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Issue No. 38 β’ Wednesday, September 23, 2026 β’ www.mbex.org
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Could there BE any more tradespeople? π
Thirty-two years ago this week (insert mild millennial existential moment here π«£), Friends debuted on primetime television. In honor of the show's anniversary, I've recruited all six main characters into the trades:
β’ Monica - Tile Setter. Every grout line is perfect, every box labeled, and she re-sweeps the jobsite after cleanup. The punch list is always short because she's already done it...twice.
β’ Chandler - Drywall Finisher. He covers every crack with a joke, and a smooth one, so nobody notices what's underneath. He's also the first to point out that the Level 5 finish spec is a little much.
β’ Rachel - Painter & Finishes. She's got strong opinions on color, and she makes sure the owner knows that's not beige, it's "greige". Her cut-in lines are so clean that every painter on site is asking for 'The Rachel'.
β’ Ross - Excavation. He's happiest digging, and he'll tell you in full detail about every fossil layer he finds. He's also been know to yell "PIVOT!" on the radio during a tight crane lift.
β’ Phoebe - Landscaper. She talks to the plants, refuses to cut down any tree, and writes a song about the retaining wall (which she sings to you during the lunch break).
β’ Joey - Flagger. He looks great standing on the shoulder with his stop/slow paddle, waves to everyone driving by, and somehow always ends up on the evening news when there's a road closure. He'll happily share the road with you, but not his lunch. Don't ask.
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Five Quick Things To Know & Do This Week:
1.) MBEX YPN - The next MBEX Young Professionals Network (YPN) event is on Wednesday, October 28 at Frattalone Construction. MBEX YPN is a space for those starting out in the industry as an intern, a recent graduate, and within the first few years of their construction career to connect, learn, and build their professional network.
2.) Job Growth - Minnesota added 1,500 jobs in August and continued to significantly outpace the nation in job growth over the year. Six supersectors added jobs over the month, led by Manufacturing and Government, followed by Professional & Business Services, Leisure & Hospitality, Mining & Logging, and Construction.
3.) September 30 - The deadline to return your company's 2027 Membership Directory & Buyers Guide contract. Check out the third feature below for further details on why a few minutes should be spent reviewing and updating said contract. Questions? Contact Julie at (612) 381-2627 or juliem@mbex.org.
3.) Project Watch - Roseville's City Council approved design development plans for the multi-phase $77-million civic campus project, which will bring about new and renovated maintenance facilities, a license and passport center, and a dance studio. Construction is anticipated to start in Spring 2027.
5.) Social Media Break - How many times have you made fun of your coworkers this week? The limit does not exist π π π
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Inside Issue No. 38:
β’ Fall Social: 5 reasons to join us on October 8 at Rush Creek Golf Club
β’ Building Code: Changes and amendments on the horizon for Fire & Smoke Protection and Means of Egress
β’ Contracts Due: Return by September 30 for inclusion in the next MBEX Membership Directory & Buyers Guide
β’ Know Your Risks: Part 1 of a new six-part series exploring commercial construction's most pressing risk areas heading into Q4 and 2027
β’ Upcoming Events: Online Plan Room Demo (10/15); MBEX Young Professionals Network (10/28); & save the date for Holiday Party North (12/10)
β’ Project Download: Updated project information for the week of September 16-22
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Five Reasons to Register for the MBEX Fall Social
In Case You're Not Already Signed Up for October 8
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October has a way of arriving faster than anyone expects, and this year, it's arriving with one of the best events on MBEX's calendar.
On October 8 at Rush Creek Golf Club, the annual MBEX Fall Social brings together members, industry partners, and more than a few familiar faces for an afternoon that's equal parts relaxed and worthwhile.
Early bird member pricing is available through this Friday (Sept. 25), so if you've been meaning to register, this is your sign to do so!
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Date: Thursday, October 8
Time: Doors open @ 3:00pm
Location: Rush Creek Golf Club
(7801 County Road 101, Maple Grove, 55311)
Cost:
β’ $55 per MBEX Member (thru 9/25)
β’ $70 per non-member
Sponsor: Help support the event by becoming a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Door Prize Sponsor
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The Fall Social isn't a formal gala or sit-through-the-agenda type of event. It's a casual afternoon that typically ends with a handful of new contacts in your phone and a standing plan to connect again before the end of the year.
