Oct 03, 2023

GCCA

Photo from GCCA [enlarge]

Last year’s top photo was taken by Ferdz Bedana of a skatepark in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Got a really cool photo of a project that used concrete? Here’s your chance to win $10,000. The Global Cement and Concrete Association has opened this year’s Concrete in Life competition, which seeks photos highlighting the beauty, sustainability and essential role of concrete throughout world. The contest is open to all — professionals, amateurs or anyone with a smart phone. In addition to the top prize, there will also be a $5,000 people’s choice winner, and winners of $2,500 in four categories: urban design, concrete infrastructure, concrete in daily life, and beauty and design. Last year, the contest attracted more than 14,000 entries from every continent. The top 2022 winner was an image of a skateboard park in the United Arab Emirates. People can enter as many photos as they wish over X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. Submit using the hashtag #ConcreteInLife2023 and one of the category hashtags: #UrbanConcrete, #ConcreteInfrastructure, #ConcreteInDailyLife?or #ConcreteBeautyAndDesign. Each category has an amateur and professional prize. The deadline is Nov. 15. Winners will be announced in early 2024.

Sep 26, 2023

Trico Companies

Fresch

Burlington-based Trico Companies hired Nicholas Fresch as a senior project engineer in the Service Division. Fresch has over eight years of experience in the construction industry, beginning as a carpentry apprentice and moving into drafting, CNC programming and millwork fabrication/design. Subsequently, he transitioned into project management and engineering as a specialty subcontractor. Fresch spent 10 years in the Navy, and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and IT systems management from the University of Washington.

Clark Construction

Bainbridge Island-based Clark Construction won two honors in the 2023 Groundbreaker Awards by Procore Technologies. The first was in the Project Excellence: General/Main/Head Contractor category for Clark's reHOME project. This project repurposed many items from a medical clinic renovation into a series of tiny homes for local farm workers. Those items, over 26,000 pounds worth, were also diverted from the landfill. The second award, Groundbreaker of the Year, went to Clark CEO Casey French. Procore reports that French is passionate about building the culture of Clark, made up of nearly 50% women, minorities and underrepresented groups.

ABC of Western Washington

Two more firms have joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington: Insulation 4 Less of Tacoma; and Straight Up Electrical of Buckley. Insulation 4 Less is a commercial and residential insulation contractor. Straight Up Electrical provides service work, generator installs, electrical service gear, tenant improvements and more.

National Skills Coalition

Local philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $6 million to the National Skills Coalition. The one-time gift was made through her charitable organization called Yield Giving. NSC is a nonprofit that aims to raise skills of American workers across industries.

Sep 19, 2023

Skanska

Daige

Skanska USA Building named Kelly Daige as its first national director of inclusion and partnerships. The global contractor says this new role is a key addition to its national diversity and inclusion team. Daige is based in Skanska's Boston office. She is focusing primarily on building and integrating the company's relationships with key external organizations and networks in the diversity and inclusion space, as well as developing national approaches and metrics around community and employee engagement. Daige joined Skanska in 2015, and since 2018 served as manager of executive support services.

Wood Technology Center

Seattle Colleges received a $750,000 Gable Grant from the Lowe's Foundation for the skilled trades training programs at the Wood Technology Center, a division of Seattle Central. The Wood Technology Center provides training for professional carpenters, from students just starting out to experienced practitioners seeking to upskill and reach a higher rung in their career. Seattle Colleges will use the Gable Grant to enhance staffing at the center, particularly for student recruitment, retention and outplacement. The funds will also support a site manager to coordinate center logistics, which will become increasingly complex as programs grow in the coming years, partly through this grant. Programs at the center include the PACT pre-apprenticeship program; associate degree programs in carpentry and boat building/fine carpentry; and a new nine-month certificate program in residential construction.

ABC of Western Washington

IDI Distributors and the Lynnwood branch of First Citizens Bank have joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Washington. Kent-based IDI provides insulation materials, fire stop materials, caulking compounds and sealants.

Boise Cascade

Boise, Idaho-based Boise Cascade plans to add a door shop in the Denver suburb of Commerce City. The company reports the 127,000-square-foot millwork facility should be finished later this year, and is expected to begin production in early 2024. The new shop will expand Boise Cascade's offerings of pre-hung doors and other millwork products in what it calls one of the country's fastest growing markets.