High-voltage power lines on a steel transmission tower at sunset, symbolizing the infrastructure challenges—like copper supply, concrete demand, and permitting delays—that threaten to bottleneck AI expansion.

The Real AI Bottleneck? Copper, Concrete, Permits

  • Technology & Innovation
As AI scales and data centers explode, it’s not chips or code holding us back—it’s the stuff we haven’t built yet

In Brief …

AI’s booming. Data centers are scaling. But the energy to run them? Lagging. From grid delays to transformer bottlenecks, infrastructure—not algorithms—is the real threat to progress. This is a construction problem disguised as a tech story.

AI Is Hungry. The Grid Isn’t Ready.

Everyone’s obsessed with AI’s potential. But those breakthroughs don’t run on inspiration.

They run on electricity.

The International Energy Agency projects global data center electricity use could double by 2030, hitting nearly 1,000 terawatt-hours annually. That’s more than Japan uses in a year. And a huge chunk of that growth is coming from generative AI.

In the U.S., McKinsey estimates we’ll need an additional 80+ gigawatts of new capacity by 2030—more than triple today’s data center load.

Spoiler: We’re not building fast enough.

Why Can’t Energy Infrastructure Keep Up with AI?

AI isn’t some distant threat to the grid—it’s here, now, scaling fast. In Northern Virginia—the world’s data center capital—utilities are already strained. Ireland has paused new data center connections in Dublin until at least 2028. London, Frankfurt and Singapore are all facing the same crunch.

Here’s the rub: data centers can go up in 18 to 24 months. But power infrastructure takes five to 10 years, if you’re lucky. In the U.S., just getting through NEPA permitting can eat up four to six of those years.

Even if you get the green light, good luck finding the gear. Transformers—the industrial backbone of grid upgrades—are in critically short supply. IEEE Spectrum reports lead times stretching to four years, with costs up as much as 80% since 2020. And it’s not just AI that’s feeling the heat. Housing developments, EV charging stations and solar projects are all waiting on the same parts.

Are SMRs the Answer?

Small modular reactors (SMRs) offer clean, reliable baseload power in a compact package. It’s no wonder the tech giants are paying attention. Google inked a deal with Kairos Power to eventually offtake 500 MW of SMR-generated electricity. Microsoft brought on a nuclear integration lead. In Virginia, a 19-data-center campus is being designed around SMR capacity.

But these are long bets. Between permitting, public skepticism and costs, SMRs aren’t expected to deliver meaningful power until the 2030s. They’re a future fix. We need answers now.

How Smart Builders Are Staying Ahead

Site for Power, Not Just Proximity: Hyperscalers are choosing Iowa, Indiana and Texas over the usual suspects. Why? Fewer constraints, faster permits, more available capacity.

Build Their Own Supply: If the grid can’t keep up, some are going off-grid. Think on-site gas turbines, solar+battery microgrids, even plans to sell excess power back.

Order Early, Standardize Fast: Some developers are stockpiling transformers years in advance or deploying prefab substation kits to avoid delays.

Use AI to Build for AI: National Grid UK is using AI to optimize grid performance and accelerate renewables integration. U.S. data centers are also testing demand-shifting models to balance loads and reduce peak stress.

This Isn’t a Computer Problem. It’s a Construction One.

We keep hearing AI will change everything. But here’s what might slow it down:

  • Copper
  • Concrete
  • Permits
  • Process—and by that, we mean the messy, human stuff: outdated project management workflows, a shortage of skilled workers, slow adoption of digital tools and bureaucratic slog that extends far beyond the permitting office.

The race isn’t just about GPUs. It’s about whether we can get enough electrons to where they’re needed—on time. The next big breakthrough won’t arrive because someone built a smarter model.

It’ll arrive because someone finally built the substation.

Build faster.

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Build Out Alliance

The Group Advocating for Greater LGBTQ+ Representation in Construction

  • People & Project Spotlights
Build Out Alliance, started in 2017, has grown mightily in cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, with the goal of building community and advocacy around the changing demographics of those working in the construction industry

The construction industry continues to change for the better. While women and other traditionally underrepresented groups have evolved to make up a greater share of the overall construction workforce, so have the ranks of those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.

In an effort to promote construction’s continued inclusion, a group of individuals in 2017 formed Build Out Alliance, a volunteer advocacy and awareness organization for members of the LGBTQ+ community working in the industry as well as related fields such as development, planning and lighting design.

The group, which has branches from New York to Los Angeles, aims to promote representation and inclusivity in these industries as well as provide opportunities for members to socialize and network. Its initiatives are centered around key pillars like visibility, mentoring, networking, leadership, outreach and impact.

Andrew Torres, an architect and project manager for a development company based in Brooklyn who serves as Build Out’s president, said the organization was born out of the recognition that the industry wasn’t overly LGBTQ+ friendly.

