MCAA Regional Report, Region I

Words: Jed OlafsonAlaska - No State Chairman
Idaho - No State Chairman
Montana - Zack Anderson
Oregon - No State Chairman
Washington - Jed Olafson

Overall, the Pacific Northwest has seen marked improvement in masonry construction hours in 2017.

The masonry industry in the northwest came together in 2016 to create the Masonry Systems Guide, Northwest Edition. In 2017, we utilized the year to edit, revise, add to and research new information for the 2018 Edition which will be published in January 2018.

Alaska

No report.

Eastern Washington/Idaho

Bricklayer hours are up about 5% from last year. Masonry school construction is booming in Spokane and Eastern Washington which is keeping all our contractors very busy. The failure to pass the construction budget in Washington State is delaying some of these projects which will likely make for a slower spring. We continue with our promotional activities at Gonzaga and Washington State University as well as the local AIA and engineering communities.

Oregon

Currently there are two engineering classes sponsored by the Masonry Institute of Oregon (MIO) with books and instructors, one at Oregon State University with 35 students. The second at Portland State University has 30 students and are planning a third in the spring at Oregon Institute of Technology with an expected 10 students.

We continue to battle the wood industry initiatives and construction product mandates that create an unfair playing field.

IMI has hired an engineer, with a focus on restoration to work within the state and support the design community with masonry information.

Montana

The Masonry Industry Promotion Group is working with union mason contractors and masonry suppliers to develop masonry programs at Montana State University in the architectural department. Design build projects, lectures, hands-on demos and plant tours have all been implemented at MSU.

W. WA (Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Puget Sound)

Tower cranes are booming throughout the Puget Sound with construction activity on nearly all available open land. Masonry project bidding has been at record levels — creating a severe manpower shortage across all projectories of masonry installation.

Additionally, we continue to participate in AIA, CSI and SEABEC programs throughout the Puget Sound. We developed a project tracking database that is being used to track masonry marketshare. We once again sold out our Masonry Day Annual Golf Tournament.

Challenges include: meeting the manpower need and building code infringements; wood industry legislative initiatives.

The Masonry Institute of Washington utilized addressing building envelope issues with the State Legislature and the building code council, hosting monthly new product lunch and learns as well as in architecture/GC office lunch and Learn; and the Annual Golf Tournament and Industry Meeting.

New partnerships have been formed with the concrete industry and the International Masonry Institute.
Lasers in Layout
September 2026

Lasers have become an essential tool in modern construction. There was a time when rotary lasers were so expensive that only one person on the crew was trusted to set them up and operate them. As technology improved and prices became more affordable, rota

Elsa Bueno Jeff Becker
Technical Talks
Levels Tool Accessories
Read More
Hines Market Square
September 2026

Hines Market Square, now known as Aris Market Square, is a mixed-use, multifamily development located in downtown Houston. The architect on this project, Ziegler Cooper, is known for reshaping the urban landscape. In keeping with their vision, the buildin

Dawn Kornegay
Case Study
Brick Clay Brick Residential
Read More
Understanding Met-Guard Protection in Work Boots
September 2026

Masonry work demands precision and strength, but it also comes with unavoidable risks. From handling heavy materials like brick and block to operating cutting equipment and working in tight, active environments, tradesmen and tradeswomen regularly expose

Andrew Moffatt
MAP Partner
Safety - Footwear Sponsored
Read More
Why Joint Profiles Matter In Masonry Restoration
September 2026

For generations, masonry structures have been defined not only by the brick, block, or stone used in construction, but also by the mortar joints that tie everything together. Whether restoring a historic brick facade, repairing natural stone veneer, or re

Paul Bender
Technical Talks
Joint Reinforcement Jointers Restoration
Read More