CCR Issue 10.23

CCR ROUNDTABLE: LEADING WOMEN DISCUSS THE FUTURE

Issue 10, 2023 • www.ccr-mag.com

Blake Smith, Founder and CEO SQRL

Down on the corner

How SQRL is rebuilding America one convenience store at a time

Official magazine of

Also inside:

Exclusive Inside: IT and the foundations of the future The Top 5 benefits of prefab construction for microhousing developments Check out our annual HVAC supplier listing

CIRCLE NO. 1

Vol. 22, Issue 10, 2023

42 FEATURES 42

Down on the corner How SQRL is rebuilding America one convenience store at a time

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Building for the future Women’s architecture roundtable eyes what lies ahead

82

Innovative Interiors Elevating the learning experience

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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CIRCLE NO. 2

Vol. 22, Issue 10, 2023

21

89

103

111

INDUSTRY SEGMENTS

SPECIAL SECTIONS

72 HVAC/Energy

DEPARTMENTS 4 Editor’s Note 12 Industry News 128 CCR Data 130 Ad Index 132 Publisher’s Note

Information Technology 21 Foundations of the future Landdai’s blueprint for AI-driven learning in construction

Federal Construction 111 ‘So others may live’ New explosive ordnance disposal technology complex aims to save lives

Commercial Kitchens 89 From Miami with love Why La Boulangerie Boul’Mich is food for the soul

Cannabis Operation 117 A partner you can trust Why the Align Ops Group is the ally cannabis operators need now

Commercial Construction in Healthcare 103 Care for all Simone Healthcare transforms former retail building into Ambulatory & Urgent Care Center

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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T H E

L E A D E R

I N

C O N D E N S I N G CIRCLE NO. 3

T E C H N O L O G Y

EDITOR’S NOTE

by Michael J. Pallerino

Wait, what? That's no bellhop!

A

dmit it. Go ahead. Just say it. You've been on the road and it happened. Voices. A rush of cold air. Something fell off the nightstand in the middle of the night. Really, it's okay.

I remember a Commercial Construction & Renovation retreat we held in Savannah, Georgia, where we gathered a bunch of guests together and took one of those historical ghost walking tours. We were the only ones walking. Or were we?

There was a graveyard visit. Haunted mansions and restaurants.

Hell, the whole city is built on graves. (Historical fact: Yamacraw Bluff is wholly contained within downtown and the historic district, putting much of Savannah right on top of a Muscogee burial ground.)

I'm not going to lie to you; the night I spent in my room after the walking tour was scarier than the tour itself.

Okay, why the post Halloween ghost stories. In the scores of research and effort we put into each issue, this little nugget crossed the wire: The Fainting Goat Island Inn in the town of Nichols, New York was ranked No. 1 (again) in USA Today's list of haunted hotels in the country.

The five-bedroom inn, which was built in 1850, is part of New York's haunted history trail. And get this: Guests have reportedly encountered a number of different ghosts walking the halls, including two women sitting for tea in the Fainting Room and the ghost of a young man in a Civil War uniform.

Check please.

The USA Today article (Google it please) lists the Top 10 spooky stay over places, including The Marshall House in Savannah, which we walked by, but did not have (make) our guests stay.

All creepiness aside, the haunted trip down hospitality lane is just one of the lighter (depending on if you were actually forced to leave a haunted room) side notes of our incredibly fascinating industry.

And I would be remiss if I didn't invite you to send me a note about some afterworld experience you had on the road. If you want to share (and want us to share), email me at mikep@ ccr-mag.com.

BTW: Our Savannah tour guide shared a series of photos with us from a former member of the tour who snapped a series of photos of an aberration that appeared on her iPhone. Of course, she didn't know till later on when she went back to review. In case you're wondering, they were not there at first glance.

I still have the phoos—and I don't know why.

Here's to the road in 2024.

Admit it. Go ahead. Just say it. You’ve been on the road and it happened.

Voices. A rush of cold air.

Something fell off the nightstand in the middle of the night.

Michael J. Pallerino is the editor of Commercial Construction & Renovation. You can reach him at 678.513.2397 or via email at mikep@ccr-mag.com.

We want to hear from you At Commercial Construction & Renovation, we’re always looking to showcase the best of what our industry is doing. If you have a project profile or a fresh perspective on how to keep our industry positively moving forward, shoot me an email at mikep@ccr-mag.com. We’d love to take a look.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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EDITORIAL EDITOR: Michael J. Pallerino 678.513.2397 • mikep@ccr-mag.com SENIOR ART DIRECTOR/AD PRODUCTION MANAGER: Brent Cashman 404.402.0125 • bocdesign@me.com CONTRIBUTING WRITER: Ron Treister Rontreister@gmail.com • 207-712-2233

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CIRCLE NO. 6

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

F&J PUBLICATIONS, LLC Commercial Construction & Renovation is published monthly by F&J Publications, LLC. The opinions expressed by authors and contributors to Commercial Construction & Renovation are not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. Commercial Construction & Renovation is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Articles/content appearing in Commercial Construction & Renovation cannot be reproduced in any way without the specific permission of the publisher or editor.

CIRCLE NO. 7

CCR EDITORIAL BOARD RETAILERS AARON ANCELLO Facilities Asset Management Public Storage DEDRICK KIRKEM Facilities Director Fragrance.com

BOB MEZA Senior Construction Project Manager Target DAVID D. DILLON Director, Facility Standards Store Planning & Design Development Walgreens Company LAURA GROSS Retail Facilities Manager American Signature Furniture KELLY RADFORD VP Retail Construction and Development Ascend Wellness Holdings

RESTAURANTS RON BIDINOST Vice President of Construction Bubbakoo’s Burritos DAVID SHOTWELL The Wills Group Sr. Construction Manager

RON VOLSKE Development Director Focus Brands

BOB WITKEN Senior Project Manager Fox Restaurant Concepts

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HOSPITALITY JOHN COOPER Principal Executive Vice President Stormont Hospitality Group LLC SAMUEL D. BUCKINGHAM, RS AMS CMCA President of Construction Devco Development GARY RALL Vice President of Design and Development Holiday Inn Club Vacations ROBERT RAUCH Chairman Brick Hospitality

JOE THOMAS Vice President Engineering Loews Hotels LU SACHARSKI Vice President of Operations and Project Management Interserv Hospitality ANDY BRIGGS, CHA Managing Principal A14 Capital Management

REAL ESTATE ROB ADKINS, LEED AP CDP Senior Tenant Coordinator, Retail Peterson Companies MEGAN HAGGERTY Founder Legacy Capital Investment GINA MARIE ROMEO Senior Consultant, Key Accounts Rarefied Real Estate Partners

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

MARIE ANTONETTE G. WAITE Founder and CEO Finest Women in Real Estate

GENERAL CONTRACTOR DAVID THOMPSON Vice President TCB Construction Group LLC. MATT SCHIMENTI President Schimenti Construction JOHN STALLMAN Marketing Manager Lakeview Construction JEFFREY D. MAHLER RCA Advisory Board Member

DEVELOPMENT/PROJECT MANAGEMENT

KEN DEMSKE Vice President Jones Lang LaSalle

PERMITTING VAUN PODLOGAR CEO, Owner, Founder State Permits, Inc.

ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS MICHAEL MAGEE Studio Leader Retail, Store Design Senior Associate Little FRED MARGULIES Director of Retail Architecture Onyx Creative STEVEN MCKAY Managing Principal, Global Design Leader DLR Group

KAY BARRETT NCIDQ, CDP Senior Vice President Cushman & Wakefield

STEVEN R. OLSON, AIA President CESO, Inc.

CLINTON “BROOKS” HERMAN, PMP Construction Project Manager Hill International, Inc.

ADA

PAM GOODWIN Goodwin Advisors, LLC Goodwin Commercial The Pam Goodwin Show JIM SHEUCHENKO President Property Management Advisors LLC CHRIS VARNEY Principal, Executive Vice President Bureau Veritas STEPHEN HEKMAN Executive VP Kingsmen Retail Services US

BRAD GASKINS Principal The McIntosh Group

ACADEMIA DR. MARK LEE LEVINE Professor Burns School/ Daniels College University of Denver

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CRAIG WEBER Director of Business Prime Retail Services, US Prime 3 Retail Canada, Inc.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

NEWS, NOTES & TRENDS...

AroundtheIndustry RETAIL Primark Apparel retailer Primark has grown to 20 US stores, including seven locations that opened over the past year. And there’s more, as the UK-based retailer plans to expand to 60 US stores by 2026.

Nike/FitLab Nike and FitLab will collaborate on boutique fitness concepts called Nike Training Studios and Nike Running Studios, the first of which will open this year in West Hollywood, California. The brand plans to expand beyond the first location with new Nike Studios likely to open around the country.

Casetify Tech accessory retailer Casetify will open 20 US stores by 2025 as part of a plan to add 100 new locations worldwide, growing the brand’s omnichannel focus as it melds established e-commerce tools and physical retail and works to reach $1 billion in annual sales.

REI REI is taking the next step in used clothing with the opening of its second Re/Supply in Clackamas, Oregon. The first Re/Supply store opened in Manhattan Beach, California in 2020. REI continues to offer a broad selection of used gear online, as younger consumers increasingly expect secondhand items to be on offer.

Vuori Vuori is on track to add 20 brick-and-mortar stores this year reflecting the athleisure brand’s growth in physical retail as well as e-commerce. The company’s goal is to expand its 35 brick-andmortar locations to 100 in the US by 2026.

Petco/Lowe’s Petco and Lowe’s are taking their in-store partnership nationwide with plans to offer pet products at almost 300 Lowe’s homeimprovement stores by the end of the year, after testing the concept in three states. The store-in-store concept will carry Blue Buffalo, Purina and other national brands, as well as Petco store brands, including WholeHearted, and 75 locations will feature Petco’s Vetco Clinics.

12

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Babies R Us Babies R Us’ return to retail echoes that of sibling brand Toys R Us, with a 10,000-square-foot experiential flagship geared toward brand awareness, partnerships and building relationships with new and soon-to-be parents. WHP Global, which owns both brands, has opened the Babies R Us store in New Jersey’s American Dream Mall, where Toys R Us also began its comeback in 2021.

Cotopaxi Cotopaxi plans to double its number of physical stores from 10 to 20 this year, then open six to 10 annually while tinkering with its growth strategy, an executive says. Data drives the outdoor retailer’s selection of brick-and-mortar locations, where it cultivates a local identity through artwork and charity.

RESTAURANTS Pepper Lunch Japan-based fast-casual chain Pepper Lunch is in growth mode in North America, where it has just launched a franchising program.

The chain, which boasts 500 units in 15 countries, including five in the US, is a “DIY teppanyaki” concept where customers select ingredients at the counter that are then combined with rice on a sizzling metal plate that is brought to their table.

Golden Corral Golden Corral will open its first fast-casual Homeward Kitchen restaurant in a former Chick-fil-A space in North Carolina in December. The concept is the chain’s first foray into non-buffet dining, and it will feature a drive-thru and offer delivery and takeout as well as on-premises dining.

Smalls Sliders Brandon Landry oversaw the growth of Louisiana-based WalkOn’s Sports Bistreaux to 80 franchised locations and has also turned a popular menu item into a new concept, Smalls Sliders, which has grown to nine locations since launching in 2019.

Landry said the concept’s streamlined menu, focus on franchise partners and strong executive team are driving growth for the chain, which has plans to open at least 20 new locations by next year.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

NEWS, NOTES & TRENDS...

AroundtheIndustry Chick-fil-A Chick-fil-A will roll out a food truck for its Little Blue Menu virtual banner after turning the one Little Blue Menu unit in Nashville, Tennessee into a takeout-only Chick-fil-A location last month. The truck will land in Louisville, Kentucky for three months, followed by a road trip through Kentucky and Indiana, and the chain is also planning to open a new Little Blue Menu unit in College Park, Maryland later this year.

Taco Bell Taco Bell franchisee Diversified Restaurant Group has grown to 300 units since forming to acquire 29 restaurants in 2014, and it aims to double both its unit count and revenue over the next five years. The new openings will include both Taco Bell and Arby’s units, and the possibility of expanding with a new brand.

Yum Brands Having opened nearly 8,600 locations in the past two years, Yum Brands, which owns chains including KFC and Taco Bell, has its sights set on eventually operating 100,000 restaurants worldwide.

BurgerFi BurgerFi has signed on to open a unit at an Apple Cinemas theater in Rochester, New York, where the restaurant chain will have a traditional location and also deliver to patrons inside the theater. Customers watching a movie will be able to scan a QR code to place an order for delivery.

Cilantro Taco Grill Fast-casual Mexican concept Cilantro Taco Grill, which started in a Chicago suburb, has goals to grow from 15 to 1,000 locations over the next decade, with support from Fransmart and musician Pitbull. The partners plan to expand further in the Chicago area before exploring growth in 100 major North American markets and international locations including Germany, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

HOSPITALITY Hyatt Hotels Corp.

Hyatt Hotels Corp. is increasing its reach in new US markets, with Hyatt House properties planned in Lansing, Michigan; Rogers, Arkansas; Vacaville, California; Bloomington, Minnesota; and Colorado Springs; and Hyatt Place hotels in Newark, Delaware; St. Augustine, Florida; Munster, Indiana; Albany, New York; and Flagstaff, Arizona. The company also plans to add hotels at airports in Florida and California.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Galaxy Hotels Group Galaxy Hotels Group will renovate a former Marriott hotel in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and rebrand it as Radisson Hotel Cedar Rapids, marking the first US hotel converted to the Radisson brand since the 2022 acquisition of Radisson Hotels America by Choice Hotels International.

The 220-room, seven-story hotel has about 26,000 square feet of event space and will remain open during the extensive facelift.

Populus Hotel Set to open next spring, the 13-story, 265-room Populus Hotel in Denver will be an eco-friendly property that is carbon-positive and will offset the greenhouse gas emissions from constructing the building by planting over 72,000 Engelmann spruce trees in a Gunnison County, Colorado forest.

The Red Deer Resort & Casino The Red Deer Resort & Casino has opened in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, with a 38,000-square-foot gaming floor, 241 guestrooms and a 53,000-square-foot conference center. Formerly the Capri Hotel, the venue has undergone a makeover that honors the cultural heritage of the O’Chiese First Nation.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia, a 60-acre resort with 95 guestrooms and 25 private three- and four-bedroom residences, is set to open in 2026 and will include a yoga pavilion, multiple dining options, a spa, a children’s club and event areas. The property, which is being developed with Cisneros Real Estate, will emphasize sustainability and is expected to qualify for LEED certification.

Accor Accor is expected to take on 125 hotel partnerships in China before the end of the year, including brands like Fairmont, Ibis, Sofitel and Raffles. The country has seen a strong post-pandemic recovery, with occupancy rates and revenue per available room in mainland China and Macau returning to or surpassing 2019 levels.

Bellagio Casino & Resort Bellagio Casino & Resort in Las Vegas is in the midst of a $100 million makeover, with the renovation of the Spa Tower currently underway. The 819 guestrooms and 104 suites are inspired by Italian style and couture.

Hotel del Coronado Hotel del Coronado in San Diego is set to undergo a $160 million renovation project that is meant to preserve the history and Victorian aesthetic of the 134-year-old resort’s main building.

The restoration is the last phase of Blackstone Real Estate’s $550 million development plan, which also included construction of 75 residential-style accommodations and the Ice House Museum and a revamp of Beach Village at the Del.

RETAIL Costco Wholesale Costco will have opened 14 new stores in the US and 10 abroad during the fiscal year ending in August. Next year, the retailer will start construction on a $20 million, 160,000-square-foot warehouse and gasoline pumps in Prosper, Texas.

Melissa & Doug Toy brand Melissa & Doug has opened its first flagship after more than three decades of focusing on wholesale and selling on Amazon.

The location in a White Plains, New York mall is designed to inspire interaction with products and salespeople.

Khaadi’s The Macerich-owned Tysons Corner Center in Tysons, Virginia will be home to the first US outpost of Pakistan-based clothing retailer Khaadi, which has signed a lease for 5,491 square feet of space. The brand wants to open as many as 30 stores across the US and Canada.

True Religion True Religion’s geographic footprint will expand to 26 countries outside the US, including India, the Philippines and South Africa, with a combination of stand-alone and in-store shops. The international expansion will support the brand’s goal to double its sales volume in a few years.

Mango Mango has joined fellow Spanish fashion retailer Zara at Galleria Dallas, as part of Mango’s plan to grow its US store base. Texas’ first Mango location opened in Houston, and the company plans three more openings by the end of the year, and another three next year.

Nike Nike will open a 13,000-square-foot Rise concept store in Birmingham, England, this year. The athletic apparel giant will use data to create in-store elements unique to the location, which will also be a hub for in-store workouts and running clubs.

Zara Zara, Inditex’s most iconic and profitable brand, will open its largest store in the world in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, including a Zara Home section.

GROCERS Amazon Fresh An Amazon Fresh store in Seattle is the world’s first grocery store to receive Zero Carbon Certification from the International Living Future Institute for its efforts in reducing carbon emissions. The certification requires combustion-free systems and improvement in the building’s carbon footprint. The 35,000-square-foot Amazon Fresh store features a refrigeration system based on natural refrigerant, an allelectric kitchen and an electric-vehicle charging station.

H-E-B Butt Grocery H.E. Butt Grocery is set to open a new 117,000-square-foot store in Allen, Texas, next month that will include a pharmacy, barbecue restaurant and wellness clinic. The new store represents just part of the grocer’s Dallas-area expansion plans, which include 2025 openings of new stores in the cities of Melissa, Prosper and Rockwall, as well as spring 2024 openings of stores in Alliance and Mansfield and a late 2024 opening of a second Frisco store.

