Tag: association

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending July 3, 2026

Construction is one of America’s most patriotic industries because we build the nation, live the values that made America great and leave every community stronger than we found it. For 250 years, builders have helped write the American story – and we’re proud to continue that legacy today.

In honor of 250 years of the United States of America, this week’s recap features three reasons why Pennsylvania’s construction industry has a deep tradition of patriotism that is rooted in its history, workforce and mission.

  1. Construction Literally Builds America: No industry has a more direct connection to the nation’s growth than construction. Pennsylvania contractors build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps America moving. Construction professionals don’t just work in America—they build the places where Americans live, work, learn, and serve. That creates a strong sense of pride and purpose.
  2. The Industry Shares America’s Founding Values: Construction reflects many of the same values that have defined America for 250 years. Many contractors are family-owned businesses that have been passed from one generation to the next. Pennsylvania has construction companies that are fourth-, fifth-, and even sixth-generation family businesses. Those traditions mirror the American story of entrepreneurship, perseverance, and building something lasting for future generations. Some of our industry’s values:
    • Hard work
    • Self-reliance
    • Personal responsibility
    • Teamwork
    • Freedom to build businesses and careers
    • Opportunity through the skilled trades
  3. Construction Has a Strong Tradition of Service: The construction workforce has long included military veterans, volunteer firefighters, first responders, coaches, community leaders, and civic volunteers. Many construction professionals see their work as serving their communities, not just earning a living. Building a safer bridge, a new school, or a veterans’ facility has a lasting impact on people’s lives. Construction companies regularly:
    • Rebuild communities after a natural disaster.
    • Donate time, equipment, and materials to charitable causes.
    • Support local schools, youth sports and community organizations.

Happy 250th Birthday America!

Penn Installations Earns KCA’s Highest Safety Honor for Pennsylvania Subcontractors

HARRISBURG, PA — The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) proudly announced that Penn Installations has been recognized as the as the safest subcontractor in Pennsylvania among companies reporting more than 100,000 work hours in 2025.

The award was presented during KCA’s annual Construction Celebration, where construction leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered to recognize excellence in safety, workforce development, and the building industry.

Based in Summerhill, Pennsylvania, Penn Installations provides construction services on projects throughout the Commonwealth and has established a reputation for delivering quality work while maintaining an unwavering commitment to employee safety.

The KCA Safety Award recognizes subcontractors that demonstrate exceptional safety performance while completing a significant volume of work. Receiving the award reflects a company-wide commitment to protecting employees, investing in training, and fostering a culture where safety is the foundation of every project.

“Penn Installations has set the standard for safety excellence in Pennsylvania’s construction industry,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of the KCA. “Managing more than 100,000 work hours while achieving the Commonwealth’s top safety record is an extraordinary accomplishment. This recognition reflects the dedication of every employee and leader who makes safety the first priority every day.”

Penn Installations credits the award to the commitment of its entire workforce, from field employees to supervisors and management, who work together to ensure every project is completed safely and successfully.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the Keystone Contractors Association,” said Howard Bernstein, President of Penn Installations. “Safety is more than a program at Penn Installations—it is part of our culture. Every member of our team takes personal responsibility for protecting one another, and this award is a reflection of that shared commitment. We thank KCA for this recognition and remain dedicated to continuous improvement as we serve clients across Pennsylvania.”

The Keystone Contractors Association’s annual Safety Awards recognize contractors whose outstanding safety performance demonstrates that protecting workers is essential to building successful projects and a stronger construction industry.

About Penn Installations

Penn Installations, headquartered in Summerhill, Pennsylvania, is a leading construction subcontractor serving clients throughout Pennsylvania. The company is recognized for its commitment to quality workmanship, dependable service, and an industry-leading culture of safety.

About the Keystone Contractors Association

The Keystone Contractors Association is a leading Pennsylvania commercial construction association, representing construction contractors and industry partners. KCA advances workforce development, safety, education, and advocacy efforts to strengthen Pennsylvania’s construction industry and build the next generation of construction professionals.

Media Contact:
Jon O’Brien
Executive Director
Keystone Contractors Association
717-731-6272
Jon@KeystoneContractors.com

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending June 26, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Pennsylvania budget negotiations continue to influence construction: With the state budget deadline approaching, infrastructure funding, economic development incentives and data center legislation continue to be negotiated. Contractors are watching closely because final budget decisions could affect public building, infrastructure and economic development projects across the Commonwealth. READ MORE.

Philadelphia institutional construction remains active: Despite continued softness in the office market, healthcare, higher education and institutional construction continue to provide opportunities in the Philadelphia region. Commercial developers remain focused on adaptive reuse and specialized facilities rather than speculative office construction. READ MORE.

