for inclusion on their list boiled down to the following items: The building had to have been substantially completed, topped out, or opened within the calendar year and had to have some aspect that makes the building “cool.” What does this mean? In their terms, it can range from the architecture, sustainability elements, unique construction methods, technology, building materials used, cultural impact, or some combination of these elements. This year, “cool” appears equivalent to “sustainability” along with an “eye on the future.”

METALCONLive! and MCA Presents: Folder Operator Safety TOMORROW – REGISTER for FREE

Join us TOMORROW and learn the most efficient, safest methods of operating folding and roll forming equipment. Our next METALCONLive! will feature industry expert and MCA Member, Chandler Barden with CIDAN Machinery, to review the necessary operating steps for various types of metal forming machinery.

Magnificent Metal Monday – Winners of BD+C’s Building Team Awards

BD+C Platinum Winner Emory University Student Center

As the year begins to wind down, awards and recognitions begin to roll in. Building Design + Construction just announced the winners of their 22nd annual Building Team Awards program, which celebrates excellence in team collaboration and design/construction solutions. Among the 12 winners are one platinum award, five gold awards, three silver awards, two bronze awards, and one honorable mention. While it was not a judged element, it is interesting to see the use of metal in the design and construction of each project.

This year’s sole Platinum honoree goes to LEED Platinum Emory University Student Center, where students were uniquely and intimately involved in the design. Echoing the comments of many of the judges, Anthony Grumbine, AIA, Principal, Harrison Design (and a BD+C “40 Under 40” honoree) saluted Emory and the project team for their “excellent involvement of students,” the high level of sustainable design, and the delicate preservation of Alumni Memorial Union Center.

The Metal Construction Association Presents: 12 Ways to Recover an Existing Sloped Roof with Metal – on METALCON Live! October 21 @ 1PM EST

In this on-line session you will learn how to use a structural standing seam system in recover applications on an existing building with a sloped roof.