Gelson’s Southern California grocery chain Gelson’s and electric vehiclecharging station provider Rove are partnering to introduce ReCharge

by Gelson’s, a convenience option for which Gelson’s will provide coffee, snacks and meals alongside Rove’s ultra-fast EV chargers, a lounge and restrooms. Rove is planning to open six of these locations in Southern California this year and 20 more by 2026.

Aldi Fast-growing retailer Aldi said it has strengthened its presence in the Southeast with the opening this week of a new regional headquarters at its 564,000-square-foot distribution center in Loxley, Alabama that will serve up to 100 Aldi stores.

ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

15

INDUSTRY NEWS

NEWS, NOTES & TRENDS...

That’s no desk clerk bell!

F

or the second year in a row, the Fainting Goat Island Inn in Nichols, New York is frightening the bejesus out of its patrons. According to the USA Today’s most haunted hotel list, the five-room inn located in a former railroad hotel built in 1850 is showing its angst to guests including reports of two female apparitions drinking tea, the ghost of a young man in a Civil War uniform and other spirits walking the halls. Get your reservations early.

The numbers game

212

The number of metro areas out of 358 where construction employment increased between September 2022 and September 2023, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of recent government employment data. The figures come as many construction firms work to find new ways to recruit and retain enough workers to keep pace with demand.

13

The number of restaurant chains that added more than 100 locations in 2022, while the 500 largest chains grew by a rate of 1.7% (the biggest growth rate since 2016), according to the Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report. Starbucks opened the most units last year, adding 428 locations, Crumbl Cookies more than doubled its store count with 363 new units and Jersey Mike’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Taco Bell rounded out the top five.

60 Down on the strip W

hen it comes to strip malls (and zoning restrictions), Houston is the mother of all locations. With more than 1,800 (and counting) by Colliers’ count, a ride down the strip offers a cacophony of signs, traffic lanes, hedges and small buildings that offers, what some say is, a “chaotic environment that is hard to describe.”

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

The percentage of hospitality leaders who believe the adoption of automation and other new technology will enhance the guest experience, while 58% believe it will improve the hotel work environment, according to data by Deloitte. At the same time, 40% of respondents consider reskilling workers to operate effectively with the new tech to be a major workforce concern.

CIRCLE NO. 10

INDUSTRY NEWS

NEWS, NOTES & TRENDS...

We’re into retail D

on’t look now, but just as Netflix is closing out its DVD rental business, it appears the brand is entering the physical realm in a different way. The streamer plans to launch new retail destinations —Netflix House — which not only will offer things to buy, but also food and other experiences themed after whatever is hot on Netflix at the moment.

They said it...

“From this, they are embracing more customer loyalty programs based on the data, offering their most frequent customers a VIP treatment.”

— Cecilia Li, Senior VP/Chief Information Officer of Urban Edge Properties, on how new datasets are spurring the rethinking of malls

18

“No one has a playbook for “We’ve worked really hard to become what the future of work will be; credible restaurateurs that operate however, Kroger’s goal remains within hotels, and we’re still very to center our associates in committed to opening restaurants everything we do, making sure within hotels, but we’re now ready to the decisions we make are dataopen good, freestanding restaurants driven and support associates’ and take the company to the next level.” long-term career growth.”

— Makeready President and COO Christine Magrann — Kroger Chief People Officer and SVP Tim Massa on the grocer’s plans to build the workforce of the future and champion associates to shape company culture

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

on the restaurant chain’s plan to add freestanding restaurants to a portfolio that already includes 23 restaurant concepts within its existing hotel and retail locations

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A W A R D S Recognizing the industry’s most important women & men leaders.

The CCRW & CCRM honorees will be featured in the CCR December 2023 issue.

Nomination form:

Women - Deadline to submit: 12.8.23

Men - Deadline to submit: 12.8.23

Name: _________________________________________________________ Title: ___________________________________________________________ Company: ______________________________________________________ Years in Industry:_________________________________________________ Your Working Relationship with Nominee:

Why is the nominee deserving of The CCRW or CCRM Award?

Submit all forms to Mike Pallerino: mikep@ccr-mag.com CIRCLE NO. 12

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Foundations of the future Landdai’s blueprint for AI-driven learning in construction

 ALSO:

Lessons in Deep Sea Stuff

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

AI-DRIVEN LEARNING

Foundations of the future Landdai’s blueprint for AI-driven learning in construction

T

he construction industry, a pillar of progress and innovation, is on the cusp of a learning revolution. As job sites echo with the clatter of progress, there's an

increasing demand for a workforce that's as adept with digital tools as they are with physical ones. Generative AI is the new power tool in the educational toolkit, poised to revolutionize how construction professionals upskill and learn.

Amid this transformative landscape stands Landdai (pronounced Land-AI), a blueprint for the future of construction learning. With its suite of AI-powered apps, Landdai is not just responding to the industry's call for advanced training solutions but is actively reshaping the learning process.

Landdai is on a mission to arm companies, including construction firms, with smarter, more efficient means to onboard, train, and advance their teams, ensuring that the workforce building our world is equipped with the knowledge to match their mission.

22

The Intersection of AI and Construction Learning

At the heart of modern construction lies a blend of age-old craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. In this arena, generative AI emerges as the latest innovation poised to transform how the construction industry approaches learning and development.

Just as the right machinery can accelerate the building process, the right AI can expedite and enhance the learning curve for professionals and craftsmen across the field.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

By Brett Broadrick The construction industry is traditionally hands-on, where learning has often meant apprenticeships and on-the-job training. But as projects grow in complexity and regulations become more stringent, there’s a pressing need for continuous, scalable, and accessible education.

Here, generative AI steps in as a dynamic facilitator of knowledge, molding itself to the learning needs of diverse roles—from seasoned project managers seeking to understand new sustainability protocols to novices grasping the basics of site safety.

Landdai’s foray into this sector is timely.

Their AI-driven solutions are designed to tackle the unique challenges of construction training. By generating customized training materials, Landdai's suite of apps brings a level of personalization that addresses the specific needs and learning styles of its users.

This personalized approach ensures that the content not only resonates but sticks, which is critical in an industry where the stakes of learning are as impactful as the structures being erected.

The generative AI underpinning Landdai’s applications can synthesize vast amounts of data—from building regulations to project management methodolgies—and translate them into digestible, engaging learning modules. This not only streamlines the educational content creation process but also elevates the quality of the training itself.

Through adaptive learning pathways, workers can engage with interactive content that reinforces their knowledge base and introduces them to the latest industry advancements, all without stepping away from the job site.

Moreover, as construction sites become increasingly digitized with IoT devices and smart machinery, the workforce must keep pace. Landdai’s applications bridge this gap by upskilling workers in a language they understand, with tools that evolve as swiftly as the industry does.

Landdai is not just building a repository of knowledge; they are laying the

CIRCLE NO. 13

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

AI-DRIVEN LEARNING

digital groundwork for a smarter, safer, and more efficient generation of construction professionals. This marriage of technology and education heralds a new dawn for the construction industry, promising to elevate the entire ecosystem from the ground up.

Unveiling Landdai's Generative AI Suite

The construction industry's march toward modernization is gaining momentum with the advent of generative AI, and at the forefront of this march is Landdai, with its pioneering suite of AI-driven applications.

Landdai’s tools are tailored to construct a more knowledgeable workforce, enabling them to build not just structures, but also their professional acumen.

Landdai’s AI apps are designed to serve as the cornerstone for any construction company's learning and development program. First in the lineup is the Slide Deck Presentation Generator, a tool as practical as it is innovative.

sessions and organizational training materials that are not only informative but also engaging and reflective of a company's culture and values.

Through these applications, Landdai offers a scalable and efficient approach to talent development. It's not just about generating materials; it's about creating a learning journey that parallels the evolving narrative of the construction industry.

As Landdai continues to refine and expand its suite, the promise of a well-trained, agile workforce becomes an ever-closer reality for construction companies worldwide.

The Genesis of Landdai's Innovation

The inception of Landdai's groundbreaking suite traces back to the vision of Josh Irmler, an organizational development consultant turned tech entrepreneur. Recognizing the chasm between the potential of AI and its practical application in professional

As construction methodologies advance, so too will the ways we learn and teach.

With the simplicity of choosing a template and entering a prompt or content, HR and L&D and even Project Management professionals can create comprehensive slide decks. Tailored collections of information and engaging presentations that can convey complex construction concepts in an accessible format.

Next, the Training Program Creator stands as a testament to Landdai’s commitment to interactive learning. By selecting an L&D template and inputting their specific training needs, users can generate complete training sessions. This goes beyond traditional learning methods, offering immersive content that resonates with construction professionals across various levels of expertise.

And at the heart of Landdai’s suite is the Landdai GPT, a sophisticated application that embodies the company's vision for advanced learning. This AI-powered tool is capable of producing tailored onboarding

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development, Irmler set out to tailor AI's vast capabilities specifically for the learning and development industry.

This meticulous preparation laid the groundwork for Landdai's AI driven tool, which was trained to craft content that doesn't just inform but transforms. It's content that integrates a company's ethos and industry best practices into learning materials that are as actionable as they are educational.

With this fusion of industry insight and AI agility, Landdai's apps are not just tools but catalysts for building a more skilled, responsive, and knowledgeable construction workforce.

In Conversation with Josh Irmler

In an enlightening exchange with Josh Irmler, founder and visionary behind Landdai, we gain insights into how generative AI is reshaping learning in the construction industry.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Josh Irmler

InfoTech: How does Landdai's technology specifically address the unique challenges faced by construction professionals in learning and development?

Irmler: Construction professionals juggle complex, time-sensitive tasks daily. Traditional training can be time-consuming and may not always align with their immediate on-site challenges. Landdai's AI distills critical information into digestible, on-demand learning that's directly applicable to their work. This means less downtime and more hands-on application.

InfoTech: With the construction industry being so diverse, how does Landdai ensure the generated content is relevant and accurate for various specializations within the field?

Irmler: Diversity in learning content is as vital as diversity on a construction site. We've designed Landdai to be intuitive, drawing from users' uploaded content such as construction disciplines and educational frameworks.

Users input specific prompts or content documents, and our AI tailors the content, whether it's for onsite safety protocols, electrical, or sustainability-focused construction practices.

InfoTech: What role does Landdai play in helping construction companies retain their workforce and foster a culture of continuous improvement?

Irmler: Retention is all about investment.

When companies invest in their employees'

growth, they're building loyalty. Landdai facilitates this by making continuous improvement an integral part of the workday, not an interruption to it. Our AI-driven materials are designed to be engaging, keeping the workforce not only skilled but also motivated.

Real-World Applications for Construction Professionals

Landdai’s generative AI isn't just a theoretical marvel—it's a practical powerhouse. Imagine a site manager who needs to quickly disseminate updated safety protocols. With Landdai's Slide Deck Presentation Generator, a new, custom presentation can be created before the day's first coffee break.

Or consider a construction firm rolling out a new project management software.

The Training Program Creator can develop a step-by-step guide that not only instructs but also engages employees, encouraging interaction and retention of information.

Let's take a look at how Landdai can help construction companies make a tangible impact. Lets use this hypothetical example, a regional construction company used Landdai's apps to develop a diversity training program. By inputting their specific goals and company values, they receive a tailored program that resonates with their team and aligned with their commitment to inclusion.

These likely scenarios underscore the adaptability of Landdai's AI to various learning objectives within the construction industry. The apps meet users where they are, be it in the planning room or in the field, delivering customized content that is immediately applicable to their tasks at hand.

For construction companies, this translates to a more informed, effective, and agile workforce, equipped to handle the evolving challenges of the industry with confidence and competence. Landdai’s suite of AI-driven tools is more than a convenience; it’s becoming an indispensable asset in the construction industry’s toolbox for talent development.

The future envisions an era where knowledge gaps are bridged instantaneously, safety updates are disseminated in real-time and training evolves in step with technological advancements.

The Future of Learning in Construction with AI

The trajectory of learning within the construction industry is set for an unprecedented shift, with AI at the helm of this transformation.

Landdai's generative AI points toward a horizon where learning is as responsive and dynamic as the construction sites themselves.

The future envisions an era where knowledge gaps are bridged instantaneously, safety updates are disseminated in real-time and training evolves in step with technological advancements. As construction sites grow smarter with the integration of IoT and advanced analytics, the workforce too will ascend to new levels of expertise, guided by AI-driven learning platforms like Landdai.

This not only ensures the continual growth of individual professionals but also fortifies the industry's overall capacity to innovate and adapt to the changing demands of our built environment. With Landdai leading the charge, the scaffolding for a smarter, more efficient, and continuously learning construction industry is being erected today.

Embracing Landdai’s AI – Implementation and Outcomes

Adopting Landdai’s AI into daily operations heralds a new era of efficiency and engagement in construction training programs. Companies can seamlessly integrate these tools, witnessing a direct impact on learning curves and employee performance. The outcomes are measurable: quicker onboarding, higher retention rates, and a culture steeped in continual growth.

This leap forward is not without its challenges, but the tailored support Landdai provides ensures a smooth transition. As

firms begin to implement these intelligent solutions, the industry at large is set to experience a revolution in how knowledge is acquired, applied and advanced on the construction front.

Laying the Groundwork for a Skilled Future

In conclusion, Landdai's generative AI is laying the digital groundwork for the next generation of construction professionals, much like the sturdy foundation required for any enduring edifice. It presents a pivotal step forward in addressing the construction industry’s pressing need for agile and continuous talent development.

By equipping companies with the tools to efficiently craft personalized learning experiences, Landdai is not just enhancing the skill set of the current workforce but is also future-proofing the industry for the challenges of tomorrow. As construction methodologies advance, so too will the ways we learn and teach, with Landdai's AI applications leading the revolution in education and skill-building.

The result is an empowered workforce driving the industry forward, armed with knowledge as robust as the structures they build.

Build Your Team’s Future Today

Ready to equip your team with the knowledge they need to excel? Discover how Landdai's generative AI can revolutionize your learning and development strategy.

Don't let your company's training fall behind the industry curve.

Connect with Landdai.com now, and start building a smarter, more capable workforce ready to tackle the construction challenges of today and tomorrow.

Brett Broadrick is founder of Vision + Brand.

ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

PHISHING

Lessons in Deep Sea Stuff A conversation about advanced phishing techniques and advanced solutions

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his is part four of our series on Phishing, where I will talk about deeper, more advanced phishing techniques and advanced solutions to keep from being swallowed by the “Jonah’s whale” of a phish that could result in a very bad day for a company, organization or your personal accounts.

Just know this, the criminals are not just sitting on the same knowledge base and old-school methods of stealing information and accessing your devices as they have always relied on in the past. They are “ever-changing” their techniques to adjust to the ways people have responded to previous attempts, and to also “ever-changing” methods of threat detection.

Here, I will be presenting an interview with Matt Dixon, a cyber security expert with

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Azuris Consulting, a company specializing in diverse IT technology systems and support for small businesses.

Jon Armour: What can you recommend to our readers in small to medium business platforms to guard against advanced phishing attempts?

Matt Dixon: Advanced phishing and employee education. Collaborating with companies like Azuris to integrate advanced phishing

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

By Jon Armour

protection tools that utilize machine learning and other intelligent technologies to detect and prevent phishing attacks before they reach the end users is critical for protection.

Of the same importance is running “regular and often” workshops to keep employees updated on the latest phishing tactics.”

Jon: Yes, like I mentioned above, criminals are evolving their techniques. Today’s environment is not your father's phishing pond. Can you give a scenario of a current phishing attempt?

Matt: Consider a scenario where an employee receives an email that appears to be from the company's IT department, asking for login

where employees are both well-equipped and well-informed to recognize and resist phishing attempts. It helps in reducing the chances of successful phishing attacks significantly, thereby safeguarding sensitive company data from unauthorized access.”

credentials to perform a "system update."

The phishing protection tool would automatically detect suspicious elements in the email and either block it or flag it as potential phishing, preventing the employee from unwittingly compromising their credentials.

Jon: That sounds fairly common these days. In a previous article, I talked about employees having busy schedules, being hurried and over-tasked sometimes. Before you know it, you are rushing through emails and popping out responses just to “catch-up” on your day. This is a volatile time, leaving you exposed to not reading things thoroughly and “grazing” over emails, text and other correspondence.

This is when a phish catches most people. What are the benefits of advanced phishing protection and employee education?

Matt: This dual strategy of utilizing advanced protection tools alongside regular education fosters a secure environment

Jon: Okay, that makes perfect sense.

And I would add, “slow down and smell the roses, not the phishes.” I’ve heard a lot about AI these days. Some say that it is a great new technology that will change all our lives. That could be used for good, and bad. Be certain, the criminals are not using it to do their daily homework assignments.

You can be assured that they are using AI to accelerate their attempts across a larger breadth of users and to fashion more believable business email and social engineering content. You cannot tell the fake from the real. On the other-hand AI can also be used to detect suspicious emails and compromised social engineering content. How can we use AI for good and for protecting our data?

Matt: At Azuris, we recommend the integration of AI solutions that constantly monitor network activity for unusual patterns or potential threats.

Detecting an unusual data access pattern immediately and preventing a potential data breach in real time is critical in keeping up with the use of AI for bad purposes.

A main benefit of AI threat detection is that it ensures a proactive defense against cyber threats, reducing the time between threat detection and response.

Jon: I get it, like “keeping up with the Joneses.” AI to AI. An “eye for an AI.” I digress. So, having the same tools as the criminals and keeping the same pace or a bit ahead of them in technology is key to staying on top of phishing attempts.