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“We looked around and wondered why we didn’t have support, or a vehicle to advocate for ourselves,” Torres said. “It was a response to biases inherent in the construction industry and part of the design industry that if you are not conforming to a certain stereotype—which is often a heterosexual, middle-aged man—you may not be receiving the promotion or attention you might otherwise.”

The initial chapter was based in New York City, which was where the founders were located. During the COVID-19 pandemic, chapters formed in both Los Angeles and San Francisco; the latest branch is in Washington, D.C. The February 2024 launch in DC was a result of a need in that area, Torres said, and the group hasn’t ruled out expanding into other major construction hubs, like Chicago or Boston.

“The goal is to be smart and intelligent and be sustainable with how we are growing,” said Pauline Barkin, the group’s vice president and an architect and East Coast regional director for Heitmann & Associates. “As much as we’d love to be in every single city and small town, we are trying to make the biggest impact.”

She added, “It’s very impressive what has happened since our early days of being a scrappy new organization. We get people reaching out to us, wishing things could be different. There’s a need. Since our founding in 2017, more than 4,000 people have joined Build Out Alliance for our numerous events across four cities.”

Meeting likeminded individuals

A major component of Build Out Alliance is that it offers a vehicle for people to get to know each other with inclusive, in-person events. “It’s another avenue for professional networking for people with a different set of affinities,” Torres said, adding that this is especially important for younger members. “That is a reason we have grown and maintained membership—people feel really welcomed and really seen.”

For Barkin, some of the primary perks have indeed come from the social elements, by being able to meet so many bright and talented people in the industry who she views as role models. She added that she endeavors to help future generations be their free and authentic selves, without a separation of who they are personally and professionally. Group events have ranged from happy hours to game nights to Pride parade marches and career workshops. 

And in 2023, Build Out Alliance was an event partner for New York Build Expo, the largest tradeshow for construction and design in New York City. The inaugural springtime soiree was held in March, with the description: “While many people still live each day like a closed flower, the soirée is all about recognizing what we can do when in full bloom,” a sentiment that encapsulates Build Out Alliance’s mission.

Besides networking, mentorship is a key component to the group. To that end, Build Out Alliance has partnered with multiple universities in New York City to provide mentorship for college students entering construction and related fields.

As the alliance has grown, so have its supporters and sponsors, with a number of organizations (including Bluebeam) recognizing its work and helping with fundraising. Volunteer committees within the different branches of the organization contribute to everything from events programming to community building to fundraising and communications.

Changemaking

Torres, the group’s president, has noticed a positive change since becoming involved with the nonprofit, both for the LGBTQ+ construction industry community and personally.

He said it was pretty isolating at his former job in a medium-sized design firm, which was compounded by the nature of architecture, where he worked long hours, often alone. “There was a certain moment when I need to find other people who have similar interests. I don’t know how I searched for it, but I somehow stumbled across Build Out Alliance,” Torres said, adding that his affiliation has been transformational.

“As I became more involved in Build Out Alliance, having it as a platform and as a soapbox to stand on and advocate for myself within the office has really been beneficial in how I think about my place within the organization,” he continued.

Obstacles and challenges for LGBTQ+ members cannot be erased in one day nor with one organization. But those affiliated with Build Out Alliance are seeing noticeable and positive changes on a larger scale, with more visibility and challenges to the notion of the accepted demographic makeup of people in the construction industry.

Torres said the partners in his previous firm had no idea he was involved with Build Out Alliance and asked how they could help support it. “Putting this out into the world has ripple effects, even if there is no direct impact in a particular firm or office,” he said.

An eye toward the future

Barkin and Torres are optimistic that strides are being made and will continue to be made long term. “LGBTQ people are here,” Barkin said. “We’re not going anywhere; we will be part of the industry, and the Build Out Alliance’s goal is to be a place where we can share our voice, collaborate, be role models and mentor.”

Barkin’s hope is that companies take a more active role to support the community, and that support will become the norm. “That is the direction we see things going: more welcoming and supportive and a general understanding that LGBTQ+ people are a vital part of the AEC industry.”

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Two girls install a faucet during a Tools & Tiaras construction camp, learning hands-on plumbing skills to empower young women in the trades.

Wonder Woman with a Wrench: How One Plumber Is Rewiring the Future for Girls

  • People & Project Spotlights
Judaline Cassidy, a veteran New York City plumber, is helping girls break into the skilled trades through her nonprofit, Tools & Tiaras

Judaline Cassidy didn’t set out to start a movement. She just wanted girls to stop asking permission.

Three decades in the trades will teach you a few things—like how to fix a broken pipe, hold your ground and push back when someone tells you, “That’s not for you.”

