BEHLEN AChieves Recognition at 2026 Event
April 19, 2026: At the 57th Annual MBCEA Conference and MBMA Spring Meeting at the Hotel Polaris in Colorado Springs this April, there were many Behlen mentions and connections – just what you’d expect from a company entering its 90th anniversary year.
This annual event is the premier gathering for the nation’s metal building industry, bringing together contractors, erectors, manufacturers, and suppliers for multi-day sessions for education, networking, and innovation.
2026 MBCEA Highlights
At this year’s conference, TR “Tony” and Phil Raimondo were recognized for their induction into the Metal Construction News (MCN) Hall of Fame. Tony Raimondo Jr., accepted his dad’s award. Patrick Raimondo accepted his dad’s award. This was a memorable and heartfelt family moment, further acknowledging TR and Phil’s involvement in leading Behlen to become the business it is today.
Another Behlen connection is Richard Ahrens, a longtime Behlen Builder who was also inducted into the 2026 MCN Hall of Fame. Richard is a third-generation industry leader recognized for advancing the use of pre-engineered metal buildings, especially in South Florida, when they were not widely used. His pioneering work on the Florida Building Code Advisory Board was vitally important to our industry. Richard Ahren’s career is profiled in the April 2026 issue of Metal Construction News.
Building of the Year
It’s also exciting to hear the announcement of the MBCEA Building of the Year. For 2026, this award went to The Refinery Fieldhouse & Event Center, a Behlen Building Systems project by GBS Enterprises LLC of Bel Aire, Kan. The Refinery is a 200,000 sq. ft. sports, recreation, and event facility in Garden City, Kan. We agree with the Building of the Year choice, as The Refinery Fieldhouse & Event Center was also named Behlen’s Building of the Year.
2026 Oil Can Award
Wes Young, Product Innovation Manager at Behlen Building Systems, spoke at the 2026 conference and presented the 2026 Oil Can Award. Young received the award in 2025, which recognizes outstanding service to the metal building industry and contributions to MBCEA and MBI.
Safety Recognition
Behlen Building Systems received a Superior Safety Award, accepted by Patrick Raimondo at the event. This award recognizes companies for outstanding safety performance and zero incidents during the calendar year. Awards like these align with our industry’s emphasis on employee protection and well-being.
In summary, the 2026 annual event served as a reminder of our industry’s success. All Behlen employees can take great pride in helping make past achievements a reality and future ones within our grasp.