If you've been on the fence, Friday is your reason to jump off it, as well as five more:
1.) Your next subcontractor relationship might be in the room.
Networking gets thrown around so often it's lost its meaning, so let's get specific. Rush Creek will be full of commercial contractors, specialty trades, suppliers, and other industry partners who are actively working on the same kinds of projects you are. These aren't cold leads; they're warm introductions waiting to happen. Show up, have a few real conversations, and see what comes of it.
2.) You'll meet the people your membership is investing in.
This year's Fall Social includes an introduction to more than a handful of the 2026-2027 MBEX / TBG Construction Scholarship recipients, the next generation of our industry. It's a wonderful reminder of why associations like MBEX matter beyond the day-to-day (as well as seeing firsthand who that $20 in raffle tickets is benefiting π).
3.) A golf course in October is hard to argue with.
Rush Creek is a beautiful setting, and catching it in early fall is one of those little pleasures that doesn't need much of a pitch. Good food, good drinks, and a venue that makes the whole afternoon feel less like a "work event" and more of a well-earned breather before the 'beat the first snowfall' rush really sets in.
4.) It's easier to stay connected than to reconnect from scratch.
If you haven't seen certain contacts since June's Twin Cities Golf Tournament (or the Spring Social or Sporting Clays Fundraiser), this is the natural next touchpoint. Relationships in this industry compound over time, and showing up consistently only helps.
5.) Because October has a way of filling up.
Block the afternoon now, before the calendar does it for you. Events like this are easy to intend to attend and equally easy to let slip by. Register, put it on the calendar, and show up. Future you will be very glad you did.
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THANK YOU, SPONSORS
We'd like to acknowledge those who have already become Fall Social sponsors; thank you for supporting MBEX's member programming!
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Door Prize Sponsors
Culligan Ultrapure Northfield, NYCO, Scaffold Service, & Weidner Mechanical Contractors
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There's still time to add your company to the list. Check out the different sponsorship levels within the event's registration form, and choose the sponsorship that best fits your company's goals and needs.
You can also contact Melanie, Events & Membership Coordinator, to discuss your options further: (612) 381-2628 or melanie@mbex.org.
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We'll be seeing you at Rush Creek!
| | β | Doors open at 3:00pm, food served at 3:30pm, a short program (including raffle drawings & door prize giveaways) at 5:00pm, and then picking back up with networking and socializing after. | | β |
Minnesota is Updating Its Building Code
Proposed Changes Commercial Contractors Need to Know About
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A significant code update is on the horizon for commercial builders of all kinds.
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's Construction Codes and Licensing Division (CCLD) is hosting its 2026 Fall Seminar focused specifically on changes coming with the adoption of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and Minnesota's proposed amendments to it.
The seminar will zero in on two chapters with direct day-to-day implications for commercial contractors: Chapter 7 (fire and smoke protection) and Chapter 10 (means of egress).
Here are the proposed changes in plain language before signing up for CCLD's Fall Seminar:
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CHAPTER 7: FIRE & SMOKE PROTECTION
π Elevator Equipment Rooms
The proposed amendment adds elevator equipment rooms to the list of spaces requiring automatic fire detection across a range of occupancy types, including Group A assembly spaces, Group E educational occupancies, Groups I-1 through I-4 institutional occupancies, and Groups R-1, R-2, and R-4 residential occupancies.
ο»ΏIf you're building or renovating in any of those categories, this is a system coordination issue worth flagging early in design.
π Multi-Story Construction
For multi-story construction, Minnesota is also considering a change to fire watch requirements during nonworking hours.
The 2024 IBC sets a threshold for mandatory fire watch at buildings exceeding 40-feet in height or with an aggregate area exceeding 50,000-square-feet per story. Minnesota is working to align its language accordingly, which means larger commercial and multi-family projects may face new fire watch obligations during the construction phase itself, not just post-occupancy.
