The Construction Specifier

What The Construction Specifier does

The Construction Specifier is a B2B trade publication serving architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) professionals, with a particular focus on construction specifiers, architects, engineers, and contractors. Founded in 1948 and operated by Kenilworth Media Inc. from Buffalo, New York, it functions as the official publication of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI). The publication disseminates technical articles on building materials, specification methods, industry codes, and standards, organized by CSI's MasterFormat taxonomy, alongside columns such as Features, Failures, News, Videos, Products, and Demo-Casts.

Its content surface spans editorial features (e.g., window replacement detailing in historic buildings, atrium fire-resilience, glazing in transit hubs), industry news (e.g., infrastructure projects, scholarship programs), and recurring CSI News & Notes covering certifications, scholarships, and conferences. Distribution is multi-format: a website with MasterFormat-aligned search, monthly digital flipbook and PDF issues, a weekly newsletter, and event calendars for CSI National Conference, METALCON, Greenbuild, Chicago Build, AIA Women's Leadership Summit, and The Buildings Show. Sponsored product placements (QuietRock drywall, wood veneer guides) and product-listing pages serve as advertising inventory for building-product manufacturers.

The business model rests on subscription revenue (with registration-gated free access and a paid tier via the website 'Subscribe' link), sponsored/native content, and product listing fees. Reported content scope covers the United States and Canada. Revenue, subscriber counts, pricing tiers, and headcount specifics are not publicly disclosed; employee count is reported in the 11-50 range. No funding, M&A, or restructuring activity is identified, consistent with a stable, mature trade-media operation owned by a single corporate parent.

Name

The Construction Specifier

Legal name

Kenilworth Media Inc.

Website

https://constructionspecifier.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Construction Specifier is a B2B trade publication and the official magazine of the Construction Specifications Institute, serving architects, engineers, specifiers, and contractors with technical content on building materials, methods, and CSI MasterFormat-organized specifications via website, digital flipbook, and weekly newsletter.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Industry Trade Publication

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Codes & Building Standards Publishing (MPAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH), Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

Keywords

• Construction trade publication
• Building specifications magazine
• Architectural materials content
• AECO industry media
• Construction specifications news

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Construction Specifier is a B2B trade publication that publishes a monthly magazine, a weekly email newsletter, and website content covering architectural materials, methods, building codes, and construction specifications for AECO professionals. The publication serves as the official outlet of the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) and organizes editorial content across the full MasterFormat category taxonomy. It also hosts sponsored content placements and a Products section that showcases third-party construction product listings from manufacturers.

Product overview

The Construction Specifier is a B2B publication serving the architecture, engineering, construction, and owner (AECO) industry. The publication covers architectural materials and methods, featuring content categories including Features, Failures, News, Videos, Products, and Demo-Casts. The Products section showcases third-party construction product listings from manufacturers including temporary wall systems (C.O.R.E. Frameless Walls, TuffWrap), aluminum composite panels (ALPOLIC™/NC-US), lath products (Ultra-Lath®, Gray Ultra-Lath®), insulation trims (CI Trims), and suspended covers (SmartSeam). The publication also features sponsored product content such as QuietRock Sound Reducing Drywall.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Construction Specifier Magazine Monthly B2B trade magazine covering architectural materials, methods, building codes, and construction specifications for AECO professionals, delivered as digital flipbook and offline PDF editions through a subscription.
• Weekly Architectural Materials & Methods Newsletter Weekly email newsletter delivering architectural materials and methods content to subscribers, supporting ongoing technical education for AECO professionals.
• Sponsored Content & Product Listings Paid sponsored content placements and product listings sold to building product manufacturers and material suppliers to reach AECO specifiers and architects through the publication's website and editorial channels.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Engineering News-Record (ENR): Long-standing trade publication covering the construction industry with deep ties to engineering and contractor audiences. Both ENR and The Construction Specifier serve the AECO community through ongoing editorial, project news, and product/technical content.
• Buildings magazine: Facility-focused trade publication covering building operations, construction, and specifications. Targets an overlapping commercial building owner/operator and specifier audience.
• Concrete Construction: Trade publication covering concrete materials, methods, and specifications—aligned with MasterFormat Division 03, a heavily covered section on The Construction Specifier.
• Walls & Ceilings: Trade magazine focused on building envelope, framing, drywall, and finishes. Competes for the same product manufacturer sponsorships and AECO reader attention in the envelope and finishes domain.
• Architectural Record: Flagship architecture trade publication delivering technical content to design professionals. Shares an architectural/specifier audience with The Construction Specifier and overlaps in coverage of building materials, codes, and detailing.
• Building Design + Construction (BD+C): B2B publication serving architects, engineers, and contractors with a focus on commercial building projects. Overlaps with The Construction Specifier in technical content, product coverage, and a similar AECO specifier/contractor reader base.
• Architect's Newspaper: Architecture-focused publication covering design, practice, and construction. Targets a similar reader of architects and specifiers and competes for the same sponsored content and event marketing dollars.

Emerging players

• Construction Dive: Digital-first construction industry news outlet. Reaches the same AECO audience as The Construction Specifier via higher-frequency digital publishing, representing a channel shift threat to traditional trade media.
• AEC Daily (AEC DAILY): Provider of free continuing education for architects, engineers, and contractors. Competes with The Construction Specifier's certification/CE content for the attention of specifiers seeking professional development credits.

Broad incumbents

• RSMeans construction cost data ( Gordian ): Provider of construction cost data and estimating guides widely used by specifiers. While not a magazine, RSMeans serves a similar specification and estimating audience and competes for training/CPD/CE content dollars adjacent to The Construction Specifier.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-construction-specifier

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Construction Specifier