Fore! I mean, hi there MBEXers! We’re riding the high from yesterday’s Twin Cities Golf Tournament, where the sun was shining, the fairways were friendly, and the industry connections were par for the course (in the best way). This week’s issue is a little lighter than usual — we’re still counting birdies and bogeys, gathering group shots, and recovering from a few too many mulligans 😉 Huge thanks to everyone who played, sponsored, volunteered, or helped plan the day. You really knocked it out of the bunker. Stay tuned for next week’s full tournament recap — it’s sure to be a hole-in-one! 🏌️♀️ ⛳ 🏌️♂️ | | |
Five Quick Things To Know & Do This Week:
1.) Mid-Year Update - Gain expert insights into the state of the construction economy at the 2025 Mid-Year Construction Economic Forecast, presented by Anirban Basu, Chief Economist with Associated Builders and Contractors. This free webinar on July 16 will explore key trends, challenges, and predictions shaping the industry for the remainder of the year.
2.) Bonding Bill - The Minnesota Zoo hopes to begin construction as soon as next summer on a new $23-million to $25-million animal hospital, a project that's moving forward with help from the state legislature's $700-million capital investment bill. Also included in the bill is $80-million for transportation, $60-million for higher education building upkeep projects, and $67-million for a Southern Minnesota regional office for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in Mankato.
3.) Member News - RJM Construction recently announced the appointment of Chris Liedman, PE as Director of Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Services. Liedman brings 25 years of hands-on experience in complex system integration, sustainable building practices, and large-scale MEP operations.
4.) Top Products - From the Uniquad translucent wall and roof systems to the Artofix acoustical panel system, the EnergyShield XR to Lighted Blades LED lighting, here are 15 products being used in the industry today.
5.) Precision? Optional! - Because every job site needs at least one "creative" problem solver.
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Inside This Issue:
• Work Smarter: Join us for our next Online Plan Room Demo on June 19 (Thursday)
• To-Dos: Seven workplace law developments to watch in June
• Look Inside: What projects were included in June's Pre-Plan Pipeline
• Input Prices: Tariffed construction materials costs increase in May
• Events: Lake Superior Harbor Cruise, Sporting Clays Fundraiser & Golf North
• Five Headlines: Addressing construction staffing challenges this summer, immigration raids could 'devastate' construction in the U.S., new magnetic cement material enhances underwater crack repairs, warehouse and hotel construction lifts commercial planning, & the U.S. leads the world in AI use for the built environment
• Project of the Week: 128-Unit Senior Housing Project Planned in Hudson
| | Join Our Online Plan Room Demo - June 19 | | |
Want to get the most out of your MBEX membership?
Join us on Thursday, June 19, from 9:00am-10:00am for a free, live and virtual Online Plan Room demo and discover just how powerful MBEX's digital platform can be for your business.
Whether you're new to the platform or just need a refresher, this session is packed with practical insights and time-saving tips.
Here are three great reasons to attend:
🔍 Find the Right Projects Faster
Learn how to efficiently search and track commercial construction projects throughout Minnesota and the surrounding regions.
💻 Use The Tools You're Already Paying For
From advanced filters to notification settings, we'll show you how to streamline your workflow and boost productivity.
💬 Ask Your Questions In Real Time
Our team will walk you through the system and answer any questions you've been meaning to ask or pop up along the way.
If you're looking to work smarter, this demo is a great place to start!
**Please register by 3:30pm on June 18.**
| | Seven Essential Workplace To-Dos To Tackle This Month | | |
MBEX is here to help our members stay on top of the latest changes to labor and employment law, especially given the rapid pace at which the new administration has been moving on initiatives impacting the workplace and beyond.
Here are the top items to consider tackling in June, based on the latest workplace law developments and upcoming critical compliance dates.
1.) Get Ready for the Heat
A public hearing was held on June 16th to determine the fate of OSHA's heat illness rule --- regardless of the outcome, here's how to protect your employees this summer.
2.) File Your 2024 EEO-1 Component 1 Data
Employers subject to the reporting requirement must submit their data by June 24th. Check out these five quick tips.
3.) Unpack the Latest PWFA Developments
While a federal court recently struck down parts of a 2024 EEOC rule related to abortion accommodations, this may not be the final word on the issue, and the rest of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rule remains in play.
