Andy Higgins Appointed to International Code Council Board of Directors

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The International Code Council appointed Andy Higgins, customer success division executive director for the city of Seattle, Washington, Department of Construction and Inspections, to its 2024-25 Board of Directors. Appointed by Code Council Board President David Spencer, CBO, and ratified by the full board, Higgins assumed a vacated director at large seat on June 10. Higgins brings over 28 years of experience in permitting, construction management and building inspection to the board. He holds many Code Council certifications including building code official and master code professional and has served on many Code Council committees, including the exam development committees for … Read more

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Gilbane Building Launches NextDirect, Appoints Suzanne Bennett as Business Leader

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Gilbane Building has launched NextDirect, a wholly owned subsidiary focused on delivering direct procurement strategies for mechanical and electrical systems and equipment. This new venture is designed to enhance schedule reliability, cost certainty and transparency for complex construction projects and supports long-term growth. Gilbane has appointed Suzanne Bennett as vice president and business leader of the strategic initiative. She brings extensive experience in construction, engineering and supply chain leadership, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence, innovation and sustainable procurement practices. NextDirect has already supported several pilot projects and is actively engaged in planning and execution phases for … Read more

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McCarthy Project Director Bailey Ruff Named Chapter Chair of DBIA

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Bailey Ruff, project director at McCarthy Building Companies, has been appointed as chapter chair of the Nevada Chapter of the Design-Build Institute of America. A respected construction leader with nearly a decade of experience shaping Nevada’s public and private infrastructure, Ruff will lead the chapter’s efforts in advancing the Design-Build delivery method, supporting professional development and fostering the next generation of industry talent. As chapter chair, Ruff will oversee all facets of the organization, including strategic initiatives, industry outreach, education, student engagement and fundraising efforts that support scholarships and workforce development programs. Her appointment marks a continued commitment by DBIA … Read more

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ABC: Tariffed Construction Materials Prices Rise in May

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Construction input prices increased .2% in May compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Producer Price Index data released. Nonresidential construction input prices increased .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. “Construction materials prices continued to increase at a … Read more

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Dodge Construction Network: Latest Construction Starts Data Shows Growth in Select Sectors

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Total construction starts were down 9% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.03 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts declined 3%, residential starts fell 4%, while nonbuilding starts decreased 22%. On a year-to-date basis through April, total construction starts were down 3% from last year. Read the full details here. Nonbuilding Nonbuilding construction starts fell 22% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $279 billion. Highway and bridge starts decreased 8%, environmental public works fell back 2% and utility starts were down 70% last month. Meanwhile, miscellaneous nonbuilding starts were up a strong … Read more

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