Diggin' It | November 2017

Diggin’ It

November 2017

Mogens’ Message WE ARE HERE TO HELP

On a Journey with Sutter Health

FIRST OF ITS KIND MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING

Life at DIRTT

ANNUAL HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION GALA

DIRTT Shines

2017 SOLAR DECATHLON

Life at DIRTT

TEAMING UP WITH AARCS

Mogens’ Message

Diggin’ It

August 2017

Folks, We’ve been at this for going on 14 years now and I can count the number of times an Architect or Designer brought us into a project on two hands. WHY WOULD THAT BE?

My entire adult existence I’ve been a supporter of the design community. I never build anything without them. How else do you explain the decades-long relationship with Debbie Carruthers?

We bring them technology that helps them give better value to their Clients. Our components are designed to respond to their design. We enable them to get their design through to occupancy without significant portions “value engineered” out.

We give them a way to offer their Clients a more environmentally sustainable project that also happens to bring astonishing ROI.

My home, Hygge, is a celebration of my appreciation for Architects and Designers. It is an ode to Frank Lloyd Wright (without the leaky roof!) and a very personal design for my family and our next generation.

So why aren’t they singing the praises of DIRTT? Because we continually make them feel threatened or confused.

Two reasons.

One: They are stuck in a system where they are totally responsible for everything while having almost zero control over the people building it. They use labour intensive tools with no client-facing benefits. If a design professional steps even slightly outside their tried-and-true approach – they are taking a terrible chance on losing profitability at best, and being sued at worst.

Two: We have not been able to demonstrate we are here to help.

Often we create fear and confusion rather than confidence and clarity. Our best and only success comes via Clients who understand the problems with conventional design and construction. They then drag their design teams along kicking and screaming.

Some of you misconstrue my message on this subject. I don’t believe the majority of this industry intentionally treats us like an enemy. They do so because they do not understand how much better we can make their lives. We can help them not only give their Clients a personalized and powerful design, we give them more time to do what they love: Design.

And our Reps. Many of them are Architects and Designers. This isn’t by accident. We need people who have empathy for what the design community goes through on a daily basis.

Having said all that, even if we are able to win the hearts and minds of this industry, we are still best served by going directly to the End-user. The Owner. The Client. They are the ones with the most skin in the game and they are the ones who get the most benefit from our Whole New Idea.

For the Architects and Designers, the kindest thing we can do is develop trust and demonstrate the service they will benefit from.

Let’s all find a way to deliver the message that we empower the design industry to confidently and profitably take this step into the future. But do not fool yourself into thinking they will bring you to their Client.

Mogens Smed

Preconstruction with Sutter Health

Diggin’ It

August 2017

We’re on a journey with Sutter Health as they use DIRTT in building a first-of-its-kind medical office building in downtown San Francisco with Lean Construction practices. We joined them during the design-assist and preconstruction phase of the project.

Sutter Health is a family of doctors and hospitals, serving more than 100 communities in Northern California. It’s one of America’s leading not-for-profit healthcare networks, including award-winning physician organizations, acute care hospitals, surgery centers, medical research facilities and specialty services. They have a long history in California, with some facilities providing care in their communities for more than 100 years. Through partnership with over 12,000 doctors, Sutter Health cares for more than 3 million people.

Video link: http://bit.ly/2z0Rsmf

Chicago needs more Canada Diggin’ It

August 2017

DIRTT partnered with Calgary Economic Development to show the Chicagoans they need a little more Canada. The Calgarystyle cocktail reception – yes, Caesars included – featured delicious eats from Top Chef Nicole Gomes and was hosted at our beautiful Chicago Green Learning Center. The evening was all about connecting business leaders and showcasing what Calgary has to offer for American companies.

We loved hosting this event and the opportunity to once again collaborate with our friends at Calgary Economic Development.

Mogens awarded honorary degree

Diggin’ It

August 2017

Mogens Smed, the man, the myth, and now the honourary degree recipient from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). The awarding of honourary degrees is a recognition by SAIT of distinguished achievement in scholarship, creative arts or public service provincially, nationally or internationally. At the time of convocation, honourary degree recipients traditionally take the opportunity to speak to graduates about their own experiences.

Mogens took to the stage to speak to students about how their time at SAIT was only to gather tools that will help prepare them for life. It wouldn’t be their school marks that would propel them from here forward, but what’s inside them that will determine their success. Why? Because what they were taught in school, no matter how great, is quickly out of date in this exponential world. Everyone needs to prepare themselves to adapt to the new economy and look for opportunities.

“Always remember: the world doesn’t like a new idea – especially if it’s a good one!”, said Mogens to the crowd. “In the words of my dear friend, Ed McNally, the Founder of Big Rock Brewery: ‘When everybody tells you it can’t be done, that’s the very first step to getting there!’ It’s up to you to have the courage and appetite for the inevitable challenges you will face in your lives.”

Congratulations, Mogens!

Georgia Southern University visits DIRTT Savannah 24 students in the International Business Master’s program at Georgia Southern University (GSU) spent the afternoon at DIRTT to learn as much as they could about us and use DIRTT as a model for success in international business. With much input from their professors before the visit, DIRTT crafted an interactive program for the group. The students were fascinated with what we do and how we do it. Their minds were opened to what 21st Century, technology-enabled manufacturing is all about and how that puts DIRTT on the international stage as a major player. “There aren’t many models of local businesses doing global work like this,” one student said. “DIRTT is our hometown GLOCAL business model,” another said.