4.) Keep Up on Title VII Compliance
The federal spotlight on corporate DEI programs and workplace protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity makes Title VII another area of compliance confusion. Here's the latest news and compliance strategies.
5.) Review How You Collect Sensitive Data & Protect Your Own
New class certification in an app-tracking case provides businesses key guidance on developing trends for data collection and privacy litigation. Plus, protect your business from growing security risks.
6.) Boost Support for Peri- and Postmenopausal Employees
Doing so can help save you significant costs, boost productivity, and retain top talents. Proposed legislation and a societal shift make now the perfect time to start building a menopause-savvy workplace.
7.) Get Answers to AI-Related Questions
What's the latest on AI-based discrimination claims and Colorado's landmark AI law? And how exactly is Darth Vader involved in an unfair labor practice charge?
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The information provided here is intended for general informational purposes only. It should not be considered as legal advice. We strongly recommend consulting with your business's attorney or legal advisor before taking any actions based on its content.
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June's Pre-Plan Pipeline Has Arrived --- Packed with Potential
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Our latest issue just landed, bringing MBEX members 228 early-stage project leads from 62 cities and counties across Minnesota and the surrounding region. If you're scouting what's next in commercial construction, this is your monthly sneak peek into the future.
Available exclusively to Premium Access members, the Pre-Plan Pipeline give members the inside track on proposals in the works, planning conversations in motion, and developments just starting to take shape.
Here's a quick preview of what June's issue has in store:
• A multi-phase wellness and retail development in Bemidji feature a new YMCA, high-end shopping, and a 60-unit residential building
• A 475-unit market-rate residential project with retail, event space, and a public park --- including an outdoor turf amphitheater --- in Clay County
• A five-story, 72-unit affordable housing project in Duluth
• A 63-unit Cobblestone Hotel & Suites prototype planned for Marshall
• A new 3,495-square-foot dental office (plus future expansion) in Otsego
• An 80x80 airport hangar construction project in Pipestone
• A massive 300-acre mixed-use development in Sioux Falls, blending retail, office, medical, and multi-family space
...plus 221 more project leads ready to explore.
Want to see what all the buzz is about? Click the image below to preview the highlights mentioned above, and discover why members count on the Pre-Plan Pipeline every month.
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Complete with links to project sources (when available), the Pre-Plan Pipeline is automatically sent to all MBEX member companies with Premium Access services as part of their membership.
Not receiving it?
(1.) Check your spam / junk folder. If it's there, move it to your main inbox and mark MBEX as a safe sender.
(2.) Still not seeing it? Email Ashlee to be added to the list.
Not a Premium Access member but want to be? Give us a call to upgrade!
| | | Tariffed Construction Materials Prices Rose in May | | |
Construction input prices increased 0.2% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Produce Price Index data released on June 12.
Nonresidential construction input prices increased 0.3% for the month.
Overall, construction input prices are 1.3% higher than a year ago, while nonresidential construction input prices are 1.6% higher. Prices decreased in 2 of the 3 energy categories last month. Natural gas prices were down 18.7%, while prices for unprocessed energy materials were down 3.5%. Crude petroleum prices increased 1.3% in May.
| | | Hot Rolled Steel Bars, Plates & Structural Shapes | 1.4% | -7.5% | 33.8% | | Insulation Materials | 0.6% | 3.6% | 48.6% | | Iron & Steel | 3.2% | 5.0% | 57.7% | | Lumber & Wood Products | -0.4% | 1.8% | 26.7% | | Natural Gas | -18.7% | 48.9% | 43.2% | | Plumbing Fixtures & Fittings | 1.0% | 5.0% | 57.7% | | Prepared Asphalt, Tar Roofing & Siding Products | 3.7% | 1.8% | 45.8% | | Softwood Lumber | -3.2% | 9.1% | 18.1% | | Steel Mill Products | 7.1% | 8.8% | 73.4% | | Switchgear, Switchboard, Industrial Controls Equipment | 1.9% | 9.0% | 57.6% | | | | Unprocessed Energy Materials | -3.5% | -6.6% | 50.5% | | | |
Costs have increased rapidly since the start of the year, with input prices rising at a 6% annualized rate through the first five months of 2025.
