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Extra! Extra! We have the inside scoop, MBEXers: one of the hottest construction segments in the first half of 2026 isn't warehouses, manufacturing plants, or even data centers. It's amusement and recreation construction! The (sometimes ambiguous) catch-all category has reached an all-time high, led by the "Social Center" subsegment; think banquet halls, lodges, community centers, and golf courses / country clubs. (Theme park construction is also nearing an all-time high 🎢 🎡)
The weakest subsegment? Movie theaters. Thanks, streaming services 🫣 But I have to say, it's really encouraging seeing investments being made in places where we gather, connect, and build relationships. Here at MBEX, we're pretty big fans of that idea. (Though if anyone wants to build a state-of-the-art coffee shop next, I fully support that investment, too 😉 ☕)
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Five Quick Things To Know & Do This Week:
1.) Ahoy, Mateys - Join us on Lake Superior on July 15 for a one-of-a-kind harbor cruise experience aboard fellow MBEX member Jeff Foster's retired Coast Guard cutter. This event is free for members, and members are welcome to bring family and coworkers as guests.
2.) Project Halted - On June 8, the Minnesota Court of Appeals halted (for the time being) the construction of a proposed 500,000-square-foot, 84-acre hyperscale data center in Faribault. According to the court, the city did not have enough information about the potential environmental impacts of the proposed data center when it determined that a more thorough environmental review was not necessary before approval of the project
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3.) AIA Awards - Six projects designed by Minnesota architecture firms earned seven awards at the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in San Diego earlier this month. Congratulations, HGA, OPN Architects, Snow Kreilich Architects, and VJAA!
4.) Labor Shortages - A new survey conducted by BambooHR found that 80% of construction leaders are concerned that younger generations are not entering the trades quickly enough to sustain the industry, and nearly three-quarters (72%) said skilled labor shortages are already affecting their business operations.
5.) #ContractorLife - POV: They said, "Don't forget anything this time." 🫣 🤐 😂
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Inside Issue No. 25:
• Event Recap: Nothing but a good time out on the back nine at the Twin Cities Golf Tournament on June 16
• Know Your Contract [Bonds]: Part 1 of 4 breaking down primary risk management tools found in construction contracts
• Membership Directory: The 2026 printed edition has arrived
• Beyond 2030: Three changes reshaping not just how projects are delivered, but how success is defined across the industry
• Upcoming Events: Closed for the Fourth of July (7/3); Lake Superior Harbor Cruise (7/15); Online Plan Room Demo (7/16); Construction Estimating & Principles online course (8/4); and Reading Construction Documents online course (8/5 & 8/6)
• Five Headlines: Recent planning activity gains do little to ease rising cost concerns; Why construction input costs may still be under pressure despitea tentative U.S.-Iran deal over the Strait of Hormuz; Turning a facade into a high-performing and aesthetically pleasing power source; Portugeuse company constructs a public building in nine days using a COBOD BOD2 3D printer; & Ethical debates growing among electricians regarding massive data center buildout work
• Project of the Week: 82-unit senior co-op pitched for downtown Victoria
• Industry Event: DBE Personal Narrative Workshop & One-on-One Support - Wednesday, July 22 - Virtual Event (Personal Narrative Workshop) - Presented by MnDOT Office of Civil Rights & MNUCP
• Project Download: Updated project information for the week of June 17-23
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EVENT RECAP: Twin Cities Golf Tournament
Sunshine, good vibes, and a course full of MBEX members & partners
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While last Tuesday (June 16) may have started with clouds, wind, and a bit of rain, by the time we reached the back nine, the day had turned into a perfect Oak Glen outing.
The 2026 MBEX Twin Cities Golf Tournament in Stillwater was everything we could have asked for (and then some). A full field of golfers showed up ready to play regardless of what the morning skies had to say about it.
To everyone who came out and made the day what it was, thank you!
Events like this are a reminder of the people behind the projects, and we're grateful for every single person who teed up with us, whether as a golfer, a sponsor, or a volunteer.
TEAM AWARDS
• 1st Place: Dynamic Fastener
• 2nd Place: CD Tile & Stone
• 3rd Place: Ziegler Rental
• 4th Place: W.L. Hall
INDIVIDUAL GOLF PRIZES
• Longest Putt: Matt Bardau, Scaffold Service
• Longest Drive (Men): Nick Miller, Scaffold Service
• Longest Drive (Women): Allie Brady, Veit
• Closest to the Line (Men): Chris Niemand, Frattalone Construction
• Closest to the Line (Women): Karissa Dunham, Sun Control of Minnesota
• Within the Flagstick (Hole No. 3): Hunter Young, Dynamic Fastener
• Hit the Keg (Hole No. 7): Steve Hocks
50/50 CASH RAFFLE WINNER - $845
• Rob Nickolaus, Mulcahy Nickolaus
We want to give one more shout-out to our sponsors for not only supporting this particular event, but also MBEX overall. None of this happens without you!