𧱠Exterior Wall Assemblies
The 2024 IBC also introduced new provisions around exterior wall assemblies that commercial contractors building Type I, II, III, and IV construction should be aware of. New Sections 1402.5 requires compliance testing under NFPA 285 for buildings with combustible exterior wall coverings, combustible insulation, or combustible water-resistive barriers.
A new section also addresses exterior wall veneers manufactured using combustible adhesives on buildings over 40-feet in height, requiring NFPA 285 testing.
This has direct implications for facade selection and specification on mid-rise and high-rise commercial projects.
CHAPTER 10: MEANS OF EGRESS
π Doors & Locking Hardware
On doors and locking hardware, the 2024 IBC significantly tightened requirements.
Means of egress doors must now be readily distinguishable from adjacent construction, and mirrors or reflective materials are explicitly prohibited on egress doors.
The code also prohibits egress doors from being concealed by curtains, drapes, or similar materials (a straightforward, but important, compliance point on retail, hospitality, and mixed-use projects).
β‘ Rooms with Electrical Equipment
For rooms with electrical equipment, the 2024 IBC added new requirements that directly affect how mechanical and electrical spaces are designed.
Rooms containing electrical equipment rated 800-amperes or more must now have doors that swing in the direction of egress and be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware. Transformer vaults, battery rooms, energy storage systems, and modular data centers face similar requirements.
Given the surge in data center construction across the region, this is a provision that will come up repeatedly on upcoming projects.
β¨οΈ Boiler, Incinerator & Furnace Rooms
For boiler, incinerator, and furnace rooms, particularly those located below grade where a ladder is sometimes used as one means of egress, Minnesota's existing amendment has been retained and clarified. Two separate means of egress to the public way are required, with specific separation distance requirements between the exit access doorways.
This is a detail that catches contractors off guard on projects where these rooms are tucked into basements.
πͺ Stairways
On stairways, the 2024 IBC updated requirements around stairway exit doors being locked from the side opposite egress. Minnesota's TAG (Technical Advisory Group) voted narrowly (6-5) to recommend reverting to the IBC's language on this provision, which would allow stairway doors to be locked from the non-egress side only if they can be unlocked simultaneously via fire alarm activation, fire command center signal, or power failure. The CCAC (Construction Codes Advisory Council) will make the final call, but contractors and designers on multi-story commercial projects should watch this one closely, as it affects access control system design and coordination.
π‘ Illumination
On illumination, stairways now require a minimum of 10 footcandles at the walking surface when the stairway is in use (an increase from previous requirements) and the 2024 IBC clarified requirements for when emergency electrical systems are required to back up that lighting.
β οΈ Accessible Means of Egress
For accessible means of egress, the area of refuge minimum clear floor space was updated from 30-inches by 48-inches to 30-inches by 52-inches.
Elevator lobbies also received new provisions allowing electrically locked exit access doors under specific conditions, including automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detection, and two-way communication systems, which are relevant for office buildings, healthcare facilities, and similar occupancies.
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Why Attend the Seminar?
The DLI's Fall Seminar is the best place to get the authoritative, up-to-date version of what's being proposed, ask questions directly, and understand how the new provisions will be implemented and enforced in Minnesota.
The code changes outlined above represent the proposed direction, but the Minnesota rulemaking process means some provisions are still being finalized and the CCAC will make final recommendations before adoption.
As for when these changes actually take effect? Not yet, and no firm date has been established. Given Minnesota's lengthy rulemaking process, which includes public comment periods, TAG and CCAC review, administrative law judge approval, and a mandatory 270-day lag period after adoption, the 2024 IBC is most likely at least a year or more away from taking effect in Minnesota.
We encourage members to attend, and to share the seminar information with the architects, engineers, and building officials worked with regularly so everyone can better understand the proposed changes before they're finalized. Attending also gives an opportunity to weigh in on the provisions.
Details on seminar dates, locations, and registration is available through the Minnesota DLI (on the linked site, select '2026 Fall Seminar').
