Construction Today Volume 19, Issue 10

CEO Andrew Schofield

Group COO Joe Woolsgrove

Creative

Data

Tom Vince

Jaione Soga

Editor Libbie Hammond

Assistant

Mary Floate

Content Editors Daniel Baksi, Alex Caesari, Danielle Champ

Editorial Administrator Amy Gilks

Managing Art Editor Fleur Daniels

Art Editors Paul Gillings, David Howard, Charlie Protheroe, Lee Protheroe

Artwork Administrator

Rochelle Broderick-White

Sales Director Alasdair Gamble

Project

Philip Monument, Joy Francesconi

Head of Content Management Adam Blanch

Head of Global Media Programs Mark Cawston

Project Managers Lewis Bush, Natalie Griffiths, Jo-Ann Jeffery, Ben Richell

Content Managers Johanna Bailey, Michael Bradberry, Mark Cowles, Logan Foss, Jeff Goldenberg, Dana McElroy, Anthony Porretto, Wendy Russell, Richard Saunders, Kieran Shukri

Media Sales Executives Mike Berger, Jessica Eglington, Will Gwyther, Reid Lingle, Sam Surrell

General Manager Florida Division Ryan Finn

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Hello and welcome to the October issue of Construction Today. We’ve covered the topics of refurbishment and redesign in our pages so often, it’s great to be able to reveal

own update to readers. What do you think? This will be an ongoing process and we’d love to incorporate reader feedback, so do feel free to share your opinions – my email address is below.

Moving onto our content, and the features this month delve into demolition, tools, digital transformation, and non-destructive testing. Hopefully something in there relevant to your operation –check out the images from Brokk as they really bring demolition to life. The feature highlights the benefits of technology and robotics and how this is an exciting and challenging time for the sector. Visit page 6 to see for yourself.

Libbie Hammond Editor

lhammond@finelightmediagroup.com

Our

out why on page 24.

roofing

Media Group,

An abundance of opportunity

The construction and demolition industries continue to see steady change. Contractors, laborers and project managers are pushing for safer and more productive solutions to transform modern jobsites while facing an evergrowing backlog of projects fueled by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. At the same time, ‘The Great Resignation’ and Baby Boomer mass retirements contribute to labor shortages across the board.

With all these factors at play, relying on manual labor is simply unsustainable - in terms of worker recruitment and retention, safety, productivity and overall costeffectiveness. As a result, successful contractors think outside-the-box and supplement experienced crew members with technologically advanced equipment like robotic demolition machines to increase efficiency and reduce the physical strain on laborers. Additional mechanization options

Jeff Keeling takes a look at how jobsite mechanization offers cutting-edge construction and demolition industry solutions

A young employee may consequently see construction as a long-term profession while an experienced worker may see it as more realistic to remain in the industry for the duration of their career

help contractors take advantage of current opportunities while accommodating industry trends.

Productivity boost

Handheld pneumatic breakers and other highly physical methods have been commonplace on jobsites for decades. However, increased jobsite mechanization has allowed contractors to revolutionize productivity.

A demolition robot paired with a hydraulic breaker, for example, improves upon previous productivity goals with an impressive hitting power, on par with excavators three times their size, and offer industryleading power to weight ratios. These compact machines access some of the most confined and restrictive jobsites - including those with dust,

centimeters) wide and weighing 1,235 pounds (560 kilograms), the most compact units are small enough to fit through standard doorways and light enough to be transported on passenger elevators, making them ideal for confined spaces and interior demolition projects. Larger models are available with higher power ratios for more challenging applications.

By employing these heavy-hitting machines, contractors can greatly increase efficiency in applications previously limited to large crews with handheld equipment. For example, one contractor was able to cut their demolition crew by a third during nearly one-million-square-foot (92,903-square-meter), multi-level tear out. The two 2,183-pound (990-kilogram) demolition robots were

◀ Contractors who invest in mechanization reduce the amount of dangerous and hard manual labor workers must perform, which is a powerful benefit to young and experienced workers alike.

▶ Successful contractors work to think outside the box and supplement experienced crew members with technologically advanced equipment like robotic demolition machines to increase efficiency and reduce the physical strain on laborers

▶ Remotecontrolled demolition equipment addresses some of the most pressing safety concerns these industries face with an operating distance of up to 984 feet (300 meters)

each robot only requiring a single operator, the contractor was able to better utilize remaining employees across simultaneous jobsites while increasing productivity and lowering overall labor costs.

Safety benefits

For many in construction and demolition, increased safety is one of the biggest benefits of mechanization. Remote-controlled demolition equipment addresses some of the most pressing safety concerns these industries face.

With an operating distance of up to 984 feet (300 meters), remotecontrolled units physically distance employees from harmful silica dust, as well as the strong vibrations of handheld equipment such as breakers, rivet busters and chipping guns. Longterm use of these common demolition tools is linked to a number of chronic injuries, including carpel tunnel syndrome, nerve damage and handarm vibration syndrome.

Additionally, remote-controlled demolition machines help prevent one of the most common causes of serious work-related injury and death in construction - falls. A remote-controlled unit allows operators to remain a safe distance from ledges and other fall hazards. This provides peace of mind for workers and project managers, but also increases productivity by minimizing the need for erecting fall protections.

For contractors using remotecontrolled machines, these safety benefits can quickly add up to significant savings on workman’s comp and insurance premiums. Remote operation paired with smaller crew size can significantly lower worker liability costs by limiting personnel in confined spaces or hazardous operations. One concrete cutting contractor who made the switch to demolition robots has seen a decrease in annual workers compensation claims by about 50 percent. The company has also seen a

▶ Technological advances, such as robotic demolition, can help change the way contractors work and make it possible to thrive in today’s environment while preparing for the future

- $50,000 savings, in injury costs per year. Another concrete cutting operation reduced its experience modification rate (EMR) by adding demolition robots to their equipment fleet. Insurance companies calculate EMR based on a company’s safety record. Higher EMRs result in higher insurance premiums.

Recruitment and retention

Implementing cutting-edge technology also offers some powerful recruitment and retention tools. When it comes to safety, for example, the workforce is well-aware that quality of life and length of career can be significantly affected by injuries and silica dust exposure. At this time, the median age of a construction worker is 42.3 years. Contractors who invest in mechanization reduce the amount of dangerous and hard manual labor workers must perform, which is a powerful benefit to young and experienced workers alike. A young employee may consequently see construction as a long-term profession while an experienced worker may see it as more realistic to remain in the industry for the duration of their career.

Cutting edge technology also attracts younger workers. For one concrete cutting company, including advanced robotic technology in their fleet helped reduce the median age of their 300strong workforce to just 25 years old and cut turnover ten per cent. The machines also allowed the contractor to do more work with fewer people, increasing productivity 17 percent over three years.

The mechanization

It’s both an exciting and challenging time for construction and demolition. Opportunities abound for contractors, especially those who find creative ways to recruit, retain and best use the skills of their workers. Technological advances, such as robotic demolition, can help change the way contractors work and make it possible to thrive in today’s environment while preparing for the future. Mechanization allows companies to quickly adapt to changes in labor, process or regulation, keeping them ahead of the curve - and the competition. ■

Jeff Keeling is the vice president of sales & marketing for Brokk Inc. Brokk has been the world’s leading manufacturer of remotecontrolled demolition machines and attachments for over 45 years. Through continuous innovation in engineering and design, Brokk is able to offer unique solutions to multiple industries worldwide, including construction, demolition, mining and tunneling, cement and metal processing, nuclear and other specialty applications. .

Jeff Keeling

www.brokk.com

Penny wise, pound foolish

The quality will remain long after the price is forgotten –this is a well-known quote from Henry Royce, co-founder of luxury car brand RollsRoyce. It’s usually taken to mean that quality is worth paying for. But there’s another meaning: that buying on price alone often ends with the disappointment of poor performance or potential hazards. It is this second meaning that drives the Power Tool Institute (PTI) to strongly caution tool buyers to only buy batteries manufactured by their tool’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

When it comes to buying power tool batteries, going cheap can have potentially disastrous consequences for power tool users. The costs related to a single fire caused by a counterfeit or knockoff battery will quickly reveal the lower initial purchase price to be no bargain at all. Spending a little more up front for a product that is designed specifically for the tool and will perform well for a longer period of time is a smart investment.

Proprietary Circuitry: What’s inside is what counts

What makes OEM batteries the right investment over counterfeits and knock-offs? Each OEM has its own proprietary control circuity for the total system, which encompasses the tool, battery, and charger, so the three components communicate properly.

There are numerous design considerations that manufacturers address in the construction of their batteries, including type and quality of cells, durability of electrical connections, electronic controls (in the battery, charger, and tool), protective housing, compliance with standards, and independent certification.

This circuitry design is not available to third-party component suppliers, and the differences between the inner workings of these power tool systems make it virtually impossible for any other battery to match the OEM, no matter what the package claims.

Because of all these safety and compliance considerations, batteries from different non-OEMs are not cross-compatible (unless specified by the power tool manufacturer).

Why using anything other than OEM batteries can be a dangerous proposition for construction professionals who use power tools. By Susan Orenga

The quality will remain long after the price is forgotten “ “ “ “

When buying aftermarket batteries for power tools, it is important to consult with the power tool owner’s manual and purchase only the batteries recommended by the manufacturer.

Willingness to do the right thing and shop for OEM batteries might not be enough. Manufacturers of counterfeit and knock-off batteries know exactly what they are doing when they design their products to mirror the color and packaging of the specific OEM manufacturers from whom they intend to take business. Online sales in particular can confuse well-meaning buyers. One can get caught up comparing prices, which is understandable, but what seems like apples to apples can result in a deal that quickly turns rotten.

In the end, before purchasing a non-OEM battery, consumers are advised to consider all factors, not just price. What seems to work well out of the box may deliver dire consequences later.

Purchasing a battery from an unknown seller without having any verification of the seller’s

qualifications or experience — or of the battery’s construction, testing or certification — can leave you with an unsatisfying, and potentially dangerous, experience.

Thermal Runaway: What to do if batteries overheat

Once you have made the safer choice and outfitted work benches and service trucks with OEM batteries, battery safety is still an important and ongoing consideration.

