Oregon construction, reported in depth.
Long-form coverage of the people, projects, and policies shaping construction across Oregon — from Salem's residential pipeline to Portland's commercial reinvention.
Sustainable Building in Oregon: From Voluntary to Standard
Energy code updates, embodied-carbon scrutiny, and procurement preferences are pushing sustainable building from a voluntary differentiator to a baseline expectation.
By Elena Park · Dec 18, 2024
Salem's Construction Labor Market: Tight, Aging, and Adapting
Salem-area trade labor remains tight. The story behind the numbers is a workforce that's aging out, a training pipeline that's catching up, and contractors learning to plan further ahead.
By David Chen · Dec 2, 2024
The Portland-Salem Construction Supply Chain Has Quietly Healed
Lead times on framing lumber, structural steel, and major mechanical equipment have normalized along the I-5 corridor. The bottlenecks that remain are concentrated and predictable.
By Margaret Hollis · Nov 20, 2024
Oregon's Seismic Retrofit Wave Reshapes Older Building Stock
From unreinforced masonry in downtown Portland to mid-century schools in Salem, seismic retrofit work is emerging as one of the state's most consistent construction segments.
By Daniel Reyes · Apr 2, 2025
ADUs in Oregon: What Contractors and Homeowners Should Expect in 2025
Accessory dwelling units remain one of the fastest-permitting residential categories in Salem and Portland. Here's how the numbers, rules, and build economics are shaping up.
By Anika Prasad · Apr 18, 2025