Keeping up with the crooks is a fulltime effort. As the good guys develop better technology, the bad guys are stealing it. I once had a friend of mine tell me that the devil has been practicing his craft for much longer than humans have been around. He’s pretty good at what he does and the father of all lies.

So, you would expect that he is constantly finding new ways to deceive.

Not really. Evil purposes have stood the test of time. They haven’t changed, but the generations have.

As new users to the digital environment come along, there is a constant education of them in cyber security and likewise in breaching security. It depends on which “lifestyle” they chose to employ as you go through their career. Hey, criminals like to protect their stolen data too. And like the devil they are well abreast of every cyber security “defeat mechanism” as much as they are aware of their own ill-posed craft.

What are some of the latest technologies that further man’s effort to protect data and devices from modern day cyber thieves?

Matt: Biometric authentication. Deploying multi-factor authentication solutions that require biometric verification in addition to passwords.

Also, utilizing fingerprint or facial recognition technologies for secure access to company databases. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access through compromised passwords.

Jon: Reminds me of a lot of various scifi movies that used depictions of these features before they were available to the public. Eye sensors, hand and fingerprint scanners, voice scanners and full body scans that would allow access to protected areas, vaults, secret caves, and the like. The movie, “Iron Man,” deployed many of these features. Tony Stark was on top of the latest access control.

And we can look back to movie greats like “Terminator," “Robo Cop” and even earlier TV shows like “Star Trek” for depictions of futuristic biometric design. The infamous Captain Kirk and his cohorts showcased four methods of the now popular biometric authentication. Seemingly the most of any movie or TV series.

Going back to the original “Batman,” the rich and famous Bruce Wayne did not have any biometrics to get into the bat cave, but instead a grandfather clock whereby when set to the time of his parent’s death he could access the cave from the mansion above. Holy smokes, that was cool back in the day.

ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

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INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

PHISHING

Looking forward, as researchers, scientists and inventors develop more secure tools and thieves steal them, we can look for advanced biometric features to be employed more heartedly. Things like more invasive facial recognition, DNA ID, Basic Vitals scans, breathing assessments, brain scans, palm scans and even chip implants are sure to take over the way we authenticate ourselves for access to company and social data, goods and services and public identification.

and how much time we view. They push commercials and feed info back to us on shopping and services that most of us don’t want or care for. In a work environment these analytics can monitor employee’s actions, work habits, login, and systems access patterns, all put together into data to reveal irregularities in habits or suspicious activities that are not the “norm” in everyday behavior.

As I said previously, cyber security is an ongoing effort, not a “one-and done” subject. It is perpetual and ever-changing.

“Leveraging monitoring solutions to maintain a vigilant eye on your organization’s network and systems, and detecting potential threats and vulnerabilities before they can be exploited will help keep your business safe.”

— Matt Dixon, Azuris Consulting

With that thought, crooks can try to get into our computers and other devices from afar, but what about a physical threat to data? What if a bad actor is trying to physically access a computer or secure asset in person?

Is there a method by which we can identify this type of threat?

Matt: Yes. Behavioral Analytics. We can set customers up to engage in tools to analyze and monitor employee behavior. The result is improved security. An example would be identifying a user accessing sensitive information from a new location and restricting access until verified. Doing so aids in the early detection of potentially malicious activity based on behavioral patterns, thereby enhancing security protocols.

Jon: Right. I think of the interactions that we do on our television sets that feed behavioral information back to companies about what we watch, what we skip over

Tell us about some other areas of data security that we all should be practicing.

Matt: Secure disposal of information means training employees on secure data deletion techniques and using appropriate tools to securely erase data from devices being discarded. For example, before recycling corporate smartphones a user needs to be certain all sensitive data is irretrievably erased using secure deletion tools.

This prevents data breaches emanating from discarded or recycled devices and safeguards company information.

I would encourage users to install mobile security solutions on their personal devices and especially if you utilize your cell phone for work purposes. Other means of defeating criminals is to create simulated phishing scenarios to educate employees on the potential threats and how to recognize them. Sending a simulated phishing email to employees to see how many can identify it, followed by

educational feedback is a proven cyber education tactic.

It builds a vigilant workforce capable of recognizing and reporting potential phishing attempts and reduces susceptibility to real attacks.

Architect your network using micro-segmentation strategies. That is creating distinct secure zones within your network to isolate different types of traffic and secure sensitive data. Suppose a company has different departments like HR, R&D, and Sales. Using micro-segmentation can ensure that the networks of these departments are isolated from each other, preventing an attacker who has gained access to one network from easily moving to another.

These measures significantly reduce the risk of lateral movement for cyber attackers within your network, ensuring that a breach in one segment does not automatically put the entire network at risk. It also helps in maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive data by restricting access to it to only those who absolutely need it. It further supports regulatory compliance efforts, as it becomes easier to monitor and control the flow of sensitive data.

Finally, securing your cloud environments through robust encryption and protecting from unauthorized access are advanced protocols to stay ahead of crooks.

Implementing a physical security program that seamlessly integrates with cybersecurity strategies is becoming more critical as we move toward a deepening digital divide.

Adding biometric features to LAN and server rooms is a must these days.

Leveraging monitoring solutions to maintain a vigilant eye on your organization's network and systems, and detecting potential threats and vulnerabilities before they can be exploited will help keep your business safe.

Robust reporting tools maintain transparency and awareness of the security posture at all levels of the organization, and they help keep global cyber hack statistics up to date. Reporting is an advanced form of contributing to thwarting threats for all of us. CCR

Contributing author Jon Armour has 35 years of combined experience across the construction, real estate, and IT Infrastructure industry. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager, IT Infrastructure Program Manager, and a published author of a popular Western genre book. He resides in Magnolia, Texas

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It’s up; it’s goooood!

Attendees get the NFL treatment at SoFi Stadium tour

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hat happens when you put a team of commercial construction professionals in a National Football League (NFL) stadium? Easy now, it was just a really cool tour of SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, home to the Rams and Chargers. The event, sponsored by the Retail Contractors Association (RCA) and Commercial Construction & Renovation took place in October, with a reception afterward at Sauced BBQ & Spirits in El Segundo.

View the event video: https://youtu.be/uELsOPpQ7a0

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1. David Harrison, Antonio Carbahal, Gray-West Construction 2. Greg Mooney, Rogue Architects; Michele Fleming, MF Project Management; Janine Buettner, ArcVision 3. Jennifer Brown, Chuze Fitness; Will Gotsch, Hotel Engine; Luis Barja, AAA-Automobile Club of Southern California

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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1. Nicole Vigliotti, Lisa Jordan, Kirby Zhang, Four Analytics, Inc.; Todd McConnell, Bogart Construction; Robin Levine, Four Analytics, Inc. 2. Riley Snyder, Sandra Boyadjian, Onyx Creative 3. Julien Alexander & Chris Love from PM Consortium

4. Brad Bogart, Danny Stone, Johnny Ho, Todd McConnell, Bogart Construction 5. Johnny Ho, Bogart Construction, Shane Fozdar, Amazon; Danny, Lauren Stone, Bogart Construction 6. Tyler Radcliffe, Gray-West Construction; Will Gotsch, Hotel Engine 7. Jennifer Brown, Chuze Fitness; Chuck Hundley, Sachse Construction

ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

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INDUSTRY NEWS

PERSPECTIVE

Add ‘em up The Top 5 benefits of prefab construction for microhousing developments

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By Jeremy Nova

refabricated construction has plenty of applications, and the benefits of manufacturing some or most of a building in a production facility rather than on a plot of land are well documented. But it is hard to find a better application for prefabricated construction

than in microhousing developments.

These emerging developments feature homes of 1,000 square feet or less.

They’re a response to a couple of trends: the minimalist tendencies and anti-sprawl sensibilities of many Millennials, higher interest rates that are pushing up monthly mortgage payments and pressuring budgets, and a housing shortage of between 1.7 million and 7.3 units nationally, depending on who’s counting.

Microhousing developments come in shapes and sizes ranging from housing alternatives to address homelessness to a cluster of luxury cabins my company is building for the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina.

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Builders and their customers stand to gain from the prefab construction microhousing developments in a lot of ways.

The benefits fall into five categories: 1. Cost and schedule 2. Efficiency 3. Scalability 4. Flexibility 5. Environmental Let’s break those down:

1. Cost and schedule

That should be “schedule and cost,” really, given how schedule drives cost in this

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

business. While results will vary, we’ve found that developments with multiple microhousing units tend to wrap up about a month faster than stick-built equivalents.

That time savings and the resulting cost savings—not to mention faster time to revenue—largely happen thanks to efficiency gains and scalability.

2. Efficiency

If you had to pick one realm in which prefab construction most outshines traditional onsite construction, it’s in the various ways it boosts design and construction efficiency.

That starts with a vastly simplified designarchitecture process. Pre-established

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footprints and proven configurations minimize the need for customization as far as the building envelope and interior layout.

There are design decisions to be made, of course: prefab microhousing makers typically offer a selection of colors, flooring, cabinets, countertops, fixtures, door and window placements, siding, and wainscotting. But the combination of a microhousing unit’s small size and the fact that most of the hard decisions are already baked in significantly smooths the process. Once designs are established, pre-engineered plan sets also speed up the permitting process.

When it comes to construction itself, prefab means you have what amounts to a general contractor and several key subcontractors (framing, roofing, insulation, drywalling, and millwork, among them) all following the same script and leveraging repeatable elements under the same manufacturing-center roof.

That does away with all the handoffs and schedule conflicts that can happen when you have to coordinate all that in the field. Microhousing makers typically have long experience with accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and have optimized production processes that happen in a temperature-controlled, consistent environment.

Prefab shipping is particularly efficient with microhousing. The structures’ small size means the whole package gets moved together in modular flat packs.

Once shipped to a site, these structures are typically dried-in within two days.

3. Scalability

It is easier to scale manufacturing production than it is to scale field labor on a stick build and, thanks to some of the above factors, microhousing makers can deliver multiple units in reliable timeframes.

There also are economies of scale to be won in the field. Once the shells are up, local GCs can bring in plumbing, electrical, and other crews and have each work through the entire microhousing development at once.

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4. Flexibility

Prefab manufacturing evokes the notion of monolithic, cookie-cutter design. But cookies come in lots of shapes, sizes, colors and flavors. So too with microhousing (except maybe the flavors).

In addition to offering a diversity of sizes, designs, configurations, and finishes, prefab microhousing makers assist with site-specific variations. They work with the developer on contracts; determine the number of units and their sizes, styles, and placement; assist with the permitting process; determine delivery schedules; and consult on the work that needs to be done onsite.

5. Environmental

Prefabricated microhousing units are constructed in a highly controlled environment. The waste from the onsite construction of a modular ADU is measured in garbage cans, not dumpsters. That same precision and scale can also enable the efficient recycling of metals and the composting of clean wood waste.

Because the structures are all predesigned and uniform, prefab microhousing units are easier to construct and deliver, which helps to bring down total carbon emissions.

Building envelopes typically include above-code insulation and weatherizing with such features as Zip System wall sheathing, OSB with rubberized membranes, and ultrahigh-efficiency doors and windows.

They’re often solar-ready and typically boast tankless water heaters as well as highly efficient mini-split HVAC systems that handle both heating and cooling. Appliances tend to be right-sized and Energy Star rated. Taken together, a well-conceived prefab microhousing unit is built tight and runs lean. That translates directly into low utility bills and a small environmental footprint.

Prefab construction is proving its mettle with a variety of housing types. But it’s particularly suited to microhousing developments, where it can get them built and occupied faster and more efficiently at lower cost while ensuring aesthetic variation and fostering environmental preservation. CCR

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Jeremy Nova is co-founder and Creative Director at Studio Shed.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

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The vigilance factor Your guide for safer commercial construction work zones

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By Mark Ludewig

ncreasing awareness of the dangers and consequences of unsafe work zones is paramount.

For construction professionals, the keys are to take extra precautions, stay alert and strictly follow all safety regulations when in a work zone.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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INDUSTRY NEWS

PERSPECTIVE

It is everyone’s responsibility to be familiar with their surroundings, use extra caution when navigating an active zone and, as a motorist, to always obey posted warnings and speed limits.

Most importantly, you must recognize that your decisions and actions weigh heavily on not just yourself, but your co-workers and the public, too. Properly designed work zones utilizing approved traffic control devices go a long way to keeping people safe. So too does special training that equips crews with the knowledge and skills to stay protected.

To remind today' commercial construction professionals about tenets of safety and safety practices, here are four reminders to help keep jobsite safe.

greatly by region. Professional assistance further helps protect the responsible parties from potential legal issues that could arise in the event of a crash or accident.

At minimum, all traffic control plans should have the approval of a qualified professional prior to their deployment.

2. Training is essential

Widely available are training programs for companies whose employees work in, or otherwise manage, active construction zones. Notable are programs available through organizations like the National Safety Council, OSHA Education Center and American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) with whom AWP Safety has

Safety plans should be reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted as the work assignment or job site conditions change, if there are changes in personnel, or as additional hazards are recognized.

1. There’s no substitute for proper design

All work zone traffic control plans should be designed by professionals for optimal safety, efficiency and legal compliance. Professionals have the experience to anticipate various onsite conditions and develop plans that include not just the essential elements, but also the proper sequence and placement of devices in order to best address the unique—and often changing—needs of the construction zone.

All plans will strictly adhere to the requirements of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (MUTCD), published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), that defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control measures.

Experts also understand applicable federal, state and local laws that can differ

worked closely for many years to develop targeted training.

The primary goal of these courses is to teach participants ways to prevent catastrophe by recognizing common hazards while working in live traffic. Content varies by program but tends to include learning the latest traffic control requirements and how to use safety equipment like Automated Flagger Assistance Devices (AFADs) that are popping up in work zones nationwide.

Employees can take courses to improve their skills in specific construction environments, and supervisors can track the progress of individual students to ensure that they are prepared to carry out their duties safely.

Additionally, every crew member assigned to a work site should have completed first aid and CPR training, and in the case of those actually monitoring traffic, certified

flagger training as well. The FHWA is another prominent organization that maintains a robust work zone management program offering nationally available and state-specific training opportunities.

3. Every shift starts with safety

During construction, a pre-job safety briefing should be held at the start of each day or as shifts change. This will be led by the site supervisor and will review known hazards in proximity to the work zone (e.g., obstructions to visibility; commercial activity; animals/insects; etc.) as well as identification and preparation of escape routes in case of emergency (also be sure to practice these escape protocols before the unexpected occurs).

Safety plans should be reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted as the work assignment or job site conditions change, if there are changes in personnel or as additional hazards are recognized. Furthermore, crews should be continually reminded to always wear appropriate visual/audio PPE for the particular assignment, to never turn their back on traffic, and to routinely check their position for one or more routes of escape.

4. Stop work when...

The safety of people is more important than any project deadline. Crews in work zones should stop work immediately anytime a vehicle violates established boundaries, if the necessary personnel and/or resources are not present on-site, and anytime there is improper or malfunctioning traffic control equipment.

Commercial construction and renovation companies should make sure that their workers are aware of the importance of following the regulations, are fully trained to take extra care, and know how to use the appropriate safety equipment.

Taking the time to educate and remind crews of the risks associated with entering a work zone can go a long way toward preventing accidents and creating a safe job site for everyone. CCR

Mark Ludewig is the VP of Safety for professional traffic management company AWP Safety. Ludewig has more than 30 years of experience in environmental, health and safety management, and leads AWP Safety’s ongoing enterprise initiatives to deliver the safest work zones by leveraging industry data, aligning enterprises with all-encompassing traffic control solutions and ensuring compliance at all levels.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Join RCA for appetizers, drinks & networking during Centerbuild Tuesday, November 28, 2023 7:30 - 9:30 pm AZ Spire Bar Arizona Biltmore Register at retailcontractors.org

RCA Members & Retailers Reception at the ICSC Centerbuild Conference Tuesday, November 28 | 7:30-9:30 pm Arizona Biltmore @ Spire Bar

2400 E Missouri Ave. • Phoenix, AZ 85016 Hosted by RCA RCA will host its popular reception during CenterBuild, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ. There is no fee to attend, and the event is open to retailers, developers/landlords, current RCA members (any staff from an RCA member company can attend), RCA sponsors/benefit providers, and other supporters.

Thanks to ICSC and the CenterBuild Program Planning Committee for their continued support of the RCA.

Register now to join us!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER If you have any difficulty registering, please email your contact information to info@retailcontractors.org.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Down on the corner How SQRL is rebuilding America one convenience store at a time Interview by Michael J. Pallerino

T

he strategy is simple, really. SQRL’s game plan in today’s ever-competitive convenience story landscape is to act with laser-precision-tactical service models.

Some of these stations are full service at the pump and inside, with many products proprietarily sourced and interspersed with locally grown businesses.

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The other component is sustainability.

By using environmentally friendly building materials like solar panels, SQRL can provide a sustainable way to power each location and provide excess energy to the community.

The convenience store model founder and CEO Blake Smith and his team have rolled out is working with 210 stations (to date) in 10 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

We sat down with Smith to get a look into how the strategy SQRL is bringing to a corner near you.

Give us a snapshot of your brand.

SQRL is America’s fastest-growing gas station and convenience store brand. Our mission is to redefine the gas station and convenience store industry by rebuilding the classic American corner C-store. We acquire and improve underperforming

and underdeveloped stations. SQRL puts customer service and experience at the forefront of their business model. SQRL stations are clean, well-lit, safe places to fill up and grab some food.

What type of consumer are you targeting?