Panzitta Enterprises Receives KCA’s Highest Safety Honor – The H.B. Alexander Safety Cup: At this year’s Construction Celebration, Panzitta Enterprises was honored as the general contractor in Pennsylvania with the best safety record among firms reporting with over 100,000 hours worked. Named in honor of H.B. Alexander who was a pioneer in Pennsylvania’s construction industry for many reasons like helping the Associated General Contractors of America establish its Safety Committee in the early 1950s, which is almost two decades before OSHA was created. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending June 19, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Data Centers Become Pennsylvania’s Biggest Construction Story: The debate over large-scale AI data center development intensified this week as projects across the Commonwealth faced increasing scrutiny from local governments, environmental groups, and state policymakers. Proposed facilities in Chester County, the Poconos, and other regions are generating major discussions about energy demand, permitting, workforce needs, and economic development. Despite opposition in some communities, state leaders continue to view data centers as a major source of construction jobs and investment. READ MORE.

Dauphin Highlands Golf Course Sold for Data Center Redevelopment: One of the week’s biggest Central Pennsylvania development stories was confirmation that the former Dauphin Highlands Golf Course property near Harrisburg will close and be redeveloped into a data center campus. The $45.6 million transaction is another example of how AI infrastructure demand is reshaping Pennsylvania’s construction landscape and creating future opportunities for sitework, utilities, electrical contractors, and building trades. READ MORE.

Pennsylvania Housing Construction Shortage Draws Attention: A new statewide housing analysis released this week estimated Pennsylvania needs approximately 450,000 additional housing units by 2035. The report highlights permitting delays, development regulations, and infrastructure constraints as significant contributors to construction costs and housing shortages. This is likely to fuel discussions around zoning reform and accelerating residential construction approvals. READ MORE.

CAPTION: Recently the KCA hosted the 2026 Construction Celebration. KCA President Joseph Orr III welcomed the ballroom full of construction professionals and elected officials. More news and announcements from this event will be posted over summer.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 29, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week.

Material Cost Pressures Return: Contractors are once again dealing with rising prices for copper, lumber, aluminum, and diesel fuel. These increases are creating new challenges for estimating, bidding, and project budgeting across both commercial and residential construction sectors. READ MORE.

Pittsburgh Lands $418 Million Convention Center Hotel Project: Plans were announced for a new 500-room luxury hotel adjacent to Pittsburgh’s convention center. The project represents one of the largest commercial construction developments announced in Western Pennsylvania this year and is expected to generate significant work for contractors and trades. READ MORE.

KCA Wraps Up 2026 Mental Health Awareness Month with a Powerful Discussion: The KCA’s Mental Health Awareness Task Force hosted Hard Hats & Healing: Continuing the Conversation on Mental Health to wrap up this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month. This event featured a construction executive who provided an update on his mental health journey two years after his initial KCA presentation. He shared his struggles with severe clinical anxiety and depression, emphasizing the importance of medications as a starting point for treatment, the role of faith in recovery and the critical need for supportive communities and understanding leaders in the construction leaders. To view the discussion: Hard Hats & Healing: Continuing the Conversation on Mental Health in Construction.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 22, 2026

Please join the KCA in taking a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. May we carry their legacy forward with gratitude, respect and a commitment to the freedoms they protected.

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week.

Contractors Relieved by PA Supreme Court Decision in the Clearfield County Case: The case was Clearfield County v. Transystems Corp., involving defects alleged at the Clearfield County jail project that had originally been completed in 1981. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Pennsylvania’s 12-year construction statute of repose cannot be bypassed by government entities using the doctrine of nullum tempus (“time does not run against the king”). If the county had won, public owners potentially could have pursued construction claims decades after projects were completed. The Keystone Contractors Association filed an amicus brief supporting the contractors and arguing against extending nullum tempus to statutes of repose. The Court’s opinion specifically acknowledged KCA’s participation along with several industry groups. This week the KCA hosted a seminar on the decision, to watch the video: We Dodged A Bullet, Understanding the PA Supreme Court’s Clearfield County Decision.

AI & Data Center Construction Boom Continues to Dominate: The largest story in Pennsylvania construction remains the surge in AI-driven data center development. State lawmakers are now debating new regulations tied to energy use, utility infrastructure, and clean-energy requirements for hyperscale facilities. Major projects tied to Amazon Web Services and the Homer City redevelopment continue driving huge labor demand across the trades. READ MORE.

Office-to-Residential Conversions Accelerating: Adaptive reuse continues gaining traction across Pennsylvania cities. A 120-year-old office tower in Downtown Pittsburgh is being converted into affordable housing in a $30 million redevelopment project. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 1, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Data center boom sparks backlash (statewide impact): A major controversy is unfolding in Archbald (Lackawanna County), where multiple large-scale data centers are proposed—covering ~14% of the town. Residents are pushing back over environmental impact, water usage, and grid strain, forcing state leaders (including Gov. Shapiro) to reconsider how aggressively to fast-track these projects. This reflects a broader statewide trend: rapid growth of AI/data infrastructure vs. community resistance—a defining construction issue right now. Data centers are becoming one of the largest drivers of non-residential construction in PA, but also one of the most politically sensitive. READ MORE.