Most battery-operated power tools use lithium-ion batteries due to their many advantages over other battery types. They can derive greater energy from a smaller battery, are made of lower-toxicity materials, and hold their charge longer. The benefits of this newer technology have allowed higher-demand tools and applications to be battery-powered and provide significantly more work-per-charge. This extended capability, combined with the portability of battery tools, has resulted in a dramatic increase in their use.

Any lithium-ion battery, while infrequent, can become unstable, particularly if the battery is damaged, dropped, or cracked. If you encounter a lithium ion battery that is too hot to touch, melting, smoking, or on fire, it may be in ‘thermal runaway’.

Thermal runaway acts like a chain reaction, where the heat continues to build until battery stability is lost, and

a fire can start. The reaction occurs due to an internal short, causing excess heat to be generated. It requires immediate action.

The quickest way to cool down and stop an overheating lithium-ion battery is to immerse the battery in a sturdy container filled with water and keep it there for 24 hours.

Before immersing a battery, there are some things to keep in mind. Don’t physically touch the battery to move it; instead, use something like a long-handled shovel. Wear PPE to protect eyes and skin. If the overheating battery is mounted to a charger, make sure the charger is unplugged. If the battery is connected to a tool or charger, don’t try to disconnect it. It’s better to sacrifice those items than risk being injured. Put them in the water as well.

If you are not able to immediately submerge an overheating battery, pouring large amounts of water on it

to extinguish flames may slow the fire down until a sturdy container of water can be found. When the flames have subsided, transfer the battery to the container as soon as possible.

If water isn’t immediately available, a fire extinguisher may slow the fire down, but it won’t put it out completely. It must be cooled down to stop the chain reaction. Though the fire may appear to be extinguished, still immerse the battery in water as soon as possible, so additional cells within the battery don’t re-ignite.

If water isn’t available, you can isolate the battery by moving it outdoors at least 15 feet from any combustible material.

It’s important to leave the battery immersed for at least 24 hours. Even if you don’t see flames, the thermal runaway may not be over. While one cell is cooling down, a different cell might be heating up.

The bottom line is that a properly designed tool, battery, and charging system from an OEM, is the safest option, but you must respect any battery’s power and handle it properly.

Education is the key to safe tool operation

Reminders like this article can help promote good decision-making around power tools and their safe operation, but the best way to improve safety on job sites is through a robust, continuous training program.

Power tool safety begins with several basic, universal tenets. Workers who learn to apply these can approach any power tool with confidence. Well-trained workers make fewer mistakes, are less apt

to become distracted on the job, and appreciate that safety is a teamfirst concept.

Many firms have their own training courses and schedules, but for any who are looking to start their first training program – or want to enhance what they already have – the Power Tool Institute offers a library of more than a dozen lesson plans, including several videos. These materials are complimentary on the PTI website (https://www. powertoolinstitute. com/pti-pages/edlesson-plans.asp).

Power tools make construction work and other job types go so much faster and easier. Arming workers with consistent, quality information and their professional dedication to staying knowledgeable and well trained can result in successful projects for years to come. ■

Susan Orenga TakeChargeOfYourBattery.com

Susan Orenga works at the Power Tool Institute. With the vision to unify and educate others about power tools, since its founding in 1968, the Power Tool Institute (PTI) has established itself as the leading organization for building global understanding of power tools and for maintaining high standards of safety in the industry.

Well-trained workers make fewer mistakes, are less apt to become distracted on the job, and appreciate that safety is a teamfirst concept “ “

“ “

A FULL OVERVIEW

The construction industry is highly competitive, with tight margins reliant on streamlined operations.

Saving time and money is key to being able to pass cost savings on to the customer while maintaining profitability. And as construction technology and equipment become more complex and expensive, the pressure is on to get the most from these valuable assets and extend their lifecycles to maximize return on investment.

These days, digitalization and automation are increasingly adopted by construction companies to help them successfully revolutionize their backend administration, asset management, workflow and innovation capabilities. Smart construction asset and equipment tracking technology helps construction companies prevent costly damage and theft, control their inventory, and predict maintenance requirements, all of which allows them to manage projects in a more profitable way. So, how does it work in practice?

Today’s construction asset management and asset tracking technology leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to track materials, workers and equipment. Smart tags are attached to any assets and individuals on your

construction site, and data from these tags is transmitted via a secure network to a bespoke management dashboard in real time. A cloud-based construction asset management platform can be accessed through any smart device, putting a full overview of your operations into the palm of your hand. The system provides unsurpassed visibility into the construction supply chain and site operations, allowing managers to determine when maintenance should be carried out, when they need to repurchase equipment, and which assets can be shared between sites.

Building a new future for the construction industry with smart technology. By Matthew Margetts

Smart, secure, connected technology is the foundation upon which construction companies of the future will be built

“ “

The system also allows teams to set predefined geofence locations to alert them instantly if any expensive assets are removed from a particular location by accident or by criminal activity. Taking control of construction assets in this way helps companies and contractors to recover lost time and expenses - which can then be redeployed in revenuebuilding activities.

What can this smart technology be used for?

Truth be told, the applications are endless, but some of the most common use cases of smart technology in the construction industry include the following:

l 24/7 asset tracking provides total visibility across various sites so that you can track and monitor all your construction assets and personnel in real time.

l Many construction businesses experience repeated theft, but smart networks can integrate with other security systems to secure remote areas and perimeters at all times.

l A good construction asset management solution allows companies to gain valuable insight into their construction site asset utilization across different sites and projects, providing invaluable insights and allowing them to optimize their operations.

l Enables more informed and effective assessment and management for similar projects in the future.

l Custom reporting enables better planning for material and equipment availability and maintenance.

l Monitoring and demonstrating high levels of worker safety and productivity helps construction companies provide a good working environment to attract and retain the best talent.

l Lone worker monitoring with instant SOS alerts, panic buttons and direct links back to the main operations team.

The smarter way to become more sustainable Working in a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable way is becoming increasingly important in the construction industry, with more regulations being introduced to ensure this, along with client, consumer and financer pressure. By using smart sensors for asset and operational monitoring, construction companies can identify efficiencies to streamline their processes, maximize resources, and prevent unnecessary wastage and repetition, which helps to reduce their carbon footprint.

Minimize project risk and increase client satisfaction

Every construction project comes with inherent risk. By programming a smart system to send different data depending on the desired project outcomes, companies can plan each project

better and alleviate a large proportion of the risk. This increases the likelihood of projects being delivered to clients on time and on budget, improving the company’s corporate reputation.

In summary, the benefits of smart

to digitalize their businesses. Smart, secure, connected technology is the foundation upon which construction companies of the future will be built. ■

For a list of the sources used in this article, please contact the editor.

Matthew Margetts

To gain a competitive

the foundation

meet

expectations, and become more

of today

Matthew Margetts is a Director at Smarter Technologies. Smarter Technologies tracks, monitors and recovers assets across the globe in real time, providing asset tracking systems to the open market and fulfilling the world’s most complex asset tracking requirements. Its services cover a vast array of business sectors, products and equipment from container or pallet tracking to militarygrade devices; and can be used across a broad spectrum of industries.

to harness new,

TESTING TIMES

By Ricky L. Morgan

In Hollywood disaster films, it is necessary to compel the audience into believing the earthquake, storm, or flood is truly devastating. To do this, filmmakers show bridges falling, buildings twisting, roads buckling, and more. If the audience has any questions whether the event is indeed severe, such images bring them instantly to a state of complete belief.

In the real world, such things can, and do, happen, though fortunately they are far more rare than in movies such as the blockbuster San Andreas. At least part of the reason is that a sophisticated, but little-discussed technology, is applied during and after construction. This one approach makes a world of difference. So, it is troubling that as the US considers

Nondestructive testing: An essential element of maintaining a healthy infrastructure

how to apply the more than $1.2 trillion in authorized spending on infrastructure, and other countries around the world consider how to further build out their environments, wider adoption of this technology is not prioritized so our cities and communities don’t mirror a Hollywood disaster film during storms and other natural events.

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is the inspection of an object for cracks, corrosion, discontinuities, or structural fatigue without cutting or breaking the object open. In the best-case scenario, there are careful considerations made throughout the design and construction process of every building and structure to ensure structural integrity during a variety of natural conditions as well as the structure’s integrity over the long term. To ensure longevity, regular inspection and evaluation of materials using NDT is vitally important. It can prevent the usage of flawed materials. It can ensure that the welds that join building elements together are sound. And it can be applied throughout the life of the structure to examine if the materials and structure retain their ability to withstand earthquakes, severe storms and similar events.

Protocols and procedures

From the day materials arrive at a fabrication facility to the day an asset is demolished or mothballed, NDT should be performed to confirm integrity. Especially with respect to infrastructure, NDT can be utilized from the cradle to the grave of an asset. This includes the entire built environment ranging from bridges, dams, power lines, cellular towers, airports, runways, water facilities, and power plants to refineries, roads, and more. NDT provides an array of analysis techniques that can be used in the construction and maintenance of such facilities to evaluate the materials, components, and assemblies of these buildings and structures without causing damage.

When the 1994 Northridge Earthquake struck the California San Fernando Valley, it was NDT inspectors - including me - who examined the infrastructure. The evaluation of the status of steel structures in potentially damaged buildings was essential to determine repair protocols and procedures

for future construction of replacement facilities when a structure was too damaged to save. NDT inspectors worked day and night to provide this critical information to both asset owners and the engineers racing to determine the status of the affected buildings and structures.

Today, the NDT industry is digital and dynamic, utilizing some of the most advanced assessment technologies available. There are currently more than 11 different recognized methods of NDT and countless subsets and techniques available for almost every industry. While it depends on the project specifications and the inspection and testing plan that spells

out the areas where inspection is required, the most common NDT methods are Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), Penetrant Testing (PT), Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Radiographic Testing (RT), and Visual Testing (VT). Think of it as advanced science applied to a single compelling prioritypublic safety.

Many enhancements have been made to evolve NDT technologies to where they are today. This does not mean NDT has advanced as far as it can. Further advancements in NDT could provide useful figures for data-driven, risk-based assessments throughout the life cycle of building elements and structures.

