Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner with us
MCAA Logo
Log in Sign up Join Hi, there Account
2026 Midyear Registration is OPEN
Find a contractor Buyer's guide Partner
Log in Sign up Join Account

Free blueprint reading app for students

Words: Dan KamysPlanGrid has emerged as one of the most mature apps for viewing, amending and discussing construction drawings on a collaborative cloud-based platform.

It is the number-one most downloaded app for reading blueprints, and collaboratively sharing plan updates including photos in the iTunes Store.

Established in 2011, PlanGrid is now the largest digital blueprint repository in the world, with over 30 million sheets of construction documents in the cloud, and they’ve helped build over 300,000 construction projects. Construction clients are only just beginning to see what’s possible through the software platform.

In 2014, the company launched PlanGrid for Education, allowing students full and uninhibited access to every feature of the app free of charge.

PlanGrid for Education is also available to instructors for no cost. Students and teachers should sign up for a basic account using their .edu email address and send an email to support@plangrid.com requesting the upgrade.

Find out more about PlanGrid (which operates on both iOS and Android) here.
 0
The Sync Up: Aligning Schedule, Labor, and Logistics in Masonry
July 2026

A masonry contractor is only as good as the crew standing on the staging. You can source the highest-grade block, line up the perfect mix, and have every submittal approved weeks in advance, but production ultimately depends on the stamina, skill, and phy

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Sponsored
Read More
Color Trends Shaping Today’s Masonry Projects
July 2026

Homeowners today are coming into projects with a lot more opinions than they used to have. Between social media, home shows and contractor sites, most customers already have a look in mind before you even quote the job. For masonry contractors, having a

Chad Riley
Stone Savvy
MAP Partner
Read More
The New Equation for Masonry Profit: Predictable Hardware and Proven Data
July 2026

The masonry industry is built on tradition, but modern growth requires a shift from guesswork to absolute certainty. When we talk about the philosophy that you cannot improve what you do not measure, we are looking at the literal minutes and manpower lost

Erin Koets Shayne Sanders
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Backfill Your Foundation
July 2026

I’ve been noticing an uptick in a very specific kind of application lately, and once you see the pattern, you can’t unsee it. The résumé usually reads like a family photo album. “Started helping my dad when I was 15.” “Worked summers, then full time.” “R

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More