We are targeting everyday Americans who need fuel and food during their day. Primarily we operate in the Midwest and southern states and tend to be on the outskirts of the cities and the smaller more rural towns. One of the key demographics we do well with is families with kids due to the cleanliness of our stores and the fun branding.

How does the design of your convenience store cater to what today’s consumers are looking for?

Today’s consumers demand more in the way of customer experience. We place a lot of emphasis on our staff to be friendly and helpful. We invest in our lighting and bathrooms to give a more high-end feel.

Walk us through how and why it is designed the way it is?

We make sure to incorporate plenty of exterior lighting to make the space more inviting and add a sense of safety for the customers.

Bathroom quality is very important to our customers which is why we focus on this area in our designs. We want them to feel clean, bright, and inviting.

What are some of the trends happening on the architecture side of the design business for convenience stores?

Everything today is being built in a more modern way, with sleek architecture and design. Additionally, building actual fuel pumps is changing due to the digital implementation of contactless app-based fueling options and the addition of EV charging stations.

What are some of the more prominent features being added today?

Diversity in options. Now when you pull up to a gas station you may see pumps and EV charging stations. With changing

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consumer preferences, comes evolving. At SQRL, we ensure premium store add-ons for our customers, which includes healthier food options.

Give us a rundown of your market’s layout.

The addition of the 210 stations to SQRL’s portfolio marks a significant milestone for the company, bringing the total number of stations to more than 350 across 14 states—Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

This means that we must adapt to every individual market layout.

We’re committed to sustainable operations. Our goal is to equip each station with solar panels in our portfolio by 2025.

What’s the biggest issue today related to the construction side of the business?

I believe our biggest issue is the same issue that any company struggles with on construction and that is finding contractors that will provide quality services for a reasonable price. We are constantly looking to create relationships with quality contractors that will provide exceptional services.

Talk about sustainability.

What are you doing?

We believe the path to a more sustainable future is best achieved by first having the legacy fossil fuels coexist with the new renewable options. We started a pilot with Florida Power and Light to install EV chargers and solar panels at some of our Florida stores. We see a lot of opportunity for incorporating solar, batteries and EV charging at strategic locations. We are also investing in a biodiesel production facility.

We’re committed to sustainable operations. Our goal is to equip each station with solar panels in our portfolio by 2025.

While it may not power the stations entirely, the solar installations offset a considerable amount of the traditional energy consumption, making our operations greener and more environmentally friendly.

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In today’s complicated landscape, what type of opportunities do you see moving ahead?

Even as electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more mainstream, the vast majority of vehicles on the road are still powered by gasoline or diesel. Transitioning to a fully electric fleet will take decades and during this period, there will be demand for both gas and EV charging alike.

Entering the gas station business now allows us to cater to this diverse demand and also to position ourselves as a forward-thinking service provider, ready for the EV future. While our current focus is on the Southeast and Midwest, we’re always evaluating growth opportunities.

Our goal is to meet the needs of as many customers as possible, so expanding beyond these regions isn’t just a possibility, it’s an inevitability.

It comes down to our people. We are creating a movement and a culture with SQRL. Having the right people who believe in the brand makes it incredibly special.

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Are you optimistic about what you are seeing out there?

SQRL embraces the future of transportation. We’re exploring partnerships with various established EV charging providers to offer high-quality and fast charging solutions. This ensures our customers get the best of both worlds, whether they drive a traditional vehicle or an electric one. We are in the process right now of installing our first EV charging stations in the state of Florida.

What trends are you seeing?

The option of gas and/or EV charging, contactless payment at the pump, and premium convenience store add-ons, such as local mom-and-pop shops and healthy options at gas stations.

What’s the secret to creating a “must-visit” convenience store environment today?

It’s important to be known for something in today’s environment. The SQRL branding is a big advantage for us here. It’s fun and friendly and plays well on social media. Families with kids will seek out our stores versus one of our more plain competitors. They know they can rely on getting a friendly and positive experience inside our stores.

What’s today’s consumer looking for in your facility?

They’re looking for an overall better experience.

They know our facilities are upgraded and cleaner than most of the other stations. They know that our staff is friendly and helpful.

Tell us what makes your brand so unique?

It comes down to our people. We are creating a movement and a culture with SQRL. Having the right people who believe in the brand makes it incredibly special. CCR

One-on-One with... SQRL’s Blake Smith What was the best advice you ever received?

Try to live your life in a state of congruence—alignment of thoughts, words and actions. You cannot fail if you master that.

Describe a typical day.

I touch as many things as possible on a daily basis at the company level. We kick the

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days off at SQRL with an 8:30 a.m. department heads call every single day, where we go from department to department and focus on the tasks for the day at each level.

What’s the biggest item on your to-do list right now?

Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. I have to stay

focused on the fundamentals—those routine tasks that excite no one. Those are the biggest things that make a difference.

What’s the best thing a customer ever said to you?

I’ve never been to a gas station with a heated toilet seat in the bathroom.

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Building for the future Women’s commercial roundtable eyes what lies ahead

G

ather eight leading women commercial construction and design professionals in a conversation about where our industry is and where it’s heading and the conversation will rivet you. That’s what Commercial Construction & Renovation did in our recent video roundtable

discussion. We invited some of the industry foremost thought leaders in design and let them roll.

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Jessica Archeval

Kristin Beison

Owner, Interior Designer JLA Interiors

Senior Construction Program Manager, Property Development Kohl’s

Jennifer Brown

Melissa Caruso

Director of Club Design Chuze Fitness

Vice President of Legal and Corporate Development Premiere Health

Julia Esser

Kari Ihle

Sr. Manager, Facilities Operations Programs Rivian

Sr Director of Environmental Design, Planning, Maintenance + Sustainability Evereve

Allison Schull Turner

Jennifer Sussman

SVP, Real Estate & Development Bond Vet

Director of National Accounts Powerhouse

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WOMEN’S ARCHITECTURE ROUNDTABLE

Jennifer Sussman, Powerhouse: I am a Director of National Accounts at Powerhouse.

For over a decade, I’ve been primarily focused on the retail industry. I spent eight years involved in architecture and design and the last three tackling the fast-paced world of facilities maintenance, exterior services and rollouts. I pride myself on being very hands-on with my clients, which has proved tremendously beneficial in gaining expertise throughout different facets of the business.

Allison Turner, Bond Vet: I’m the Senior VP of Real Estate and Development. We are a de novo veterinary boutique company where I oversee real estate, design and construction, set-up launch and facilities. We started our rollouts in 2019 and just recently opened our 42nd clinic in Brooklyn (New York). We are a full interior fit-out focusing on the best in veterinary medicine.

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Kari Ihle, Evereve: I am Senior Director of Environmental Design, Planning, Maintenance and Sustainability at Evereve. We are a national retailer that delivers curated, contemporary women’s fashion through our physical stores, ecommerce and our box styling service Trendsend. We are a destination that helps our customers discover exclusive on-trend pieces from over 150 brands, including our own Evereve line. I have been with Evereve for almost 10 years and in design, construction and retail for more than 20.

Kristin Beison, Kohl’s: I am a Senior Program Manager of Kohl’s Construction.

My team oversees new store, non-retail, and capital rollout construction projects from pre-construction through the execution phase.

I’ve been with the company for 17 years. I started out with 10 years working

in our stores in various store management positions, which has given me some great insight into the inner workings of the day-today operations in a store. This knowledge is very valuable as we build strategies around construction taking place in open store environments as well as working through communication with store teams when opening new stores.

Jessica Archibald, JLA Interiors: I am the owner of JLA Interiors, we specialize in high-end residential and commercial interiors with a focus on brand concept and experiential development. With nearly 15 years of experience in the industry, JLA has become a global boutique interior design firm offering design concepts across the country. New Jersey, New York, Boston, Houston, Miami and LA are just a few of the places we have curated.

Melissa Caruso, Premiere Health: I’m the Vice President of Legal and Corporate Development. We partner with hospital systems to co-own and operate their urgent care. When I first started four years ago, we had about 42 clinics. We just crossed the 85 mark. We’ve had a lot of growth in that time. I oversee the real estate planning and development department, which includes everything from site selection, overseeing build-outs and ground-ups, and all the project management. I also oversee the back end, facilities management and the lease industry.

“It’s the same key topics I’ve been hearing year after year: supply chain issues, rising cost, skill labor shortages, things that have really been adversely affecting our industry. Everybody’s looking to save money, but at what cost?”

— Powerhouse’s Jennifer Sussman

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Julia Esser, Rivian: I am a senior program manager with the facilities operations team at Rivian. We are a startup company that sells electric trucks. My role specifically handles programs. Most of our facilities are on the commercial side, which include retail and service sites. I also oversee office spaces.

Jennifer Brown, Chuze Fitness: I’m the director of design, for Chuze Fitness a 40,000-square-foot gym. Chuze is considered part of the HVLP 2.0 model. The difference between our gym and others is that our mission statement is to build healthy communities through human connection and kindness. It’s a safe space where people

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can go that’s inclusive. It’s less about sales, and more about results and inclusion. I do all of the store design. My background is in retail design.

Over the last couple of years, we bought new franchises. We have brought on a combination of new construction and renovations of about 20 gyms, so I’m helping to streamline the process and figuring out how to maintain who we are with the new gym versus a renovation of an existing gym.

CCR: What trends are you seeing out there today? What do you see coming down the road?

Powerhouse’s Sussman: I’ve seen a rise in predictive maintenance, ESG reporting and a heightened emphasis on sustainability. AI-driven predictive maintenance is reinventing how industries manage their assets by analyzing both historical and real-time data to anticipate issues before the need for costly emergency repairs.

I have noticed a growing number of clients investing in more energy-efficient HVAC and electrical systems, which promote environmentally friendly practices and provides long-term cost savings.

I’ve also observed a significant surge in the installation of EV charging stations.

We get approached quite a bit by retailers, restaurants, c-stores and healthcare providers looking for assistance executing national programs.

Additionally, companies are leveraging enhanced technological tools and software to improve operations. These programs allow for more nimble decision making and encourage streamlined communication.

Bond Vet’s Turner: For Bond, it’s about leaning in on the human experience while finding a balance of how we use tech integration. We are trying to meet the needs of what our pet parents and clinic teams need and want. We are still learning more on where we can lean in on AI to create efficiencies and even Telehealth for more client accessibility.

Evereve’s Ihle: Some of the things we’re seeing is an incorporation of AI into the design tools we use for rendering, as well as 3D drawings and details for the presentations

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“We are always trying to think ahead as deadlines are constant and typically cannot change. How can we procure more, store more and try to foresee what is next?”

— Bond Vet’s Allison Schull Turner

we do for our executives, landlords and municipality approvals. We’re starting to see more regulations coming up in conversations around fashion in general for ESG and CSR requirements, and how that might impact us down the road.

We’re also seeing a lot of growth in terms of partnerships within the fashion industry—who could potentially work together to find solutions for the way fashion impacts our environment.

On the construction side, we’re seeing many more multi occupancy use buildings as tenant spaces. We are not just going into traditional malls/lifestyle centers; it’s a location with restaurants, offices, workout facilities, theaters, apartments—all of these experiences in one place.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Powerhouse’s Sussman: We’re seeing an upswing in the development of self-contained communities that offer the live, play, work experience.

Kohl’s’ Beison: From a construction perspective, we are being tasked with seeking efficiency at every turn. How can we do things faster, at a lower cost, and for the same or better quality?

As for the future—it seems like it will be AI technologies. I was recently at the X-SPECS conference and our keynote speaker, Dean Marks, talked about the impact of AI on retail and construction. Previous to that, I really hadn’t thought about the impact of AI on my day-to-day efficiencies. It was very insightful and opened my

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eyes to some technologies coming our way in the near future.

JLA Interiors’ Archeval: What’s interesting about JLA is that we have a full run of different clients. We work heavily in the beauty industry; we have designed gyms, restaurants, car washes speakeasies, commercial development, cannabis dispensaries, hair + lash + brow salons, cigar lounges, bars, medspas, residential roll-out, and many other specialties retail experiences.

What I am seeing is everybody looking for an emotion driven atmosphere where design departs the consumer from an original concept. We’re seeing people want to

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

create a lifestyle where customers come in and have a retail experience, but know there are other things available, too. Everyone’s looking to provide some sort of vibe where people can gravitate.

So we have to be creative and understand the brand, and then come up with what these outlets could feature from a retail standpoint. We’re bringing in plants, trees and pampas; we’re creating something that doesn’t remotely feel like you’re in that location. There’s a lot of influence coming from Tulum and these Caribbean areas for extended vacation atmosphere.

People want to feel like they’re on vacation when they’re getting Botox. I think

overall it’s like a relaxing environment to be completely transformed.

There are ambassadors and influencers on social media who are creating these lifestyles through videos. They’re showing people the exposure to these brands. Through Instagram, I’ve taken my business from New Jersey and Florida, Massachusetts and Boston, to Houston, Nevada and California just by posting a reel or image on IG. Powerhouse’s Sussman: I am energized and inspired to hear about this dedication to creativity and innovation. For years, naysayers have said that retail is dead. The truth is retail is evolving.

Premiere Health’s Caruso: Our waiting rooms have gone from an average of 25 to 30 chairs, to 15 to 20. We’re looking to see how we can make them even smaller. That’s just part of our overall design.

Everything we’re looking at is what the consumers and patients want. They want shorter wait times, same day appointments and convenience. You have to balance that aesthetics and functionality.

Having that human touch is important.

They still want hands-on experience. The healthcare industry has changed a lot since the pandemic. It has been in a state of flux, so we’re constantly looking for ways to design for today, while thinking about the future, and how we can flex space or reuse space in different ways.

“I would love to see ways that the industry can work together on how to educate high school students on those opportunities to show that they are just as exciting and just as beneficial as going to a four-year degree.”

— Evereve’s Kari Ihle

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Rivian’s Esser: I want to go on record and say that I love the term “vibe curator.” I was definitely aspiring to be one. I believe that electrification and sustainability are just part of the daily mix for us. Those are the things we’re constantly talking about every day, especially in facilities.

Another thing I was thinking about is the idea of AI and efficiency everyone is talking about. I am trying to see how I can use AI, machine learning [etc.] to reduce some of the administrative low-level things I’m doing and yet maintain a sustainable, high level of creativity. I don’t think we’re there yet when it comes to AI. Nor do I love the idea of AI taking on the creative aspect of things.

It’s about efficiency. How can we automate this? How can we make it so that

evereve.com

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we don’t have to complete this manually?

These are things we talk about every day in operations, and I think as we see these platforms start to incorporate more AI, we’re going to see more opportunities for that.

Chuze Fitness’ Brown: In fitness, it’s very interesting. I think the biggest trends for us is staying up to date with the fitness trends and staying on budget. Like I said before, we need to stay true to who we are, but also stay up to date, especially post pandemic.

Take cycle rooms. I didn’t realize people are not taking spin classes anymore at the gym because of the Peloton surge and all of the bikes at home. You hear a lot of people are removing them. That’s a big deal.

So you have to look at where you put your time and money. It has to be in new trends.

For example, lifting weights. A lot of women are working out with weights, so that’s a huge trend. You have to make the right decision at the right time for what you invest your time and money into.

CCR: What challenges are you experiencing?

Powerhouse’s Sussman: For me, it’s a repeat of the same significant issues that have been particularly taxing for quite some time: supply chain disruptions, rising costs and skilled labor shortages. Everybody’s looking to save money, but at what cost? We actively seek ways to combat these problems without sacrificing quality of service, but it could take years before the impacts of COVID are fully resolved.

Large, unanticipated expenditures tend to be the most problematic, so providing clients with comprehensive financial data and implementing preventive maintenance versus just reactive maintenance helps them to forecast more accurate budgets.

Bond Vet’s Turner: For Bond, it’s scaling efficiencies and the supply chain lead times. We are rolling out boutiques that have condensed schedules in primary locations that previously were retail. Most of our locations require HVAC and electrical upgrades that are far longer than our typical schedules allow.

We have found ourselves pre-buying items that I never thought we would—from

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“In fitness, it’s very interesting.

I think the biggest trends for us is staying up to date with the fitness trends and staying on budget.”

— Chuze Fitness’ Jennifer Brown

electrical panels and components to large HVAC units.

We are always trying to think ahead as deadlines are constant and typically cannot change. How can we procure more, store more and try to foresee what is next?

Evereve’s Ihle: Very similar to what everyone else is seeing, we are also finding it challenging to sync up all the player schedules within construction timelines.

Landlords are having as much trouble as we are getting their work complete prior to turnover to us, cities are understaffed and inspections are taking much longer to get scheduled and get someone on site, not to mention inspectors expectations are much more variable and can differ greatly from the city approved plans when they actually get on site.

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We are still seeing insufficient availability for the trades to get construction work complete and not enough younger people interested in these areas to fill retiring masters.

I would love to see ways that the industry can work together on how to educate high school students on those opportunities to show that they are just as exciting and just as beneficial as going to a four-year degree. It would be great to see partnerships with high schools so we can build programs to better support this track.

I’d love to see more women in our industry, especially around construction and on the facilities maintenance side. We’re not seeing enough diversity overall. It is important for our industry to get perspectives and experience from all backgrounds. We’re not there yet.

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Powerhouse’s Sussman: Although I took the traditional four-year college route, I realize the importance of promoting trade programs and boosting interest at a young age. The construction industry still faces a massive labor gap, so there are tons of lucrative and rewarding opportunities out there.

Kohl’s’ Beison: The long lead times within the supply chain channel continue to be like a game of whack-a-mole. Just when you think you have everything figured out, the next unexpected delay rears its head and we have our next obstacle to overcome.