Improving inspections

Newer innovations are in development or coming into use. These include advancements such as advanced UT methods, like Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), and Total Focusing Method (TFM)/ Full Matrix Capture (FMC). Such tools can have a great impact on the inspection of infrastructure. Already, innovations in conventional UT have been shown to provide better imagery, better probability of detection, better characterization of flaw or failure type, and more robust post processing and analysis. Similarly, the use of drones has been shown to significantly improve visual inspection of infrastructure assets with limited access by supplementing technologies with safer access, greater picture quality, and a permanent record using geotagging. In the past, those structures may have only been able to be assessed using binoculars. Similarly, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Condition Monitoring (CM) are not novel technologies but have been significantly enhanced by improvements in sensor technology, as well as better and more useful data acquisition. Today, monitoring can be ongoing 24/7, scheduled, incident activated, or even mounted or embedded into steel and concrete infrastructure during new construction to monitor a structure throughout its lifetime.

Evolving technology

As we in the US prepare to spend over a trillion dollars on new infrastructure investments and other nations continue their development, we should make certain NDT technologies are more widely adopted and required so the public can be sure they are safe.

We may not be living in a Hollywood movie, but as our natural environment changes there is no question disasters risk

becoming more frequent and more severe. The regular application of NDT inspections on aging infrastructure is essential to maintain its stability. And NDT must be applied to new builds, from the material production stage all the way through construction.

Throughout the decades, NDT technology has consistently evolved to meet the evergrowing need for infrastructure assets to withstand unpredictable and severe weather conditions. We must continue to invest in the innovation of NDT methods and the creative utilization of this valuable and rapidly evolving technology. ■

Ricky Morgan is the President of FlawTech America, a manufacturing company providing the very best in intentionally Flawed Specimens to the NDT/NDE Industry for more than 40 years. FlawTech also supports the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), the world’s largest technical society for NDT professionals, by bringing together ASNT members and NDT technicians.

American Society of Nondestructive Testing (ASNT): www.asnt.org

Ricky Morgan flawtech.com

s a relatively young company, founded in 2016, SmartRoof’s story has been one of consistent growth, thanks to hard work and dedication. Speaking to Construction Today, COO, Sean O’Reilly, explains that the company’s core values have been the guiding lights for organizational growth and direction.

“The business has been built on creating the type of culture and environment in which your friends and family would want to work. This culture has a knock-on effect on the standard of customer service we deliver and an enhanced positive impact on the lives of our 5000 plus customers.”

Spotting a gap in the market, SmartRoof’s founder, Joshua Jerge, embarked on the business from a background in industry sales. Bringing in friends and family and inviting friends of friends to join him, the business has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the fastest growing companies on the east coast and counts itself among the top 50 roofing companies in the country.

“The majority of our business is residential roofing and solar solutions,” continues Sean. “We use technology to make homes smarter; enabling our customers to save money on energy and reduce their environmental impact. Servicing Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Jersey, Delaware, DC and Florida, SmartRoof is now one of the largest businesses in our industry; giving us access to resources that improve the experience for our employees, customers and community.”

Indeed, SmartRoof seeks to maximize value for its customers which is evident in its superior product offering, enhanced warranties and workmanship. This comes to life in its partnership with GAF Energy, which has disrupted the solar roofing market in North America. Among one of the first in the region to offer GAF Energy’s new, award-

winning Timberline Solar roof, SmartRoof was proud to provide feedback during the development process, thereby facilitating early access to the product, positioning itself as ahead of the curve and able to offer the future to the US market before its competitors.

Timberline Solar incorporates roofing materials directly into a clean energygenerating system; resulting in a durable, attractive roof that produces energy. As Sean explains: “The product aligns with what we are doing as it is innovative and integrated. It has removed several layers of installation complexity and offers a single warranty. Strong and water-shedding, the product is able to withstand winds of up to 130 mph and with a 25 year-warranty, it offers the best protection in the industry. To date, we have sold and installed the most Timberline Solar roofs in the US. It is a truly ground-breaking product that will help us to become energyindependent and save our planet.”

Aurora Solar Aurora Solar is creating a future of solar for all. The company is putting the power of data and technology into the hands of every solar professional to make solar adoption simple and predictable. The cloud-based platform uses data, automation, and AI to streamline workflows and grow solar businesses faster. More than 7,000 of the industry’s top organizations rely on Aurora and over nine million solar projects have been designed with the platform globally.

The San Francisco-based company was the only climate tech business named to the 2022 Forbes AI 50 and was voted the best solar software by Solar Power World in 2021.

To create the industry’s most intuitive solar design program, Aurora invented SmartRoof, a tool that introduces several new innovations for remote solar design. SmartRoof makes it easy for anyone to create accurate 3D roof models by simply tracing out the roof perimeter – no design experience needed.

Currently serving the east coast, SmartRoof has plans to expand its reach over the next five-to-ten years. The business’ field and sales functions operate from satellite offices, allowing it to pivot more effectively with decreased infrastructure and overhead requirements. Sean explains: “We have a lot of guys in the field and with the right technology, we’re able to work remotely and standardize our procedures. In fact, we have recently switched to a new workflow management software called GiddyUp Roofing, which helps us to manage and grow the business. With a simple and easy-to-use program, we can manage canvassing, sales, jobs, production and even communicate with homeowners through a branded customer portal. It has offered us enhanced flexibility, operational efficiencies and opportunity for growth. We are really excited about moving forward

with greater clarity and more accurate data that enables faster and better decision-making.”

As touched upon earlier, SmartRoof is proud of its culture and sees itself as much more than a roofing and solar solutions company. “SmartRoof focuses on roofing and solar services. But ultimately, we are more than just a roofing and solar company – we are a life-changing company,” Joshua says. “The team at SmartRoof comprises hardworking, motivated individuals who want to perform, improve and make a difference. At every level, team members are given the support and resources they need to grow professionally, financially and personally.”

“If we can positively impact the people that work at SmartRoof, it allows them to positively impact our customers, the people around them and our vendors. We often talk about a ripple effect. People are at the center

of what we do, and we focus on making sure we take care of them first,” shares Sean.

“We are also innovative in the way we encourage our people to be their best. We stage fun competitions and events to encourage and engage our teams. Our workforce is relatively young, and we have several sports groups throughout the company. Our sales and marketing teams, particularly, have several light-hearted and fun competitions throughout the year that mirror sporting events; all with the aim of boosting performance in a fun and friendly context.

CertainTeed

The perfect balance of beauty and performance

CedarBoards™ Insulated Siding provides the added strength and thermal benefit of rigid foam insulation with easy maintenance. Dressing your home in CedarBoards is like

“We started our Smart League this year, based on the English football model of promotion and relegation, with prizes awarded accordingly. This type of incentive encourages consistency and the desire to improve and advance. It creates a real feeling of competition but in a fun way. In terms of our sport-oriented incentives and development, we talk about mindset, focus and growing as individuals. We reward this effort by investing in our people. We take our top quarterly performers from both sales and operations to conferences and other events with a focus on health and fitness or

wrapping your family in a cozy blanket. Inside you will enjoy a quieter, more comfortable home, while outside, you will appreciate the authentic look of natural wood, enhanced by distinctive colours and finishing touches

personal development. Whether a leadership event or conference about personal finance, whatever it might be, we offer opportunities for our people to grow and learn core skills for success.”

As Sean reiterates: “If we can have a positive impact on our people, they can positively impact our communities in turn. We change lives in our communities by giving back. We have supported a range of organizations over the years, such as Habitat for Humanity. From sponsoring projects to helping individuals, we have been able to play our part in improving the lives of those in our communities. This culture of giving extends to our people who are always willing to support and sponsor both colleagues and strangers in times of need.”

SmartRoof extends its culture of positivity to all relationships, across the board. While the supply chain may have been strained over the last couple of years, it has not been such on a personal level, as the business was able to navigate challenges due to its positive relationships.

“One of our biggest partners is ABC Supply,” says Sean. “We also have good relationships with our other vendors. While there is a transactional side to these relationships, we view our suppliers as partners, and we can’t do it without them. In turn, we can have a positive impact on their businesses and people. With good communication, we have really been able to navigate a lot of the biggest challenges pretty well in the last few years.”

With good communication, we have really been able to navigate a lot of the biggest challenges pretty well in the last few years “ “

“ “

Looking back over the past couple of years in more detail, Sean confirms that it hasn’t been easy. “The pandemic has been our biggest challenge. As I’ve said, we are very people-focused. For a while, we had to do mostly zoom calls and for a growing company, trying to standardize protocols and hone changes, in terms of communication, we really missed easy, face-to-face interaction.

“That said, we were able to overcome it and hold both internal and client meetings online. Ultimately, with multiple offices, we need to do that anyway, so it has pushed us in a direction we needed to go in terms of figuring out how to get the best out of technology and build relationships in whatever way possible.

“An additional challenge not related to the pandemic has been how to maintain the culture we’re so proud of as a fast-growing company. Our team is doubling every year and we need to ensure our culture is as solid as ever. We want our people to feel the same way now as they did four years ago when we were just a team of ten. That is a big challenge and an exciting one; our focus is on maintaining what has brought us to where we are today, even as we continue to grow.”

Having curtailed its growth somewhat in recent months to be able to fully focus on embedding the new CRM system and other operational processes, the team at SmartRoof plans to regroup, ready to focus on further growth moving forward into 2023.

As Sean states: “The more we grow, the more we are able to bring in revenue and have a positive impact on more lives. We want to continue to open new offices. Over the next five years, we will have twice as many locations. We are aiming to expand

our reach into the southwest, and continue to grow in the northeast and Florida.

“Our goal is to be a billion-dollar roofing and solar company,” Joshua summarizes, when reflecting on Smartroof’s goal for the future. “However, that revenue mark is simply a measuring stick for how many lives we positively impact along the way. Our goal for the next five years is to aim to double each year in pursuit of that major milestone.” ■

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ROOTED to home

Syd Kitson, an environmentalist who spent most of his life camping in the ranges across the states, has a strong appreciation for the fragility of our environment, and the importance of respecting it. This is why he pursued a career as a developer, and how the residential community, Babcock Ranch, came to be what it is today. “There will always be a need to create spaces for people to live,” begins the CEO of Kitson & Partners, developers of Babcock Ranch. “If we do it the right way, and set a great example, it could be one of the best contributions to the environment we could possibly make. That is how this project started. We were very fortunate to have found a great opportunity, and a 91,000-acre ranch in Charlotte County, Florida, that allowed us to bring this work to life.”