And Cassidy’s been doing all three since she was a teenager.

“I am dyslexic, and plumbing helped me fire up that side of my brain, solving puzzles and figuring things out. And people take plumbing for granted. What I do improves people’s lives every day. I’m Wonder Woman with a wrench.”

She means it. She’s been a plumber for more than 30 years and a proud member of UA Local Union No. 1 in New York City since 1996. But beyond the job, Cassidy has become something else: a mentor, speaker and the founder of Tools & Tiaras.

‘Jobs Don’t Have Genders’

Cassidy was raised by her great-grandmother in Trinidad and Tobago, in a home filled with love—and expectations.

“It was a patriarchal society, and women were geared to be homemakers and take care of their husbands.”

But Cassidy wasn’t wired that way.

“I wanted to be Wonder Woman, and a lawyer. I loved watching Lynda Carter; she could lasso the truth out of people and fight for justice at the same time.”

Law school was too expensive, so she looked for a different path. Trade school offered two options: plumbing or electrical. She chose plumbing.

At 19, she got married and moved to the U.S., chasing opportunity with a wrench in her hand. She never looked back.

When the Quote Becomes the Mission

In 2017, Cassidy was invited to speak at the MAKERS Conference. She stepped onstage and said something that would end up changing everything.

“When you give a girl a tool and a tiara, you give her independence, confidence and power.”

It hit her mid-sentence. That wasn’t just a line—it was a mission. So, she built something.

Tools & Tiaras is a nonprofit that introduces girls—ages 6 to 14—to the trades through monthly workshops and weeklong summer camps. Real tools. Real trades. Real confidence.

The timing matters. Cassidy says girls start to doubt themselves around 8 or 9 years old. “That fire in them gets smothered with blankets from the world,” she says. “But if she had that ‘little girl fire’ in her still burning, no one would stop her.”

The Camp That Builds More Than Skills

Each camp starts with architecture—because, as Cassidy says, “everything starts with the architect.” Then it’s on to plumbing, electrical, welding, sheet metal. No fluff. Just hands-on work.

They cut tile. Wire panels. Learn how to measure, drill and fix. It’s the real stuff, scaled down for smaller hands.

But it’s not just tools they walk away with.

Cassidy also runs a signature life skills series called T.O.O.L.S. (Total Ownership of Life Skills). The girls learn finance, public speaking, activism, self-defense—things every kid should know but too few are taught.

The week ends with a trip to an active jobsite and a graduation ceremony. Each girl walks away with her first set of tools: a belt, hammer, four-way screwdriver, tape measure and box to carry it all in.

It’s not a gift. It’s a start.

Built by Women Who’ve Been There

All the instructors are tradeswomen. No suits. No tourists. Just people who’ve lived the grind and still show up with something to give.

Cassidy takes vacation time to lead the camps herself.

The girls come from every kind of background. Different races. Different income levels. But they leave with the same core lesson:

“We teach the girls that if we truly come together as sisters supporting each other, we would have world domination.”

‘If You Believe in You, Nobody Can Take That Away’

The word Cassidy keeps returning to? Empower.

“If we don’t feel empowered, we won’t be able to excel,” she says. “Me feeling empowered helps me on the days when the men talk crap about me, or people judge me and say I can’t do something. That helps me on days when things get difficult.”

Early in her career, as an immigrant woman of color with an accent, Cassidy walked onto jobsites where no one would talk to her. She still remembers the silence.

But she pushed through.

She’s earned her place now. But she says the industry still has a leadership problem—specifically, a woman in leadership problem.

“In order for women to change the industry, they have to get into leadership, and we don’t as yet have the power structure for that.”

It’s not just about getting more women in. It’s about keeping them there—and giving them a path to lead.

“Women love the craft, want to succeed and want to become leaders.”

The Ripple Effect

Tools & Tiaras is working.

Cassidy’s seen alums go on to study engineering and architecture, career paths directly shaped by camp.

Even her own daughter is now a sheet metal worker.

The next step: expansion. More camps. More instructors. More girls with wrenches and something to prove.

Maybe even a full-time pivot to running Tools & Tiaras. Cassidy’s thinking about it.

Because this was never just about plumbing.

“I want girls to see themselves as builders of whatever world they envision.” And she’s building that world one tool—and one tiara—at a time.

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Three engineers in safety vests reviewing wind turbine plans on-site, highlighting collaboration challenges in green energy construction projects.

The Dirty Truth About Green Energy Projects: Why Paper, Rework and Bad Collaboration Are Holding the Industry Back

  • Project Management & Efficiency
Despite big sustainability goals, most energy projects are still slowed down by outdated paper workflows, miscommunication and costly rework, making efficiency and ESG targets harder to hit

It’s a 94-degree day on a wind farm outside West Texas. The site superintendent is flipping through half-crumpled, coffee-stained paper drawings. They’re out of date—again. Meanwhile, the structural engineer is 200 miles away, marking up a newer version that no one on-site has seen yet.