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To combat supply chain issues and not delay projects we must place orders as far in advance as possible. It’s necessary to find balance when ordering materials so far in advance because you’re taking on more risk. That balance continues to be a challenge for us as we strive to increase our speed to market while keeping costs low amid continuing supply chain delays.

I think we all anticipated it would normalize by now after COVID, but it really hasn’t. I don’t know that it ever will. I honestly don’t feel it’ll ever get back to what we thought normal was, so we will have to learn to operate in what is the new normal.

“We’ve had a lot of growth during COVID— nearly doubling the past three and a half years. It’s very exciting to get bigger, but as we grow, we try to make sure we’re getting better as well.”

— Premiere Health’s Melissa Caruso

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I also love to hear so many people talking about how to resolve the lack of partners in the trades. I think driving home the fact that women can thrive in the trades is really important. It’s not just talking generally to our youth about getting in there, but women, too. It is about helping them understand there are real opportunities here.

JLA Interiors’ Archeval: I’ve started in the last year and a half working with middle school kids and introducing interior design as a profession. We created entry level courses on color theory and space planning, and are trying to introduce the profession of design and the ideas of like environment to young people.

It helps enlighten them on the possibilities this industry can create in the future. A lot of it comes from penetrating the educational system and letting them know about the process. There are other options outside that are hands-on like construction and architecture design.

I’ve tried my best to get involved with the youth and speak to them about what I do, like getting involved with the Boys and Girls Club program and teaching design. It has been an awesome outlet.

I think the competence of these people coming into the business is lacking because the education is not there.

With the supply chain, I think building strong vendor relationships is key. When you come across someone who is good, you want to hold on to them. Everything is about creating solutions. I’m all about solutions and not problems, so creating a strong network of people around you helps.

Premiere Health’s Caruso: Some challenges in our industry and general are just the stagnant reimbursements in healthcare and the changing environment We’ve been doing a lot of training. We’ve also spent the last couple of years trying different vendors, which has helped build relationships. We have found people who like working with our industry. They know what our design requirements are, what our functionality requirements are and they can help us move fast. We trust them, and so the efficiency is there, which is important.

We’ve had a lot of growth during COVID—nearly doubling the past three and a

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a half years. It’s very exciting to get bigger, but as we grow, we try to make sure we’re getting better as well. This is especially true in our older sites. We need to make sure we’re not just growing the new markets and new sites, but that we’re being smart with facility maintenance and design at our older ones, too.

Rivian’s Esser: I have a degree in student development and have spent a lot of time working with students. There are lots of opinions about whether or not higher education is for everyone, and I think each person has to decide if it’s of value to them.

It’s important to talk about how to get youth more involved in the trades.

One of the things we are focusing on in facilities is cost efficiencies. Our team is trying to get clear on our KPIs, our key performance indicators and the performance of our vendors. A large part of what I do right now is programming around facilities maintenance, so I have to find how the data informs us in order to be more efficient.

Being as efficient as possible and being more effective in this environment is the goal for everyone. What are our main data points and how can we analyze them to make us more efficient? This continues to be a big focus for us.

Powerhouse’s Sussman: The foundation of resilient client relationships is built on two key metrics, quality performance and value.

Merely reviewing numbers on a spreadsheet doesn’t present the full narrative. We need to delve deeper into cost analysis and seek out established methods to optimize the longevity of assets.

Chuze Fitness’ Brown: The challenges in the field really echo what everyone else has said. For me, it’s supply chain, skilled labor and cost. When it comes to supply chains, one of the biggest things I have noticed is delays, delays, delays. Across the board with vendors, it seems there is this ongoing thing. We have this date.

We’re committing to the state. And then we go back to the vendor, and it becomes a case of, “You said 10 weeks, but it took 14.”

I need to give my team a clear number, so

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“There is a lot going on in this industry we work in. You cannot fake it till you make it.

You need to build experience, start from the bottom and get as much information as you can.”

— JLA Interiors’ Jessica Archeval

give me your worst case scenario. So we say 12 weeks. And then it’s 16 weeks.

There is a lot of this. They cannot make the date with no explanation.

It’s not a lack of caring, but a lack of accountability. I am extremely compassionate, as I’m sure anyone in this group is. We understand the supply chain constraints, but it just seems it has not gotten any better and, in some ways, is getting worse.

I know this group understands this, but it’s a managing thing, not a predictable thing. There is one price now, but it’s more later. So that balance of internally educating needs to be done. You want to be realistic, but it’s that balance and not knowing what the right thing to do is.

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CCR: If you had advice for young women looking to work in construction, facilities and design, what would you tell them?

Powerhouse’s Sussman: If someone told me I would one day work for a company with over 1,000 people in a male dominated industry and the executive leadership team would be 60% female, I wouldn’t have believed them. The glass ceiling no longer confines us or dictates our ability to succeed.

My advice for young ladies is to find a mentor. Consume every ounce of wisdom they impart. Many young people are fearful of perceived weakness at the onset of their careers but asking for guidance or advice can be empowering. Sometimes it’s okay to walk down a path that others helped pave.

CIRCLE NO. 30

WOMEN’S ARCHITECTURE ROUNDTABLE

Bond Vet’s Turner: Early on, I think we get in the weeds when you’re starting out in the industry. You have to get deadlines done, and have to execute and produce. But getting out and meeting people, talking about what you’re going through and meeting new vendors and partners, is what helps you grow and expand.

Evereve’s Ihle: I think mentorships and relationships are important. My first degree was in interior design, I never thought I’d be working in the construction industry or that it was even a path I could follow. When we educate the multiple directions and options a career path can go, we help to foster innovation and creativity within our field. It encourages perspectives from different points of view and helps break barriers created by often confining specific degree paths. It also illustrates to youth considering a focus area in college that they are not limited to that one direction which can be daunting when

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

you are 18 trying to decide what you want to do for the rest of your career.

Kohl’s’ Beison: I did not see myself in construction. If you would have asked me 10 years ago if I’d ever be in the construction industry, I would have laughed. I didn’t necessarily see it in myself, but my leadership did. I think we need to keep ourselves open to opportunities and never turn something down because we didn’t see ourselves in a certain role. Be open to the opportunities that come your way and look at them as adventures.

I completely agree with the idea of networking. It is very important in what we do. When you seek out mentors, you are seeking out ways to develop yourself. Meeting people and discovering what others do is important and can support what you do.

There are a lot of organizations out there for women in construction. National chapters. Local chapters. There are so many

organizations we can turn to for support and networking opportunities, especially for women. You just have to find the right one for you.

JLA Interiors’ Archeval: I’m going to take a non-traditional approach to this question.

If I had any advice, I would say don’t take any shortcuts. Go the long haul and take the path less traveled.

From someone who’s came from two parents who never even finished high school, I managed to obtain an interior architecture degree from the No. 1 school in the country with a full academic scholarship.

From there, I knew I needed to train and I went into the corporate industry. I started at the bottom, redlining, learning architecture, learning ME&P. I didn’t have any idea what those meant. I worked myself up and learned every part of the business, every skill.

So internally, anyone who wants to get into any profession, I feel you need to be self-sufficient. You need to be able to do things on your own and understand every part of that business to be sustainable.

There is a lot going on in this industry we work in. You cannot fake it till you make it. You need to build experience, start from the bottom and get as much information as you can. It’s the only way to get stronger and be authentic. When the blindfold is off and you’re really into the grind, that’s when people are going to say that girl knows her stuff. I see it a lot as a younger female holding a high position in my trade.

Premiere Health’s Caruso: My advice would be to ask a lot of questions. I’ve never been shy about asking questions. It’s how you learn.

I just want to know more, so I ask. There is so much more to what we do than just construction, facilities and design. Asking questions helps you to make the best decisions.

“You have to be open to the opportunities that come your way and look at them as adventures. I completely agree with the idea of networking.”

— Kohl’s’ Kristin Beison

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Rivian’s Esser: I’ve had a lot of managers and supervisors who were men. As I have moved through my career, I realized there are lots of stereotypes for what a manager is supposed to be. My advice is to develop your own style of leadership, your own style of management. You don’t need to conform to an existing stereotype to be a great leader or manager.

I get a lot of advice that doesn’t match with what I feel is right in my heart. As women, it’s okay to bring more empathy into our role—into how we manage people. There are a lot more women in the industry now, so this kind of shift is good.

Chuze Fitness’ Brown: In my own career, the advice I give to younger women is to do a variety of things—work in different positions throughout your career path. The more variety, the better.

I worked retail in New York City for a corporate for 10 and a half years. I worked in startups in LA after moving there and not knowing a soul. I went to different events and conferences. I put myself out there.

I felt uncomfortable at times because I didn’t know anyone, but I felt like I needed to reinsert myself in this field.

I did design and merchandising construction, purchasing. I worked for Tory Burch, which opened my eyes to all the retail positions there were outside of design and construction. You’re just a part of the puzzle, but it is a puzzle where everyone is working together.

CCR: Okay, lighting round: What are your goals for next year?

Rivian’s Esser: One of the things I love about working at Rivian is we’re still kind of in a startup phase. It’s very fast paced.

We’re all pushing really hard. For us, it is how can we innovate? How can we be better? I feel really inspired to take a little bit of a step back and get out to do more networking and learn some new skills.

“A large part of what I do right now is programming around facilities maintenance, so I have to find how the data informs us in order to be more efficient.”

— Rivian’s Julia Esser

Premiere Health’s Caruso: My goal next year is to learn something new. I wanted to take some classes, expand sort of what I’m doing here, both for my current company, but just other interests.

Kohl’s’ Beison: I am really trying to be more present and in the moment. I think the nature of what a lot of us do has us always looking forward to what’s next and planning for the future. For me, that often detracts from actually living in the present and engaging in what is happening right now in front of me. This applies to both my professional and personal life. I have two boys and they’re getting older so I am trying to absorb every moment I have with them.

JLA Interiors’ Archeval: I try to set goals for myself every day. I try to be a better version of myself every day. If I think I need to work on something, I need to work on balance. I just became a mother, so balancing motherhood and being a business owner, and having a passion and something you want to pour into 24/7, seven days a week has been a challenge for me.

Evereve’s Ihle: I have kids who are older. My youngest is a freshman in high school, so I’m getting to that transition point in life. My biggest focus right now is being an example to them, and hopefully for fresh talent in our industry in terms of how to be a balanced, fulfilled, happy person. I’m proud of the career and family I’ve built, and I hope they see it is possible to have both if that is what brings you joy.

Bond Vet’s Turner: I have kids as well who are getting a bit older and I know I had missed quite a bit in their younger years.

Being in startups for the last 14 years required a lot of my attention. A goal for me is to be more present and a bigger support to them.

Chuze Fitness’ Brown: My 2024 resolution is to show myself the same grace that I show to others in all facets of my life. I tend to show grace to others and then be really hard on myself. It’s also to continue becoming the best version of myself Powerhouse’s Sussman: I don’t have a specific goal per se, but more of a readjusted philosophy that I’ve recently adopted: There’s no growth in comfort zones, so I intend to continue to challenge myself and do something every day that scares me. CCR

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WWW.PMCONSORTIUM.COM CIRCLE NO. 31

SPECIAL REPORT

HVAC/ENERGY

Survey highlights industry’s leading HVAC suppliers

A

ir quality (IAQ). Ventilation. Filtration. Today, more than ever, having the right HVAC system in your project is critical. This month’s listing shines a light on some of the industry’s leading HVAC suppliers for the retail, restaurant, hospitality, healthcare (and other) sectors. The annual listing provides the contact information and contact person for each firm. If you didn’t make the list, contact Publisher David Corson at davidc@ccr-mag.com.

A. O. Smith

A. O. Smith, Marketing Department 106 Adkisson Street Ashland City, TN 37015 contactus@hotwater.com www.hotwater.com Product Type: Tank Water Heaters, Tankless Water Heaters

Aeroseal, LLC.

Donna Hawke, Strategic Marketing Manager 225 Byers Road Suite 1 Miamisburg, OH 45342 (937) 479-6530 donna.hawke@aeroseal.com www.aeroseal.com Product Type: Duct sealing

Aircuity, Inc. Sarah Callahan, Director of Marketing Communications 128 Carnegie Row, Suite 110 Norwood, MA 02062 (617) 641-8800 www.aircuity.com scallahan@aircuity.com Product Type: Demand Control Ventilaiton

Airius

Christian Avedon, Director of Sales and Marketing 811 S. Sherman St. Longmont, CO 80501 (888) 247-7327 info@airiusfans.com www.airiusfans.com Product Type: Destratification Fans

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Allied Air Enterprises Nicholas Orth, Senior Marketing Manager 215 Metropolitan Drive West Columbia, SC 29170 (800) 448-5872 (803) 738-4050 Nicholas.Orth@lennoxintl.com alliedair.com Product Type: Furnaces, Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Heat Pumps

American National HVAC Services Alex Boarman, Director 5302 Evergreen PKWY Sheffield, OH 44054 (440) 787-8739 sales@an-hvac.com an-hvac.com Product Type: VAV Systems, Air Handlers, Furnaces/Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Refrigeration Equipment, Filters, Ductwork /Accessories, Chillers, Boilers, Tank Water Heaters, Tankless Water Heaters, Geo Thermal Products

American Standard Water Heaters Sales and Marketing 225 Dyer St Providence, RI 02903 (800) 323-9651 info@americanstandardwaterheaters.com AmericanStandardWaterHeaters.com Product Type: Tank Water Heaters, Other: Heat Pump Water Heaters

Carrier

Andrew Brooks, Communications Manager, North America Commercial HVAC 13995 Pasteur Boulevard Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 Andrew.Brooks1@carrier.com www.carrier.com Product Type: VAV Systems, Air Handlers, Furnaces/Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Refrigeration Equipment, Chillers, Geo Thermal Products

Cortec Corporation

Desert Aire Paul Dybro, Marketing N120 W18485 Freistadt Road Germantown, WI 53022 (262) 946-0647 pdybro@desert-aire.com www.desert-aire.com Product Type: Packaged Roof Top Units

Dexwet Clemens Sparowitz/ Director, COO

Scott Bryan, Technical Sales Manager Water Treatment 4119 White Bear Parkway St. Paul, MN 55110 (651) 429-1100 sbryan@cortecvci.com www.cortecvci.com Product Type: Other: Water Treatment Chemicals

1177 Avenue of the Americas

Daikin Applied

ECM Technologies

John Marden, Controls Program Manager 13600 Industrial Park Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55441 (763) 553-5330 daikincontrols@daikinapplied.com www.daikinapplied.com Product Type: VAV Systems, Air Handlers, Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Chillers

David Fenton,

5th Floor New York, NY 10036 (480) 363-5733 Cell: (646) 452-7157 www.dexwetholdings.com michelle@10to1pr.com Product Type: Air Handlers

Chief Revenue Officer 3104 E Camelback Rd,, #7123 Phoenix, AZ 85016 (480) 904-4348 info@ecm-technologies.net ecm-technologies.net Product Type: HVAC Efficiency Specialists, Anti-Thermal Degradation Technology

Danfoss Lisa Tryson, Director, Corporate Communications & Public Relations 11655 Crossroads Circle Baltimore, MD 21220 (888) DANFOSS (326-3677) Fax: (410) 931-8256 lisatryson@danfoss.com www.danfoss.us Product Type: Condensing Units, Controls, Monitoring, Refrigeration Equipment, Other: Compressors, Drives, Filter Driers, Heat Exchangers, Hydronic Floor Heating, Radiator and Room Thermostats, Variable Speed

Heatcraft Refrigeration Products Kevin Norris, Head of Marketing Communications and Customer Training 2175 West Park Place Blvd.

Stone Mountain, GA 30087 (770) 465-5838 kevin.norris@heatcraftrpd.com www.heatcraftrpd.com Product Type: Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Refrigeration Equipment, Other: Condensers, Gas Coolers, Unit Coolers

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SPECIAL REPORT

HVAC/ENERGY

Hempitecture Inc.

KOVA

Matthew Mead, CEO

3200 Earhart Dr Carrollton, TX 75006 (650) 448-7115 sales@kovaproducts.com kovaproducts.com Product Type: VAV Systems

323 Lewis Street Ketchum, ID 83340 (973) 727-7902 Mattie@hempitecture.com www.hempitecture.com Product Type: Insulation

HTP 225 Dyer St Providence, RI 02903 (800) 323-9651 Sales@ariston.com htproducts.com Product Type: Condensing Units, Boilers, Tank Water Heaters

Invi Air Marc Mascarello, Head of Design 67 Guernsey Street Brooklyn, NY 11222 (917) 909-0343 inviair@upspringpr.com www.inviair.com Product Type: Air Diffusers

Johnson Controls Melissa Talbott, Manager, Public Relations & Media, Global Products 5757 N. Green Bay Ave. P.O. Box 591 Milwaukee, WI 53201 (414) 524-8687 media@jci.com www.johnsoncontrols.com Product Type: Air Handlers, Furnaces/Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Refrigeration Equipment, Chillers

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LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., LG Air Conditioning Technologies Joslyn Fagan, Manager, Product Marketing 4300 North Point Parkway, 200 Alpharetta, GA 30022 joslyn.fagan@lge.com www.lghvac.com Product Type: Air Handlers, Packaged Roof Top Units, Controls/ Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Chillers, Tank Water Heaters

Lochinvar Marketing Department 300 Maddox Simpson Pkwy Lebanon, TN 37090 (615) 889-8900 lochinvar@lochinvar.com www.lochinvar.com Product Type: Boilers, Tank Water Heaters, Tankless Water Heaters

MFM Building Products Corp.

