Autodesk to Acquire Cloud-based Estimating Company ProEst

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Returns

Registration for HPIP’s 2022 Insulation Career Fair is Now Open

Connecticut Drywall Finishing Under New Ownership

Spackle by Dave Coverly

People News

L&W Supply Opens Branches in Delaware and Cleveland

Simpson Strong-Tie Launches Curriculum Resources for A/E/C Management Educators

AISI Publishes Cold-Formed Steel Clip Angle Design Guide

Knauf Insulation Increases Production with Expansion in Michigan

Sto Launches Redesigned Website

L&W Supply Opens Branches in Delaware and Cleveland

Commercial and residential contractors in the Wilmington metro area will now have a new option for fulfilling their building product needs with the opening of L&W Supply New Castle, located in New Castle, Dela. This new facility offers building materials, construction supplies and delivery services, including gypsum, acoustical ceilings, steel framing, insulation, exteriors and more.

“With the opening of our New Castle branch, we’re better equipped than ever before to continue fulfilling our customers’ needs across the Mid-Atlantic,” said John McLaughlin, Northeast Region vice president. “We’ve got some real talent servicing the branch, including Branch Manager Tom Napier, a 20-year veteran of L&W Supply with multiple sales awards under his belt.”

L&W Supply now has three branches in Delaware, including Georgetown and Newark.

In the Cleveland metro region, residents and contractors will now have a new option for building materials and interior construction supplies with the opening of its Bedford Heights, Ohio, branch. This new location offers a wide range of interior building materials such as drywall, acoustical ceilings and metal framing products, along with commonly used tools and supplies.

“The Bedford Heights greenfield branch opens up exciting new possibilities for us to provide outstanding service for the entire Cleveland area,” said John McLaughlin, Northeast Region vice president. “It helps reaffirm our commitment to customers throughout Ohio along with the rest of the country by making it even easier to access our services and support.”

Simpson Strong-Tie Launches Curriculum Resources for A/E/C Management Educators

Simpson Strong-Tie has created curriculum resources for educators of students in structural or civil engineering, construction management and architecture. Resources include online courses, educational videos and Simpson Strong-Tie software and technology, along with relevant industry associations.

The assets can be used in a virtual or classroom setting, either by the educator alone or with the help of a Simpson Strong-Tie Outreach Coordinator. The company also has developed eLearning courses that include the necessary curriculum to teach the course.

“We have a long history of academic partnerships in research and development and student support, which includes our Strong-Tie Undergraduate Fellowship,” said CEO Karen Colonias. “We’re happy to expand our resources for the colleges and universities that are educating the next generation of construction leaders.”

To access the curriculum resources, click here.

AISI Publishes Cold-Formed Steel Clip Angle Design Guide

The American Iron and Steel Institute has published AISI D114-21, Cold-Formed Steel Clip Angle Design Guide, 2021 Edition, a new publication that provides practical guidance on the design of cold-formed steel clip angles based on research performed at the University of North Texas. The design guide is available for purchase via the online AISI Steel Store.

Cold-formed steel clip angles are commonly used to connect CFS framing members in light-frame steel buildings or to attach secondary structural components in a conventional structural steel frame or reinforced concrete frame building. AISI D114-21 provides methods that are applicable for those clip angles that are used to transfer shear, compression, tension or a combination of these forces. Two practical design examples are provided. The guide will be a useful tool for design engineers to properly design clip angles.

Knauf Insulation Increases Production with Expansion in Michigan

In response to the growing demand for sustainable, loose-fill insulation products, The Knauf Group, has increased production capabilities at its Albion, Mich., plant. Through a multi-million dollar investment to convert an idle production line, Knauf Insulation North America will increase production volume in Albion by more than 30 percent while adding 34 new full-time positions to the facility. The production line is expected to generate over 85 million pounds of loose-fill insulation annually at full capacity.

“Our Albion workforce is primed and ready to keep pace with the growing demand for quality loose-fill insulation products,” said Matt Parrish, president and CEO of Knauf Insulation North America. “Loose-fill insulation is more popular than ever with thermal and acoustical performance top of mind for building professionals.”  

In line with the company’s focus on sustainability, the expansion will utilize an additional 64 million pounds of recycled glass per year, recovered in part through the state of Michigan’s Bottle Deposit Law. Currently, more than 30 million glass bottles per month are diverted from landfills to be utilized in the manufacturing of Knauf Insulation products nationwide. Once produced, the insulation products go on to save energy for decades to come in energy-efficient homes and buildings in Michigan and across the country.

