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.
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More
The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →