Construct Connect

In short: Building product manufacturers get into a project specification early by reaching architects during the design phase, before the spec is written. ConstructConnect® Project intelligence lets you filter by project stage. A construction data platform with phase data surfaces which projects are still in design, so you can prioritize outreach before the spec is finalized. Specification rate data shows where you're winning and losing.

In short: Six major sporting venues are currently under construction or expected to begin soon (as of July 2026). Markets at play includeOhio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Oklahoma, Illinois, and Indiana. Most of these large-scale projects are scheduled to be completed between 2028 and 2030, though plans can change. Check ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence for the most current details.

In Short: Match Score is replacing MasterSpec badges. Your products now get scored on how well they align with a spec section, not on a badge, and existing badged products auto-convert to 100%. Better product data means broader reach. Stronger match scores can surface your listing across more sections, putting you in front of more architects and engineers. Getting listed is faster now, too. A new AI-powered process builds and validates listings automatically, cutting out manual review queues.

In short: An invitation to bid (ITB) is a request you send to subcontractors, asking them to price one specific part of a project. The software you use to manage ITBs is called bid management software. It builds your bid packages, sends invites, tracks replies, and shows your coverage in one place. Prequalifying subs before you invite them means checking their safety, finances, licensing, and past work, so unqualified bidders stay out of your package.

In short: The best construction bidding software for contractors in 2026 depends on whether you need project discovery, bid management, better opportunity visibility, or a connected preconstruction workflow that combines all three.

Each year, AEC Cares brings together architecture, engineering, and construction professionals for a day of service centered on community renovation projects. The results not only transform buildings, they also change lives. This year, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization brought together around 150 volunteers for a one-day “blitz build” benefiting Rachel’s Women’s Center in San Diego.

In short: The AI debate is over. Now people want proof. Professionals aren't asking whether AI belongs in preconstruction anymore. They want proof that it saves time and drives real results before they buy in. Everyone wants to get in earlier. The goal is a timing advantage. That means earlier project visibility, better market data through ConstructConnect® Analytics, and new ways to share projects like our newly launched Source Portal. The market is restless.

In short: Four common concerns about ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence are setup time, whether projects surface too late to act on, whether it's just a shared bidders list, and the learning curve. Each have a direct answer, and most don't hold up on close inspection. Personalized setup from day one: A new guided onboarding flow builds your trade and geography-specific searches the moment you log in for the first time.

In short: AI preconstruction tools, including Ask Documents in ConstructConnect® Project Intelligence and Takeoff Boost™ in On-Screen Takeoff® and PlanSwift®, help contractors and estimators qualify projects and complete takeoffs in a fraction of the time it used to take. Matt Ferris, Preconstruction Manager at McClure Engineering, replaced Bluebeam keyword search with Ask Documents, saving 15–30 minutes per project.

In Short: Pick your sectors and geographies deliberately. Roughly half of non-residential subcategories are forecast to grow faster than construction inflation; the other half are contracting off 2025 peaks. Get into private projects before the bid window opens. Private planning activity is up 26.2% year over year in ConstructConnect's verified pipeline, and owners are selecting GCs and subs at the design stage. By the time a public RFP posts, the relationship is often already won.