“Our dedication to the world we live in is genuine, and the Albion plant growth is a true demonstration of that commitment,” Parrish said. “From reducing our own carbon footprint and sourcing renewable, abundant resources for our energy-saving insulation, to encouraging our employees to make a difference in their local communities, our commitment is ever present and something that we are extremely proud of.”

In September, The Knauf Group announced a new 600,000 square foot manufacturing facility in McGregor, Texas, making it the company’s seventh plant in the United States. Expected to be fully operational in late 2023, the facility will produce more than 500 million pounds of loose-fill, batt and roll insulation annually.

Sto Launches Redesigned Website

Sto Corp. announced the launch of the company’s completely redesigned website.

According to Keri Tolar, digital manager of Sto, the overhauled website is consistent with Sto’s increased embracement of aesthetics in recent years. “We’re not just an EIFS and Stucco company anymore,” said Tolar. “For years, we’ve been expanding our portfolio to include a broad variety of facade products, thus allowing designers the freedom to select the aesthetic that fits their vision. And because we’re Sto, they know they’ll get a fully engineered and tested building envelope system, no matter which aesthetic is chosen.”

The redesigned website features two brand new tools engineered to assist designers with their creative visions. The StoInspire tool aids designers in the visualization stage by allowing them to apply selected Sto aesthetic surfaces and colors to building models. This provides them with a view of Sto’s aesthetic capabilities and how various products can be combined on a building’s facade. Designers can save their project renderings and even order material samples through the tool. The Aesthetic+Product Selector tool allows users to choose a desired aesthetic look and see the product and system options that Sto offers for achieving that look. It provides an easy and intuitive way for designers to find the appropriate aesthetic and system for their needs. “Sto can help designers achieve almost any aesthetic imaginable,” Tolar continued. “And these tools make it that much easier to do.”

The redesigned site is now live.

Autodesk to Acquire Cloud-based Estimating Company ProEst

Autodesk, Inc. announced that it is acquiring ProEst, a cloud-based estimating solution that enables construction teams to create estimates, perform digital takeoffs, generate detailed reports and proposals and manage bid-day processes. Autodesk plans to integrate ProEst with Autodesk Construction Cloud, a comprehensive construction management platform connecting teams, data and workflows across the entire building lifecycle. The acquisition will strengthen Autodesk Construction Cloud’s preconstruction offerings and empower construction teams to manage all their critical preconstruction and construction workflows on one platform.  

ProEst, whose customers include Geisinger, O’Brien Construction, Vantis and Oswald, translates project scope quickly and easily, turning drawings, specifications and models into material, labor and equipment costs. As a result, teams are not only able to supercharge the estimation process and build stronger bids, but also minimize project risks and heighten their chances of winning work. With ProEst’s cloud-based solution, customers can also access estimating information from anywhere, at any time, and import third-party cost databases to streamline estimation workflows. The acquisition of ProEst will complement Autodesk Construction Cloud’s best-in-class cost management capabilities and allow teams to track costs against estimates and provide greater visibility to increase the probability of project success.  

“We pride ourselves on delivering quality projects safely, within budget and in a timely manner,” said Luis Berumen, vice president of innovation and technology, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors. "Autodesk Construction Cloud helps us manage our projects by enhancing collaboration across various phases and workflows and adding ProEst’s cloud-based estimating capabilities to the mix will further our ability to deliver quality projects efficiently.”

“ProEst enables us to produce estimates faster, consistently and more accurately throughout the design process and in collaboration with our partners, thereby improving overall efficiency” said Manny Innamorato, chief information officer, New York City School Construction Authority. “As a public entity, our mission is to build and modernize New York City’s schools in a responsible, cost-effective manner while still achieving the highest standards of excellence in safety, quality and integrity. With Autodesk Construction Cloud and ProEst now joining forces, we look forward to connecting our estimation data more seamlessly with our downstream construction workflows so we can stay on track and deliver on our mission in a more streamlined manner.”

ProEst will join Autodesk Construction Cloud’s existing portfolio of solutions, further enabling teams to reduce rework, improve productivity, increase automation and accelerate project delivery. Autodesk Construction Cloud solutions include:

• Autodesk Takeoff: empowers estimators to perform 2D and 3D quantification workflows.
• Autodesk BIM Collaborate: enables project teams to align on and execute design intent by managing design collaboration and coordination workflows from a single solution.
• Autodesk Build: connects project, cost, quality, safety and field collaboration workflows in a solution that is easy to deploy, adopt and use.  
• BuildingConnected: centralizes and streamlines the bidding process to help teams discover trade partners, identify the right subcontractors and solicit and compare bids. BuildingConnected is Autodesk Construction Cloud’s builders network, featuring over one million construction professionals. The solution also encompasses TradeTapp, which uses machine learning and AI technology to qualify contractors and mitigate project risk.