"Accelerating input price escalation is largely due to rapid price increases for tariff-affected goods like iron and steel," said Anirban Basu, chief economist for ABC. "Expect this dynamic to remain over the next few quarters; these data predate tariffs on iron and steel rising from 25% to 50%, which went into effect on June 4."
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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 any and all MBEX-sponsored events.
** indicates a newly added or updated event
June 19 - Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and adding your company to a project's bidders lists, this free one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. Register Here - **Please sign up by 3:30pm on June 18**
July 4 - 4th of July
MBEX will be closed in observance of the 4th of July holiday.
July 16 - 2025 Mid-Year Construction Economic Update & Forecast
Gain expert insights into the state of the construction economy, presented by Construction Executive with Anirban Basu, ABC's Chief Economist. This free webinar will explore the key trends, challenges, and predictions shaping the industry for the remainder of the year. Sign Up Here
July 17 - Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, and adding your company to a project's bidders lists, this free one-hour session is a great introduction to our Online Plan Room. Not yet open for registration
July 23 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
Join MBEX for an evening sailing on Lake Superior, and see the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Lift Bridge, canal, and city as you may not have before. Space is limited to the first 150 people who register. Register Here
August 5 - Construction Estimating Principles & Application [Virtual Class]
Great estimators know that to be competitive and competent in the current market, their companies must continually be in search of an edge, answering the question, "How can we approach this project differently than our competition?" Register Here
August 6 & 7 - Reading Construction Documents [Virtual Class]
This two-part online program is designed to quickly familiarize students with the basics of reading and understanding construction documents. From navigating title block information to combing through specification documents, participants will learn how to navigate a project and understand the material and construction requirements. Register Here
August 14 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
Aim, shoot and pull to raise funds for the MBEX Construction Scholarship at this great annual MBEX outdoor event at Game Unlimited. Shooter packages include a 100-clay shoot, post-shoot social, dinner, awards, and door prizes. Teams can have a maximum of six shooters. Register Here
August 20 - Golf North
Come socialize and network on the greens of Duluth's Ridgeview Country Club for what we FORE-see as a great event. Golf packages include lunch, 18 holes of golf, golf carts, post-golf social, dinner, and short awards program. Register Here
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Five construction-related headlines you need to read over the next coffee break.
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LABOR & WORKFORCE
🗺️ Navigating Construction Staffing Challenges This Summer
For construction employers and supervisors, aside from planned vacations, summer projects can be exceedingly busy. The silver lining is that many summer staffing complexities are predictable. As we enter the summer months, more projects are launched and the demand grows for electricians, mechanics, HVAC technicians and other skilled workers. They aren't just being sought by competing construction companies. Employers in manufacturing, facilities management or other industries also need skilled labor and they might be able to offer preferable working conditions. (For Construction Pros)
IMMIGRATION POLICY
⚠️ Immigration Raids Could 'Devastate' Construction in the United States, Says Industry Leader
The Trump administration is ramping up its immigration arrests and deportations. Industries that rely on workers who are in the country without legal status, like agriculture, restaurants and construction, are taking notice. The Pew Research Center said, as of 2017, 12% of workers in the construction industry were immigrants in the country with authorization. In 2021, the Center for American Progress estimated that among construction laborers, 23% don't have legal status. (National Public Radio - NPR)
BUILDING MATERIALS
🫧 New Magnetic Cement Material Enhances Underwater Crack Repairs
As infrastructure projects like subways, tunnels, and bridges expand, underwater structures are increasingly common --- but they come with unique durability challenges. Over time, environmental factors such as freeze-thaw cycles, wet-dry shifts, chemical erosion from sulfates and chlorides can cause cracks and voids, reducing structural lifespan and posing safety risks. To address these issues, various repair materials have been explored, particularly cement-based composites. This study introduces Magnetically Driven Cement-Based Grouting Material (MDCGM) as a promising solution to these long-standing issues. (AZO Build)
ECONOMIC REPORT
🏨 Warehouse, Hotel Construction Lift Commercial Planning
Data center planning, which fueled most commercial gains, returned to more typical levels in May, according to the Dodge Momentum Index. Within the commercial sector, stronger activity in warehouse and hotel planning helped offset the slow pace in office and retail categories, according to the report. On the institutional side, a surge in education and recreation projects led the gains though healthcare planning dipped slightly. Nevertheless, planning activity remains far ahead of last year's pace, according to Dodge. (Construction Dive)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
🖥️ U.S. Leads the World in AI for the Built Environment
More than four in 10 (42%) architects, engineers, and city planners in the U.S. use artificial intelligence (AI) tools on a daily basis, and nearly one-third use AI "every few days" to assist in their work. When it comes to the adoption of AI tools for the design and planning of the built environment, the U.S. leads the way among 10 major countries studied by Arup, according to a new survey of more than 5,000 architects, engineers, and city planners conducted by the engineering giant. (Building Design + Construction)
| | Doran Group Plans 128-Unit Senior Housing in Hudson | | |
Read more on Finance & Commerce
The Doran Group pitched an active-adult apartment building on the site of a former 14.7-acre golf course to the Hudson Plan Commission last week, according to planning documents.