$10B power plant + data center construction project underway: A massive energy + data center campus project near Homer City, Pennsylvania has begun construction, with projections of thousands of jobs. This project reinforces the energy–construction linkage and shows where large-scale capital is flowing in Pennsylvania construction. READ MORE.

Permitting reform framed as a workforce/jobs issue: US Senator Dave McCormick introduced federal legislation targeting permitting delays that are holding up infrastructure and energy projects. The argument: delays are tying up thousands of potential construction jobs and trillions in economic activity. Workforce shortages aren’t just about labor supply anymore. Project delays = idle workforce capacity + missed job creation. READ MORE.

CAPTION: The KCA Board of Directors and their spouses gathered recently for its Spring meeting.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending April 24, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Downtown Pittsburgh construction surge tied to NFL Draft: Multiple projects were fast-tracked or completed ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The city is seeing a wave of public-space upgrades and infrastructure improvements tied to tourism and long-term redevelopment. Economic impact is projected at $200M+, reinforcing the role of large events in accelerating construction timelines. READ MORE.

New $31M Arts Landing Park opens (rapid delivery project): Arts Landing Park is a 4-acre, $31M project opening this week. Delivered in just 22 months, which is notably fast for a project of this scale. Includes playgrounds, performance space, and public art infrastructure. Speed-to-delivery and private funding models are becoming more common in urban redevelopment. READ MORE.

Energy Proposals in the PA House Have Mixed Receptions: Pennsylvania House Democrats have proposed an energy package aimed at lowering consumer costs, but a key provision to cap utility return on equity (ROE) is raising concerns from industry groups. Critics argue the cap could discourage billions in infrastructure investment—like grid upgrades and pipelines—potentially leading to long-term reliability issues and higher costs down the road. READ MORE.

Photo Caption: This week the ACE Mentor Central PA Chapter held its annual breakfast fundraiser, which honored this year’s scholarship winners. In the photo was the event’s keynote speaker, Rocky Bleier, who gave an inspiring address stressing the importance of resilience, teamwork and hard work. Rocky is seen with the ACE Mentor Centre County Scholarship Recipient Gilby Martin and Gilby’s family.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending April 17, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories for the week:

$18M public-space construction project unveiled in Philadelphia: The Thomas Paine Plaza redesign officially debuted after a 3-year, $18 million construction effort, and it includes new public-use features (skate space, gathering areas, future statue installation). This signals continued urban redevelopment and public infrastructure investment ahead of major tourism events (World Cup, etc.). READ MORE.

Natural gas pipeline project back in play (regional impact): The long-delayed Constitution Pipeline (PA → NY) could be operational by 2027. It revives large-scale energy construction activity tied to Pennsylvania and it could drive pipeline, compressor station, and related infrastructure work across the state. READ MORE.

Data center construction boom—and pushback: Pennsylvania is at the center of a massive AI/data center construction surge (potentially $100B+). Local communities are increasingly pushing back over land use, environmental, and displacement concerns. This is one of the biggest long-term construction opportunities in PA—but also a growing source of zoning battles and permitting risk. READ MORE.

PHOTO CAPTION: This week the ACE Mentor Program hosted a construction hands-on day for high school students in Centre County. Special thanks to Hilti Group for bring all the construction equipment and to McCrossin for working with students to safely use the tools.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending February 20, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Johnson & Johnson Plans $1B Manufacturing Plant in Montgomery County: Global health care company Johnson & Johnson announced a more than $1 billion investment to build a next-generation cell therapy manufacturing facility in Lower Gwynedd Township. The project is expected to create over 4,000 construction jobs and about 500 permanent biomanufacturing positions, and is supported by state incentives from Pennsylvania. READ MORE.

State Senators from Both Sides of the Aisle Point to Barriers in Housing Construction: Pennsylvania legislators from both parties are calling attention to hurdles slowing housing development, saying “everything takes too damn long,” highlighting ongoing challenges in permitting and zoning that impact the construction sector. READ MORE.

KCA Scholarship Deadline Nearing – The deadline to submit in the 2026 KCA Scholarship Program is approaching… it’s March 1, 2026. Launched in 2022, this year’s KCA Scholarship awards will put the Association over $100,000. We see you next generation of construction leaders, and we want to help you succeed! For more information please visit: KCA Scholarship Program.

Scholarship recipients will be announced at this year’s Construction Celebration on June 8, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!