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September 30 is Your Deadline
Don't Miss Returning Your Membership Directory Contract
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Contracts for the 2027 MBEX Membership Directory & Buyers Guide are due back by September 30, 2026.
After September 30, the door closes until next year's edition.
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Make the Directory Work for You
Every MBEX member is automatically listed in the membership section of the directory, but that's just your business' name and information in the book.
The members who get real mileage out of the directory are the ones showing up in the Classified and Trade Name sections, where GCs and project managers go when they need to find someone.
Classified and Trade Name listings are purchased add-ons, and they put your company in front of over 1,000 Upper Midwest commercial construction, architecture, and engineering professionals all year long.
Miss September 30 and you're potentially invisible to those searches for another year while your competitors who did submit aren't.
Display advertising is also available for members who want to take visibility a step further. A directory ad stays in front of an ideal audience all year, with placements not just in the book but also on MBEX's website and within this very weekly publication.
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What To Do Right Now
Find the contract sent to your listed Buyers Guide contact (or email Julie to request a copy), review your listings, and get it back to us by September 30.
Questions about your current listings, adding Classified or Trade Name entries, or advertising options? Reach out before the deadline: (612) 381-2627 or juliem@mbex.org.
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Know Your Risks: Rising Costs
Q4 & Year-End Commercial Construction Check-In [Part 1 of 6]
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Q4 is almost here, and with it comes the time when contractors need to take a hard, honest look at the risks shaping their businesses right now and ask whether current strategies are working.
Ove the next few issues of the Weekly Bulletin, we're running a series designed to help MBEX members do just that, working through six of commercial construction's most pressing risk areas and offering practical guidance for ending the year in a strong position and ready for 2027.
We're kicking things off with one risk that's been impossible to ignore all year: rising costs.
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π« The Cost Pressure Isn't Letting Up
If your project budgets have felt harder to hold in 2026 than a year ago, the data agrees with you.
According to Associated Builders and Contractors, nonresidential construction input prices were up 2.9% year-over-year as of January, and that was before the full weight of tariff escalation on copper, steel, Canadian lumber, plywood, and cement have been felt. The situation has only grown more complex since then.
Costs that exceeded initial estimates earlier in the year have put projects over budget, compressed margins, and in some cases created real tension between contractors and owners over who absorbs the difference.
The challenge isn't solely on rising costs; it's that they're rising in ways that are difficult to predict and that move faster than the typical bidding and contracting cycle. A bid submitted 90 days ago may already be underwater on materials before a shovel even breaks ground.
π Where the Risk Lives
Rising costs create risk exposure in places contractors don't always think to look, particularly in coverage gaps that emerge when project values and replacement costs outpace the limits set at the last insurance renewal.
A builders' risk policy written based on project valuations from earlier in the year may no longer reflect what it would actually cost to complete or rebuild that project presently. The same is true for contractor equipment coverage, where delayed purchases, deferred maintenance, and extended equipment life cycles can quietly introduce gaps between what you think is covered and what a replacement realistically costs.
The practical questions every MBEX member doing public or private commercial work should be asking include:
- Do your builders' risk and contractor equipment coverage limits still reflect current project values?
- Have material or equipment costs shifted enough since your last renewal to create meaningful exposure?
- Have tariff-related price increases altered the risk profile of ongoing projects in ways your coverage doesn't account for?
If you can't answer those questions confidently, it may be time for a conversation with your insurance professional.
π What To Do Before December 31
Between now and December 31 is the time to take action. Not because something has already gone wrong, but because the cost environment makes it more likely that it could.
Before 2027 arrives, consider the following:
- Confirm coverage limits across active projects reflect today's costs, not last year's.
- Assess ongoing projects for changes in overall risk exposure driven by cost escalation.
- Revisit property coverage in light of inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions.
- Evaluate whether any deferred equipment purchases or extended use of aging equipment have introduced coverage gaps that need to be dealt with promptly.
Rising costs are unlikely to reverse significantly in the near term. Building a risk management approach that accounts for where prices actually are, rather than where everyone wishes they were, is one of the most concrete things contractors can do to protect their businesses heading into the new year.
