Twenty-four design firms from around the world submitted proposals to compete for the job of Master Designer of the Orange County Great Park. The Orange County Great Park Corporation invited 38 world-class firms to submit plans for the park's layout and opened the design competition to other qualified local and regional architectural firms.

The Associated General Contractors of America called on Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to intervene in the increasingly dire supply for cement in the U.S. before major economic disruptions occur. Recently, the AGC has received reports from contractors and concrete suppliers nationwide documenting quotas, delays and possible layoffs due to cement shortages in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and Florida.

The North American Insulation Manufacturers Association has completed its sixth year of a comprehensive, voluntary work practice program developed in conjunction with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and key contractor organizations.

The Gold Nugget Grand and Merit Award Winners were announced at the PCBC show in June. Chosen from the circle of Merit Award winners announced in May, Grand Award honorees took center stage at the show in San Francisco, where a crowd of approximately 1,200 building industry professionals attended the gala at Moscone Center.

Crestline Windows & Doors and Vetter Windows & Doors announced renewed efforts to expand the brands into the western United States with products for a range of preferences and budgets, and technology and marketing tools, and new sales personnel to support distributors and dealers in the region.

G-P Gypsum announced that it will donate its DensArmor Plus Interior Wallboard for the first EarthCraft green certified house in Greenville, S.C. The house will be built by Upstate Forever and the Home Builders Association of Greenville.

Palfinger North America announced the official grand opening of Palfinger University, a 2,000-square-foot training center located in Tiffin, Ohio.

Clark Steel Framing announced the expansion of its manufacturing to now include a state-of-the-art facility located in Rochelle, Ill.

BPB announced its latest ceiling distributor in Struthers, Ohio. The Drywall Barn carries a complete line of BPB's Celotex, Capaul and Gyptone brand acoustical ceiling systems, as well as ProRoc and GlasRoc gypsum wallboard.

The Fortifiber Building Systems Group is introducing the 10-Year FortiShield Warranty, a performance guarantee for weather-resistive barriers, sealant and flashing products. It provides builders the added assurance that window and door installations will remain trouble-free for years.