This isn’t just frustrating. It’s expensive, wasteful and exactly the kind of inefficiency that the energy sector can no longer afford.

As energy companies pivot toward renewables, net-zero targets and ESG mandates, their processes are still dragging like a diesel truck in reverse. Paper workflows. Siloed communication. Version chaos. All of it adds up to delays, busted budgets and carbon footprints no one wants to report.

Here’s the good news: It doesn’t have to be this way.

Bluebeam: Built for Real Work in the Energy Sector

Bluebeam gives oil, gas and renewables teams a better way to build. Its suite of digital tools lets project partners mark up drawings, coordinate in real time and track every change—without printing a single sheet or sending a single “just circling back” email. It’s not just efficient. It’s essential.

Let’s break down exactly where traditional energy workflows fall apart, and how Bluebeam helps fix it.

Paper Is the Enemy

The problem: Printed drawings, paper markups and manual handoffs still rule many energy jobsites. That leads to errors, rework and wasted materials—all of which carry major cost and carbon consequences.

The fix: Bluebeam replaces paper with field-tested digital workflows. Teams can annotate plans directly in Revu, access updates via Studio Sessions and make changes visible across stakeholders instantly. It cuts printing, delays and waste.

The impact: One study found that digital collaboration tools can reduce rework by 52% and slash document handling time by 61%. That’s time and money energy teams can’t afford to lose.

Rework Is a Budget Killer

The problem: A single versioning mistake can delay a pipeline weld or battery storage installation by days, costing tens of thousands of dollars. What’s more, rework accounts for up to 30% of total construction cost, according to McKinsey.

The fix: With Bluebeam, stakeholders can review, mark up and approve designs collaboratively, even across time zones. Everyone’s on the same page (literally). Version tracking and automated change logs eliminate confusion.

The impact: EPC firms using Bluebeam have reported faster approvals, tighter timelines and fewer costly field changes. For large-scale capital projects, that can mean millions in savings.

Time Is a Non-Renewable Resource

The problem: Energy builds are complex. Contractors, fabricators, inspectors, owners—they all need the right info at the right time. Every delay compounds.

The fix: Bluebeam centralizes project data. Measurement tools ensure accurate takeoffs. Punch walkthroughs and progress tracking reduce idle time. And because everything’s digital, field teams don’t have to wait on updated docs.

The impact: On solar and other large-scale energy projects, digital workflows have been shown to significantly reduce delays and improve coordination, helping teams stay on track and cut idle time, according to best practices from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and findings on digitalization in construction from MDPI.

Sustainability Starts in the Trailer

The problem: Many companies talk about ESG, but their jobsite practices tell a different story. Paper waste. Overordered materials. Flying in teams for on-site meetings.

The fix: Bluebeam directly supports sustainability goals by reducing paper use, travel and waste. Cloud-based collaboration keeps teams aligned from anywhere. Digital tracking improves procurement precision.

The impact: According to the EPA, construction and demolition waste accounts for more than 600 million tons annually in the U.S. Tools that reduce rework and material waste can have an outsized environmental benefit.

Better Builds Start with Better Tools

The energy industry is at a crossroads. Between climate mandates, market shifts and infrastructure aging, it’s under pressure to deliver projects faster, smarter and greener.

Bluebeam was built for exactly that. Whether it’s upstream oil, downstream processing or a solar microgrid in the middle of nowhere, Bluebeam helps energy teams collaborate better, reduce waste and build with purpose.

If you’re serious about delivering greener energy projects—without blowing the budget—it’s time to ditch the paper and level up your workflows.

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Kailyn Braddock, a female road construction worker in a reflective safety jacket and ballcap, smiles in the cab of a work truck during her night shift in Maine.

Line by Line: How a Night Owl Built Her Career on the Roads

  • People & Project Spotlights
Maine-based line striping specialist Kailyn Braddock shares how late nights, hard lessons and serious hustle helped her build a career on her own terms

In an industry built on tough shifts and tougher people, Kailyn Braddock has found her lane—and she’s painting it, one long night at a time.

Braddock, based in Maine, thrives in a world most people don’t see. Night after night, she hits the road armed with blueprints, buckets of thermoplastic paint and a job to get done right before sunrise. “I’m a night owl,” she said. “It’s when I do some of my best work.”

Paint, Pavement and a Place to Belong

Seven years ago, Braddock was looking for something different. She applied for a laborer position at a line striping company where her boyfriend and his father worked. Her early days were spent hand-painting crosswalks, arrows and stop bars, learning the ins and outs of water- and oil-based paints before graduating to thermoplastics.