Following this visit, there will be a lot of students poking GSU leaders about why DIRTT isn’t all over campus. Several students are even seeking mentorship opportunities with the DIRTT Savannah team as they go into their senior year and explore our way of doing business in more depth.

DIRTT shines at 2017 Solar Decathlon

Diggin’ It

August 2017

Congratulations to the team from Northwestern University for being awarded 1st place in the Market Potential and Communications categories at the 2017 Solar Decathlon.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.

DIRTT for Life was proud to be a part of this solar-powered sustainable house, built with usability, functionality and aesthetics in mind! DIRTT brought millwork, walls, Breathe™ Living Walls and Corning® Willow® Glass to the project.

DIRTT in the News Diggin’ It

August 2017

DIRTT shines at 2017 Solar Decathlon Sutter Health selects DIRTT for interior construction of new San Francisco medical building Contract Furnishings News Contract Furnishings News covered DIRTT’s recent Sutter Health announcement, discussing the collaborative Lean Construction process and the value DIRTT will bring to this healthcare project in downtown San Francisco. http://bit.ly/2xkZ3a4

WithumSmith+Brown Relocates 150+Employees to Office in East Brunswick New Jersey Business & My Central Jersey New Jersey Business and My Central Jersey both highlighted Withum Accounting’s new office space that DIRTT helped bring to life, noting the space’s innovative nature when it came to capturing the company’s culture. http://bit.ly/2yQeV98 http://mycj.co/2yIQzPd

Life at DIRTT Diggin’ It

August 2017

Kingfisher Interpretive Centre Egg Take

For 17 years, Mogens Smed has been coming to the annual egg harvest put on by the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre. Mogens and a handful of DIRTTbags once again descended on the Shuswap River in British Columbia to harvest salmon eggs. This is an important process, drastically increasing salmon populations through hatcheries. The event helps people get up close and personal with Chinook Salmon while fostering a sense of stewardship for our environment.

Check out the video to see our experience this year. http://bit.ly/2ihTjIX

Life at DIRTT Diggin’ It

August 2017

Teaming up with Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society

DIRTTbags and ICEcubes got a tour of the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) facility in Calgary this month. They learned about their new “Safe Haven” facility, designed as a temporary, emergency and quarantine shelter. AARCS encounters many cases of animal suffering from starvation to injuries, abuse and neglect. When animals in dire need arrive at AARCS, the Safe Haven facility provides emergency shelter when there is no foster home space.

Getting to tour the shelter was a great way for DIRTTbags to understand AARCS programs and get to know the staff and volunteers who are dedicated to the organization. We’re excited to work closer with AARCS on an upcoming project that is in the works! Stay tuned for more.

Life at DIRTT Diggin’ It

August 2017

DIRTT continues its support of Historic Savannah Foundation at Annual Gala Savannah’s most enthusiastic supporters of historic preservation gathered on October 21st for an evening of dining, dancing and delightful community comradery under the stars.

The Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2017 Annual Gala began with cocktail parties in luxurious Ardsley Park homes and commenced with black-tie-andevening-gown-wearing guests making their way over to the Mall for a sumptuous dinner, networking, and live music as they stroll through the palm-tree lined outdoor venue in one of the hostess city’s most architecturally intriguing neighborhoods.

DIRTT has been a partner to Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF) since we “landed” in Savannah, thanks to our visionary Head DIRTTbag Mogens and President Scott, both of whom saw the connection between HSF and DIRTT. It’s a relationship that we nurture to this day. We also supported the Chair of this year’s Gala, a prominent local architect who is working closely with us on several projects. Savannah DIRTTbags are regulars at this “event of the year” and we occupied two tables at the center of the park to host our guests and clients.

Historic Savannah Foundation saves buildings, places, and stories that define Savannah’s past, present, and future. The annual gala, now in its 26th year, has set the bar as one of the city’s most elegant and festive fundraisers, always drawing a crowd eager to help maintain Savannah’s unique beauty and remarkable past. HSF’s Annual Gala is the organization’s largest fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting ongoing preservation initiatives through advocacy, education, and communityinvolvement efforts.

Life at DIRTT Diggin’ It

August 2017

Inspiring the next generation with Block Kids Building Competition We love an opportunity to inspire the next generation of construction professionals.

That’s why we were a part of the Block Kids Building Competition in Savannah put on by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). The competition runs in school districts across the United States. The award-winning program introduces children to the construction industry to create awareness and promote careers in the industry.

Students from various schools gather on a Saturday morning to learn about the construction process and the professionals required to create today’s buildings in an educational and interactive skit. That was followed by a competition to build the best construction-themed project using a kit of 100 Legos and three items from this list: foil, cardboard, a rock and a piece of string.

As the judges (five local architects and architectural students) reviewed the projects, the students went outside to plant a tree with Savannah Tree Foundation and learn about large construction equipment. This year, United Rentals brought an 80-foot-high boom and demonstrated it for the kids. Not only was that a thrill for them, but also served as a great opportunity to talk about safety. To top it off, the kids got to have Leopold’s Ice Cream and went home with a goodie bag (including some DIRTT swag)!

If we think explaining DIRTT is fun and challenging to “big people,” in construction, try explaining it to kids! They have no “block wall” ideas and they completely understand the idea of manufacturing in a factory and then taking it to site. One kid even said, “look, I’m building the DIRTT way!”

DIRTT’s has been a member in the NAWIC community since 2010, the year after we started producing in the Savannah factory.