A measure of construction contractors’ bid prices moved sharply higher in October as firms coped with ongoing supply chain challenges and a tight labor market, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released Nov. 15. Association officials said rising construction costs threaten to undermine demand for projects and urged administration officials to remove remaining tariffs on construction materials and to boost investments in construction-focused education and training.

Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University selects 50 student teams from 39 countries for international design competition, their biggest field ever. The multidisciplinary student teams compete to present innovative, circular solutions to address global problems in ways that transform the economy.

In Nov. 15’s Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing, through two separate notices, waivers to the “Buy America Domestic Content Procurement Preference” for construction materials as applied to recipients of federal financial assistance. These waivers would apply to all DOT-assisted programs for infrastructure (i.e., not just those funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) across all DOT component agencies.

XL Construction, a leading Northern California builder, has appointed Carol McKenna, a 20+ year human resources veteran, as Vice President of People in its Organizational Development Group.

NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, announced GatorBar, also known as Neuvokas Corporation, as the newest Bronze Supporting Member.

Bentley Systems announced advancements to its construction management solution with enhancements to SYNCHRO 4D and the addition of SYNCHRO Cost and SYNCHRO Perform applications. The new advancements and portfolio expansion enable construction firms to transform how they plan, manage and execute their projects.

NEx: An ACI Center of Excellence for Nonmetallic Building Materials, announced Owens Corning Infrastructure Solutions, LLC as a new Bronze Supporting Member.

AD associates participated in a giving back event on Oct. 5 supporting Ryan’s Case for Smiles, a volunteer organization dedicated to helping children and their families manage the stress and emotional impact of illness.

In a story from Safety + Health magazine, author Kevin Druley reports on being aware of hazards that could lead to a blow to the head and how important it is to pay attention in the workplace.

Finance minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland visited ROCKWOOL’s Milton, Ontario, manufacturing plant on Nov. 7, along with local MP Adam van Koeverden.