SMACNews May/June 2026

SMACNA’s spring events made the case that the contractors winning tomorrow are the ones learning, lobbying and connecting today.

Jul 14, 2026

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SMACNews Issue Archive

Market Sectors

Architectural

ARCHITECTURAL: 173 Feet Up, 130 Years In

Heather & Little brings Cornell University’s McGraw Tower back from the brink.

READ TIME: 5 MINS

HVAC

HVAC: Mapping the Work

How shops can use AI to turn messy, real-world operations into clear processes, usable SOPs and repeatable training tools.

READ TIME: 4 MINS

Industrial

INDUSTRIAL: Lee Mechanical’s 250,000-Pound Sheet Metal Answer to the Data Center Boom

When a long-term client needed a massive mechanical infrastructure overhaul at a data center supply chain facility in southeastern Wisconsin, Lee Mechanical brought the solution.

READ TIME: 4 MINS

Residential

RESIDENTIAL: The 12-month Build

Inside Design Aire’s race to install 259 HVAC systems before Washington University’s fall semester.

READ TIME: 4 MINS

Testing, Adjusting and Balancing

TESTING, ADJUSTING AND BALANCING: No More Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Fire and life safety systems hidden inside ductwork have gone unchecked for too long. Industry experts say their moment of focus has arrived.

READ TIME: 5 MINS

Learning, Lobbying & Lasting Connections

When I travel, people often ask me why SMACNA membership is important. Networking with peers is a big reason, since it lets us learn from the best in the industry and discover new ideas.

READ TIME: 3 MINS

How Contractors Are Rethinking Fabrication

At SMACNA’s Fab Forum, contractors discussed the future of shop productivity — from prefab and inventory control to automation.

READ TIME: 10 MINS

Inside SMACNA’s First Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference

Contractors, policymakers and industry experts convened on Capitol Hill for two days of policy briefings, lobbying and hard conversations about tariffs, pensions and the future of the construction industry.

READ TIME: 12 MINS

Caged on Clark Street

When FX’s “The Bear” needed a bear cage for its now-iconic opening scene, they called a sheet metal shop in the Chicago suburbs. It became the biggest show in the city.

READ TIME: 7 MINS

Chapter Spotlight: From Tennis Courts to the Corner Office

CHAPTER Spotlight: Tri-County SMACNA: How friendship, tragedy and a family affair reshaped one SMACNA chapter

READ TIME: 6 MINS

Supreme Court Confirms Broad Actuarial Discretion in Withdrawal Liability Calculations

On May 21, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in M & K Employee Solutions v. Trustees of the IAM National Pension Fund that should be of interest to unionized construction contractors participating in multi-employer pension plans.

READ TIME: 4 MINS