Q&A talks about construction industry trends with Nancy Greenwald, who recently took over as executive director of Hartford’s Construction Institute from Bob Cianci.
Q: First, can you tell us a bit about the Institute?
A: The Construction Institute is unique. Its mission is to improve the delivery and management of the built environment by promoting collaboration and innovation among all participants in the industry. We have a vibrant professional membership with a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Our members include owners, from municipalities, hospitals and colleges, companies like ESPN and UTC, along with architects, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, construction managers, manufacturers, and those who provide vital services to the industry, for example accountants and lawyers.
The Institute has a rich history of providing programs and workshops that both look to the future and have a very practical focus on what businesses need to be doing now.
The Institute has also been a valuable resource for the University of Hartford, particularly faculty and students at the College of Engineering, Technology and Architecture. In the coming year, we will be also be enhancing our connection with the Barney School of Business and the Entrepreneurship Center. The University provides the Institute and its members a valuable pool of highly trained interns and potential employees and the ability to connect with academic research.
Q: Construction added about 800 jobs in Connecticut in 2014. How is 2015 looking? Which industries are providing the most work and why? Which industries are slacking on construction projects?
Although I have more than 30 years in the building industry, as the owner and executive of a design/build firm and as an attorney, arbitrator, and mediator, I am a relative newcomer to Connecticut.
I have learned that there are a number of trends influencing the current real estate environment, which in turn influences construction projects. The general perception is that the industry in Connecticut is making a slow recovery from the recession. The trends we see developing in the industry generally are evident in Connecticut; these include urban redevelopment, the adaptive reuse and renovation of existing facilities (both commercial and residential) with a focus on sustainability and resiliency, and increased investment in infrastructure.
Q: How is the construction industry using mobile technology?
Mobile technology creates opportunities for improving efficiency, accuracy and safety through real-time communication among the parties working on a construction project. The industry is the beneficiary of improved mobile photo and video technology on smartphones and tablets and highly mobile cameras, like GoPro. The data collected is uploaded to the cloud, which allows real-time collaboration.
Analytic tools and apps allow improved deployment of materials and manpower, and improve site progress tracking. Drones are being used effectively on construction sites for similar purposes. The next step, involves the Internet of Things, using machines, both mobile and set in place, communicating data to each other, which benefits both ongoing construction projects and provides the basis for virtual operation and management functions. The purpose of using any of these technologies is to help us to build and operate better, safer buildings, with less waste, in less time, and for less money.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge facing the construction industry today? How is the industry meeting that challenge?
There are a range of challenges facing the construction industry today: the economy, global competition, climate change, and shortages of skilled labor, to name a few. The challenges really need to be viewed in context, and holistically. The construction industry is meeting those challenges by adapting. This really touches the heart of the Institute’s mission. Our members are the thought leaders in the industry who are focused on meeting these challenges by looking at the big picture, asking the hard questions, and discussing and collaborating on solutions that are both creative and practical.
Innovation is not about change for the sake of change, it’s about problem-solving, and it’s about creating resilient, sustainable processes to improve the built environment.
Q: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy recently unveiled plans to invest $100 billion in transportation projects over the next 30 years. What would that mean for the construction industry?
Investment in transportation infrastructure benefits the construction industry in the same ways it benefits commerce generally, and will encourage investment in new construction. Both the improvements planned for the Fairfield County area along the I-95 corridor and the planned improvements from Springfield to Hartford will help promote economic vitality. Of course, the Governor’s long-term plan for investment in transportation will provide work and jobs in the construction industry that is directly engaged in horizontal construction.n
