As we wind down the first quarter of 2024, here are five important issues to keep in mind.
First, let us consider onshoring. A decade ago, it was assumed American businesses would embrace a dramatic return to stateside manufacturing. That did not happen as intensely as assumed. The concept has resurfaced, however, and we are seeing renewed interest in U.S. manufacturing, as evidenced by the foreign and domestic car manufacturers and microchip technology firms rapidly expanding throughout the country.
The homegrown growth of such industries plays right into the wheelhouse of the metal building industry. Both warehousing and manufacturing are growing markets for us and will most likely continue to be leading indicators of metal building popularity for the near future.
Statistics from the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA) indicate that metal building orders for the warehousing and manufacturing sectors were up about 5 percent during the 2021–2022 time frame. In addition, MBMA’s recent end-use report shows that the overall growth in metal building sales landed between 5 and 6 percent in 2023. This all points to a secure short-term future for our industry.
My second point: we should all consider approaching the future with optimism. At MBMA’s 2023 annual meeting, we gleaned many good insights from financial market analyst Alex Chausovsky. When broaching the subject of a potential recession, he made the point that the perception of recession is grounded in one’s perspective. A banker will probably have an optimistic view of the future, but a consumer might be less positive, as the price of goods soar. Whether we face a recession or not, one thing is clear—the metal building market will continue to be a great solution for cost-conscious companies and savvy corporate clients.
A third takeaway from this column is an invitation to your own personal growth. As I enter my second year as the chair of MBMA, I want to point out some of the great resources the association has developed. I am particularly impressed with the educational tools. If you go to mbmaeducation.org, you will see how MBMA is having a measurable influence on architectural students and faculty. From the design competition to the folio educational series, to the annual faculty workshop, the site is packed with valuable materials that truly educate, inform, and enlighten. I hope you will visit and explore the site. (And I bet you will learn something new within minutes.)
One other way the MBMA is on the leading edge has to do with its decades-long commitment to cutting-edge research that leads to industry-impacting design manuals. Of note is the update to the MBMA Metal Building Systems Manual. First published in 1959, it is internationally recognized as the primary technical resource for the metal building industry. It has been updated consistently over the years to incorporate the results of continuing research undertaken by MBMA, its member companies, and other industry groups. In many respects, it reflects refinements and advances in the knowledge of load application methods and design. As a result, all examples in the current manual are being updated to align with the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 7-22. In tandem with this effort, MBMA engineers and several dozen MBMA member firm volunteers are completing updates to both the Energy Design Guide for Metal Building Systems and the Fire Resistance Design Guide for Metal Building Systems. Watch for upcoming announcements.
My fifth and final point is this: Join us at the following important upcoming events!
April 24 to 26 is the joint MBMA/Metal Building Contractors & Erectors Association (MBCEA) meeting in San Diego. There will be plenty of lively learning sessions, an industry trade show, and—of course—a round of golf. Do not miss it! Contact either MBMA or MBCEA to sign up.
Then, head over to Washington D.C. for the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Conference on Architecture & Design, which runs from June 5 to 8. We are very excited that MBMA—for the first time—will be exhibiting on the trade show floor. We will be engaging with architects to help them see myriad opportunities that metal buildings provide for efficiency, sustainability, resiliency, creativity, and reliability. We hope to see you there!
Headlines & Highlights
- MBMA Releases CEU Course: Evaluating Metal Building Systems Using COMcheck.
- MBMA Spearheads Architecture Faculty Workshop April 10 in Charlotte, N.C.
- MBMA to Host Design Seminar in Cleveland, Ohio, July 23–25.
- MBMA Announces New Addition to Architectural Significance in Metal Buildings Series: St. David’s Performance Center, the Practice Facility for Austin FC, a Major League Soccer Team.
- MBMA Offers More Than 50 Inspiring and Educational Videos on YouTube’s MBMA media channel.
- MBMA Supports MBCEA’s Million-dollar Training Curriculum. Donate Now at mbcea.org.
- MBMA Boasts a LinkedIn Following of More Than 7,500 Professionals. Stay Current by Becoming an MBMA LinkedIn Follower Today!
Mark Van Dyken is the current chair of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association (MBMA). He was named general manager for Nucor in 2006 and voted in as vice-president in 2020. Van Dyken joined the MBMA board in 2019 and was named vice-chair in 2022.
