The Builders Foundation raised over $32,000 to support hardworking college students striving to make their mark on the industry. The Union Carpenters & Contractors generously sponsored the event, which was held on July 12. Despite the rain earlier in the day, the weather cleared up and the event was enjoyed by all.

 The Builders Foundation is proud to announce that the 2018 scholarship application is now available online!  The scholarship is awarded to college sophomores and juniors studying construction management, construction/civil engineering, or mechanical engineering. Please share this information on your social media outlets and with anyone you think would be a noteworthy candidate. More information about applicant qualifications and past recipients is available here. 

 

On July 20, young professionals gathered at the Bemis Woods Forest Preserve to kick off the first-ever joint networking event for young professionals in Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Construction! Though the it was rainy in the morning, the weather cleared and it was a beautiful day for a picnic, complete with gourmet food trucks, games and music. Attendees found some respite from the sun by ducking into the photo booth and were able to cool down with the water balloon toss. Thank you to the Mechanical Contractors Association for inviting us to partner; we look forward to a similarly enjoyable event next year!

As the demand for construction continues to rise, so does the need for an educated, talented, and qualified labor force.This labor shortage is not going to correct itself. As a response, contractors across the nation are declaring the first week in October of each year as "Construction Week." And while there are many materials to help promote this initiative, its success will ultimately require the support of proud and passionate individuals.

CLC-ers, mark your calendars for our September 21 jobsite tour and networking reception. We'll get an inside look at the DePaul School of Music center on the Lincoln Park Campus. When completed, the center will include the 505-seat William E. and Mary Pat Gannon Hay Concert Hall, a 140-seat recital hall, a smaller recital hall that will seat 81 people, and the 76-seat Philip Corboy and Mary Dempsey Jazz Hall. The space is designed to optimize the acoustics of the school's many ensembles and provide an elegant atmosphere for a variety of performances. Thank you to Bulley & Andrews for providing us with this opportunity. Keep an eye out for more details as the date rolls closer!

Construction employment increased by 16,000 jobs in June to the highest level since October 2008, signaling a new burst of hiring after three months of pause, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged federal, state and local lawmakers to enact measures to make it easier for school officials, local associations and construction firms to set up construction training programs.

Staying on or under budget on a construction job without sacrificing quality is an everyday goal for most contractors. The same is true for hiring new employees. Some hiring managers have the false impression that they’re saving their employer money by making low-ball salary offers. But, frankly, the opposite is true. This article outlines the reasons you should avoid low-ball offers.

 Established in 1992,  Blast It All Chicago  specializes in commercial/industrial concrete floor prep and floor removal including: coatings, carpet and glue, tile and mastic, thinset and level coat, porcelain, ceramic, and quarry tile removal. They handle big shot blasting projects--up to 50,000 square feet a day, as well as concrete grinding and shaving. Specialty services include "wet shot blasting" (proprietary wet method of shotblasting for the removal of asbestos mastic and hazardous floor coverings), moisture membrane installation, concrete polishing, and select coatings installation. We are certified in the removal of asbestos and mercury. 

James McHugh Construction Co. is pleased to announce the promotion of Alex Bonfil to Vice President of Concrete.

As Vice President of Concrete, Bonfil oversees all aspects of concrete operations, including preconstruction and estimating, negotiating contracts, managing budgets, approving subcontracting awards, establishing and achieving objectives, and ensuring the strong financial performance of his projects. He is responsible for the continuous improvement of concrete operations as well as supervising McHugh's industry-leading concrete teams working on some of the most complex structures across Chicago.

Bonfil, who joined McHugh in 2012, formerly served as a concrete estimator manager where he oversaw the company's concrete preconstruction and estimation functions. In that role, he spearheaded the implementation of 3-D modeling technology in the concrete division, enabling his team to deliver more accurate concrete estimates to clients. Today, that technology is employed across the company's portfolio to expedite construction timelines, enhance field team training, and mitigate development issues before they arise.

"Alex is a proven professional who has earned the trust and respect of our clients, project teams, and leadership," said Bruce Lake, president of McHugh Construction. "We have every confidence that our concrete division will be strengthened with his talent, hard work and team-first approach."

Bonfil earned his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois.

As of July 31st, Tribco Construction Services has relocated both its Warrenville and Chicago offices to 10 S. LaSalle, Suite 202 in Chicago. Congrats on the new space, and best wishes for many successful years there!