“I miss painting,” she said. “I still paint with thermos, but it’s not as common. That is still hand work, but we now use a hand liner.”

Today, her role is bigger, and the stakes are higher. On long line projects, Braddock rides behind the paint truck, guarding freshly drawn lines from wayward traffic. She hauls 50-pound paint materials, keeps the machines fed with beads and elements and reads site plans on the fly.

“It’s a lot of reading blueprints, holding the tape and walking—lots of walking,” she said.

Strength, Smarts and a Swivel Head

This isn’t work for the faint of heart—or the faint of body. Braddock’s height sometimes makes hoisting heavy materials into paint rigs a challenge, but that’s just part of the job. So is the constant awareness that one bad driver could change everything.

“Making sure your head is on a swivel is crucial,” she said. “I’ve almost been hit a few times. I also have to be good at driving a trailer and backing up. I’ve backed up with a trailer 12 miles on a highway before.”

Long hours, late nights and physical stress took their toll in 2024 when Braddock was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat condition. After a pulmonary vein isolation ablation surgery in December, she’s hoping for smoother nights ahead.

“This year was the toughest I’ve ever had on the job,” she said. “I just adapt and do my best. The guys will always help me if needed. I’m well respected where I work.”

Inside Road Construction: What the Job Really Demands

Kailyn Braddock knows firsthand: this isn’t easy work. Here’s what she faces every shift—and what it takes to make it home safe.

Traffic Never Stops: “Making sure your head is on a swivel is crucial. I’ve almost been hit a few times.”

Heavy Lifting, Night After Night: Materials can weigh 50 pounds or more, and you’ll move pallets’ worth before sunrise.

No Shortcuts on Precision: “It’s a lot of reading blueprints, holding the tape and walking—lots of walking.”

Stamina for the Long Haul: Expect 12-hour nights, 70-hour weeks and seasons where exhaustion isn’t an excuse.

Risk You Can’t Ignore: Driving trailers, backing them up on highways—it’s not skill, it’s survival.

Reality check: Road construction is a high-pressure craft that demands skill, grit and vigilance every minute you’re on the job.

Why She Stays

For Braddock, it’s about more than a paycheck. It’s about pride—and freedom.

“The ability to be feral,” she said when asked what she loves most about the work. “I don’t have to look cute. I can cuss and talk smack, and the guys don’t judge me.”

Road construction gives her what a lot of desk jobs don’t: motion, challenge and a different kind of smarts.

“I don’t like sitting still,” she said. “The job makes you use your brain, from math to quick problem-solving. Every night is different. You just have to adjust to whatever is thrown at you.”

It’s also opened new doors. Thanks to skills she picked up on the job. “Because of my job, I was able to learn carpentry and now help my boyfriend build barns on the side,” she said.

A New Face for the Trades

Even now, women on the jobsite are outnumbered, but the ground is shifting. Braddock works for a woman-owned company and has convinced several friends to jump into the industry too.

Her advice to women thinking about construction careers: Don’t overthink it—just start.

“Do it!” she said. “It’ll teach you so much about life. It’ll make you strong mentally, and you can make so much more money. It may be intimidating, but it’s worth it.”

Braddock’s story is proof: the future of construction is more diverse, more real and a lot more driven by people willing to build their own way.

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Architectural rendering of Camfil’s new flagship air filtration manufacturing facility in Texas, showcasing resilient design features, modern facade, and expanded parking space under a partly cloudy sky.

Texas Tough: Why Camfil’s New Flagship Is a Masterclass in Resilient Design

  • Building, Design & Architecture
After tornadoes leveled one facility and the COVID-19 pandemic upended supply chains, Camfil didn’t just rebuild—it doubled down on smarter, stronger design

You’d think a global leader in air quality—with 30 manufacturing plants, 5,700 employees and more than $1.3 billion in sales—might be immune to disruption.

Then came two tornadoes. And a pandemic.

For Sweden-based Camfil, those events hit hard. In March 2020, a tornado destroyed one of two buildings at the company’s Airport Road campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Then, in December 2021, a second tornado struck a temporary facility in Trumann, Arkansas—right as COVID-19 was wreaking havoc on global supply chains.

It was a one-two punch that forced a complete rethink—not just of how Camfil rebuilt, but where and why.

A New Site, A Bigger Vision

Camfil had already planned to expand production capacity in the U.S. before disaster struck. But the back-to-back tornadoes accelerated that urgency—and sharpened the stakes.

In fall 2021, the company committed to building a new air pollution control (APC) facility in Jonesboro. Around the same time, it announced a second major investment: a new air filtration manufacturing plant in Kilgore, Texas.

