Read Rochester Area Builders' latest Member Newsletter "Foundations" through Issuu. Most Recent Edition: Oct-Nov 2020 View past issues of Foundations at https://issuu.com/rochesterareabuilders
NAHB/Builders Mutual Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) Safety within the home building industry is top priority, especially since industry-related jobs are among the top 25 most dangerous in America. This year, safety has taken on a whole new meaning. Day-to-day safety procedures have been altered and enhanced to include COVID-19 procedures. Members of Rochester Area Builders are trustworthy sources for the most up-to-date safety procedures and best practices. We want to encourage those who have
Whether building new or undertaking a complete or partial renovation, eco-friendly homes in Rochester, MN are having a positive impact for our community and the entire world. What defines an eco-friendly home? Eco-friendly homes are specifically designed and built to have a low impact on our environmental resources by using materials and technology to reduce a home’s energy needs. When lower energy needs are achieved, we help our community and the planet by decreasing our personal carbon
Construction Technology Trend: BIM Technology Technology is now playing a larger role than ever in how companies plan and function on a day-to-day basis. In the construction industry, every day operations are often measured by IF the job is getting done and not HOW the job is getting done. Rather than focusing on the ability to get the job done, how can you focus on getting the job done efficiently? Utilizing technology can help cut down on time and money wasted when going through outdated and often
Home Builders Are Dream Makers in Rochester, MN When the time is right for you, the members of Rochester Area Builders can turn the home of your dreams into an outstanding, beautiful reality. The home builders of Rochester Area Builders are dream makers. When you build your own home, it reflects your family and your values. It’s a statement that says this is where I want to create our family’s memories; this is the land, city, and neighborhood where I want to put down roots. It’s an awesome feeling
A Modern Take on Leasing: What to Know About Build-To-Rent Homes Build-to-Rent (BTR) homes have been an increasingly popular trend amongst home buyers and builders alike since 2019. Emerging from the Foreclosure Crisis of 2007-2010 came the concept of “house flipping”. Many investors took advantage of the crisis by purchasing shambled homes, with plans to rebuild them from the inside-out, creating a sustainable space for renters to reside. Once housing prices began to increase, house flipping began to
Building Strong Community, Building Together – The Residential Builders of Rochester, MN Since 1953, Rochester Area Builders has been building Rochester, Minnesota’s framework of businesses and homes, helping create one of the most desirable cities in America to live in. RAB is a professional builder’s organization comprised of developers, contractors, and commercial and residential builders. All RAB members are licensed, insured, and agree to abide by a code of ethics that promotes trust and growth
How Rochester Was Built Founded in 1854, the city of Rochester has a rich history. The skyline is brimming with iconic buildings that represent the city's diverse community. Rochester Area Builders was chartered in 1953 with a mission to advance the building industry in southeast Minnesota. We’ve highlighted three of our favorite local historic landmarks. Mayowood Mansion Originally situated on more than 3,000 acres, the Mayowood Mansion has been an integral part of Rochester’s history since 1911.
