Many homeowners in the Rochester, MN, area are interested in crafting an eco-friendly home. Homes that incorporate environmentally advantageous materials and technology can help save money on bills in the long run and also give a sense of satisfaction about stewarding the environment. Proper green building takes a number of considerations into play, including lot development, resource-efficient building design, and indoor maintenance. While it’s not possible to totally preserve the environment during
A Year in Review: How Young Professionals are Giving Back The season of giving is upon us. This time of year, we can find ourselves reflecting on the year gone by. We may even feel especially inspired to give back to the community. While being generous with our time or money around the holidays is a great thing, what about the rest of the year? At Rochester Area Builders, we’re proud to offer opportunities for our members to volunteer their time and talents all year round. Our 40 Below group is designed
Read Rochester Area Builders' latest Member Newsletter "Foundations" through Issuu. Jan-Feb 2019(6.55 MB)Feb-Mar 2019(5.86 MB)Mar-Apr 2019(5.16 MB)Apr-May 2019(6.01 MB)May-Jun 2019(4.51 MB)Jun-Jul 2019(7.69 MB)Jul-Aug 2019(6.97 MB)Aug-Sep 2019(7.49 MB)Sep-Oct 2019(10.33 MB)Oct-Nov 2019(11.1 MB)Nov-Dec 2018(7.12 MB)Dec 2018-Jan(8.63 MB) Most Recent Edition: October-November 2019
Here’s What You Need to Be Looking for in a Home Builder Building a house is an exciting time. The opportunity to customize and watch your new home be built as a safe place for you and your family is a milestone in life. A safe, modern, and well-located home can be a fantastic place to raise a family and serve as a good hosting place for family and loved ones. But you might not know where to start if you’re looking for a house builder in Rochester, MN. There’s a lot of options out there, and some might
If you’ve been living in the Rochester, MN area for a while, you may be familiar with the acronym DMC, which stands for Destination Medical Center. DMC is a long-term economic development initiative that will span across the next 20 years with a mission to “position Rochester, Minnesota, as the world’s premier destination center for health and wellness.” This initiative will directly impact local residents, businesses, and the overall future of Rochester. We’ve put together a few facts to get you up to
This fall, the Career and Technical Education Center (CTECH) in the Heintz Center opens its doors for the fourth academic year. Since its infancy in 2016, CTECH has given local juniors and seniors in the Rochester Public Schools and surrounding high schools the opportunity to learn more about and explore careers in various technical and vocational fields. Located on the Rochester Technical Community College (RCTC) campus, the CTECH program offers classes in 10 career
We’re all about community here at Rochester Area Builders. As an organization of residential builders, remodelers, and developers dedicated towards advancing the building industry across Rochester, MN, and greater Southeast Minnesota, we understand the importance of working with the community and becoming an authority for members of the public. Rochester Area Builders has teamed up with a variety of local community organizations and offers an assortment of educational classes designed to enrich public
Public-Private Partnerships: What Do They Mean for Rochester? Many new and upcoming projects in Rochester are funded by public-private partnerships, also known as “P3s” or “PPPs.” A P3 is an agreement between two or more public and private entities, usually for a long-term basis. P3s allow for private developers to receive partial funding from local and state governments. Public-private partnerships are commonly used to build and support a city’s infrastructure, schools, transportation, and so
Work as a professional builder can be complicated. Networking within the industry can be challenging, especially if you’re just starting out. Gaining access to much-needed professional resources is also tricky if you don’t have the right connections or contacts. Those looking for a building professional might not know where to start. Sifting through dozens of companies and individuals to find the one who best fits your needs might seem like an impossible task. For both situations, a trusted industry
Believe it or not, the 2019 Fall Showcase of Homes and Remodelers Tour are right around the corner! The Fall Showcase of Homes is open over the weekends of September 21-22 and September 28-29 from 11am-5pm. The Remodelers Tour is also happening on September 21-22 from 11am-5pm. This is a great opportunity to showcase your brand-new builds in the most coveted subdivisions in southeast Minnesota. Both of these events are great opportunities to show off what your company can do, but of course, you probably
“Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This commonly-used phrase implies that if you find a job that you are passionate about, it won’t feel like “work.” Instead, it will be fun and enjoyable every day. The reality is that even people who love their jobs have bad days, experience disappointment, and get frustrated. According to a recent Gallup survey, “71% of American workers are either not engaged or feel actively disengaged from their jobs, with highly educated and middle-aged
Those of us who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s probably heard our parents say, “Go to college to get a good job” a few dozen times in our young adulthood. This advice implicated that if you earn a four-year degree, you are guaranteed a good paying, white collar career. However, it’s no secret that universities are places of higher learning, not job readiness institutions. College May Not Be Their Best Option This misconception has resulted in monumental student loan debt and the harsh reality that –
“So, what are you going to do when you graduate?” If you are a junior or senior in high school, you’ve probably been asked that a few (hundred) times by friends and family. News flash: Attending a 4-year college is not the only choice you have when you’re deciding on your career path. If “Assistant to the Regional Manager” is not exactly your idea of career goals, we have a better solution. Here are four reasons you should consider learning a skilled trade:1. Break the cycle of debt Millennials have
Trustworthiness is key in and outside the commercial builders’ community in Rochester, MN. Potential clients who are looking to have projects completed will often refer businesses to friends and family if the work team was professional, punctual, and experienced. Businesses often grow and thrive as they make connections with other reputable companies in the commercial building community. For years, Rochester Area Builders has served as one of the leading construction authorities across the southeastern
Collaboration is key to success in any industry, but in building and construction, it’s critical. Did you know that the Rochester Area Builders (RAB) administers more than 30 councils and committees with hundreds of participants? To ensure you receive the quality and value you expect from RAB, we are committed to staying up to speed on local, regional, and national trends – and passing that information along to you. Beginning in July, the City of Rochester’s new Community Development
Construction projects are notorious for two things. First, being over budget. Second, taking longer than planned. Engineering and construction sectors have reputations for being one of the world’s largest industries—yet one of its least efficient. Most construction projects have operated the same way for decades, but it’s time to embrace the time and cost saving benefits of technology. The population in southeast Minnesota is set to grow by over 50,000 people over the next 25 years, requiring another
For four decades, the Rochester Area Builders Home Show has brought together buyers and sellers, planners and designers, dreamers and doers. The three-day annual event offers something for everyone – whether you’re looking to remodel, build from scratch, buy a new appliance, or even refinance your home. It will be held at the Mayo Civic Center on February 8-10, 2019. “More than 200 residential and commercial exhibitors will be on-site,” explains Shelly Bahlmann, Publications & Special Events Director
As greater numbers of baby boomers retire from the workforce, the need to attract and retain younger employees is important to every industry, but in building and construction, it’s becoming more and more vital. 40 Below is a young professional’s group created as an extension of the Rochester Area Builders (RAB) to help provide personal and professional development opportunities and a dedicated space for professionals under 40 to connect. RAB’s Membership and Education Director Rebekah Nielsen believes
Medicine might be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of careers in Rochester, Minnesota, but the cranes that dot the downtown skyline pinpoint another growing opportunity that exists in the Med City. The construction industry is critical to the strength, evolution, and economic vitality of cities like Rochester. Not only is a career in the trades viable, it is both profitable and desirable. For decades, school-aged students have been encouraged to apply to four-year universities and seek
Housing is at the center of many conversations these days. But what we often see addressed is the shortage of what is commonly referred to as “affordable housing,” such as section 8 or low-income. The real challenge we face is much greater than meeting the needs of any single segment of the population. What we need to explore is how to make housing affordable for everyone. Housing is a person’s single most important – and often greatest – expense. When anyone is spending more than 30 percent of their
