Construction Law Ed.

A resource located in Chicago, IL.

“Through localized mentorship, direct investment and specialized services, HIRE360 will strengthen participation of underrepresented populations in the Chicago area – with a special focus on engaging youth to consider the trades as a viable and inspiring career path, mentoring and growing Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firms and creating a supply chain of partners that are accountable to higher participation standards.” Hire – Invest – Reach – Empower. So far this is a joint project between the labor unions, many major developers, most major contractors, and the local government. Among other things, the program has been successful in attracting funding from the state legislature.

A national resource headquartered in Pennsylvania.

Architects – Contractors – Engineers. “A no-cost after-school program that prioritizes workforce development for high school students by connecting them with experts from the design and construction industry.” The mission of the ACE Mentor Program is “to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry.” By addressing the pressing workforce needs and working to bridge the skills gap, the main goals of the ACE Mentor Program is to “build a large, diverse, and better-prepared workforce, prioritize engaging students and communities traditionally underrepresented in the industry, as well as assist and guide students by providing scholarships, internships, and mentoring as they pursue career pathways into the industry.”

A resource for those with Military experience.

“Supports transitioning military and veterans by helping them earn NCCER credentials for skills and training received during their military service.” Military training can allow you to receive free construction credentials from NCCER. These credentials “will make you more marketable to employers. NCCER credentials are respected throughout the construction industry and could help you secure an apprenticeship, earn higher wages, and offer more opportunities for promotion.”

A resource located in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey.

“Building for Good connects volunteer construction attorneys with charities and nonprofit organizations with a construction law need.” The goal is to allow organizations to access pro bono legal services. “B4G is a national platform with pilot services available in Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey.”  B4G is available to help with construction law transactional work as well as dispute resolution in the construction industry.

A resource located in Kansas City, MO and Columbus, OH.

“Build it KC offers a transformative opportunity for individuals aged 18 and above who are eager to pivot into the dynamic world of construction. Their Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to equip you with the essential skills and certifications, paving the way for a successful journey in the construction industry.” Build it KC offers skills and certifications and on the job training among other things. “A non-profit organization committed to empowering communities through skilled trades training opportunities, education, employment, and resources.”

A national resource headquartered in Texas.

“The National Academy of Construction honors outstanding construction industry leaders and shares their collective experiences and expertise to help the Nation by improving their industry.” The National Academy of Construction additionally serves as a link between past and present participants in the construction industry. “Today’s members have made significant contributions in the areas of technology, alternative contracting and project delivery procedures, work processes, safety, industry image, workforce development, labor relations, construction tools, communication methods, construction law, higher education, and cost and schedule management effectiveness.” NAC members serve in various leadership and advisory roles, on corporate boards, and as consultants to private and public agencies. “As a strategic initiative, the NAC has established formal collaborative relationships with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), National Academy of Public Administrators (NAPA), Chartered Institute of Builders (CIOB), Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), and the National Academies’ Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment (BICE). 

An international resource headquartered in Uganda.

“The Construction Law Institute (CLI) is a unique think tank that brings together experts and professionals from various fields within the construction industry. These include Engineers, Architects, Lawyers, Contractors, and other industry stakeholders. CLI aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of best practices in construction law, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution.” One of the key activities that CLI partakes in is policy advocacy. “CLI engages in advocacy efforts to influence policy development and reform in the construction industry. It may provide recommendations, expert opinions, and evidence-based insights to government bodies, regulatory agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.” Among other things, another import activity that CLI partakes in is training and education. CLI “offers training programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance the professional skills and knowledge of individuals working in construction law.”

A national resource headquartered in California.

“Grounded Solutions Network supports strong communities from the ground up. They work nationally, connecting local experts with the networks, knowledge, and support they need. They help promote housing solutions that will affordable for generations.”

An international resource headquartered in Texas.

Safety Stratus works to address environmental concerns for construction projects. “It is crucial that project managers, environmental health and safety officers, and site managers understand how construction projects impact the environment, as well as how these impacts can be mitigated and reduced.” Safety Stratus offers conversations on various environmental topics including energy efficiency, pollution management, sustainable use of resources, construction projects and water, and the future of environmentally conscious construction. Additionally, Safety Stratus offers resources to assess hazards, manage incidents and equipment, and track training. 

A resource located in New York and New Jersey.

In New York and New Jersey TSC provides many services including training, compliance consulting, safety plans and programs, and safety professionals. TSC offers a training academy, safety management staffing, site safety plans and logistics, jobsite compliance audits, licensed site safety managers, concrete safety managers, fire safety managers, and on site med tech. TSC is committed to working with customers to develop a site safety plan to manage the unique hazards of your particular construction site. 

A national resource headquartered in Florida.

“NCCER has developed several initiatives to spotlight the importance of construction education and to assist with recruitment and awareness of construction career pathways for learners and aspiring craft professionals.”

A national resource headquartered in Virginia.

SkillsUSA provides career-ready from day one training that prepares students to succeed in the world of work. They offer a flexible program that can be used in the classroom, for independent study, or as part of campus orientation. Anyone who completes the course will earn an industry-recognized credential that can set them apart from other applicants. Additionally, students can partake in CareerSafe online safety training which is authorized by OSHA and is a comprehensive range of safety courses. “SkillsUSA strives to be the work-based learning experiences leader within career and technical education by serving as the premier intermediary for students, educators and industry partners through the provision of reputable professional development, industry-informed credentialing opportunities, and innovative data collection, SkillsUSA work-based learning experiences will define and provide high-quality engagement across the career development continuum. 

A national resource headquartered in Florida.

“Raises awareness for construction-related careers and provides resources to assist in industry and education with image enhancement and recruitment.” Resources are available for industry professionals, educators, students or their family members and veterans. 