As jobsites reopen, the construction industry is anything but “business as usual”. The pandemic of 2020 has affected how we operate on every level. From job safety to project timelines to labor, the virus has changed many aspects of the industry. But how do we move forward? Here are a few construction trends we can expect after COVID-19. Social Distancing with Technology The current social separation on jobsites will likely continue long after the pandemic ends. Expect to see less group activities and
Quality of Life and Quality Residential Construction in Rochester, MN It’s a safe bet that you can look at any poll or survey regarding American cities and their quality of life, and without a doubt, you’ll see Rochester MN on the top of most of these surveys. When reality is truth, everyone takes notice. Rochester is home to the world-famous Mayo Clinic, a five-star public school system, unique and growing neighborhoods with close proximity to major sports teams, and an abundance of designated outdoor
The future of the building industry in southeast Minnesota starts with our community’s students. Rochester Area Builders sponsors a variety of programs from scholarships to job shadowing. Our goal is to expose our youth to different industry jobs and give them the opportunity to pursue building careers. We encourage school administrators, counselors, students, and anyone who wants to be involved in helping restore the skilled trades industry to contact Rochester Area Builders. “Our goal is to get
You’ve worked your whole life for this moment. You’ve taken your idea, created a product, launched a business, and now you’re ready to expand. You’ve found the perfect location, and the time is now at hand to design and construct a building. However, when you look at all the listings for commercial builders in the Rochester, MN area, where do you even start? There are many to choose from. You ask around for recommendations, and you get a mixed bag of good, bad, indifferent, or somewhere in-between. So,
Rochester Area Builders is an association that includes hundreds of local businesses. Over the past 67 years, we have been focused on building our community. Right now, our community needs support more than ever. We’ve put together a list of resources to help support local building professionals and residents during this time. For Builders: • COVID-19 Emergency Economic Development loans for small businesses directly affected by the Governor’s Order. • OSHA guidance and resources for preventing
Job Shadow Spotlight: Kraus-Anderson Construction Rochester Area Builders is proud to offer job shadow opportunities to students interested in the skilled trades industry. This has been a successful way to introduce local youth to the trades and ensure local employers have access to a talent pool of qualified candidates. Kraus-Anderson Construction recently hosted students through the program and was able to hire Daniel Hadrath as an Apprentice Carpenter. “The construction industry and, in
For many folks, building their dream home can be a lifelong goal and a great opportunity to create something they’ve always wanted. This wonderful ambition can bring some difficult choices and extensive hours of manual labor. For some, they may enjoy the idea of taking years to build their home themselves. While it may sound like a good idea, the licensing and permits required can be difficult to attain. Some of the main steps involved in home building in Rochester, MN can be quite extensive and hard for
When you are thinking about your time and resources this year and where you want to invest it, you might just want to consider Rochester Area Builders. As a major advocate for our industry, the RAB and all of its members continuously campaign for improved processes and policies, continuing education opportunities, and promoting skilled trades careers to our local youth. Charted in 1953, RAB is the trusted voice of the building industry in southeast Minnesota. Hundreds of members throughout the area
For anyone looking to build a commercial property, it’s just as important to find the right builder as it is the perfect property. The best professionals usually join organizations that help them network and share new skills. Professional builders strive to learn the most they can about their field to ensure they can do the best job possible for their customers. Great builders are also well established and have positive references from past jobs. For individuals looking for the best commercial builders in
Grab your planner and save the dates for the 2020 Rochester Area Builders Home Show, February 7 – 9 at the Mayo Civic Center. Forget Pinterest, the Home Show is where you can have real conversations with local builders. This annual event is full of extremely talented builders, ready to share the latest design ideas, tips, tricks, and hacks to make your next home project experience a breeze. Whether you’re looking to build a custom home or remodel your existing home, you’ll be blown away and inspired by the
At Rochester Area Builders, our members see it time and time again. An eager homeowner approaches, sure that they are ready to build their dream home, only to discover that they don’t have a good plan in place. By using the following simple home builder tips, you can avoid this problem and easily escape the stress that comes with building a home. Building a home in Rochester, MN, allows you to customize and create a home that’s precisely specific to your needs. Just as exciting is finally having a
Supporting the Rochester MN Community As the year comes to a close, many of us will look back on all we’ve accomplished and make plans for the year ahead. Throughout 2019, our Rochester Area Builders members generously gave their time, talent, and money to support people and organizations in southeastern Minnesota. Here are a few of the many ways we’re committed to supporting our community: Studs, Struts and StilettosThe 2019 Stud, Struts and Stilettos event raised more than $17,000 for Two Rivers
Check Out the RAB Home Building Guide to Help Your Home Building Journey We are our community: We know that shopping for a builder is just as important as shopping for your parcel of land. That’s why we pride ourselves on being the best professionals in the Rochester, MN area. Our team consistently seeks new opportunities to grow and develop and is always excited about learning. As an organization, we’re proud of our commitment to industry-specific training, and we’re always thrilled to network with our
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
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
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
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
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