Originally budgeted at $50 million for a 350,000-square-foot footprint, the Kilgore facility would house Camfil’s full product range. But that plan didn’t last long.

“COVID-19 was creating a new normal for U.S. manufacturing with material supply delays and limited material availability,” said John Williams, director of capital projects, Camfil USA. “That would mean a price increase of 30% or more for the Kilgore facility.”

Faced with ballooning costs and a fast-changing world, Camfil’s team went back to the drawing board.

Bigger, Stronger, Smarter

By the time ground broke in September 2024, the project had doubled in scope and budget. The new Kilgore facility is now set to be Camfil’s largest single manufacturing site in the world, with 418,000 square feet of production space and an investment of $100 million.

How Camfil’s Kilgore Facility Cuts Carbon
Clean air starts with cleaner buildings. Here’s how Camfil kept sustainability front and center while scaling up in Texas:
Tilt-up concrete walls built with thermal insulation sandwiched inside—cutting heat transfer and energy use
Local materials sourced close to the site to slash emissions from transport
A TPO membrane roof with R-30 insulation to keep cooling costs down in the Texas heat
LED lighting and Low-E glass throughout for maximum efficiency and minimal waste
Original forestation left intact, with added landscaping to fight heat-island effect
Detention ponds designed to handle stormwater without overloading city systems

“Kilgore won Camfil’s selection after careful consideration,” said Camfil USA President Armando Brunetti. “Several compelling factors, including a skilled labor force, strategic location, excellent real estate options and support from Kilgore’s Economic Development Corporation influenced our decision.”

Set to open in 2025, the plant will produce and distribute all Camfil 5-Star products across North America, serving industries from pharmaceuticals to microelectronics.

Designing for Resilience—and Sustainability

Memphis-based Fisher Arnold, the project architect, designed both the Kilgore facility and the APC rebuild in Jonesboro. For Kilgore, the focus was on durability, efficiency and low embodied carbon.

“The carbon footprint will be very small for a building of this size,” said Howard Glatstein, AIA, NCARB, and principal at Fisher Arnold.

Key strategies included:

  • Tilt-up composite concrete panels: A sandwich of concrete and insulation that creates a thermal break to reduce energy transfer.
  • Locally sourced materials: To avoid emissions from transporting precast elements.
  • High-performance roofing: A TPO membrane with insulation that creates an R-value of ~30.
  • LED lighting and Low-E glass: For energy efficiency and light quality.
  • Thermally broken aluminum framing: To reduce temperature loss at glass-to-frame connections.

Camfil also preserved much of the site’s original tree cover and added landscaping to combat the heat-island effect. Stormwater detention ponds help manage runoff without overburdening Kilgore’s drainage infrastructure.

Getting It Right Before It’s Built

To navigate the complexity of the new site, general contractor CDI Contractors used a building information modeling (BIM) approach that transformed the 2D AutoCAD files from Fisher Arnold into a collaborative 3D model.

“You can see errors in the building layout in advance,” said Justin Brodnax, senior project manager at CDI. “BIM also allows for some pre-fabrication of materials that can be measured, built and brought to the site. We know they’re going to fit because we’ve modeled them in a 3D format.”

The result has been significant: Fewer mistakes. Less rework. Faster timelines.

Built to Waste Less, Operate Smarter

Camfil’s approach to sustainability doesn’t stop with energy efficiency. The company’s manufacturing process typically uses little water, but waste management still plays a big role.

The Kilgore facility will deploy high-efficiency trash compactors that reduce both landfill volume and labor requirements. Some models will also support recycling and sorting on-site, cutting transportation costs and carbon impact.

Jobs, Growth and a Stronger Supply Chain

With 226 new jobs expected, the Kilgore site will serve as a critical hub in Camfil’s U.S. manufacturing network, especially in the face of future disruptions.

More than just a plant, the facility is a response to a world that’s changing fast, from supply shocks to climate risks to soaring demand for cleaner air.

And while Camfil can’t stop the next tornado or pandemic, it’s making sure it’s ready when it comes.

Ready to build smarter?

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A high school girl in safety goggles uses electrical probes on a drone during shop class, symbolizing the resurgence of hands-on technical education in modern construction careers.

Shop Class Is Cool Again—and It Might Just Save Construction

  • People & Project Spotlights
As the industry faces a critical skilled labor shortage, modern vocational training programs—many as early as high school—are quietly rebuilding the workforce from the ground up

Let’s start with a number: $70,000. That’s how much a high school junior in Philadelphia is poised to earn right after graduation—not with a college degree, but a welding torch.

Every senior in the welding program at Father Judge High School has received a job offer paying more than $50,000, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. One student has already landed a position welding nuclear submarines.

This isn’t a one-off. It’s a shift. The trades are back—and they’re nothing like they used to be.