Tony Reis, President 525 Orange Street Coshocton, OH 43812 (800) 882-7663 (740) 622-6161 info@mfmbp.com www.flexclad.com Product Type: Other: Duct Jacketing Systems

Midea David Rames, Senior Product Manager 2700 Chestnut Station Court Louisville, KY 40299 david.rames@midea.com www.mideaevox.com Product Type: Air Handlers, Condensing Units, Heat Pumps, Ductwork /Accessories

Revolutionizing Building Efficiency Invisible Leaks, Visible Results.

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Your path to building performance, code compliance, and energy optimization has arrived.

CIRCLE NO. 32

aeroseal.com

SPECIAL REPORT

HVAC/ENERGY

Modine Coatings

PassiveLogic

Daniel Fisher, Sales Director 1423 West Ormsby Avenue Louisville, KY 40210 (502) 634-9458 Daniel.W.Fisher@modine.com www.modinecoatings.com Product Type: Anti-Corrosion Coatings

Travis Anna Hallstrom, Head of Brand & Product 6510 Millrock Drive STE 350 Salt Lake City, UT 84121 marketing@passivelogic.com passivelogic.com Product Type: Controls/Monitoring

NAVAC Lintno Lu 1099 Wall Street West, Suite 179 Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 (877) 696-2822 www.navacglobal.com llu@navacglobal.com Product Type: Other: HVAC Tools

Navien, Inc. Brett Butler, Brand Supervisor 20 Goodyear Irvine, CA 92618 (800) 519-8794 Fax: (949) 420-0430 www.navieninc.com marketing@navien.com Product Type: Boilers, Tankless Water Heaters, Water Treatment

Nyle Water Heating Systems

Serv Tech Air Conditining Solutions Rogerio Alves, President 6245 N Federal Hwy OFC 528 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 (954) 295-4032 (954) 790-0400 Fax: (954) 860-8686 info@servicestechac.com www.servicestechac.com Product Type: Air Handlers, Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Heat Pumps, Ductwork /Accessories, Geo Thermal Products, Other: Split System

Systemair

Chris Ebener, Director of Sales 690 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 (800) 777-6953 cebener@nyle.com www.heatwater.com Product Type: Heat Pumps, Tankless Water Heaters

Rick Caldwell, Director of Marketing 10048 Industrial Blvd Lenexa, KS 66215 (913) 752-6000 sales@systemair.net www.systemair.com Product Type: VAV Systems, Air Handlers, Packaged Roof Top Units, Controls/Monitoring, Filters

Ozone Refrigeration Equipment LLC

The Propane Education & Research Council

Giancarlo Lanzano, Director 14 East Central Ave Pearl River, NY 10965 (917) 200-3495 (917) 200-3495 giancarlo@ozoneref.com ozoneref.com Product Type: Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Refrigeration Equipment

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Jim Bunsey, Director of Commercial Business Development 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW Suite 1075 Washington, DC 20036 jim.bunsey@propane.com Propane.com Product Type: Propane

GGS Partners LLC FACILITIES MANAGEMENT COVID-19 PPE

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We make YOUR business, OUR business Neil A. Sperling – Managing Partner (609) 313-4346 • neils@ggspartners.com • P.O. Box 3075 Margate, NJ 08402 • www.ggspartners.com CIRCLE NO. 33

SPECIAL REPORT

HVAC/ENERGY

United MHC

Watts Water Technologies

Scott Nash, Sales Director 69 Eisenhower Lane South Lombard, IL 60148 (469) 233-7155 (469) 233-7155 scott.nash@unitedmhc.com unitedmhc.com Product Type: VAV Systems, Air Handlers, Furnaces/Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Condensing Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Refrigeration Equipment, Filters, Ductwork /Accessories, Chillers, Boilers

Shivani Khera,

Uponor Kim Bliss, Technical and Marketing Content Manager 5925 148th Street West Apple Valley, MN 55124 (800) 321-4739 Fax: (952) 891-2008 www.uponor.com kim.bliss@uponor.com Product Type: Other: Radiant Heating and Cooling

Veridify Security Harry Ostaffe, VP, Marketing 100 Beard Sawmill Rd. Suite 350 Shelton, CT 06484 info@veridify.com www.veridify.com Product Type: Controls/Monitoring, Other: Cybersecurity for Building Controls

Marketing Campaign Manager 5100 Silver Star road Vernon, British Columbia V1B 3K4 shivani.khera@wattswater.com www.watts.com Product Type: Controls/Monitoring

Weil-McLain Mike Gambill, Technical Training Manager 999 McClintock Drive Suite 200 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 (855) 248-1777 Fax: (630) 560-3769 mgambill@weil-mclain.com www.weil-mclain.com Product Type: Controls/Monitoring, Boilers, Tank Water Heaters

Wiegmann Associates Chad Wiegmann, President 750 Fountain Lakes Blvd St. Charles, MO 63301 (636) 940-1056 cwiegmann@waidb.com www.wiegmannassoc.com Product Type: Controls/Monitoring, Ductwork /Accessories, Other: National HVAC / Design/Build Contractor

YORK Melissa Talbott, Manager,

WarmlyYours Radiant Heating Cameron Witbeck, Marketing Communications Manager 590 Telser Rd., Suite B Lake Zurich, IL 60047 (800) 875-5285 Fax: (800)408-1100 www.warmlyyours.com info@warmlyyours.com Product Type: Electric Floor Heating

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Public Relations & Media, Global Products 5757 N. Green Bay Ave. P.O. Box 591 Milwaukee, WI 53201 (414) 524-8687 media@jci.com www.york.com Product Type: Air Handlers, Furnaces/Duct Furnaces, Packaged Roof Top Units, Controls/Monitoring, Heat Pumps, Refrigeration Equipment|Chillers

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The Hussmann brand is particularly known for their durable, energy efficient refrigerated display cases with contemporary styling that incorporates features to promote excellent product presentation.

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Supermarkets Grocery Stores Restaurants C-Stores QSR’s Arenas/Stadiums Concessions Hospitals, Labs Cannabis Cases and Lockers Distribution Centers Food Manufacturing Refrigerated and Ambient Temp Food Lockers Museum Archive Rooms Assisted Living Facilities For Construction NAICS Codes for Construction: 423740 (Works with MWDB and SDVOB companies)

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CIRCLE NO. 34 Find Out More about Ozone Refrigeration Today! giancarlo@ozoneref.com • (917) 200-3495 • www.ozoneref.com

CIRCLE NO. 35

Innovative Interiors Elevating the learning experience

I

n response to the evolving learning landscape, The Designers Group (TDG) has embarked on a journey to enhance how students

experience learning. At the core of this effort is one of their latest school projects, where the cutting-edge approach moves beyond the confines of traditional institutional design, nurturing a holistic learning environment.

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INNOVATIVE INTERIORS

Breaking Away from Typical School Design

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

In designing this school, designers placed importance on core elements to redefine educational spaces: flexibility, community and aesthetics. The approach is underpinned by the belief that learning should be an immersive, multisensory experience extending far beyond the confines of traditional classroom settings.

The design fosters an environment conducive to exploration, creativity, and collaboration, emphasizing an unwavering commitment to dynamic learning that engages all the senses. The effective utilization of natural light, adaptable spaces, and integrated interactive technology shape an educational landscape where students actively steer their learning journeys.

Within this space, students not only acquire knowledge but also fully engage in a sensory-rich, vibrant, and all-encompassing community that fuels their growth and development.

Integrating design and values together

The design drew inspiration from the school logo, a symbol of pride and identity for the institution it was working with. When the decision to revamp the school's design was made, it sought to incorporate elements from the logo into the new design language.

Notably, the circular shape of the logo served as inspiration for the creation of circular seating arrangements in some of the classrooms, which in turn encourages students to face each other and engage in discussions.

This approach aligns with a study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, which emphasizes the positive impact of immersive learning environments on student engagement and critical thinking.

Harnessing The Power of Color Color is a powerful tool that can influence our emotions, behaviors, and perceptions.

When designing the new campus, TDG

wanted to choose colors that would reflect the school's values and mission.

After careful consideration, the team decided on a color scheme that incorporates shades of blue and green. Blue, symbolizing stability, trust and intelligence stands at the core of this palette, complemented by green, which embodies growth, balance and harmony. These values reflect the client's overarching philosophy, striving to foster an environment where students can flourish both academically and personally.

To infuse the design with energy and excitement, accents of yellow and orange were incorporated, representing creativity, optimism and enthusiasm. These colors harmonize with the dedication to innovation and forward-thinking education. By weaving this meticulously chosen color scheme throughout the campus, the design aspires to create a stimulating environment that nurtures curiosity, encourages collaboration, and contributes to the holistic development of individuals.

Sustainability at the Core: An Eco-Friendly Campus

Sustainable school designs help in enhancing students' cognitive abilities and well-being. With an eco-conscious approach, designers prepared multiple layouts and plans from sketch to model to make sure that the final design is energy-efficient in the best possible way.

By designing large windows, doors, glass ceilings, open hallways, and natural elements such as warm wooden textures on floors, desks, and walls the team has brought the outdoors indoors efficiently using sunlight, fresh air and an environment-friendly wooden finish. Apart from that, the use of LED lighting, renewable energy sources and carbon-neutral materials further helped in making the campus eco-friendly and sustainable.

Flexible Spaces for Collaborative Learning

Designers created ample flexible spaces in this school design aiming to foster collaboration and group learning among students.

This innovative design philosophy centres on creating adaptable spaces that can cater to various teaching styles and meet diverse

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CIRCLE NO. 36

INNOVATIVE INTERIORS

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

student needs. Whether it's facilitating a small group discussion or organizing a large class project, innovative flexible spaces are designed to be easily configured to support diverse learning activities.

These spaces encompass open-layout classrooms, promoting greater collaboration and interaction among students.

Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, such as interactive whiteboards and video conferencing tools among other learning objects, they are well-prepared to enhance the overall learning experience. Beyond classrooms, this institution features dedicated spaces for exploration and discovery, including a science lab, art studio, library and a makerspace.

A notable feature of these spaces is their modular furniture, which can be rearranged to create different layouts, ensuring that students can work together comfortably and naturally.

This comprehensive design prioritizes collaboration and group learning, customizes spaces to accommodate diverse teaching styles and student requirements, enables versatile configurations for various

learning activities and provides ample storage space to support learning in all subjects. The approach to flexible spaces redefines the educational environment, emphasizing adaptability and inclusivity and supporting students in their journey of exploration and learning.

Integrating Innovative Technology Through TDG Tech-hub, designers offered an immersive virtual reality tour of school design to various stakeholders, including owners, teachers, students and parents.

This offered a firsthand, virtual experience of the proposed design before construction commenced, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the plan. The virtual tour served as a valuable tool for gathering precise feedback, which, in turn, contributed to the reduction of construction costs Moreover, this technology-enabled interaction facilitated a robust and engaging collaborative environment, allowing stakeholders to actively participate in the design process strengthening the sense of ownership among all involved parties. It played a pivotal role in creating a shared

vision of the future design, bringing it to life in a manner that transcended traditional blueprints and presentations.

A Visionary Approach to Education

In the pursuit of elevating the learning experience in line with the client's vision, this project exemplifies the mastery of innovative design. The tailored design not only fulfils but anticipates the evolving requirements of the students, embodying the very essence of the school's mission.

As construction commences, it offers a compelling narrative of the dedication to transformative design and education through engaging all senses. The design seamlessly integrated innovative solutions while honoring the timeless values upheld by the school and its community.

The finished project showcases the power of design, simplifying complexity into spaces that inspire, encourage collaboration and foster holistic development cultivating an environment where learning becomes an immersive and enriching journey leaving a lasting impact on generations to come. CCR

Blima Ehrentreu is founder and CEO of The Designers Group, a creative visionary and industry trailblazer. With a commitment to empowering women and driving philanthropy, Blima's impact goes beyond traditional design boundaries. Her passion and leadership showcasing the transformative power of purpose-driven design in creating a better world earned her a spot on Globest’s Women of Influence in 2020 & 2022 and Crain's Notable Leaders in Real Estate 2023.

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CIRCLE NO. 37

The intersection of

geospatial the built world

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From Miami with love Why La Boulangerie Boul’Mich is food for the soul

A special supplement to:

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From Miami with love Why La Boulangerie Boul’Mich is food for the soul

E

arthy colors. Vintage-industrial style atmosphere. Oh, and the food. For more than 20 years, La Boulangerie

Boul’Mich has been providing Miami residents with the best European artisanal bakery with a Latin twist. The simple, engaging concept gives customers a delightful culinary experience with atmosphere.

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COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

FROM MIAMI WITH LOVE

From the moment guests step inside the café and bakery, they are greeted with the warm aroma of freshly baked pastries and bread. Offered in seven different locations, the all-day breakfast menu boasts delectable options such as traditional eggs Benedict, Croque Madame “Our Style,” New York Bagel and fresh Greek Avocado Toast.

Guests also can indulge in everyday, freshly baked goods, including gourmet empanadas, quiches, award-winning croissants and desserts such as Macarons and Elephant Ear cookies. The menu also features European and Latin pastries like Tequenos, Alfajor, and Pan De Bono, as well as French-style gourmet sandwiches and an array of pasta dishes.

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“Consumers value an environment that is attractive, comfortable and welcoming.

That includes attractive décor, comfortable furniture and adequate lighting.”

— COO Benigno Armas

The magic is in the belief that good food is meant to be shared with loved ones, which is why the La Boulangerie Boul’Mich team provides the optimum setting to spend time with family and friends.

We sat down with CEO Avy A. Cohen and COO Benigno Armas to take a peek into the magic that is La Boulangerie Boul’Mich.

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Give us a snapshot of your brand?

Cohen: High quality fresh food made fast in a cozy environmentally conscious setting with excellent service. We bring a mix of European and Latin American flavors using artisanal cooking techniques.

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COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

FROM MIAMI WITH LOVE

What type of consumer are you targeting?

Cohen: We target consumers that are sophisticated, who want to try worldly cuisine and who know the difference between fresh food made fast versus fast food.

Our consumers range mostly between the ages of 18 and above.

How does the design of restaurants cater to what today’s consumers are looking for?

Armas: Consumers value an environment that is attractive, comfortable and welcoming. That includes attractive décor, comfortable furniture and adequate lighting.

Walk us through how and why the restaurants are designed the way they are?

Armas: They are designed so that the flow of staff and customer is as appropriate, thus allowing more efficiency for the service and comfort for the client.

“We are seeing much more competition in our space, following the trend of a high and important breakfast day part.”

— La Boulangerie Boul’Mich CEO Avy Cohen

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PHOENIXET.COM CIRCLE NO. 40

COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

FROM MIAMI WITH LOVE

What are some of the trends happening on the architecture side of the design business?

Armas: Increasingly, consumers are looking for restaurants that show a commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. This could influence the use of recyclable materials, waste management and the choice of sustainable ingredients.

Give us a rundown of your market’s layout.

Armas: It could be summarized as a Vintage Industrial style.

What’s the biggest issue today related to the construction side of the business?

Cohen: Permitting and grease trap requirements, the cost of materials and services.

All of these costs have increased immensely.

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CIRCLE NO. 41

COMMERCIAL KITCHENS

FROM MIAMI WITH LOVE

Talk about sustainability.

What are you doing?

Cohen: We avoid waste in any shape or form. Whether it be packaging material or avoiding baking more croissants than needed. We use reclaimed materials as part of our décor and 99% of our packaging is recyclable. We are very environmentally conscious.

In today’s complicated landscape, what type of opportunities do you see moving ahead?

Cohen: With the high prices, higher than ever expected rents, and cost of constructions, we believe there will be an opportunity to get second generation restaurant spaces at better prices in the future because of operators that are now trying to meet several store openings without considering the high costs.

In addition to other operators that are not considering the fundamentals of the restaurant industry. We also see a lot of opportunities to implement technology to reduce costs, for example, using AI (artificial intelligence) to improve operations among other things.

What trends are you seeing?

Cohen: We are seeing much more competition in our space, following the trend of a high and important breakfast day part.

We also see more consumption of specialty coffees and artisanal baked goods dishes.

What’s the secret to creating a “must visit” restaurant environment in today’s competitive landscape?

One-on-One with...

Avy Cohen Describe a typical day.

Cohen: It’s a secret.

I wear multiple hats. Doing everything possible to achieve a better customer experience for our patrons.

What’s today’s consumer looking for in a restaurant?

What’s the biggest item on your to-do list right now?

Cohen: We believe consumers are looking for good fresh food, in a made to order manner, and not fast food. Consumers are looking to try new things, experience worldly cuisine in a cozy atmosphere.

Tell us what makes your brand so unique?

Identify potential locations and help support our franchisees.

What was the best advice you ever received?

“This too shall pass.” Meaning that, no matter how hard things can get, they will also pass and there will be better times.

What’s the best thing a customer ever said to you?

Keep doing what you are doing.

Cohen: Our quality, consistency, service, attention to detail among others. CK

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CIRCLE NO. 42

Where Your Vision Meets Our Expertise Terrazzo is a handcrafted building material; its primary components are assembled on the construction site. For 100-years, the contractor members of the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association have brought integrity and skill to countless installations. The NTMA has the expertise your project needs. Find specifications, information, color samples, contractor and supplier members at www.ntma.com or call 800-323-9736.

Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Li le Rock, AR Architect Alliiance Minneapolis, MN

General Contractor Flynco, Inc. Li le Rock, AR

Designer/Artist Tiffany Black Brooklyn, NY

Owner City of Li le Rock Li le Rock, AR

CIRCLE NO. 43

Photographer David Laudadio

Does your project have what it takes?

today's commercial construction industry, the Being the Insuccessful new builds and renovated projects are the with every part of the team working in unison to best takes a ones deliver on time, under or on budget and in sync. From to engineering, to building and management, team effort. design, the best projects feature the best teams.