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"HIT THE GREEN"
HOLE SPONSOR
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"HIT THE KEG"
HOLE SPONSOR
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DOOR PRIZE SPONSORS
Alliance Bank, Bolander & Sons, Carciofini Company, Dynamic Fastener, Infinity Scaffold, John A. Knutson & Co., KW Specialty Services, National Window Associates, Red Cedar Steel Erectors, Sunbelt Rentals, Scaffold Service, Tom Kraemer Inc., The Builders Group (TBG), & W.L. Hall.
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A special thank you to Mark Salter, who captured photos throughout the day (and he snagged more than a few good ones). Our full event photo album will be coming next week.
In the meantime, enjoy these teasers and see what other events are on MBEX's horizon.
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Know Your Contract: Bonds
Risk Mitigation Tools Every Contractor Should Understand [Part 1 of 4]
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At its core, every construction contract is a document about risk: who carries it, who's protected from it, and what happens when something goes wrong.
A well-drafted contract doesn't just define the scope of work; it allocates responsibility to the parties best positioned to manage it. Get that right, and you reduce uncertainty and disputes before a single shovel hits the ground. Get it wrong, and you may find yourself absorbing liability that was never yours to carry.
Over the next four issues of the Weekly Bulletin, we're breaking down the four primary risk management tools found in construction contracts: bonds, indemnity, insurance, and warranties. We'll take a straightforward look at what each one does and why it matters.
This week, we're starting with bonds.
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🌱 Bonds: The Foundation of Construction Risk Protection
Surety bonds are among the oldest and most fundamental risk allocation tools in the construction industry, and for good reason. Their core purpose is to provide financial security to project owners (and in the case of payment bonds, to subcontractors and suppliers), ensuring that contractual obligations will actually be fulfilled.
♻️ How a Bond Works
A surety bond creates a three-party relationship: the principal (typically the contractor), the obligee (usually the owner), and the surety (the bonding company). The surety guarantees that the principal will fulfill its obligations to the obligee. If the contractor defaults, the surety is on the hook, whether that means completing the work itself, arranging for another contractor to step in, or compensating the owner for the cost of completion up to the bond's penal amount.
🥊 Performance Bonds vs Payment Bonds
These are the two types of bonds you'll encounter most on construction projects, and they serve distinct purposes.
A performance bond guarantees completion of work in accordance with the contract. A payment bond protects subcontractors and suppliers by guaranteeing payment for the labor and materials they've furnished, up to the penal amount of the bond.
Both matter, and on many projects, both are required.
⚖️ Miller Act & "Little Miller Act" Requirements
On federal public works projects, the Miller Act requires prime contractors to furnish both performance and payment bonds. All 50 states have their own version (commonly called a "Little Miller Act") that imposes similar bonding requirements on state and local public projects.
If you're doing public work in Minnesota or anywhere across the Upper Midwest, these requirements apply to you.
📋 Bond Claims: Procedural Requirements Matter
One thing contractors and subcontractors should understand clearly: bond claims are not automatic. They come with strict procedural requirements, including timely notice, statutory prerequisites, and contractual conditions that must be met. Miss a deadline or skip a required step, and you may forfeit your bond rights entirely, even if you have a legitimate claim.
👍 Working with a Qualified Surety
A qualified surety has been authorized by a state insurance commissioner and/or the U.S. Treasury to issue bonds. These regulated corporate sureties are required to maintain the financial resources necessary to back large projects, which matters a great deal when it comes time to make a claim. Choosing a qualified surety isn't just a formality; it's a meaningful layer of protection for everyone involved in the project.
| | Bonds are just the beginning. Next issue, we'll dig into indeminfication provisions: what they are, how they work, and why the language you agree to today can have significant consequences down the road. | | | Information from this article was sourced from Construction Business Owner. Members are encouraged to do their due diligence with construction contracts, bonds, qualified sureties, and other entities discussed by speaking with legal counsel. | | |
Your 2026 Membership Directory & Buyers Guide has Arrived
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The print edition of the 2026 Membership Directory & Buyers Guide has dropped in member mailboxes across the Upper Midwest.