According to Syd, what makes Florida a unique state for a project like this is its natural environment. “If we don’t preserve those green spaces we are in big trouble, and we are very proud to be a part of it. Being intentional about

If we do itthe right way, and set a great example, it could be one of the best contributions to the environment we could possibly make

“ “ “

preserving our environment is key to our operation, and we really believe that people want to live in an environmentally responsible home, where they can celebrate the outdoors. Babcock Ranch was created with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand. When we brought this work together, we focused on environment, education, energy, transportation, technology, health and wellness, and of course, safety.”

Sustainability is one of the core aspects of life in the community. From the 870-acre solar farm and solar tree charging stations, to the country’s largest solar-plus-battery storage system, renewable energy is deeply entwined in Babcock Ranch. “I am a strong advocate for the environment. For example, how we treat our water runoff is unique. Our scrubber marshes make the water as clean when it leaves as it was when it entered the property,

Pulte Homes

“Babcock Ranch is the perfect testing ground for new and innovative construction practices. Pulte Homes and Babcock Ranch are both committed to leading the charge on innovation and energy efficiency in homebuilding. We are getting real feedback from our trade partners and customers daily, as we explore new products to build smarter and more efficient homes. Specifically, we have tested exciting new products related to insulation, HVAC, whole house battery backup, integrated whole home smart components, and more at Innovation Way in Babcock Ranch,” says Josh Graeve, Division President for Pulte Homes in Southwest Florida.

Visit Pulte.com/BR for more information on these homes of the future.

and we are very proud of that. We have our own wastewater plant, and therefore all the sprinkler systems throughout Babcock Ranch run on reused water,” Syd shares.

Another example of the community’s sustainability efforts can be seen within the individual homes. “We were able to partner with three of the nation’s top homebuilders to create a living laboratory of test homes in Innovation Way. Here, we have a neighborhood where these builders are exploring the possibilities for a new wave of homebuilding solutions, and, together with Florida Power and Light, they are helping us to monitor each of the homes. We are going to have an Innovation 2.0 where we focus on the materials we use, and how we can reduce our carbon footprints within the structure of the community.

“There is one home that has a unique HVAC-RHEIA system, which I find fascinating. Rather than the larger supply systems, these

are smaller and more precise, and balance a house in a much more efficient way. There is another greywater filtration designed to minimize the impact on water resources by cycling the shower water back into the house for the toilet.”

Syd also shares how the home development project is powered by innovation and a passion to encourage a greater sense of community. Together, this combination is capable of opening greater opportunities for the families living within Babcock Ranch to learn how to care for the environment, and each other. “Often what happens in Florida is a lot of block construction, which makes sense. The structure creates a resilience against the wind. However, we wanted to prove that it doesn’t just have to be block. So, there are various types of wall panels and systems we are implementing to create a stunning and unique lifestyle here,” said Syd, who is keen to see this expand.

“ “ “ “

Our scrubber marshes make the water as clean when it leaves as it was when it entered the property, and we are very proud of that

Under construction right now are six new parks, each one designed with a different aesthetic that accentuates green spaces

“ “ “ “

“I want to bring in more companies to work with us within the community. We are talking to probably four or five different companies right now that are looking to come in. I feel we are well-suited to light industry just because of our location, but again you must have all the other services in place for companies to relocate.

“We also have a hydroponic farm. Originally, the farm started at 100,000 square feet, but we are about to double that to 200,000 square feet so that, hydroponic farming is in line with who we are. We are looking for companies that have the same sustainability goals in this regard,” he emphasizes.

Syd believes the idea that the modern human is wired to spend their day in front of a screen is a false one, and he is determined to provide people with the opportunity to be outdoors, and to celebrate that environment. “Under construction right now are six new parks, each one designed with a different aesthetic that accentuates green spaces. For example, one of our parks is a pond, and we filled it with fish so kids can learn about their ecosystems. We are going to have places for families to explore, with everything from a large treehouse to a great path system and we are

providing a variety of different places for all ages, regardless of their abilities, to spend time in the outdoors.”

From what we’ve learned from Syd, the purpose of Babcock Ranch was to create an innovative sustainable hometown with a true sense of community and a unique lifestyle in harmony with nature. “Our vision is to build a safe space for people who are retired, and want to further their education, or volunteer and be part of working with kids either at schools or in the greater community. We are also introducing a central park that will have an urban feel, and I am so excited for that development. There will be restaurants, businesses, and apartments that surround this seven-acre park.”

The home developer is looking forward to the next five years. For him, if they are anything like the first five, the success of Babcock Ranch is going to have a fantastic impact on its residents. “We want to be able to offer the people who live here a lifestyle that celebrates the environment, and gets back to the roots of what this country is all about,” concludes Syd. ■

The number one choice

Get to know NV2A, one of Florida’s fastest growing construction firms, and its work on Gulliver Prep

We last sat down with NV2A, one of the top builders and developers in South Florida, in 2018. It goes without saying that much has changed since then – in both the construction industry and the world. At the top of the list for catalysts of said change is, as expected, the pandemic. While many companies faltered or, at best, attempted to grapple with the wave of uncertainty that swept across the US, some kept on moving – some, like NV2A, used the opportunity to stand out from the competition.

As Gilberto Neves, President & CEO at NV2A, tells us: “The company has grown in volume, bench strength, and, most importantly, client relationships. We have continued to attract exceptional talent and deliver incredible projects. In addition, we have expanded our footprint with new clients, such as Gulliver Prep and NoMi Gardens Residences. We also acquired a large project in the Bahamas for a major Miami client and, more recently, the new Concourse A and Airport Terminal for Monroe County in Key West.

“We trust our people, perhaps more than our competition, and that is one of the primary reasons for our continued success,” he goes on. “Our culture is one of inclusivity; site managers clearly understand this and they know that, besides building the project, they must create a successful end result for the client. It is incredibly important to us. Furthermore, we cannot exist without our suppliers; they ensure we remain competitive and perform to a high standard. Good internal and external relationships are paramount for a sustainable business.”

The wheels are in motion, it seems, and the company is moving in one direction: forward. Delivering world-class construction management services with the personal touch to keep clients happy and engaged in their dream builds, NV2A seeks to capitalize on a wealth of collective experience and endeavors to explore a rich trajectory guided by commercial success and exceptional service.

Since 2017, the company has worked with a network of private and public clients in transportation, commercial, healthcare, education, and hospitality markets. Talking

“ “

A job that can be built with the right people, the right cost, and to the right schedule is a job done well

“ “

us through the kinds of services that the team at NV2A has come to be revered for is Project Director Jorge Mendoza.

“We rarely self-perform work, so it is all about construction management services with us,” he explains. “It is about managing large projects for our clients with a unique personability and approach to fostering successful commercial relationships. Indeed, we do not go after projects so much as we do go after individual clients. Everything we do comes down to one question: Is the client going to happy with the end result? A job that can be built with the right people, the right cost, and to the right schedule is a job done well. Fortunately, with each and every project, we bring these three core tenets together.”

Project success

One recent project managed by NV2A that serves as a prime example of the cohesion Jorge has alluded to is that of Gulliver Prep, a popular co-educational private school in Miami, Florida. He estimates the project to be around $35 million in scale, and points out some unique features: around 15 percent of energy used will come from a solar canopy that has been built for the school, and new state-of-theart facilities (for instance, a gymnasium, wellequipped classrooms and science laboratories, as well as a botanical garden) aim to create an inspiring pedagogical environment for children.

“This project is a very special one for us,” says Gilberto. “I believe we distinguished ourselves from other firms due to the strong

level of dedication across the management team. By deeply understanding all operational aspects of the school, we could build around an active campus without disruption to the students and their faculty. That strategy worked well, and we are about to open the school on-time and on-budget.”

The project was awarded to NV2A in the middle of the pandemic; however, as mentioned previously, that did not hamper the company in pursuing its deeply entrenched goals for success. Material shortages and a nascent uncertainty threatened the build. Yet, as Gary Tarbe, Director of Construction Management at Gulliver Prep, informs us, it did not stop NV2A.

“It quickly became clear that NV2A’s experience and management team were well aware of the intricacies of the project, as well as the necessary level of concern for our faculty, staff, students, and general operations,” he reveals. “Fundamentally, the company was determined to be our best partner at the end of this process, and we are getting close. NV2A has proved to be successful in a competitive environment, and the cooperation, comradery, and efficiency of the teams involved were crucial in our final decision to continue working with the firm in the future.”

Organic growth

Indeed, the school has just selected NV2A to be the management team that will lead its next project, utilizing the same people and the same approach to garner the same successful results. With leading technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM) software and Procore at its disposal, NV2A ensures not only consistency in methodology but also the resulting quality from tried-andtested processes.

For this reason, among many others, Jorge anticipates a strong commercial end to 2022. “Looking further ahead, we intend to keep growing organically,” he notes. “In

doing so, we will put ourselves in a better position to secure an even greater number of construction projects with clients. As a company, we are already growing tremendously well, and we know that developing our own people will ensure that continues.”

“Ultimately, we want to become the number one choice for our clients, but also for our employees and subcontractors,” concludes Gilberto. “I want to end by expressing my deep gratitude to our teams, clients, and subcontractors. These partnerships mean more than the dollars and give real purpose to what we do. The profits are an automatic consequence of the hard work and persistency they bring to work every day.” ■

www.nv2agroup.com

Exceptional LIVING

The Bainbridge Companies (Bainbridge) started out as a small and local southeast Florida multifamily development company in 1997, with a single office in Wellington and just four employees. But fast forward nearly a quarter of a century and the situation has changed. Today, the company has transformed, growing

into a fully integrated multifamily owned and operated organization with a total of nine offices and more than 650 associates throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southwest, and Florida regions of the US. With in-house development, construction, renovation, and asset and property management divisions, Bainbridge is now recognized by the National

Talking construction and beautiful apartments with The Bainbridge Companies – join the conversation

Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) as the tenth largest developer and twelfth largest builder in the US apartment industry.