A national resource headquartered in Florida.

“Connects industry and education to help build partnerships and create successful construction career pathways for America’s youth.” This initiative seeks to promote career and technical education to provide relevant real-world learning opportunities which are proven to improve graduation rate, advanced skills training and increase job satisfaction. 

A national resource headquartered in Pennsylvania.

Architects – Contractors – Engineers. “A no-cost after-school program that prioritizes workforce development for high school students by connecting them with experts from the design and construction industry.” The mission of the ACE Mentor Program is “to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry.” By addressing the pressing workforce needs and working to bridge the skills gap, the main goals of the ACE Mentor Program is to “build a large, diverse, and better-prepared workforce, prioritize engaging students and communities traditionally underrepresented in the industry, as well as assist and guide students by providing scholarships, internships, and mentoring as they pursue career pathways into the industry.”

A resource for those with Military experience.

“Supports transitioning military and veterans by helping them earn NCCER credentials for skills and training received during their military service.” Military training can allow you to receive free construction credentials from NCCER. These credentials “will make you more marketable to employers. NCCER credentials are respected throughout the construction industry and could help you secure an apprenticeship, earn higher wages, and offer more opportunities for promotion.”

A national resource headquartered in Washington, D.C. with offices in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and D.C.

“USGBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting prosperous, healthy and resilient communities. Green building practices are more important than ever. Green buildings save money, improve efficient, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people. USGBC is at the forefront of industry discussions and actively advancing these priorities within the market. USGBC engages with federal, state, and local policymakers on both sides of the aisle, as well as a broad range of agencies. They are active in many states and localities and collaborate with volunteers and allies for optimum impact. Through technical assistance, testimony, written comments, sign-on letters, meetings with policy makers, and expert articles and resources, they are working every day to advance green buildings through policy.”

A resource headquartered in Washington, D.C.

“A scalable digital building platform to digitalize, manage and optimize building operations, allowing for enhanced user experience, increased performance and improved sustainability. Thanks to artificial intelligence and open application platforms, connectivity solutions are helping buildings accelerate towards autonomy. Optimization and self-maintenance let buildings drive toward better productivity, sustainability, and well-being, and close-based solutions help keep smart buildings up to date and future-proof. Building X is the new Siemens platform that makes smart buildings smarter and lets them leap into the future. Building X uses building data to help organizations identify and optimize energy usage, reduce waste, and reach sustainability goals.

An international resource headquartered in the UK.

“Accelerating progress towards a sustainable world.” Their independence, global reach, and access to leading edge expertise sets them apart. Their focus is on creating enduring, collaborative relationships with their clients and stakeholders to help them tackle significant and diverse issues. “The drivers of climate change. Trust in digital solutions. Exploitation in supply chains. Our partnership approach ensures our solutions are as relevant as they are impactful, making a difference to people’s lives and giving organizations the confidence to sustainably grow.”

A national government resource.

“Sustainable designs optimize building performance and minimizes negative impacts on building occupants and the environment. We incorporate sustainable design and energy efficiency principles into our construction and modernization projects, balancing costs, environmental, societal, and human benefits that help meet our tenant agencies’ mission objectives and functional needs.”

Available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Spotify, Copy RRS.

Philippe Block is a full professor of Architecture and Structures and head of the Institute of Technology in Architecture (ITA) at ETH Zurich, where he co-leads the Block Research Group (BRG). He studied architecture and structural engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Belgium and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. The BRG develops sustainable and circular construction solutions through the advancement of computational structural design and innovation in digital fabrication and construction. Specific expertise includes computational form finding, discrete masonry, graphic statistics, architectural and structural geometry, digital fabrication and construction, and open-source computation.  

In this podcast Philippe discusses what he considers to be the 3 pillars to sustainable construction – 1. strength through geometry, 2. material effectiveness, 3. circular construction. Under the first pillar, strength through geometry, Philippe talks about how knowing the natural structural form of different materials can reduce the amount of materials being used. In the second section, material effectiveness, Philippe discusses how by using materials how they naturally want to be used (compression v tensions, and shape) allows us to activate maximum efficiency and even activate low strength materials to contribute toward construction.  In the third section, circular construction, Philippe talks about the goal of reusing materials as much as possible but also designing buildings for the next lifetime as deconstruction causes the most emissions.

An international resource headquartered in Uganda.

“The Construction Law Institute (CLI) is a unique think tank that brings together experts and professionals from various fields within the construction industry. These include Engineers, Architects, Lawyers, Contractors, and other industry stakeholders. CLI aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of best practices in construction law, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution.” One of the key activities that CLI partakes in is policy advocacy. “CLI engages in advocacy efforts to influence policy development and reform in the construction industry. It may provide recommendations, expert opinions, and evidence-based insights to government bodies, regulatory agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.” Among other things, another import activity that CLI partakes in is training and education. CLI “offers training programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences to enhance the professional skills and knowledge of individuals working in construction law.”

A national resource headquartered in Virginia.

As a workforce development resource center AGC of America is focused on providing vital workforce development resources to help successfully recruit, train and retain workers. Among other things, the workforce development resource center provides materials and resources pertaining to construction careers, workforce advocacy, and construction scholarships. “AGC of America operates a comprehensive workforce development campaign called Construction is Essential. It is designed to modernize the way the industry recruits.” 

A resource located in Kansas City, MO and Columbus, OH.

“Build it KC offers a transformative opportunity for individuals aged 18 and above who are eager to pivot into the dynamic world of construction. Their Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to equip you with the essential skills and certifications, paving the way for a successful journey in the construction industry.” Build it KC offers skills and certifications and on the job training among other things. “A non-profit organization committed to empowering communities through skilled trades training opportunities, education, employment, and resources.”