This annual publication puts hundreds of commercial construction companies, suppliers, and service providers at your fingertips in one place. Keep it on your desk, put it in your truck's glove box, or stash it wherever you reach when you need to find a subcontractor, supplier, or fellow member fast.
Below are a couple of frequently asked questions we receive every year after the directory arrives:
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Why am I not listed?
You likely are listed in the directory, but you're possibly not looking in the right section.
• The Membership section includes all current MBEX members (depending on join and renewal dates at the time of publication), and you are most likely found under the appropriate alphabetical listing.
• The Classified and Trade Name sections feature members who have purchased additional paid listings to increase their visibility within the directory.
If you're flipping through and don't spot your company name under a certain Classified / Division or Trade Name listing, that's why. These listings are add-ons, not automatic.
How can I add my company to a Classified or Trade Name listing?
Each August, a buyer's guide contract is sent to all current members and their designated directory contact, allowing you to add or update your Classified and/or Trade Name listings for the following year's edition.
If you've been meaning to get your company in front of more members, that's your window.
What listings does my company currently have?
The easiest way to check is through MBEX's new online member directory. Type your company name into the search bar that reads "What are you looking for?" and a quick look will show which Classified and/or Trade Name listings your company is showing up under.
We will also be posting a digital flipbook of the 2026 Membership Directory and Buyers Guide in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!
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If you have questions about your current listings or want to make changes ahead of the August contract window, please reach out to Julie or Ashlee.
Otherwise, please keep an eye out for the 2027 contract coming to your inbox in August.
(If you did not receive your printed edition of the 2026 Membership Directory & Buyers Guide, or would like to receive additional copies, please email Ashlee.)
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What's Really Changing in Construction
Resilience, Digital Transformation & Evolving Risk
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The rules of construction are changing faster than most expected.
This shift runs deeper than simply new technologies or emerging risks. What the industry is seeing is a fundamental change in how projects are conceived from day one, and what it now takes to make them viable, financeable, and insurable.
Looking at how risk, capital, and delivery models are evolving, three changes stand out. These are reshaping not just how projects are delivered, but how success is defined across the industry.
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1.) Resilience is No Longer Optional
For a long time, resilience (a project's ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from disruption, whether from climate impacts, supply chain shocks, regulatory change, or operational stress) was treated as important, but often as a secondary consideration. It was a factor to optimize once the core project decisions were already in place.
That's no longer the reality. Resilience is increasingly a condition for whether projects move forward at all. The industry is seeing this play out in very practical ways:
• Climate Exposure & Resource Availability are influencing where projects are located and how they are designed.
• Material Choices & Design Standards are being shaped by durability and lifecycle performance.
• Financing & Insurance are increasingly tied to how well projects can demonstrate long-term resilience.
If a project can't demonstrate that it can perform in a more volatile environment, it faces higher costs, delays, or may not proceed at all.
2.) Construction is Starting to Look More Like Manufacturing
Construction has historically been highly fragmented, with significant variability from one project to the next and heavy reliance on on-site activity. That model is beginning to change.
More work is moving offsite. Modularization and prefabrication are becoming more common, supported by advances in design, logistics, and digital planning. As a result, more projects are being delivered in a way that is more controlled, more repeatable, and in many cases, more predictable.
Taking this trajectory forward, future construction sites may look less like traditional building environments and more like advanced manufacturing ecosystems. Integrated, coordinated, and increasingly driven by precision.
There are clear advantages here. Greater consistency can improve quality. More controlled environments can enhance safety. And the ability to standardize elements of production can help shorten timelines and reduce uncertainty.
At the same time, this shift brings a different risk profile and one that the industry is still adapting to.
3.) Technology Brings Both Advantage & New Vulnerability
The third change is the rapid adoption of digital and automated technologies across the construction value chain.
From digital twins and advanced design tools to automated equipment and data-driven project management, technology is improving visibility, consistency, and decision-making across increasingly complex projects.
But alongside these gains, a different set of vulnerabilities is emerging.
One of the most immediate is capability risk. As projects become more technologically advanced, the industry faces growing pressure to access the right skills, whether in digital engineering, systems integration, or data management. In many markets, those capabilities are in short supply.
At the same time, more connected environments introduce greater exposure to cyber disruption. While this is still an evolving risk for the sector, it reinforces a broader point: as systems become more integrated, the consequences of failure, either technical or human, can propagate more quickly and more widely.
So while technology is a powerful performance lever, it also demands new disciplines. Managing capability, connectivity, and resilience is becoming a core competency for construction organizations.