That’s why Commercial Construction & Renovation is looking for your team.

Our seventh annual “CCR Project Profile Awards ” will recognize the best-of-the-best construction projects from the top down with awards for New Construction Project and Renovation Project.

To help select these special projects, we’re building a special committee from our Editorial Advisory Board to pour through the nominations. After they select the projects, we'll identify winners in the following sectors:

• Retail • Restaurant • Hospitality • Federal

• Healthcare • Shopping Center • Multi-housing

• Office • Cannabis • Craft Brew

So, how do you get your project nominated?

Here’s what you need to give us:

Project title: ________________________________________________ Location: ___________________________________________________ Designer: __________________________________________________ Contractor: _________________________________________________

Deadline to submit form: Feb 23, 2024

Subcontractors: ____________________________________________ Number of square feet: ______________________________________ Year started: _______________________________________________ New or Renovation: _________________________________________ Completion date: ___________________________________________ Why this project should be nominated? ______________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

> Submit all images for award entries to: https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/BOC

CIRCLE NO. 44

Send your nominations forms to David Corson, publisher, at davidc@ccr-mag.com.

Care for all

Simone Healthcare transforms former retail building into Ambulatory & Urgent Care Center

(L-R) Pictured in front of the new Catholic Health Ambulatory Care Center in Centereach, New York are Eric Mejias, John Eicher, Danielle Contillo, Joanna Simone, Patricia Simone, Joe Simone, Michael Contillo, Matthew Holst, Sean Heneghan, Megan Guy, Danielle Simone and Yoel Polack.

Care for all

Simone Healthcare transforms former retail building into Ambulatory & Urgent Care Center

By Joe Simone

M

eeting the challenges of future healthcare delivery requires a close and trusting relationship between developer and healthcare provider and a shared vision of excellence, as healthcare development requires expertise far beyond traditional commercial or residential design and construction.

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Simone Healthcare Development is a privately owned full-service real estate investment company specializing in the development of ambulatory healthcare facilities. Its expertise spans site selection, acquisition, planning and approvals, financing, design, construction, leasing and property management. As a system-neutral developer for more than 30 years, it empowers healthcare organizations to achieve world-class outcomes and benefit the communities they serve.

Its priority is to foster a collaborative and transparent partnership that aligns with the financial, operational, and patient-centered objectives of our clients’ systems. Simone Healthcare assists

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Patient interest in ambulatory surgical centers accelerated during the pandemic, when many hospitals were closed to patients who did not need life-saving interventions. in navigating the strategic decision of ownership versus leasing as they reposition and plan for the next generation of facilities. In many circumstances, it may be preferable to lease real estate, so the healthcare provider’s capital is available to invest in programs and people.

The first ambulatory surgery center opened in Phoenix in 1970 with the goal

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of delivering convenient, high-quality, and cost-efficient services to patients in their community instead of in a hospital’s institutional setting. This healthcare concept caused a revolution in patient care and Simone Healthcare Development is proud to have been a part of this transformation.

Prior to the ambulatory model’s proliferation, patients waited weeks or months

for a surgery; operating rooms were scarce; and hospitals struggled to acquire new equipment because of their policies and budgets.

In the case of Catholic Health, an integrated system encompassing some of the Long Island region’s finest health and human services agencies with nearly 16,000 employees, six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice and a network of physician practices, Simone Healthcare Development identified a 100,000-square-foot retail building in Centereach, New York, of which 63,000 square feet was available to be redeveloped for Catholic Health to expand their ambulatory services in Suffolk County.

Simone Healthcare Development engaged Newman Design as architect to design a new exterior that is architecturally distinct from the adjacent retail use. The facility features a glass and limestone façade, a second entrance for urgent care, and a new glass canopy to provide a covered drop-off for patients.

Simone Healthcare Development managed construction of the core and shell work, and the project opened in August of 2023. The state-of-the-art center is part of Catholic Health’s growing network of multispecialty care centers, complete with diagnostic imaging, urgent care, primary care, women’s health, cardiology, neuroscience, orthopedics, gastroenterology with three procedure rooms and an on-site retail pharmacy.

Simone Healthcare Development acquired the 63,000 square foot facility located at 2112 Middle Country Road from Ocean State Job Lot, the largest closeout retailer in the Northeast, in 2022. Simone Healthcare Development subsequently invested $30 million into the redevelopment of the property and is leasing the new healthcare facility to Catholic Health. Ocean State Job Lot continues to own and operate a 36,000 square foot store adjacent to Catholic Health.

Team effort

This multifaceted project resulted from a collaborative partnership between the Simone Healthcare Development team and Catholic Health. Simone’s development team oversaw site selection, secured land use approvals, and managed the design and construction of the façade, site, and core.

Additionally, Simone’s property management team will manage the 10-acre site. The development required approvals from the Town of Brookhaven Planning Board and Building Department, as well

as the Suffolk County Department of Health for the installation of a new septic system. The purchase of sewer credits was required to change the use from retail to medical offices.

Newman Design, serving as the architect for Simone, designed a new, fresh exterior that is architecturally distinct from the adjacent retail use. The design features a glass and limestone façade, a second entrance for urgent care, and a novel glass canopy to provide patients with a covered drop-off.

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The transformation of this former retail site into a state-of-the-art multispecialty ambulatory and urgent care center for Catholic Health was a true collaboration between two teams who were able to deliver a first-rate facility in just one year.

In addition to Simone’s investment, the new facility is part of Catholic Health’s $17 million project that further strengthens Catholic Health’s goal of making quality healthcare more convenient for Long Islanders and to support many of the unmet healthcare needs of the community. Primary and specialty care services will be offered in 43,000 square-feet of space immediately with an additional 20,000 square-feet available for future healthcare services.

The transformation of this former retail site into a state-of-the-art multispecialty ambulatory and urgent care center for Catholic Health was a true collaboration between two teams who were able to deliver a first-rate facility in just one year.

This remarkable facility is an example of a major trend in healthcare real estate where under-utilized retail spaces are being converted into new urgent care, ambulatory centers and doctors’ offices as expanding health networks such as Catholic Health seek locations that are attractive to and convenient for their patients.

Patient interest in ambulatory surgical centers accelerated during the pandemic, when many hospitals were closed to patients who did not need life-saving interventions. The construction of ambulatory centers has been strong for years, but with the pandemic and innovations in surgical procedures, the demand for these facilities is exponentially expanding,

and it is actively partnering with hospitals and other healthcare providers to identify locations for new construction.

In the past year, Simone Healthcare Development has seen a 10.7% increase in jobs related to ambulatory care services in New York City, with many of those new jobs in outpatient care centers. This double-digit job growth is a signal to medical real estate developers that more outpatient care centers will be needed soon.

As hospitals nationwide seek to grow their presence in new markets, Simone Development Companies is ready to partner with these healthcare providers to deliver cutting edge facilities in locations accessible to everyone.

Joseph Simone is President of Simone Development Companies, a fully integrated, private real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition, development, and management of healthcare, mixed-use, industrial, retail, office, and residential properties in the New York tri-state area.

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Goodwin Commercial has proven itself to be a five-star, full-service commercial real estate company specializing in land, retail and restaurants throughout Texas.

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Contact Us Today! info@pamgoodwin.com www.pamgoodwin.com • 214-929-9013 CIRCLE NO. 45

CIRCLE NO. 28

In person and virtual events will allow everyone to participate in the 2024 Summit making connections with industry leaders

JANUARY 2024, DATE & LOCATION TBD

End-Users (retailers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, etc.) will receive complimentary registration in exchange for full schedule participation that includes a per diem or charity donation.

Sponsored by:

Contact David Corson 678.765.6550 or e-mail davidc@ccr-mag.com

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ALSO COVERING LOCAL, STATE & REGIONAL PROJECTS AND FACILITIES

‘So others may live’ New explosive ordnance disposal technology complex aims to save lives

Dedication ceremony for the Master Sergeant Alan Richwald Explosive Ordnance Disposal Disassembly and Robotics Complex. Pictured from left are David Castellano, executive director of the Munitions Engineering and Technology Center; Chris J. Grassano, director of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center; Congresswoman Mikie Sherill (NJ-11); Wendy Pavlat (Richwald’s daughter); Sister MaryAnn Miranda Richwald; Arthur David Richwald; Maj. Gen. Heidi J. Hoyle, Director of Operations G-43/5/7, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4; and Brig. Gen. John T. Reim, Commanding General Picatinny Arsenal, and Joint Program Executive Officer Armaments and Ammunition. Credit: Picatinny Arsenal Public Affairs.

‘So others may live’ New explosive ordnance disposal technology complex aims to save lives

By JoAnne Castagna

M

aster Sergeant (Retired) Alan Richwald was a veteran who fought for the United States and

also for his fellow soldiers by becoming an expert in how to render safe unexploded or live foreign ordnance on the battlefield to protect soldiers. He researched, wrote books and shared his knowledge with many agencies and military services.

Recently, a new complex at Picatinny Arsenal named after him aims to operate in the spirit of his motto: “So others may live.”

The Master Sergeant Alan Richwald Explosive Ordnance Disposal Disassembly and Robotics Complex was designed and constructed by The US Army Corps of Engineers, New York District. The complex is the first of its kind in the Army to research and develop ways (including

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Close up of dedication ceremony plaque. Credit: Picatinny Arsenal Public Affairs.

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using robotic technology) to render safe live foreign ordnance on the battlefield to protect soldiers. This includes those responsible for recovering them and those performing missions down range.

Former District Commander Col. Matthew Luzzatto says the complex highlights the diversity of missions the Army serves.

“As a District, we provide support to the military. It’s not just barracks and airfields: It’s that unique capability we have to help protect soldier’s lives.”

The Picatinny Arsenal Army installation sits on more than 6,000 acres in Morris County, New Jersey. There, 6,000 scientists, engineers and support personnel have the unique responsibility of developing virtually all of the Army’s weapons. To support this mission, the Army Corps was asked to create the new complex.

This was done in collaboration with the Baltimore District, US Army Corps of Engineers, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Picatinny Enhancement Coalition, contractor Mason and Hanger Group Inc. of Lexington, Kentucky, and contractor Benard Associates of Wayne, New Jersey.

The new state-of-the-art complex has three functions, which includes a 10,234-square-foot concrete facility that uses specialized equipment to safely disassemble and analyze conventional foreign ordnance such as grenades and landmines; a 10,040-square-foot robotics building that is testing, researching and developing robotic devices to retrieve explosives from battlefields; and five earth-covered concrete ordnance-storage magazines, covering 6,000 square feet of land, that are designed to contain an explosion within a designated area.

Not only will this complex work to save soldier lives, but it was constructed with robust features to make it a safe work environment for the personnel performing the research and development.

Brent Donahue, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Armaments

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Portrait of Master Sergeant (Retired) Alan Richwald, who passed away in September 2022.

Credit: Picatinny Arsenal Public Affairs.

The work this complex is performing is extremely important to the Army. According to the Wounded Warrior Project’s Annual Warrior Survey, 84.2% of Wounded Warrior Project Warriors reported being injured during military service as a result of a number of events including blast or explosions. In addition, 73.2% of these individuals experienced head-related trauma immediately following these events.

The Army Corps received a taste of what soldier’s deal with on the battlefield.

While excavating during the project, workers discovered unexploded ordnance. The project was halted and explosive ordnance disposal professionals from the Army Corps’ Baltimore District were called in to safely remove them.

According to the Wounded Warrior Project’s Annual Warrior Survey, 84.2% of Wounded Warrior Project Warriors reported being injured during military service as a result of a number of events including blast or explosions.

Center, Picatinny Arsenal says the goal of his team is to make as many operations related to the explosive ordnance disposal mission remote. This happens often, with the use of robots that can be sent downrange instead of a person.

“Our priority is reducing or eliminating the amount of time an actual person has to be within range of the explosive hazard,” Donahue says. “The work from this complex will help to save the lives of soldiers in two ways. First, the complex will be used to engineer and test robotic systems which will lessen the number of times trained explosive ordnance disposal soldiers will have to physically approach explosive hazards. Second, the more explosive hazards we can detect and render safe remotely on the battlefield, the more soldiers we will save from unexpected explosions.”

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This didn’t come as a complete surprise to the project team because years ago the Arsenal was a major producer of weapons for World War I and World War II. “It was sort of a reminder of the importance of why we were building this facility,” says Andrew Andreeko, project manager, New York District, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Richwald who has passed, devoted nearly 60 years of his life to developing ways to defeat and neutralize the hazards presented by live ordnance. This included traveling to dangerous war zones such as Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan and personally recovering some of these explosives. The engineers at Picatinny believe he would be proud of this new complex that is using the latest robotic technology to make explosive recovery even safer for the men and women in uniform that are protecting the United States. FC

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Would you like to be a guest or sponsor?

An interview podcast that talks to guests that will have business titles in design, construction, facilities, real estate, procurement, development, etc. in retail, restaurants, hospitality, healthcare, federal, multi-family, shopping center owners, developers, cannabis, mixed-use along with the A/E/C sectors plus vendor service suppliers & mfcs who’s products and services are specified, recommend and purchased by enduser brands to build and maintain their facilities in the Commercial Construction Building industry.

To be a guest or sponsor, reach out to David Corson your host at davidc@ccr-mag.com.

PODCAST PODCAST CIRCLE NO. 48

Brought to you by:

A partner you can trust Why the Align Ops Group is the ally cannabis operators need now

Brian Staffa, Co-founder and Chief Operator of Align Ops Group

THE CANNABIS OPERATIONS

A partner you can trust Why the Align Ops Group is the ally cannabis operators need now Interview by Michael J. Pallerino

P

lanning, Expanding and troubleshooting cultivation, manufacturing and retail operations. In today’s growing cannabis landscape, having a partner you can trust is critical. That’s where the Align Ops Group comes in. The group was created to help enable operators and investors reliably achieve competitive metrics by leveraging the experience of practiced commercial industry experts.

Its numbers speak for themselves. Experience in 31 US states and Canada. More than 300 facilities and one million square feet of facilities are designed. An ROI track record of 850% for clients using its services. Zero fines. Zero requests to cure and 91% employee retention.

For the 80-plus cannabis groups who have worked with Align, the accolades of achievements are only part of the story. We sat down with Brian Staffa, Co-founder and Chief Operator of Align Ops Group, to get a snapshot of how Align is helping to build a best-inclass cannabis landscape.

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THE CANNABIS OPERATIONS

A PARTNER YOU CAN TRUST

GIVE US A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR BRAND Align exists to enable operators and investors to reliably achieve competitive metrics in their operations, by leveraging the experience of practiced commercial experts.

We’ve responded to feedback about how difficult it is to wade through the sea of inexperienced industry consultants by bringing together a group of experts who have been evolving with the regulated industry for years now, have versatile, trustworthy skill sets, know their own limitations, can execute on a variety of business models, and keep up with industry technology and best practices to continuously push the limits of what’s possible.

We minimize risk that comes with market saturation and price compression by building flexible operations for the future, proactively acknowledging patterns and trends that repeat in nearly every market. By knowing every number and analyzing every penny of spend, we proactively prevent the downward spiral that many find themselves in when margins begin to shrink and operational costs determine who can remain viable.

WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO? We are partners in planning, operating, expanding & troubleshooting for cannabis operations.

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We advise clients on cannabis cultivation, extraction, manufacturing, laboratory and retail operations and also actively manage cannabis operations on behalf of clients.

For companies just getting started, we focus on business plan and business model, operational design and facility design. Often, we will oversee the entire buildout of their facilities and then help launch the operation by providing executive training, hiring, training, procurement, compliance and, ultimately, operational execution.

For existing operators, we assess operations and facilities with a 98-point assessment we’ve developed over the years to discover areas of improvement.

We’ll create an improvement plan with a phased approach, budget, and timeline to execute these improvements and then work alongside the client to execute the changes.

Operational turnarounds have become more common for us as the industry battles with market saturation in many different states and in Canada.

WHAT IS OPERATIONAL DESIGN? This is one key part that is often overlooked.

Operational design is the process of taking a company’s business model and turning it into the exact steps that need to occur to execute the business model. It takes into account the scale of the desired operation,

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

the products that will be created, processed, and/or distributed, who the targeted clientele is—it’s not always the end consumer— what types of equipment we’re going to use in every step of the process, the number of employees it’ll take to execute each step, the flow of: raw materials, work in process, finished goods, waste and employees, and determining how much space is needed for each step, and ultimately what needs to be done at each step.

After taking all of these into account and more, we’ll develop operational procedures from start to finish so that the facility can be designed around the operation and not vice versa. We so often see operations forced into facility designs that were well-intentioned, but not properly designed for that specific business model.

HOW IS OPERATIONAL DESIGN DIFFERENT FROM FACILITY DESIGN? The simplest way to describe the difference is to say that the facility design is the what and the operational design is the how and why. Operational design informs what your facility design needs to enable.

It’s important to design the facility on top of the operational design to maximize flow, efficiency and profitability and eliminate bottlenecks.

The operational design details how we’re going to take raw materials, labor, equipment, and intellectual property and create a product or service that drives demand and establishes a profitable business. The facility design details the size and purpose of each area in a building, and accounts for power needs, occupancy needs, water requirements, paths of egress and ingress that are up to the appropriate codes and so on.

For example, a facility designed for cultivation may have all the appropriate rooms necessary to go from seed to finished product. However, bottlenecks may still exist if each room in the process was not sized properly. If the facility can produce 100 pounds of biomass per week, but can only dry 50 pounds of biomass per week, this tells me that the operational design was not considered before the facility was designed.