We Don’t Just Have a Labor Shortage. We Have a Knowledge Crisis.

The construction industry’s talent gap is no secret. But it’s not just about headcount.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects more than 663,000 annual openings in construction and extraction occupations through 2032. Meanwhile, nearly 40% of the construction workforce is expected to retire by 2031.

That’s not just labor walking out the door. That’s institutional memory.

The professionals who know how to spot a spec conflict before it stalls the schedule. Who’ve learned—through trial, error and years in the field—how to navigate unpredictable variables like weather, logistics and permitting.

That’s what we’re losing. And we’re not replacing it nearly fast enough.

Shop Class 2.0 Is Here—and It’s Actually Cool

For years, vocational education got sidelined. “College for all” became a mantra, and shop class largely disappeared from school curriculums.

Now it’s roaring back, with a digital twist.

Today’s career and technical education (CTE) programs look nothing like the wood-paneled workshops of decades past. Students are learning CNC machining, robotics, 3D printing and even digital markup and takeoff tools.

At Middleton High School in Wisconsin, a $90 million campus upgrade added glass-walled shops, robotic arms and state-of-the-art machinery. Nearly 25% of the student body is now enrolled in construction, manufacturing or woodworking courses.

And this resurgence isn’t isolated. The National Student Clearinghouse reported that enrollment in construction trade programs at community colleges rose by 23% year-over-year, the largest increase on record.

It turns out, students are getting the memo: the trades are high-tech, high-pay and high in demand.

Today’s Students Are Getting a Digital Toolbelt

Construction today isn’t just bricks and beams. It’s building information modeling (BIM), real-time markups, cloud-based sessions and mobile dashboards. Vocational programs are quickly catching up.

Students—whether in high schools, community colleges or even some four-year universities—are gaining hands-on experience with project management platforms. They’re learning how to track RFIs, manage digital drawings and collaborate on shared files before ever stepping onto a jobsite.

Many of the industry’s preeminent technology companies provide free software access and training to educational institutions. Bluebeam has supported academic programs through its Revu and Studio platforms, enabling students to practice real-world digital workflows.

And beyond software, The Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program has introduced more than 245,000 people—including 43,000 youth participants—to the skilled trades since 2018, many through tech-forward training.

This isn’t just education. It’s industry-ready onboarding.

Partnerships Are the New Pipeline

The real power behind this movement? Collaboration.

Across the U.S., contractors are partnering with tech high schools and community colleges to create direct pipelines to the jobsite.

At Worcester Technical High School in Massachusetts, students are paired with professionals from NEI General Contracting. They learn about sequencing, compliance and even client communication—on active construction projects. In turn, NEI gets early access to a motivated, digitally fluent talent pool.

It’s a win-win—and a model more firms should follow.

What Construction Firms Should Be Doing Right Now

Still on the fence? Here’s how companies can get involved:

  • Partner with trade schools and community colleges. Host jobsite tours, sponsor internships or create co-op programs.
  • Share your tools. Whether it’s Bluebeam or other digital tools, give students access to platforms they’ll use on the job.
  • Send your team into the classroom. A 10-minute story from a PM or super can inspire a future foreman.
  • Play the long game. These aren’t just students; they’re your future crew leads, estimators and project managers.

This Is Bigger Than Hiring

Sure, this helps solve the talent crunch. But it’s about more than just staffing.

It’s a culture shift. A reimagining of how we attract, train and retain the next generation, while keeping pace with the tools shaping the jobsite.

Shop class is back. But this time, it’s armed with software, certifications and six-figure futures.

The firms that act now? They won’t just find talent. They’ll build stronger, smarter, more resilient teams.

Ready to equip the next generation with the right tools?

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Digital Federal Permitting Government Mandate

How Federal Agencies Can Meet the 90-Day Digital Permitting Mandate—And Help Define What Comes Next

  • Technology & Innovation
With deadlines looming, agencies have a rare opportunity to modernize—and lead—the future of infrastructure delivery

On April 15, 2025, the White House issued a presidential memorandum directing federal agencies to digitize their permitting and environmental review processes.

The goals are straightforward: streamline workflows, reduce project delays and make infrastructure delivery faster, more transparent and more accountable.

But the timeline is tight. Agencies have just 45 days to submit implementation strategies and 90 days to begin testing and reporting progress. For organizations historically slowed by legacy systems, this directive isn’t just a challenge but an opportunity to lead.

Here’s what agencies should be doing now, what comes next and how peer institutions and state leaders are already setting the pace.

What the April 15 Memorandum Requires

The memorandum outlines a clear set of expectations for all federal agencies involved in environmental reviews and infrastructure permitting.