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The real story is not just that new risks are emerging or that technologies are evolving. It's that the boundaries between them are blurring, and that raises a more demanding question for the industry: how to design projects that can perform under multiple, overlapping pressures.
The organizations that will lead in this environment are those that can bring these elements together. They anticipate constraints before they become problems, design projects with those realities in mind, and embed resilience into decisions from day one.
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These key findings are from "Beyond 2030: The Future of Construction," a report put together by Zurich, which brings together expert insight on the risks shaping the construction sector over the next five years and beyond.
The report relies on structured expert elicitation to map risk interconnections and develop foresight, and was collected through private interviews conducted from December 2025 to March 2026.
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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 all MBEX-sponsored events.
** indicates a newly added or updated event
July 3 - Fourth of July Holiday - MBEX Closed
MBEX will be closed for the July 4th holiday, returning to regular business hours on Monday, July 6.
July 15 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
See the Duluth-Superior Harbor, Aerial Lift Bridge, and the city skyline as you may not have before, aboard fellow MBEX member Jeff Foster's retired Coast Guard vessel. Register
** July 16 - Online Plan Room Demo
From navigating the Deskpad, setting up filters, understanding project information, 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
** August 4 - Construction Estimating & Principles [Online Course]
This half-day estimating course tackles both the principles and the technology behind competitive bids, covering advanced estimating concepts like cost analysis, risk management, escalation, and flexibility, alongside a practical look at how digital tools like Bluebeam Revu can produce faster, more consistent estimates. Sign Up
August 5 & 6 - Reading Construction Documents [Online Course]
Designed to quickly build confidence and skillset, this course, offered through our partnership with UChapter2, covers the fundamentals of how to read and understand construction documents. From identifying title block information to reviewing floor plans, elevations, and combing through specification sections, participants will learn how to navigate a full set of drawings and interpret material and construction requirements with clarity. Sign Up
August 6 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
Aim, pull, and shoot to raise funds for the MBEX Scholarship Fund at this annual outdoor event at Game Unlimited Hunting Club. Register
** August 19 - Golf North
Join MBEX for a day on the greens of Ridgeview Country Club in Duluth, a favorite annual tradition bringing together golf, networking, and plenty of friendly competition. Register
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Five construction-related headlines you need to read over the next coffee break.
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ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
😬Construction Surges Despite Cost, Power Concerns
Recent gains in planning activity and construction starts have done little to ease concerns about rising costs, according to industry reactions to the latest batch of construction economic reports. In addition to strong planning and groundbreaking activity, the construction backlog also reached a 10-month high in April. Yet, despite that flurry of construction plans, a higher cost environment is still expected in the backdrop. (Construction Dive)
INPUT & MATERIAL PRICES
🛢️Oil Prices Retreat After US-Iran Deal, But Construction Inputs May Stay Under Pressure
The tentative agreement between the U.S. and Iran has pushed oil prices lower, as the prospect of increased transit through the Strait of Hormuz eases significant strain on global trade. Lower energy prices should ease inflation across gasoline, diesel, and freight, trimming several construction input costs. Should the deal hold, that decline should filter through energy-intensive materials such as aluminum and steel over time, offering further relief on material costs. However, relief may be slow to arrive. Infrastructure and production across the Middle East were shuttered or damaged during the conflict, and physical output will take time to restart. (ConstructConnect News)
CLADDING & FACADE SYSTEMS
🔋Turning a Façade Into a Power Source
George Mason University's Fuse innovation hub features a ground-breaking diagonal photovoltaic façade designed by Stantec, blending aesthetic appeal with high-performance solar energy capture to support the campus's net-zero goals. The system was conceived not as an applied technology, but as a core architectural gesture, one that merges environmental performance with façade expression. Special attention was paid to system wiring, so all the cables were fully hidden from view. (Building Design + Construction)
3D PRINTING | PUBLIC BUILDINGS
🏢 Havelar 3D Prints Public Building in Portugal in Nine Days
Havelar, a Portuguese construction 3D printing company, has delivered an approximately 5,381-square-foot public recycling centre office building. It was printed in nine days using a COBOD BOD2 construction 3D printer operated by a four-person crew. Havelar said the project was delivered on budget and demonstrated the potential for construction 3D printing in public-sector buildings. The building includes curved walls, a feature that would typically add cost using a conventional framework. (Construction Briefing)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE | DATA CENTERS
🤷♀️ Some Electricians Think Building Data Centers Is for Sellouts
As big tech dumps billions of dollars into America's data center buildout, a slew of opportunities have opened up to the electricians wiring these massive facilities. In some cases, the scale of the projects and the demanding construction timelines are fueling talent wars. But amid growing national opposition to data centers, debates over the ethics of the massive buildouts have started popping up in some online pockets of the community, such as on Reddit. Some wonder if the work will eventually prompt widespread job losses, while others aren't sure if their labor makes them complicit in the damage done to local communities or whether it's unethical to take on data center work. For some, the answer is a firm no. Ultimately, they argue, work is work. (Wired)
| | Ebenezer Pitches Senior Co-Op in Victoria | | |
Read more on Finance & Commerce
Ebenezer (based in Edina, Minn.) is hoping to build an 82-unit development just outside of Victoria's downtown, according to planning documents, located at 2285 Arboretum Boulevard.