“Estimation significantly impacts downstream construction workflows, but is often a disconnected and manual process, which creates room for errors that can lead to cost and schedule issues later in a project lifecycle,” said Jim Lynch, senior vice president and general manager of Autodesk Construction Solutions. “Our acquisition of ProEst will allow construction teams to connect accurate estimates with the rest of their project data to minimize the risk of cost and schedule overruns and drive successful project outcomes. ProEst shares our vision for digital transformation in construction and we look forward to bringing their leading estimating solution to Autodesk Construction Cloud.”

“Our goal has always been to reimagine the construction estimating process and offer the most advanced functionality possible,” said Jeff Gerardi, ProEst founder and CEO. “We have enabled teams to move away from paper documents and spreadsheets and, thanks to our cloud-based platform, break down on-premise software silos with seamless integration. Autodesk’s vision of connecting construction from end to end is one we fully believe in, and we’re excited to join an outstanding preconstruction offering to deliver on that vision.”  

In recent years, Autodesk has made significant investments in construction technology innovations, including Aurigo Software’s capital planning tools and Bridgit’s workforce allocation and resource planning solution. Autodesk also acquired Assemble, BuildingConnected, PlanGrid and Pype in acquisitions totaling more than $1.1 billion.  

The SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 Returns

For 20 years, the SPEC MIX BRICKLAYER 500 has been celebrating masonry by creating a fun and unique challenge designed to highlight the best-of-the best in the industry. Thousands of competitors have put their skills on the line over the past two decades, with well over a million dollars in cash and prizes given away to masons who weren’t afraid to fight their way to Las Vegas and battle on the biggest stage in masonry.

Now a new generation of masons look to take center stage, as 30 percent of the 2022 World Championship competition roster are first-time qualifiers. As the field gets younger, the brick counts get higher, and the action gets more intense. You won’t want to miss a second of the action.

But in order for a newcomer to the competition to take home a new Ford F250 4×4 truck, or Kubota RTV-X1140, they first have to beat last year’s defending champion David Chavez, or the four-time TOP CRAFTSMAN Darian Douthit. 2022 looks to be one of the most exciting and action-packed events ever.

Winning masons will also have a chance to take home thousands in additional cash and prizes from our other amazing sponsors. Prizes include a new Multiquip Essick Pro12 mortar mixer plus accessories and equipment from STIHL, Marshalltown, Stabila, Hilti, Blaklader and Iron Age.

Watch it all live at specmix.com or on the official SPEC MIX Facebook and YouTube pages. The company will bring you the entire event live from Las Vegas, without interruption.

Registration for HPIP’s 2022 Insulation Career Fair is Now Open

Employers, manufacturers, distributors, contractor services, and career seekers with entry-level to advanced experience are all invited to attend the 2022 Insulation Career Fair & Training Expo. HPIP is working with local workforce development entities in Kansas City, Department of Labor, and building science specialists from all corners of the industry to provide this one-of-a-kind training event. Registration is now open and we look forward to seeing you in Kansas City.

The event will include and features:

• Industry employers ready to interview and hire on the spot
• Hands-on installation training event
• Insulation and building science classroom education
• Live interview stations for insulation career job seekers

Day 1 - April 29:
Educational Sessions & Career Fair with exhibits from insulation producers and other contractor services.

Day 2 - April 30:
Hands-on insulation systems and installation demonstrations provided by event partners and exhibitors.

HPIP announced the first event of its kind for the insulation industry, so reserve your spot. The 2022 Insulation Career Fair is HPIP’s hands-on solution to help solve the labor crisis.

Connecticut Drywall Finishing Under New Ownership

Connecticut Drywall Finishing is under new ownership. Late last year, the business was acquired by Jeannine Bourdeau, who now serves as the president. The company was started in 2006 and currently employs nearly 40 skilled crafts-finishers as part of the International Union of Painters and Allied Traders.

“I am so excited to take on this challenge and continue to grow this company,” said Bourdeau. “I look forward to bringing in new, bigger and more challenging projects. It brings me great pride that my company will be responsible for putting some of the finishing touches on buildings that will be used for education, entertainment, medicine and more.”