The project received a unanimous recommendation of approval for its concept development plans and a request for the City Council to schedule a more detailed public hearing by the Plan Commission.
Doran proposed the project with a unit mix of 48 one-bedroom units, 7 one-bedrooms with a den, 59 two-bedrooms, and 14 two-bedrooms with a den. It will have both 128 stalls of underground parking and 90 outdoor parking stalls. Doran said during the meeting that this might be a lower stall count than Hudson is used to, but said seniors typically use less parking.
The project would come with outdoor amenities like a pool, a dog park, grill stations, a fire pit, and a putting green. Indoor amenities include a fitness center, a library and lounge, a craft room, a fitness center, and a golf simulator.
The Hudson City Council's next meeting was slated for Monday, June 16.
| | ABOVE PHOTO: Rendering by Doran Group of the proposed 128-unit senior housing in Hudson, Wisc. featuring outdoor amenities like a pool, a dog park, grill stations, and a putting green. | | PROJECT INFORMATION + UPDATES | | |
• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 6/9/2025 - 6/13/2025: 78
• Total Project Leads Reported on at MBEX from 6/9/2025 - 6/13/2025: 9
• Total Active Projects Received / Reported on at MBEX as of 6/17/2025: 281
• Total New Projects in the Online Plan Room as of 6/17/2025: 2,824
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 6/11/2025 - 6/17/2025.
For information about the Bulletin's content, technical issues, or to place an ad (such as a Minority
Notice, Job Posting, or Event Notice), contact Ashlee, Membership + Communications Manager.
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UPCOMING MBEX EVENTS
• June 19 - Online Plan Room Demo
• July 4 - 4th of July - MBEX Closed
• July 16 - 2025 Mid-Year Construction Economic Update & Forecast
• July 17 - Online Plan Room Demo
• July 23 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
• August 5 - Construction Estimating Principles & Application [Virtual Class]
• August 6 & 7 - Reading Construction Documents [Virtual Class]
• August 14 - Sporting Clays Fundraiser
• August 20 - Golf North
• August 21 - Online Plan Room Demo
• September 10 - Sporting Clays North
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Connect with the Builders Exchange: | | |
Information within the MBEX Weekly Bulletin are obtained from sources deemed reliable. The Minnesota 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 prior to and including the date noted above. The project data within this newsletter is intended for member company's and their employees use only.
2025 BOARD OFFICERS: President - Heidi Sedlacek, KLJ Engineering; Vice President - Brian Kalla, St. Cloud Acoustics; Treasurer - Sean Ochis, Northern Industrial Insulation; Past President - Mike Carlson, Max Gray Construction
2025 DIRECTORS: Kevin Bohrer, Donlar Construction; Ben Bowman, Adolfson & Peterson; Allie Brady, Veit; David Brandt, Schadegg Mechanical; Amanda Eiynk; Matt Lennartson, RJM Construction; Chris Niemand, Frattalone Companies; Jason Rentmeester, Kraus-Anderson Construction; and Nate Sapik, Benson Electric Company
MBEX STAFF: David Siegel - Executive Director; Julie Miller - Executive Assistant/Project Coordinator/Accounting; Ashlee Hartwig - Membership & Communications Manager; 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 for MBEX
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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