Industry News

Arlington, VA – Construction employment increased by 33,000 jobs in January, with gains concentrated in nonresidential construction, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. While January hiring was stronger than expected, contractors remain cautious about prospects for sustained growth in 2026.

Laurel, MT – Wood's Powr-Grip has announced Alexandria (Alex) Russell is the newest member of its team, assisting with product marketing, customer-facing content and communications related to the company’s vacuum lifting and material-handling equipment used in glass fabrication, installation, and industrial applications. In her role, she will help shape customer communications and develop educational materials that support new product launches, as well as promote the proper use and maintenance of products already in the field.

Grayslake, IL — Sheet Metal Supply, a national metal fabricator for the construction industry, was the unanimous winner of the 2025 Economic Development award at the Grayslake (Ill.) Area Chamber of Commerce Installation & Awards Ceremony.

Gallatin, TN – The Reflective Insulation Manufacturers Association International (RIMA-I) will be conducting a reflective insulation workshop at the 2026 NFBA Building Expo. The Expo will be held February 25-27, 2026, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in Oklahoma.

Bossier City, LA /PRNewswire/ – McElroy Metal has acquired Fabral, a respected leader in the metal construction industry with nearly 60 years of experience, adding Fabral to the McElroy Metal family of companies.

Cleveland, OH – The Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) will hold its annual Architecture Faculty Workshop for college and university professors from across the county on April 15 and 16 at the University of Massachusetts. Workshop attendees will take a tour of the UMass campus and visit a nearby metal building manufacturing plant. Registration for the program is now underway and there is no fee for architecture educators to attend.

DeLand, FL – Kingspan Insulated Panels North America, a leader in high-performance building materials, has announced the expansion of its Cladding Accessories and Components Line with the launch of the Leo-Klip™ Fastening System, an innovative accessory designed to enhance the performance and efficiency of its KS Series and Optimo® insulated metal panel assemblies.

Raleigh, NC — FMI Corporation, a leading provider of consulting and investment banking services to the built environment, has released its 2026 North American Engineering and Construction Industry Overview. The report provides a comprehensive forecast for a broad range of construction and engineering segments in the U.S. and Canada for 2026.

Allentown, PA — The 15th Annual Ice Cream Wars event was held at the Da Vinci Science Center at PPL Pavilion in Allentown on Saturday, Jan. 10th. The competition featured teams representing 12 Lehigh Valley businesses — including ATAS — who created unique, liquid nitrogen-frozen ice cream. The event showcased "sweet science" with interactive demos, providing a crash course on how liquid nitrogen takes milk and blends it into creamy ice cream.

McLean, VA – The Copper Development Association (CDA), a U.S.-based, not-for-profit association of the global copper industry, is now accepting submissions from architects, designers, contractors, and other construction industry professionals for the 2026 North American Copper in Architecture Awards (NACIA).

San Rafael, CA – BŌK Modern, an innovator in architectural metal systems, announces the release of the Stair Guardrail Fascia Mount, a seamless integration of functionality and modern aesthetics of stair guardrails. The Stair Guardrail Fascia Mount is a pre-engineered guardrail solution designed for both interior and exterior use and engineered for clean installation and enduring performance.

Green Bay, WI – EXPI-DOOR Systems Inc., a leading supplier of doors and windows for the metal building industry, is raising the standard for product confidence with expanded warranty coverage across key door series.

Washington, DC – The American Institute of Architects' AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index® (ABI) closed out 2025 in negative territory with a December score of 48.5, up from 45.3 in November. Any score below 50 indicates a billings decline, although this month’s score indicates that fewer firms reported a decline in billings in December than in November.

Itasca, IL – The Roofing Alliance has announced the winners of this year's Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, the recipient of its Best of the Best Award, and the Construction Management Student Competition winners. All were recognized at the NRCA’s Industry Awards and Reception, held during the International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas on January 21.

Portland, OR – The Metal Roofing Alliance has announced the launch of its new and improved website. Designed with homeowners in mind, it promises to make learning about residential metal roofing—and connecting with trusted professionals—easier than ever.

Colorado Springs, CO – Mariella (“Mari”) Escobedo, a construction management student at Ball State University and a native of South Bend, Indiana, has been named the S-5! Scholarship recipient for the 2025–2026 academic year. Escobedo was selected for her academic excellence, demonstrated leadership potential and commitment to pursuing a career in the construction industry.

New Franklin, OH – RICOWI, the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, has announced the release of the Texas A&M Hailstorm Report. This report, the latest completed by the organization, is available for download from the RICOWI website.

Cary, NC -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc. (“Cornerstone Building Brands”), a leading manufacturer of exterior building products in North America, has named multi-platinum award winning country music artist Jordan Davis as its 2026 Home for Good project ambassador. Continuing its commitment to building stronger, more sustainable communities, the company is entering its 10th year of partnering with the global housing nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, pledging to donate building products valued at half a million dollars, as well as support home builds and volunteer efforts to help build and remodel affordable housing in partnership with families across North America in 2026.

Washington, DC – The Equipment Leasing & Finance Association (ELFA) has released its January 2026 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI), revealing confidence in the equipment finance market rose to 64.6, up from 58.3 in December, and the highest level since February 2025. The index provides a qualitative assessment from key executives in the $1.3 trillion equipment finance industry.

Mason, Ohio – Clopay Corporation, a leader in closure products for commercial, residential, industrial, institutional, and retail applications, introduces a compact solution for its Counter Fire Doors: the AlarmGard® Conceal Motor Operator. Offered under the Clopay®, Cornell®, and Cookson® brands, the new space-saving motor operator delivers dependable alarm-triggered closure during a fire event while streamlining aesthetics. By enclosing the motor and controller within the door hood, AlarmGard Conceal reduces headroom requirements for the coil and operator by 11 inches, representing a 34% reduction in space compared to standard operators.