The firm, operating through its development subsidiary, Leap Development Co., and Estoria Cooperatives, has put forward a proposal to distribute the 82 units across a four-story, 76-unit cooperative building and six duplex cooperative units.
Planning documents show that developers intend to build 167 parking stalls, between 63 units on a surface lot and another 104 in a garage below the building. This is above the 92 stalls that are required under Victoria's code. A representative of the development team told the commissioners that some of the surface stalls are likely to be axed in favor of more green space.
The project went before the Victoria Planning Commission on June 16 for a sketch plat review. No formal action was taken, though commissioners provided feedback on the project.
Kaas Wilson Architects was hired for the project.
Track this Project in the Online Plan Room:
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Project ID: 2026-0C97
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Title: Estoria Laketown - 82 Unit Senior Co-Op
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Phase: Prebid - No A/E
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Category: Senior / Assisted Living
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Type: New Construction
| | ABOVE PHOTO: A map from Kaas Wilson Architects indicating the spread of the proposed 82 senior living co-op units, including a four-story, 76-unit building, as well as six duplex cooperative units in Victoria. | |
DBE Personal Narrative Workshop & One-on-One Support
Presented by MnDOT's Office of Civil Rights & MNUCP
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DATE: Wednesday, July 22
TIME: 12:00pm - 1:30pm
LOCATION: Online Event
• Invites are sent in a separate email; if you do not receive the invite, please check your spam/junk folders
COST: Free!
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MnDOT, in partnership with the Minnesota Unified Certification Program (MNUCP), is hosting personal narrative workshops and one-to-one support at no cost for small business owners in response to the DBE Interim Final Rule (IFR).
Writing Your DBE Personal Narrative Workshop
The personal narrative workshop provides guidance, examples, and the opportunity to ask questions to prepare your narrative for certification under the DBE Interim Final Rule.
Workshop topics include:
• How the Interim Final Rule changes DBE certification requirments
• How to reflect on and articulate key personal and professional challenges
• Techniques for identifying and describing impactful life experiences
• How to structure a compelling personal narrative with clarity and purpose
• Ways to connect personal experiences to broader patterns of disadvantage or bias
• Strategies for assessing and communicating the impact of those experiences
• Tip for organizing supporting documentation to strengthen your story
DBE Personal Narrative 1-1 Sessions
Free one-to-one support for Minnesota small business owners is also offered to learn about the new DBE program requirements, navigate personal narrative criteria, and answer your questions.
Choose a service provider and set up an appointment:
MnDOT Small Business Resource Center
• sbrc@drbteam.com
• 1 (877) 201-7212
• (651) 461-0247
APEX Accelerator
• Current Clients: email your APEX counselor directly
• New Clients: sign up at Request Services
For registration assistance or questions, contact Amy Severson: amy.severson@state.mn.us.
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• Total Projects Received at MBEX from 6/15/2026 - 6/19/2026: 98
• Total Project Leads Reported on at MBEX from 6/15/2026 - 6/19/2026: 11
• Total Active Projects Received / Reported on at MBEX as of 6/23/2026: 380
• Total 2026 Projects posted to the Online Plan Room as of 6/23/2026: 3,311
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Click the button above to view the most recent project data from 6/17/2026 - 6/23/2026.
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
• July 3 - 4th of July - MBEX Closed
• July 15 - Lake Superior Harbor Cruise
• July 16 - Online Plan Room Demo
• August 4 - Construction Estimating Principles & Application [Online Course]
• August 5 & 6 - Reading Construction Documents [Online Course]
• August 6 - Sporting Clays Scholarship Fundraiser
• August 19 - Golf North
• September 9 - Sporting Clays North
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Information within the MBEX Weekly Bulletin are 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 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.
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; 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 STAFF: 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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