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DANDDCBD.COM CIRCLE NO. 49

THE CANNABIS OPERATIONS

A PARTNER YOU CAN TRUST

WHAT MAKES YOUR COMPANY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER CONSULTING FIRMS IN CANNABIS? We’re solely focused on cannabis operations. Operations is its own thing completely and has a ton of intricacy.

It doesn’t really belong crammed into a suite of 20 other services because of how many specialized pillars it contains. When ops gets overgeneralized, many of the fine points that make operators highly competitive don’t even get considered.

While some may prefer the convenience of going through a one-stop-shop for everything, we exist for those entrepreneurs really looking to give their operation a competitive advantage over a more generic approach. We get deeply into the details, we spend time testing and re-testing scenarios and we thoroughly explore new technologies that affect operations.

WHEN DO YOU IDEALLY GET INVOLVED WITH A TEAM AND WHY? As early as possible—ideally when decisions are being made that will influence what is operationally possible, like choosing a site and the equipment you plan to use. Having an operations expert as your first consultant will help you maximize the investment in all the other help you need, ensuring there’s no overlap or blindspots. My most profitable clients brought me on before they selected a consultant to write their application for licensure, which is where most newcomers to cannabis start.

Many seem to think of an operator as someone who will just operate whatever you set up once you’ve set it up, but it’s more accurate to think of us as specialists who collaborate on minutiae based decisions to ensure that you end up with a smooth, lucrative operation.

We’re excellent collaborators with architects and engineers if you already have them or we collaborate with our own. An operation stands its best chance of being efficient and profitable if an experienced operating team influences the decisions that get made at beginning stages but will have long term effects that may not show themselves until problems arise.

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WHAT ARE SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY FACES FROM A CONSTRUCTION PERSPECTIVE? Cannabis is challenging. As of October 2023, cannabis companies cannot go into a bank and get a loan or mortgage to fund their project, so capital is challenging, though there are creative solutions in the industry. While most construction pros are used to expedited build times, cannabis is sometimes extreme; oftentimes by the time the owner is given the regulatory green approvals to operate, they’ve invested years in the process and over a million dollars.

Markets are often being created for the first time so many people try to start returning invested capital as quickly as possible while also trying to achieve first mover advantage in a brand-new industry.

Unique to cannabis is the number of brownfields that are being repurposed.

We’re often choosing between facilities with the lowest desirability so turning that into a state-of-the-art facility comes with intense challenges and often frustrating concessions. While building from scratch is ideal, it’s often not possible, whether to zoning, financing, or timeline challenges.

Environmental controls in all segments of the industry are critically important. We’re dealing with an exceptionally valuable product that requires strict controls regarding temperature, relative humidity, airflow, odor

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

control, microbial control, and many more.

This presents many challenges, especially when retrofitting an existing facility.

Something else unique to cannabis is its approach to automation. I like to call it modular automation, where we may not have permanent, somewhat inflexible production lines like a Proctor & Gamble would. Rather, we have more flexible lines and machines to create many products and we’ll likely batch process many varieties of similar products.

We may try to do many things in the same space, but on different production schedules with completely different machinery. This is largely because of the state-by-state markets created in the US, disallowing most companies to achieve large-scale automation because the market is not large enough in most states to support the upfront investment as compared to other CPG industries.

Lastly, utility demands in cannabis are huge, most in the cultivation segment.

A 100,000-square-foot-facility might need 5,000-6,000 amps of 480v3 power. This may not be possible to source in every area.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS LOOKING TO GET INTO CANNABIS? Consider that cannabis is not new, though it may be new to your area. There are likely

other professionals like you that have been in cannabis for a few years now; which means there’s plenty to learn. There are three pieces of advice I would give.

First, try to adopt a beginner’s mindset and learn as much as you can about the industry, about the culture and about the business. Accept that cannabis is different than nearly every other type of facility you’ve worked with in the past.

Second, try to partner and team up with experienced industry professionals and leverage their experience; I would not go it alone.

And lastly, be honest about your experience and join the cannabis community.

Outsiders that are just looking to “cash in”

with cannabis are shunned, but those willing to be open-minded and learn from industry veterans are warmly welcomed to add their knowledge and experience to the industry.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU SEE CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS MAKE WHEN TRANSITIONING TO CANNABIS? The biggest mistake I see is failing to consider the operational design of a cannabis facility in its complete scope prior to developing the basis of design for the facility. That and assuming that whatever industry they’re coming from will easily or automatically translate to cannabis.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO BUILDING A BEST-IN-CLASS FACILITY IN CANNABIS? If I had to simplify it down to one principle, it would be this; envision the facility like an adaptable machine or system. On one side, inputs come in, and on the other side, outputs go out. In between are dozens or hundreds of processes that need to flow as efficiently as possible, without waste.

Everything should flow from one step to the other without bottlenecks and with every aspect of the system well-designed. Doing so will give you the best chance of building a best-in-class facility for that specific business model.

WHAT TYPES OF TRENDS ARE YOU SEEING IN CANNABIS DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION? There are a few. Technological advancement in equipment is accelerating, the equipment is getting really smart; software is getting better and years of data is becoming more actionable as a result. There are more purpose-built facilities being designed and coming online, which means lower operational costs and lower costs for consumers, which often makes a market more competitive more quickly.

Cultivation operations almost exclusively build out using LED lighting, now that the technology has proven itself. Data collection and automation are becoming a vital component to an operational design and subsequently a facility’s design. And lastly, multi-tiered cultivation facilities are becoming more common.

That said, I don’t believe every facility is right to grow multi-tier so it shouldn’t be assumed that’s the better way to operate.

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY FROM THE OUTSIDE? The biggest misconception about the cannabis industry is that we’re a bunch of stoners sitting around hoping for the best; though this is slowly changing over time. The other big misconception is that cannabis companies are metaphorically printing money and

ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

123

A PARTNER YOU CAN TRUST

THE CANNABIS OPERATIONS

are rolling in cash.

A survey from Whitney Economics reported that of the 224 respondents, only 24.4% were profitable. I don’t believe these figures represent the entire cannabis industry since the respondents represent only 0.5% of all licensees in the country, this illustrates just how tough a business cannabis is. Cannabis companies must focus on efficiencies and driving down costs to sustain a long-term business.

WHERE IS THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY HEADED? I could comment on a few different things here, but I’m going to stick to answering this from an operational lens. What we’re already seeing and what we’re heading into more and more is a landscape where the divide grows between bootstrap capitalization and

thoroughly funded operators. While cap ex is something many try to minimize at the beginning, it strategically enables you to compete on the op ex side long-term.

Well capitalized groups who can afford to invest the right level of capital to develop an operation with very low operating costs will drive economies of scale up. Unless you’re building with the lowest op ex in mind, you’re not going to be sustainable long term competing against teams who have planned for this.

New operators need to keep this trend in mind, otherwise many will end up reacting to something they don’t see coming when they’re not capitalized for upgrades, which is playing a big role in why we’re seeing so many distressed cannabis assets now.

HOW DOES A CANNABIS

PRODUCER SURVIVE SUCH A DIFFICULT AND COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE? Be flexible, adapt or die. In your facility design, in your process, in your business model to a certain extent—set yourself up to remain flexible. You must adapt to ever changing market conditions, whether by shifting your product mix or line extending successful brands into the product categories that consumers are demanding.

It may require eliminating certain products. You must keep your debt costs as low as possible so that you can lower your operational costs as much as is feasible, all the while, improving quality to the greatest degree. It’s not an easy balance, but it’s part of the fun of being in cannabis.

ONE-ON-ONE WITH... Brian Staffa Describe a typical day. What’s the biggest thing on your to-do list right now?

There is no typical day in cannabis; that’s partly why I love it. If I’m home, I tend to start early to support clients on EST (I’m on PST), I’ll make several phone calls/video calls to both clients and to networking partners. Then, I usually have lunch with my partner and wife, Amber. We continue to work on designs for clients, and perhaps create some content to give back to the industry.

Three to four times per week, I’ll finish the day with a hike and then dinner with Amber.

I travel for almost all of my clients so any given day could be a travel day where I’m mostly on site and then working from a hotel room.

124

The traveling can get tough, but Amber sends me with food when I’m away and we make it work. I’m lucky to get to travel to a lot of awesome places and don’t take that for granted and will try to get in a hike at some point during my trip, wherever I am.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

The neverending fulfillment from learning, while continuing to find new challenges and pushing to overcome them by creatively problem solving. It never gets stale.

There’s always something new to learn and figure out.

I’m a continuous improvement guy so I’ll save time between client work and design a new facility that

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

doesn’t need building right now, but will help me solve for challenges I see a lot and then I’ll get to use those concepts in future work.

It drives me to just keep figuring out the next thing and the next thing. The single most rewarding piece is the feeling you get from solving a problem that has been stumping me and others for weeks or sometimes months.

What was the best advice you ever received?

If it’s not fun, it’s not sustainable. It’s kind of an extension of if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, but it fits in all things in life. If you’re not enjoying it, you’re not going to want to do it.

What’s the best thing a client has ever said to you?

You’re worth 10x what we pay you. It’s nice to be seen and valued as a problem solver. It also is great to have people who saw the potential and the big picture from the beginning and are now sitting in the black enjoying what we all worked to create.

CIRCLE NO. 50

CIRCLE NO. 21

CIRCLE NO. 51

PROJECTS

CCD

Commercial Construction Data The following is a brief report on new commercial construction projects.

The information is presented as a service of ConstructConnect.

For more information, visit projects.constructconnect.com.

PROJECT NAME

CITY

PROJECT VALUE

SQ. FT.

CONSTRUCTION TYPE

START DATE

Raising Cane's / Bel Air

Bel Air, MD

$1,000,000.00

3,775

New Construction

Q2 2024

Merwin Auto Service Addition / Rochester

Rochester, NY

$545,000.00

2,400

Addition

Q4 2023

Scooters Coffee / Lebanon

Lebanon, OH

$350,000.00

664

New Construction

Q1 2024

Dunkin' Donuts / Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

$50,000.00

1,700

Renovation

Q1 2024

Tonnele Avenue Dispensary

Jersey City, NJ

$600,000.00

3,193

Renovation

Q2 2024

RETAIL/RESTAURANTS/QUICK SERVE:

RETAIL/STORES/MALLS: Wawa / Byram Township

Byram Township, NJ

$600,000.00

5,585

New Construction

Q1 2024

AutoZone #5954 / Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA

$350,000.00

7,000

Renovation

Q3 2024

AutoZone #5397 / Hicksville

Hicksville, NY

$300,000.00

7,000

Renovation

Q1 2024

Miami Valley Research Park Luxury Apartment Community

Kettering, OH

$113,160,000.00

5,000

New Construction

Q1 2024

Golden Bear Shopping Center Redevelopment

Upper Arlington, OH

$75,000,000.00

270,176

New Construction

Q1 2024

RESIDENTIAL/MIXED USE:

2852 Webster Avenue Mixed Use

New York, NY

$57,500,000.00

209,822

New Construction

Q1 2024

Vista at Highlands

Rochester, NY

$12,000,000.00

40,100

New Construction

Q1 2024

West Windsor Township, NJ

$108,720,000.00

360,000

New Construction

Q1 2024

HOSPITALITY: Korman Corporate Suites at AVE Princeton 135th Avenue Hotel

New York, NY

$39,000,000.00

142,059

New Construction

Q1 2024

Canopy by Hilton / State College Towne Centre

State College, PA

$5,000,000.00

242,370

New Construction

Q1 2024

Holiday Inn Express at Georgetown Villages Phase 1

Georgetown, DE

$4,800,000.00

16,000

New Construction

Q3 2024

7-12 Grade Building West Carrollton School District

West Carrollton, OH

$58,400,000.00

192,700

New Construction

Q2 2024

Kingsbridge Terrace Dormitory / Bronx

New York, NY

$5,000,000.00

19,480

New Construction

Q1 2024

Mesivta of Clifton Secondary School

Clifton, NJ

$4,160,000.00

15,284

New Construction, Addition

Q2 2024

Aqua-Tots Swim School / Amherst

Amherst, NY

$1,000,000.00

6,500

Renovation

Q1 2024

VA Medical Center Building 58 1st and 2nd Floors Domiciliary Renovation

Coatesville, PA

$20,000,000.00

32,000

Renovation

Q1 2024

Calyer Street Warehouse and Medical Office Space Addition

New York, NY

$5,000,000.00

36,894

Addition

Q2 2024

University of Rochester Urgent Care Facility

Rochester, NY

$4,300,000.00

7348

New Construction

Q1 2024

Concerted Care Clinic AustinTown Plaza / Austintown

Austintown, OH

$2,300,000.00

9,550

Renovation

Q1 2024

EDUCATION:

MEDICAL:

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

projects.constructconnect.com. projects.constructconnect.com.

ccsales@constructconnect.com CIRCLE NO. 52

ccsales@constructconnect.com

ADVERTISER INDEX

SERVICE TO OUR READERS

Advertiser Page Reader Service No.

Advertiser Page Reader Service No.

aeroseal

75

32

Jones Architectural Creations

19

11

aim

115

47

Lakeview Construction, Inc

9

7

Amazing Pest Control

37

17

Laticrete

40-41

19

Authorized

126-127

51

MCS + Chain Store Maintenance

45

20

BondVet

59

26

Mike Levin

8

5

Bradley

49

22

National Terrazzo & Mosaic Assocation

100-101

43

Capacity Builders

85

36

Nationwide Cleaners

87

37

Chuze Fitness

63

28

Navien

5

3

Commercial Construction Coffee Talk Podcast

116

48

OnSite Solution Driven

99

42

Commercial Construction & Renovation 2024 Hybrid Summit

110

46

Ozone Refrigeration, LLC

79

34

Paint Folks

93

39

Permit.com

17

10

Phoenix Energy Technologies

95

40

Poma Retail Development, Inc

52-53

24

Powerhouse

57

25

Porcelanosa

80-81

35

PremierHealth

65

29

Commercial Construction & Renovation Project Profile Awards

102

44

Commercial Construction & Renovation Women and Men Awards

20

12

Connect Source Consulting Group

97

41

Construct Connect

129

52

Construction One

13

9

D&D CBD

121

49

EquipmentShare

125

50

Project Management Consortium (PMC)

70-71

31

Evereve

61

27

Prime-net

23

13

Gensis Lighting Solutions

3

2

Retail Contractors Association

39

18

GEO Week

88

38

Rockerz, Inc.

7

4

Goodwin Commercial

109

45

Schimenti

8, CVR4

6, 54

GGS Partners LLC

77

33

SignWave Elite

CVR 2-1

1

Heritage Fire Security

51

23

Veterans Worldwide Maintenance

47

21

Hunter Building Corp

35

16

Window Film Depot

11

8

Impact Security

CVR3

53

Wolverine Building Group

33

15

JLA Interiors

67

30

ZipWall

29

14

130

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

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26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

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ISSUE 10, 2023 — COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION

131

PUBLISHER’S PAGE

by David Corson

A positive mindset is everything

W

ith the beginning of the holidays coming, I am thankful to be part of the greatest country on the planet and proud to be an entrepreneur who is still standing strong since Dec. 17, 2001, when I bit the entrepreneurial apple to set out on my own.

As I look back at the last 11 months of this wild and crazy roller-coaster ride we’ve been on since Jan. 1, 2023, there is so much to be “thankful” for.

First, and most importantly, my health and mental capacity are in good standing. Sure, it can always be a bumpy ride as we get older, a few bumps and bruises don’t heal as fast and can complicate previous issues you never had to deal with when you were younger and feeling invincible.

Timing is everything. You never know when you will be faced with severe stress and humility. This year has been very tough with the passing of several friends, clients and family members, all who I cherished knowing and know I will see down the road.

May they all RIP. I only have positive memories of each of them.

I learned from mutual friends that they faced mortality head on.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION — ISSUE 10, 2023

Life will always throw you nasty curveballs. Sometimes, we are able to foul these off and save a swing or two to get-r-done. Having a positive mindset is the key, especially as you travel through life.

There is much to enjoy and complete. Dale Carnegie once said you should know what the best and worst outcome is before you make a decision. That way, you know where you stand either way. Knowledge really is power. It enables you to see things with clarity.

And, then there is technology and how it can help—and hinder—your daily life. With that comes the fear of not being able to figure things out. As I am about to launch my digital agency, you cannot imagine how much passion a person needs to believe in themselves. It is about moving forward, one step at a time so your standard operating procedure (SOP) leads to success and, ultimately, winning.

Winning is addicting. It keeps you getting up every morning with Facing fear your game face on. I know all of you construction & facility professionals and making out there get up and say, “I built and/ mistakes are or fixed that” with a serious grin. crucial to Facing fear and making mistakes learning and are crucial to learning and improving how you live your life personally and improving professionally. Smiling, laughing and how you having fun helps, too, as nobody live your life needs pooh-poohers hindering their personally and path forward.

Once again, having a positive professionally. mindset is everything.

Smiling, So, this holiday season, enjoy laughing and your time off; enjoy your family’s having fun company and conversation, and finish helps, too. off 2023 strong and with momentum to ring in the New Year.

“Thank You” to everyone who has stuck with us over the years.

Your vote of confidence will never be forgotten.

We hope to see many of you at our in-person or hybrid/virtual events in 2024, no matter how they are produced. Just know that each one will be worthy of your participation. Mark your calendars accordingly.

So, as you close out 2023, here is to good health, prosperity, safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving.

And, as always, “Keep the Faith.”

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www.defenselite.com • info@defenselite.com • 888.689.5502 CIRCLE NO. 53

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CIRCLE NO. 54