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Unfortunately, cost exposure is only the tip of the risk management iceberg.
Next week, we'll dig into the workforce side of the risk equation. Specifically, what happens to a contractor's safety risk profile when relying more heavily on newer, less experienced workers to keep projects moving. It's a challenge many are navigating right now, and the implications go well beyond the jobsite.
| | β | The information for this feature was sourced from For Construction Pros. Members are encouraged to do their own due diligence regarding current materials prices, insurance coverage, and risk policies by speaking with legal counsel. | | β | |
A valuable benefit of an MBEX membership is invitations to our social and educational events; by being an employee of a member company, you, too, can take advantage and attend all MBEX-sponsored events.
** indicates a newly added or updated event
October 8 - Fall Social - Early Bird Member Pricing Ends Friday (9/25)
Come connect and network with new and familiar faces from across the commercial construction industry at Rush Creek Golf Club. Meet MBEX Scholarship recipients, enjoy delicious food and drink, and hear the latest updates from MBEX. Register
** October 15 - Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up project search filters, and adding your company to a project's bidders list, this free one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. Register
October 28 - MBEX Young Professionals Network
MBEX YPN is about making connections, building relationships, and growing one's network in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Come enjoy drinks, snacks, door prizes, and great conversation with fellow young construction professionals from across the industry also in the early stages of their careers. Register
December 10 - Holiday Party North
Swap your work boots for something a bit more merry and come enjoy a relaxed evening at Ridgeview Country Club in Duluth. Expect plenty of laughs, a great sit-down dinner, and maybe a few early holiday surprises. It's simply a fun night to celebrate the season and wrap up another year in construction together! Not yet open for registration - Save the Date!
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β’ Total Projects Received at MBEX from 9/14/2026 - 9/18/2026: 79
β’ Total Project Leads Reported on at MBEX from 9/14/2026 - 9/18/2026: 14
β’ Total Active Projects Received / Reported on at MBEX as of 9/22/2026: 294
β’ Total 2026 Projects posted to the Online Plan Room as of 9/22/2026: 4,540
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 9/16/2026 - 9/22/2026.
For information about the Bulletin's content, technical issues, or to place an ad (such as a Minority
ο»ΏNotice, Job Posting, or Event Notice), contact Ashlee, Membership & Communications Director.
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Information within the MBEX Weekly Bulletin is obtained from sources deemed reliable. The Midwest Builders Exchange (MBEX) does not assume responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. You are urged to check your own sources in addition to the information contained in this publication. This issue contains plans and other bidding information received before and including the date noted above. The project data within this newsletter is intended for member companies' and their employees' use only.
2026 BOARD OFFICERS: President - Brian Kalla, St. Cloud Acoustics; Vice President - Sean Ochis, Northern Industrial Insulation; Treasurer - Allie Brady, Veit USA; Past President - Heidi Sedlacek, Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
2026 DIRECTORS: Kevin Bohrer, Donlar Construction; Ben Bowman, Adolfson & Peterson Construction; David Brandt, Schadegg Mechanical; Matt Lennartson, RJM Construction; Chris Niemand, Frattalone Companies; Jason Rentmeester, Kraus-Anderson Construction; Harry Rothstein, Weidner's Mechanical Contractors; Jim Rothstein, Erickson Electric; and Alanna Soukkala, Holden Insurance Agency.
MBEX Sο»ΏTAFF: David Siegel - Executive Director; Julie Miller - Executive Assistant / Project Coordinator / Accounting; Ashlee Hartwig - Membership & Communications Director; Melanie Hendrickson - Events & Membership Coordinator; Jeff Boelter - Project Acquisition & Plan Room Support; Shauna Baska - Project Reporter & Bidders Lists; Ka Yang - Addenda & Apparent Lows; Peggy Esboldt, Madison Gentil & Michelle Siegel - Project Reporters; Don O'Connor - Independent Event Planning Contractor
You are receiving this email because you are employed by a current member company in good standing or have indicated you wanted to receive MBEX's Weekly Bulletin. Unsubscribe from the Weekly Bulletin
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