Recently, we sat down with some of the team to talk all things construction, development, and how people will always be the bottom line to success. “We are a company made up of passionate professionals who strive to develop best-in-class apartment communities that our residents will always

be proud to call home,” begins Kevin Keane, COO at Bainbridge. “To our partners, we work hard to provide superior investment opportunities for portfolios considered to be blue-chip investments and we deliver abovemarket returns for our limited partners and co-investors.

“We are honored to be featured in this edition of Construction Today,” he goes on. “We have excellent relationships with the

various service providers that we work with throughout all phases of development and construction in our communities; we remain incredibly appreciative of our national partnerships, which allow us to build and deliver exceptional assets to the marketplace.”

Bainbridge manages, develops, and invests in apartment communities that the firm labels as complete experiences; that is to say, spaces that allow people to pursue better, more fulfilling lives. In Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Maryland and Virginia, these communities say: ‘Come home and be inspired.’

More recently, the firm has made investments in existing value-added and core-plus acquisitions in Florida and the Carolinas throughout 2022. As Kevin explains, Bainbridge’s acquisitions and capital markets teams have been working tirelessly to identify new opportunities for company growth, either off-market or through a broker offering.

We are not striving to be the largest fullservice firm in the industry, but we are striving to be the best

“ “ “ “

“When we believe there is a measurable opportunity for our company to acquire a property, we leverage our property management division to increase rents, instill more efficient systems, implement policies and procedures to increase rents, establish property-wide Wi-Fi services, ensure appropriate resident portals are created for communication, and reduce overall expenses to enhance our bottom line,” he notes. “Upon acquisition of an existing asset, we typically utilize our renovation division and allow them to develop a program of updating common area amenities, unit interiors, building exteriors, and adding new sustainable elements to the property relating to energy efficiency.”

When it comes to new project development, Bainbridge draws inspiration from both current market trends and industry insights that are provided by the NMHC and the National Apartment Association (NAA). Bob Thollander,

President of Development at Bainbridge, tells us more: “Additionally, we rely on our on-site associates to gather customer-based inquiries and requests for inspiration. We always look for ways to provide unique unit layouts and both accessible and useable amenities that are not yet seen in the local marketplaces where we develop. On top of all that, our team consistently looks at what is happening in the local housing market to recognize trends that easily translate into a new customer want within the luxury rental market.”

As the conversation moves onto recent project developments, including Mission Pointe in Orlando, Bob is keen to shed some further light on the processes that generate the company’s success. “We are very pleased with how Mission Pointe is coming together,” he details. “We have carefully – and creatively – designed it for future residents. The location is unique in that it is one of the few remaining

lakefront apartment communities in the metropolitan Orlando area, and the incredible views of Lake Whippoorwill are destined to at once inspire and evoke calm in those living there.

“We wanted to make use of the waterfront as much as possible, so we incorporated a large walking trail along the entire waterline, as well as a boat ramp and fishing pier,” Bob reveals. “Mission Pointe is a true resort-style community and one of the most premier lakefront apartment communities that has ever been built in the metropolitan Orlando area.”

Mission Pointe is the third Bainbridge apartment community that has been developed on Lake Whippoorwill, following in the footsteps of Bainbridge Nona Place and Bainbridge Narcoossee Cove. With Lake Nona Medical City, excellent schools, and abundant dining and entertainment options nearby, this most recent development will ensure future residents have access to a premium living experience.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the construction industry in the past few years has been the pandemic. At this point, that goes without saying. But, as Alex Panzeri, President of Construction at Bainbridge, points out, it goes much deeper than that. “Covid-19 brought with it an abundance of uncertainty, and consequently the market was affected,” he says. “Supply chain constraints, a lack of materials, labor shortages, and therefore a reduced output of finished products – these became the new normal. Our material suppliers play an important role in our success, and throughout the pandemic we relied on national agreements to deliver quality products on-time at the most competitive prices.

“Before the pandemic, construction risks were mostly related to unknown site conditions or vertical construction material availability and cost increases,” he goes on. “However, Covid-19 and its effects on the global economy have taken a huge toll on the availability of construction materials,

labor, and costs. Nevertheless, we remain in constant communication with our subcontractors and suppliers on their supply chain issues and cost variances, and we are utilizing advance ordering and bulk purchasing to mitigate delays. Better planning, more open communication, and early execution are key tenets that we are building our future upon.”

Speaking of the future, Bainbridge looks forward to a very active remainder of 2022. Plenty of developments are in the pipeline. It seems the dust of the pandemic is settling. “We are in the process of designing new communities, while also renovating existing ones with more remote workspaces and outdoor areas with active recreation amenities,” says Kevin. “Our acquisition business, moreover, is incredibly robust – five properties have been purchased in the past twelve months alone.

“The construction industry continues to consolidate,” he concludes. “With the introduction of Real Estate Investment Trusts

(REITs) and crowd funding, coupled with the attractiveness and stability of real estate as an investment alternative, there is no shortage of capital flowing into the development of apartment communities. We are not striving to be the largest full-service firm in the industry, but we are striving to be the best. Our people truly are our greatest asset; we recognize their strengths, and the ways in which they bring value to every discipline within the company – from on-site teams and corporate support associates to each of our divisions (construction, development, capital markets, asset management and property management). At the end of the day, it is our team that truly makes the difference. Through them, we can be the best and create exceptional living spaces.” ■

www.bainbridgecompanies.com

Power to its people

Downes Construction Company: going

CREC Discovery Academy, Wethersfield, CT

Since its foundation in 1934, Downes Construction Company’s (Downes) ownership structure has varied, yet, the business has continued to enjoy sustained growth and considerable success. In May 2020, the business transitioned to become an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and continues to be so, today.

As President, David Patrick, explains: “Downes was a mid-$55-million-a-year company from the early 2000s until about 2017 when the company experienced rapid growth. We do about $150 million a year now in annual construction volume and boast around 67 employees. From healthcare and higher education to municipal and museum buildings, we have really carved out a niche for

ourselves in Connecticut’s construction market. In fact, we were recently recognized by national Engineering News-Record magazine for one of our museum builds, and we are pretty proud of that accolade.

“The growth of the company over the past five years has been remarkable, particularly during a time of transition when many of the long-established workforce and senior leadership team retired. That said, the existing management team also has an impressive history of longevity which reflects the organizational culture. Employees join Downes and they don’t want to leave. I think the transition from an LLC partnership structure to the ESOP was really an effort to, first and foremost, reward the people who have built

Downes Construction Company

this company to what it is today, and secondly, to ensure the Downes name continues on in the State of Connecticut and in New England. It’s been an exciting transition. I think every employee gets up every day and says, ‘you know what, I am a shareholder, I am a part-owner and I want to do my part to make sure this company succeeds.’”

Community contributions

As Tom Romagnoli, Vice President of Operations, reiterates: “I think the success of our company really boils down to our people and our process. One of the reasons I joined Downes was the fact it is a local company with a solid reputation, and a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere. We are working really hard to maintain that culture, to collaborate with one another and instill those core values. This ethos extends to our clients and is reflected in the quality projects we win.”

Indeed, it would seem the more complicated the project, the more the business excels. “From renovation to repurposing, we do a lot of projects that bring buildings back to life,” says Tom. “These projects have inherent value and satisfaction. For example, we converted an abandoned building in Wethersfield into a Discovery Academy that specializes in science.”

David highlights that the State of Connecticut was recently ranked number three in the country in terms of its physical schools and education provision.

“We take great pride in the part we have played in the construction of some of these schools. Over the last seven years, we have built over a billion dollars’ worth of public schools and these are schools with incredible facilities. We’re proud of our contribution to our children’s education.”

From supporting children to giving back to the local community, Tom highlights the importance of philanthropic endeavors. “We try

We have to keep our finger on the pulse in terms of marketplace trends, and touch base with key trades and suppliers to keep our information as current as possible

“ “

“

Below and right: CCSU Willard & DiLoreto Halls, New Britain, CT

to give back to the community, in some way, on all of our jobs. We employ local and minority workers, and promote community businesses. We also employ apprentices from the local area to build our industry from the ground up. The success of our company relies on qualified people and generating an excitement about our industry and the opportunities it affords.”

Over the last two years, the construction industry has taken a hit as a result of the pandemic, and particularly so, in terms of the

supply chain. “Critical pieces of equipment used to have an eight-to-12-week lead-time. Now, it can be as many as 60 weeks,” confirms David.

“To combat this challenge, as construction managers, we typically get involved in projects around the same time as the design team. We come together early to ensure we preorder materials well before we even think about the construction process. For example, we are currently carrying out a two-phase project in Killingly. Roofing supplies have proven particularly

problematic to procure, so Tom and his team put together a materials package to ensure those items will be available when we start the construction phase next year.”

“As we continue to see supply chain issues arising, we really have to drive the discussion during the pre-construction phase,” adds Tom. “We can deliver on time and within budget by procuring materials early in the process. We have to keep our finger on the pulse in terms of marketplace trends, and touch base with key trades and suppliers to keep our information as current as possible. It’s important to react quickly and make educated decisions to keep the project moving. We have initiated a procedure whereby all materials’ approvals are submitted way ahead of construction schedule. This approach buys a little time if we have to flex our processes.”

Controlled growth

A pertinent example is the Martin Luther King Junior Campus renovation project. The city of Hartford was undertaking a redistricting plan and the timely renovation was pivotal to its success. Downes was tasked with radically reducing the project deadline at the behest of political funding. David explains: “I think it’s a real reflection of the determination and commitment of our team to have been able to put this project together. We took 168,000 square feet right back to the bare concrete. Not only did we have to do it in such a short time frame, but we were in the middle of an unprecedented, worldwide pandemic. We had to make significant changes to our safety set-up in addition to the usual complications of such a large-scale build.

Below and right: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Campus, Hartford, CT

the impact of current market price hikes. “We need to be honest with our clients to eliminate the element of surprise. We also need to strengthen our subcontractor partnerships to ensure everybody understands the impact of those cost increases.”

Additionally, Tom is keen to highlight that the business is actively recruiting young talent to stay ahead of labor shortages. “We have a number of graduates we are mentoring in an effort to maintain and continue the growth and culture of our company.”