Specifically, it requires agencies to:

  • Submit a digitization implementation strategy within 45 days.
  • Begin testing and reporting digital permitting workflows within 90 days.
  • Eliminate paper-based permitting processes “to the greatest extent practicable.”
  • Adopt shared permitting data standards and ensure interoperability across systems.
  • Improve transparency and public engagement.

This is the strongest federal directive to date aimed at modernizing permitting, and it builds on earlier initiatives like the Permitting Action Plan issued in 2022.

What Agencies Should Do Now

Assemble a Cross-Functional Team: To move quickly, agencies will need teams that include representatives from permitting, IT, legal, procurement and leadership. Cross-agency collaboration will be crucial for both strategy development and implementation.

Audit Existing Workflows: Where do current permitting processes rely on PDFs, physical signatures or email chains? Identifying bottlenecks is essential for prioritizing improvements and establishing a performance baseline.

Evaluate Proven Solutions: Agencies don’t have to start from scratch. Several federal departments have already deployed digital permitting tools that can serve as reference points:

  • The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed INPCT, a platform that allows for real-time collaboration among agencies during National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.
  • The Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits (CITAP) Portal, which streamlines federal approvals for high-voltage electric transmission projects.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires electronic filing of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) via its e-NEPA system, improving access, tracking and compliance.
  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) offers IPaC, a planning tool that helps applicants determine potential environmental impacts and request species consultations online.

Identify a Focused Pilot Project: Launching a well-scoped pilot—such as a specific permit type, geographic area or project category—can help test tools, gather feedback and demonstrate early momentum. Agencies can look to state-level initiatives for inspiration.

In Arizona, the Department of Environmental Quality’s myDEQ platform has modernized numerous permitting and compliance services, leading to notable reductions in processing times for various permits.

……

Where Bluebeam Fits In

Federal agencies don’t have to start from scratch.

Bluebeam is already trusted by government teams across the U.S. to streamline permitting, plan reviews and project collaboration. Our secure, scalable platform helps agencies transition from paper-based workflows to digital processes without overhauling their entire IT stack.

Here’s how we support permitting modernization:

  • Digital plan reviews and markups that eliminate printing, mailing and scanning delays.
  • Collaborative document management that enables real-time communication between teams, agencies and stakeholders
  • Version control and audit trails to support compliance and transparency.
  • Flexible deployment options to meet varying security and procurement requirements.

Whether you’re piloting a new process or scaling an agency-wide initiative, Bluebeam helps you build faster, with better coordination and fewer bottlenecks.

Let’s move permitting forward—together.
Talk to our public sector team →

……

Similarly, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality introduced the PEEP platform, which allows users to track permitting status online. The state reports that processing times have improved dramatically since implementation, helping agencies monitor performance and reduce delays.

Submit an Implementation Strategy:

Your plan should include:

  • A baseline assessment of current processes.
  • A prioritized list of workflows for digitization.
  • Timelines, performance metrics and governance.
  • A plan for stakeholder and public engagement.

The deadline for submission is firm: 45 days from April 15, 2025.

What to Do During the 90-Day Testing Phase

Once the plan is submitted, agencies are expected to begin testing and reporting progress. That means deploying tools, collecting data and iterating in real time.

Define the Test Clearly: Is your agency piloting a new intake system? Testing online commenting? Tracking interagency collaboration via a dashboard? Whatever the use case, define it clearly and measure what matters.

Track Progress—and Communicate It: Agencies that can show early wins will be well-positioned to shape future interagency standards. Publishing dashboards or briefing key stakeholders may also help secure future funding or interagency partnerships.

Leverage Broader Federal Support: This modernization effort doesn’t stand alone. It aligns with several ongoing federal digital initiatives:

Collaborate Across Agencies: Permits often require multiple reviews from EPA, DOI, DOT, DOE and others. Coordination is essential. States like Florida offer successful models. Its Efficient Transportation Decision Making (ETDM) process integrates environmental screening early in planning, saving time and reducing conflicts.

What Success Looks Like—and Why It Matters

Agencies that embrace this transition now will unlock several benefits:

  • Faster and more predictable permitting timelines.
  • Better coordination among agencies and stakeholders.
  • Increased transparency and public trust.
  • More efficient use of staff resources and taxpayer dollars.

The risks of inaction, meanwhile, are growing. Agencies that lag may miss out on funding, fall behind in shaping emerging standards or face scrutiny for delaying critical infrastructure.

A Moment to Lead

This isn’t just a technical upgrade. It’s a policy reset. Federal permitting modernization is no longer a long-term aspiration—it’s a live initiative with a deadline, budget and national audience.

Agencies that act now won’t just meet a mandate. They’ll help redefine what efficient, transparent infrastructure delivery looks like in the 21st century.

If your agency is ready to modernize permitting workflows, now is the time to move.

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