In celebration of National Tradesmen Day (September 16) and National Construction Appreciation Week (September 19 – 23), the Carpenter Contractor Trust is highlighting four union tradespeople who have dedicated their lives to building (quite literally) a better future for the United States. Michael Conner, Lauren LaForge, Layla Bibi and Abbey Agius all come from vastly different backgrounds and represent several generations of U.S. trade union builders.

Eleven families who lost their homes during last year’s tornadoes in western Kentucky were presented new transitional housing today, thanks to the efforts of the local construction industry and other community groups. Construction firms belonging to the Associated General Contractors of Western Kentucky, as well as the Bread of Life Humanitarian Effort, helped construct, furnish and supply the new housing.

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the infrastructure engineering software company, announced on Sept. 6 that Michael Campbell has been appointed chief product officer and will lead more than 1,500 colleagues in the company’s product advancement group. Campbell joins Bentley from product engineering software leader PTC Inc., where he has spent his whole career since earning his mechanical engineering degree from Boston University in 1995.

The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry announced the results of a three-year survey on the polyurethanes industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico on Sept. 6. The 2021 End-Use Market Survey on the Polyurethanes Industry in the United States, Canada and Mexico shows that polyurethane production rose to over 9.4 million pounds.

Construction firms added 16,000 jobs in August, according to an analysis of federal employment data released on Sept. 2 by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said their newly released survey, conducted with Autodesk, showed contractors are eager to hire more employees but are being stymied by a dearth of qualified workers.

On Sept. 2, the General Services Administration published a direct final rule amending the Federal Management Regulation to revise the ban on soliciting employees of contractors in GSA-controlled buildings so that union organizers can access these workers. The rule is effective immediately while open to a 60-day comment period that ends Nov. 1.

Total construction spending decreased by 0.4% in July as spending on new houses and apartments tumbled, overshadowing a pickup in private nonresidential and public construction, according to an analysis the Associated General Contractors of America released on Sept. 1 of federal spending data.

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance has released three updated documents describing test procedures and performance requirements for organic coatings applied to aluminum extrusions and panels for architectural products. The documents are AAMA 2603-22, AAMA 2604-22 and AAMA 2605-22.

DuPont Performance Building Solutions announced today their DuPont ArmorWall Systems received two updated fire listings from the International Code Council – ICC-ESL-1302, applicable to ASTM E119, and ICC-ESL-1442, applicable to NFPA 285.

Augmented Reality technology is still relatively new to the industry, and many contractors aren’t aware of how it can be used in their everyday operations. In a new white paper published today on #DirectAccess, JLG provides an in-depth look at how augmented reality can assist with 1) Sizing and configuring equipment and 2) Helping operators better understand and use their machines.