As David concludes: “We are now a major player in Providence, Rhode Island, in addition to our prominent presence in Connecticut. Over the next five years, I think we need to strategize the expansion of our geographic footprint. Businesses like ours need to grow, but we need to grow at the right pace so we can maintain the level of commitment, quality and service we provide to the clients in the markets we are in currently.” ■

The future is green

The construction industry, in its current form, has a significant impact on land, air quality, and water supply. Extraction, production, transportation, and the end-of-life of materials (including embodied carbon) all play a negative role in increasing the detrimental effects the industry has on the environment, particularly in the form of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

As reported in the 2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction, 36 percent of final energy use and 39 percent of upstream GHG emissions globally are buildingrelated. Needless to say, something needs to be done.

Fortunately, however, companies like Nexii Building Solutions (Nexii) exist and want to positively disrupt the industry through sciencebacked innovation and green construction methods. Gregor Robertson, Executive Vice President, Strategy and Partnership at Nexii, recently sat down with us to talk all things green building, and how the company intends to blaze new trails with groundbreaking and less carbon intensive materials. “Nexii stands out for a number of reasons,” he begins. “First, there is our building process. We precision manufacture our buildings offsite and then rapidly assemble units in situ, reducing build times to a fraction of conventional equivalents.

“Our methods are also less carbon intensive,” he goes on. “Nexii walls have an average of 31 percent less embodied carbon than conventional construction, and our builds produce near-zero on-site construction waste. This is all part of the circular economy model that guides the firm; we design for reuse, rather than waste and demolition, creating a circular construction ecosystem.”

As Gregor has alluded to, Nexii designs and manufactures low carbon buildings and products to reduce the climate impact of the built environment – the one in which we live, work, and spend time with our families. With the current industry standards for GHG emissions, a sustainable and scalable solution is not only necessary, but urgently required.

Established in 2019, Nexii has grown dramatically in three short years. Ben and Michael Dombowsky, two inventors and brothers that have worked in the construction industry since the 1970s, knew the status quo had to shift. Over the years, they became troubled by the huge amounts of waste and inefficiency within the industry and, more recently, the evident impact these were having on the environment.

Michael, who now serves as Vice President of Building Technology at Nexii, experimented for many years with various efficient construction techniques before creating what eventually became Nexii’s patented building system. When Stephen Sidwell, the current

Nexii Building Solutions: a guide to green building breakthroughs

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company CEO, was introduced to the Dombowsky brothers by a mutual friend, all the pieces of the puzzle seemingly came together. The rest is history.

Three years later, the company has gone from strength-to-strength. Last year, Nexii became the fastest Canadian company to ever reach unicorn status and now is valued at $2.05 billion. With over 400 employees and three manufacturing plants in operation, Nexii has the capacity to work with international clients of the highest level.

“Nexii has forged alliances with world-leading brands, including Siemens, Honeywell, Trane Technologies, Pella, and Solar Earth, a prominent solar panel manufacturer,” Gregor details. “By combining our building systems with pioneering technologies, we can make the concept of net-positive energy buildings at scale a reality. At Nexii, we are fundamentally reinventing the way the world builds.”

By reinventing, Gregor means constantly innovating and working on solutions to further decarbonize the

We precision manufacture our buildings offsite and then rapidly assemble units in situ, reducing build times to a fraction of conventional equivalents

built environment. At the core of that mission is Nexii’s breakthrough material, Nexiite, and the Nexii building solution, which enable rapid assembly of high-quality buildings and infrastructure with reduced end-to-end toxins and carbon emissions, near-zero waste, and less disruption to the community.

Gregor is keen to talk us through the firm’s innovative proprietary concrete mix. “Buildings and construction are the number one cause of pollution across the globe,” he asserts. “In addition, concrete is the second most consumed resource; production of the material emits more than two billion tons of carbon each year. As a more sustainable alternative to conventional concrete, Nexiite and Nexii’s building solution cuts construction waste to a minimum, slashes build times, and significantly lowers both the embodied and operational carbon of buildings.

Saint-Gobain ADFORS

Saint-Gobain ADFORS (ADFORS) is an industry leader in manufacturing and distributing technical textiles to the construction and industrial markets. Its strong expertise in fiberglass technology is coupled with extensive knowledge in weaving, knitting, mat-forming, and coating. By utilizing the latest technologies, ADFORS can create fabrics that possess specific characteristics. As a result, its customers have access to a wide range of customizable solutions developed using years of experience.

“The mix is comprised of sand, high-quality aggregate, and a binder,” Gregor adds. “This composition facilitates a rapid curing process, attaining higher compression strength faster than concrete. Moreover, it has up to 36 percent lower carbon emissions during production when compared with typical Portland concrete. We use Nexiite in our panels for external and internal surfaces that encapsulate an insulating core and supplement structural reinforcement. This adds more strength to Nexii panels, which weigh 15-to-20 percent less than pre-cast concrete, but are more robust, thus leading to lower costs and a reduced impact for transport, installation, and deconstruction.”

But innovative solutions harnessing the power of Nexiite do not begin and end with building. They go much further. Recently, for

instance, Nexii entered a partnership with Siemens to pioneer the future of Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure deployment with an industry-first sustainable charging prototype. Together, the two companies created and patented a piece of equipment (VersiCharge XL) that will make installing EV chargers faster, and more cost-effective, while reducing any environmental impacts.

“The prototype is designed for electrifying fleets and high demand charging applications like football stadiums,” Gregor reveals. “The EV charging prototype design enables quick installation at scale, allowing for fast expansion to meet the growing demand for EV charging infrastructure. Typically, EV charging units would need to be built underground, causing disruption to both the land and the environment.

“However, the above ground design of this prototype allows for minimal disruption to both land and environment and reduces on-site construction waste,” he explains. “The sustainable unit is built using Nexiite, and is developed as a modular design. Overall, it represents the first in a long-term Nexii partnership program that will focus on expanding green building for low-carbon innovations across myriad industries.”

As mentioned previously, Nexii has experienced truly impressive growth. In less than 31 months, the company reached a billiondollar valuation, and since then it has shown no signs of slowing down.

“We have a number of exciting projects under way across North America, and people can expect to hear about them in the next few months,” says Gregor. “We are focused on

scaling up our manufacturing to bring Nexii’s

more markets, enabling us to better meet the

“Indeed, focusing on the way we build is a key climate solution,” he concludes. “To solve just come from heating and cooling, but from

construction processes. At Nexii, we are led by our goal to build a vibrant future for people and the planet. Our building products demonstrate that it is possible to use durable, sustainable materials that can withstand deconstruction, reconstruction, extreme weather events, and

www.nexii.com

Paving the way to success

Although it has been owned and managed by the Peckham family since its foundation in 1924, Brewster, NY-headquartered Peckham Industries, Inc., (Peckham) does not exclude outside talent in its drive to develop and supply roadway construction materials, including hot and warm-mix asphalt, cold-mix asphalt and chip seals.

“My Dad successfully converted Peckham back into a private company and he really was the visionary behind our growth over the past

15 to 20 years,” says Gregory Peckham, Senior VP and General Manager. “Now, with Damian Murphy coming on board as CEO, we are looking forward to continued growth but with a different perspective. Working in a family business can be tough; you only know what you know internally – you don’t have that outside experience that Damian is bringing.”

Peckham can take pride in a low level of staff turnover; most of its senior team has over 35 years’ experience with the company.

“We have a culture of Family By Choice, which means many things to us, like getting

Peckham Industries, Inc., is cementing its Centennial by growing safety, culture and sustainability

to know everyone and caring about the community,” Gregory continues. “You work with someone for 35 years, they really are part of the family! We have a fantastic group of younger and energetic talent, also, and when people come into the company they see the relationships that have been built and enjoy being able to share in that.”

Peckham started out as a construction company and, over time, evolved into the materials business that remains its primary focus today. Damian Murphy had over a quarter of a century of experience with aggregates

and materials supplying companies when he joined in March, 2021. With his appointment, the company is seeking to maintain and build on the qualities that have made it the leading supplier of construction materials in eastern New York State and western New England.

The company sources stone from its own quarries and produces hot mix, warm mix and cold mix asphalts, mixed concrete and construction liquids, mainly for applications in road and highway construction and maintenance, in plants extending as far south as The Bronx, NY, through the Hudson River

Peckham

Valley to Warren County, NY, as well as in Western MA, RI, CT, and southern Vermont. It has around 900 employees and revenues in the region of $500 million. Its latest adoption was of leading aggregate producer JSL Materials, in 2020. Its integration has considerably expanded opportunities for the company in the region.

“We are a materials business, first and foremost. We are looking to grow our resources on aggregates and the hot-mix side of the business as that is where we believe we can

add the most value for our customers,” he declares. “There are tremendous opportunities where we can supply the right products to people in specialist areas such as sea wall projects, environmental improvement, wind power turbines, and more. There is so much going on in the North-East right now. We are determined to be a supplier of choice to all

‘Sustainability’ and ‘environmental sensitivity’ may not be words immediately associated with highway construction, but Peckham is on a mission to change that. It is proud of its commitment to environmental stewardship, which it demonstrated when it joined the Wildlife Habitat Council and pledged to build a set of voluntary conservation activities – but it goes further. Sustainability is becoming embedded in its culture and operations.

It is a leader in developments to boost sustainability in construction and a strong proponent of using recycled materials, primarily (but not exclusively) Reclaimed Asphalt

Pavement (RAP) in pavement construction, repair and maintenance.

“Our approach is two-fold,” Gregory says, and goes on to explain how. “Part is partnering with the states, Departments of Transport (DOT) and municipalities, to educate on the tremendous resources and opportunities there are out there to use a greater proportion of recycled materials in our products. Currently, New York and Vermont states typically cap recycled material approved for roadways at 20 percent; we have undertaken some experimental projects with municipalities in New York to increase that to 40 to 50 per cent in our hot mixes. We also have some alternative products we are working on that are ‘recycling in place’. We offer a very low carbon emissions alternative to hot mix paving, which greatly reduces the trucking resources needed. It’s a win-win for everyone and I think we will see that grow throughout the North East and probably across the country.”

Focus on family

Peckham has already implemented techniques and technologies that improve the resilience of pavement surfaces and cut the time needed for repair. Being delayed in traffic threading its way through and past repair gangs has to be among the top bug-bears of the travelling public, so every minute saved is to the good.

Chip seals are an excellent and economical preventive maintenance and pavement life extension treatment. They consist of waterbased asphalt emulsion applied to the roadbed and cover stone, which is placed over the asphalt film. Deposit rates are much higher than conventional hot mix paving, enabling coverage of up to 50,000 square yards a day, at savings approaching 75 percent. The pavement can be rolled and reopened to traffic the same day. Chip seals are a low-temperature, environmentally sensitive process that reduce emissions and fumes, and

can be combined with advanced polymers to further increase durability.

Peckham is invested in its community, through various projects from rebuilding a library destroyed in a fire to renewing vital assets like fire houses.

“We try to be a good neighbor, keep things clean, reduce noise and support our communities. An immediate goal is to achieve zero notifiable safety incidents,” Gregory says. Peckham believes that its success will be driven first and foremost by its Family By Choice culture. To the business, that means a culture where every member can be themselves without fear of judgement. Everyone is obligated to live Peckham values and maintain a culture of respect and security that distinguishes this Family Business from the rest. ■

www.peckham.com

Sunny in Florida

The sunshine and beachfront views are a beloved characteristic of Florida. Accordingly, the state is an immediate favourite for holidaygoers and those looking to start a new chapter in a warmer region of the US. This is why Seach Construction has become an expert homebuilder and contractor in the area. The company is on a mission to build the finest residential and commercial spaces. Founded by David Seach, Seach Construction came to be one of the pioneering companies in the construction industry within the US. 0 learns about the level of projects the company has undertaken since its inception, with particular attention to the ones of which the business is most proud.

Seach Construction, which specializes in large scale commercial projects, hosts

an extensive catalogue of services, with a particular skill in planning, zoning, permitting, site development and building.

Presently, the business is working on a landmark building in Jupiter, Florida, named Cornerstone. “I’m super excited about this one. We’ve been planning it for years, and it’s such an amazing building in the heart of Jupiter, that I had to buy one,” says David Seach, the company President. “It’s going to be a Platinum Certified Green with the garage completely covered in tall palm trees and lush landscaping. Roof top amenities include a pool, spa and palm trees with amazing views of the intercoastal waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. There will be 15 residential condominiums, averaging 3,000 square feet, with high ceilings and lots of glass to showcase the beautiful views of the waterway. There will

also be 2,500 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The private elevators open directly into the units. On the ground level, each owner will have two secured garage spaces with electric car charging at each space. There will be a fitness room, social room, conference room, private offices and storage areas,” says David.

When asked for his thoughts on living in a building with his customers, Seach replies, “I have no reservations. I’ve met each of the buyers and what a great group of people. It’s a pleasure to work hard and do a great job for such nice people. I did it before in 1995 when I built and lived at Jupiter by the Sea for five years. I’m still in touch with some friends that still live there. That project consisted of three eight-story oceanfront condominiums.”

Seach Construction has another luxury condominium in Jupiter near the ocean that is currently in the planning stage. Seach will

We’ll continue to strive to stay at on the edge of innovation and quality by integrating the latest technology into the luxury lifestyle that we deliver to our buyers

keep the same design team, Robert Swedroe Architects in Miami, RGD Engineers in Jupiter will design the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, and Jezerinac Group in West Palm Beach will be the structural engineers. About the next project, Seach says, “We’ll continue to

“

“

strive to stay at on the edge of innovation and quality by integrating the latest technology into the luxury lifestyle that we deliver to our buyers.”

Other past projects include a 45,000-square-foot commercial office condominium consisting of the construction of two three-story office buildings, site work and utilities. The work for the Airport Professional Centre, located in West Palm Beach Florida, was a great success for the company and showcased its ability to pay attention to the finer details.

There was then Gateway Gardens, located in Palm Beach County, which is a 107-lot subdivision. The development consisted of planning, zoning, permitting, and building. The construction involved excavating lakes, building underground utilities, roads, and site amenities, including a commercial clubhouse and pool, tennis court, site walls, landscaping and parking lots. The project is known as LeChalet MUPD, located in Palm Beach County. Following this, the company

successfully completed and sold a mixed-use, six-acre planned commercial development, with 60,000-square-feet of commercial, retail and office space.

Beautiful living spaces

Taking this a step further, the business worked on a townhouse project consisting of four buildings that housed 31 units. It was held as a rental property that was owned and operated by David, later converted to condominiums, and sold. The project is known as Poinciana Place Villas.

The business then went on to develop, build and sell Jupiter by the Sea Condominium, a 36-unit condominium project. The construction process involved building three eight-story oceanfront buildings, underground utilities, road construction, and constructing site amenities, including a commercial clubhouse and pool, tennis courts, site walls, landscaping, and parking lots.

In addition to its extensive condominium home builds, the company is also an expert

in multi-family residential projects. Seach also developed and built a 320-unit luxury rental complex, involving 16 three-story buildings containing 20 units each, and involved underground utilities, road construction, and site amenities, including a commercial clubhouse and pool, tennis courts, site walls, landscaping and parking lots. The project was known as Polo Chase in Palm Beach County, and received eight awards for professional achievement in lifestyle and marketing. The name was later changed to Solara.

Extended operations

Another sector for projects that the company has branched into is land development. From what we learn, Seach Construction has developed over 2,000 residential sites for home builders Lennar, Ryan Homes, Mercedes Homes, MI Homes, Royal Professional Builders, Regatta Homes, Crossroads Construction, and others.

To complement the land development aspect, the business has extended its operation further to include property management and real estate brokerage. In this regard, the company’s staff of licensed property managers and real estate agents have supported commercial office and retail centres as well as homeowners and condominium associations.

It is clear, from what we’ve seen, that Seach Construction’s extensive experience in construction and property management is what will continue to separate the business from its competitors. Going forward, the company is keen to continue to refine its practices to remain a leader that not only strives to reduce client maintenance and management costs, but also to create beautiful living spaces that showcase the best aspects of Florida. We look forward to catching up with the company in a few years’ time to see how it has remained a leader in the construction industry across the sunny state. ■

www.seachconst.com

eadquartered outside St. Louis, Missouri, ADB Companies (ADB) is a full-service provider of turnkey, endto-end technology infrastructure solutions including engineering, wireline, wireless, and technology services. Since being founded in the 1990s, the company has undergone significant growth. Today, ADB has completed projects in nearly every state. The company boasts more than 1500 team members, and offices across the US, serving a customer base that includes leading telecommunications service providers, cable TV operators, power companies, regional internet service and telephone providers, government agencies, and datacenter operators.

◀ Chad Johnson, President and CEO of ADB

ADB’s services. As Chad Johnson, President and CEO of ADB explains, these lines integrate seamlessly in order to fulfil customer need. “We can plan, design, and install a full communications network from the source right to the point where the end user interacts with it,” Chad says. “Our engineering group can design a range of solutions from basic concept to dig-ready, including permitting and project management. Our wireline group is capable of installing nearly any type of hard infrastructure, both underground and aerially, servicing a variety of end customers in the telecom and power space.

“Furthermore, our wireless group is highly experienced in all wireless communications infrastructure development and maintenance, from the base of the tower to the top,” he continues. “Finally, our technology group specializes in inside-plant networking and commercial audio-visual implementation.”

It’s a busy time at ADB. Recent years have seen the company continue on its upwards trajectory, with strong organic

growth bolstered by a number of strategic acquisitions. For Chad, it’s testament to an ability to stay ahead of the curve within a fastmoving sector, and capitalize upon promising market opportunities.

“While we remain focused on the telecommunications sector, we have moved into a variety of new market segments where we believe we can leverage our expertise and resources to deliver exceptional value to our customers,” Chad outlines. “Some of this has been organic, such as our recent successes in private LTE networks, while some has been through acquisition. We’ve pushed

ourselves to become more balanced as a company and have greatly increased our wireless portfolio.”

Customer commitment

But growth doesn’t come easily. It’s a situation that wouldn’t be possible without a high-quality team of individuals; one that Chad believes is the best in the industry. “We’ve built our leadership team with a fantastic combination of long-time industry and company veterans along with strong leaders from other industries that bring unique experience and perspective,” he indicates. “We truly live by our mission statement: ‘We are a customer-centric partner, providing innovative solutions. The safety, wellbeing and career growth of our team members are the benchmarks of our success.’ ADB team members are ‘ALL IN’ on this mission.

“This is evident in all that we do and has resulted in ADB having an industry-leading safety record, even with exponential growth over the last several years,” he reflects. “All of our team members are committed to doing the right thing for our customers. We don’t take shortcuts. Rather, we provide full turnkey solutions in a way that ensures our customers, and their customers, are satisfied – not just today, but well into the future. We also have a very robust strategic planning and operational management model, which aligns all of our teams and keeps focus on our key objectives, limiting a lot of the noise and distractions.”

The culture that ADB fosters internally is one that it extends to the wider community, where the company has established itself as a key supporter of local charities and non-profit organizations. “Social responsibility is embodied through our cultural pillar – ADB Community,” Chad confirms. “It is extremely important to us, and every team member is encouraged to

actively pursue opportunities to help their local communities. ADB has logged tens of thousands of community service hours and we support more than 65 charities around the country.”

At the time of our interview with Chad, ADB is celebrating the recent award of its largest ever single project. The company’s strong reputation for quality, excellent project management capabilities, and a stellar safety record were all very significant considerations in the awarding of the work.

“Having the in-house capabilities needed to support a project of this size, along with an excellent network of partners, we are wellpositioned to excel in delivering this project,” Chad notes. “The same is true of our recent

“ “We have plans in place to grow our revenue by more than 25 percent in 2023 “ “

work to create a private LTE network for one of our great customers and longtime partners, for whom we have been doing an extensive amount of utility installation work over many years. Given our ability to deliver exceptional customer service through the duration of our relationship, they began working with us early in this new endeavor, relying on our expertise in the design and delivery of wireless networks.”

Reflecting on the past two years, Chad is frank about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the lessons that ADB has been able to take on board as it continues to grapple with long lead times, labor shortages, and supply chain disruptions. “Most importantly, we’ve learned resilience and the need for strong interdependency,” he reflects. “The pandemic taught us that we can’t take anything for granted, but we can get through some really tough waters if we keep an open mind and rely on each other.

“While there was probably no way to be completely prepared for the last couple of years, our ALL IN culture absolutely gave us an advantage in dealing with everything that came at us,” he goes on. “Jumping in to help others be successful, without regard for titles or politics, led to our ability to continue to grow every year. We are definitely still dealing with the hangover effects with regards to executing, and it’s a challenge we deal with every day,” Chad adds.

Full-service solutions

“Material lead times are still a significant issue, and they’ve resulted in slowing a lot of projects down. The fact that our market remains strong despite macroeconomic headwinds forces our Project Managers to constantly juggle projects to ensure we’re being as effective as possible while waiting on materials. Labor is probably the most significant factor and has limited our ability to take on even more projects. We have

a great team that we supplement with partner providers to access geographies where we have more opportunity than current capacity. There is intense competition for all these resources as a result of the limited labor pool.”

Looking forward to the remainder of the year, ADB is preparing for an exciting pipeline of activity. “We have a lot going on,” Chad admits. “We still have our foot on the gas with regards to acquisition activity and expect to add even more to our family in the coming months. We believe there are a lot of great opportunities to expand our services and bring in more expertise while offering acquired companies access to the resources they need to grow. In addition, we’ll certainly continue to be active players in our local communities, working with a variety of organizations to help strengthen the fabric of those communities in which we live and work.

“Beyond that, we have extremely aggressive goals for the coming years,” he reveals. “We have plans in place to grow our revenue by more

than 25 percent in 2023, with a plan to double our business between now and 2025. Through increased geographical density and expanded service offerings, we’ll be able to offer more of our customers the full-service solutions they need.

“With such a fast growth trajectory, we recognize that it would be easy to lose focus on our culture and our people, so we’re keeping those at the center of our strategic plan,” Chad concludes. “We are dedicating more resources to training, development and our cultural pillars to ensure we don’t lose sight of the most important aspects of our business. Acquisition is certainly a part of our growth strategy, but our organic growth is just as critical. We’re working closely with all of our customers to build these opportunities out.” ■ www.adbcompanies.com

Passionately shaping tomorrow, today

Serving the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, Hourigan is a fully integrated construction and development company with offices in Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Western Virginia. The firm has become the go-to partner of choice for managing complex projects and delivering them to a high standard.

Hourigan places a special emphasis on continual investment in its people, tools, and technology – everything that is required to spearhead smart and innovative projects. Indeed, thanks to this ethos surrounding

sustained progress, the company has established strong commercial partnerships and has been recognized as a trusted advisor by leading developers and investors in the region.

With a focus on its core values of serving with integrity and leading forward, Hourigan has built an impressive portfolio over the years. Chief Administrative Officer, Bryan Jones, offers us insight into the company’s diverse operations. “Over the years there are many projects that stand out, but we remain most proud of the relationships we have built and

How sustainable construction from Hourigan is enhancing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US – and blazing new trails in the process

continue to cultivate,” he asserts. “In terms of services, we focus on ‘moving to the owner’s side of the table,’ and being an advocate and resource for their project goals.

“As solution providers, we support the built environment through a variety of preconstruction, construction management, design-build, and development projects,” Bryan

details. “We tailor services to fit the needs of our clients and provide them with the answers they need to deliver certainty and intelligence in their decision-making. Furthermore, we always look ahead to new and innovative solutions and strategies to deliver more sustainable buildings that have a reduced impact on the environment.”

Hourigan’s internal mantra is about passionately shaping tomorrow, today and there is no better example of that than the firm’s work on Apex Plaza: Virginia’s first, and the East Coast’s tallest, large-scale mass timber building.

The 265,000-square-foot cross-laminated timber (CLT) project includes 151,000 square feet of office space, 102,000 square feet of podium concrete parking, and 6,800 square feet of retail units. Needless to say, it was a mammoth project – and right at the center of it all was one primary consideration: sustainability.

Offering an overview of Apex Plaza is Joseph Marshall, Project Manager at Hourigan. “The building is based on a cradle-

to-cradle certified design and uses mass timber for the upper six stories of the nine-story building. As a renewable resource, mass timber not only sequesters carbon but also minimizes the use of carbon that would otherwise be used to produce traditional building materials like steel and concrete. So, it really is win-win.

“This cradle-to-cradle philosophy limits or eliminates the use of harmful materials and ensures that materials are fully recyclable and have life after their initial intended use,” he notes. “In fact, just one dumpster of recyclable timber waste was needed for the entire construction project. Structural wood from fast-growth timber is one of the many sustainable features of Apex Plaza; much like a healthy tree stores carbon dioxide, one square meter of cross-laminated timber can remove around one ton of greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Additionally, the building’s 875 solar panels are designed to produce over 50 percent of the energy the lead tenant, Apex Clean Energy, consumes in any given year.”

Acting as both development partner and construction manager on the project, Hourigan was aided by Apex Clean Energy in the search for land to construct the latter’s new headquarters but also provided guidance throughout site selection, design services procurement, representation, and through the transition into construction operations for the facility.

“Executing Apex Plaza in just 20 months was an exercise in creative problem solving on the planning and coordination front,”

details Joseph. “With a plan to expose mass timber in many interior spaces, maintaining the beauty of the material was clearly on our mind; thus, protection from the elements during active construction was a key success factor across the project.

“With the goal of ‘drying in’ the structure through the most efficient method possible, our team established a plan to construct the project,” he continues. “The building was divided into three sequences which proved to be the most feasible and efficient way to limit the exposure of the wood to the elements and avoid potential water damage. It was an all-hands-on-deck approach, requiring heavy collaboration across the trades to reach a common goal for the benefit of the overall structure.”

As Joseph explains, the primary ambition of constructing Apex Plaza was to deliver a new benchmark in sustainability while, ultimately, delivering a faster turnaround time and lower costs. The end result is a net positive for all – the environment, the occupants, and the wider Charlottesville community.

Apex Plaza foresees a more sustainable future by delivering strength, resilience, and innovative construction processes, that represent a discernible effort in the transition from energy consumption to energy optimization. Going forward, Hourigan intends to facilitate that transition further.

“As we look towards the future, developing lifelong, uniquely remarkable relationships and buildings will always be at the fore of our agenda,” concludes Bryan. “And we will also remain true to our mission — to passionately shape tomorrow, today, by delivering integrated building solutions that enhance communities and advance our living world.” ■

Community builders

Named after its founder, Albert M. Higley’s rich legacy in construction is growing by the day, thanks to the company’s support for non-profit organizations throughout Ohio and beyond

Construction management and general contracting firm The Albert M. Higley Co. (AMHigley) was founded in 1925. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the company has grown into five different offices throughout its 97year history, retaining its office in Cleveland, while adding those in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, along with a satellite office in Akron, Ohio. Working across all those states,

plus West Virginia, AMHigley is truly regional in scope, and has successfully completed over 11,000 projects to date, to a value in excess of $9 billion.

The bulk of AMHigley’s work falls within the commercial construction market, including healthcare, higher and private education, corporate offices, hospitality and entertainment, multi-family, and senior living. But it’s work for the cultural and non-

profit sector of which AMHigley is particularly proud. Accounting for 15-to-20-percent of the company’s output across the last three years, it’s a business segment centered around the concept of ‘mission-driven construction’.

“We strive to understand what non-profits are trying to do as a big picture, and we adapt that as our own mission,” explains Emily Lord, Director of Business Development at AMHigley. “Then, our work becomes more

than just a construction project. It’s about helping them to achieve all sorts of goals, whether it’s tackling fundraising challenges, or engaging stakeholders.”

It’s no coincidence that AMHigley places such a heavy emphasis on non-profit work, or as Emily puts it, “building community.” Although the company only formalized its nonprofit work as a distinct business unit in 2014, philanthropy has long been a core value for the

Edgewater Beach House, Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland Public Library

Great Lakes Cheese, campus headquarters, Hiram, Ohio

“ “

Higley family, which had three generations represented within the business until just a few years ago. As David Meehan, Project Executive at AMHigley notes, each member of the company’s leadership team sits on the boards of various non-profits, including the Red Cross, and MetroHealth Foundation. Further relationships exist with Providence House, Akron’s Grace House, and the Achievement Center for Children, based in Cleveland.

With oversight from concept through to completion, David has a particularly unique insight into the process of AMHigley’s nonprofit work. “Often, organizations will come to us with a vision, and we’ll get involved really early with budgeting,” he reveals. “In order to effectively support them throughout the process of bringing their project to life, we prepare conceptual design estimates, and provide them with options. They’ll then enter a fundraising phase, to raise either all of the money or a portion of it. In the case of the

One of the first things we did in New Jersey was to talk to different non-profits, and to donate to a nonprofit in the community as a signal of our longterm commitment

“ “

▲ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, Cleveland, Ohio

latter, we’ll look at turning the project into a multi-phase development, so we can prioritize the work, create a master plan, and construct in stages as more donations are made.”

David’s comments underline AMHigley’s unique expertise within the field of nonprofit construction, and a familiarity with the obstacles that such organizations face. It’s further evidenced by an impressive portfolio of non-profit projects.

“We’ve been working with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum since 2010, and we’re now ready to start a large new addition between that and the adjacent Great Lake Science Center,” David says. “The Rock Hall is a good example of a non-profit whose needs have evolved since its opening in 1995. Exhibits that at the time were predominately static, are today interactive, satisfying people’s desire for an experience. To meet that desire, we completely renovated about 75 percent of the museum over the last 12 years, and the new addition is set to complete that process.

“We’ve also recently renovated the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, as part of a $24 million job,” he continues.

“As with museums, we’re seeing the function of libraries change – they’re no longer just places to read a book, and we’ve installed maker spaces where people can make podcasts and videos, as well as 3D printers. A project on our list is Heights Library, where we’re set to conduct a $1.2 million renovation to improve their staff area and provide HVAC system upgrades.”

Cementing relationships

As with all projects, the key to the success of AMHigley’s non-profit work is the company’s ability to forge long-term relationships with its clients. One such client is the Cleveland Metroparks. “Several years ago, Metroparks took over management of large portions of beach property from the city of Cleveland, at which point we completed the Edgewater Beach House situated along the city’s lakefront,” recalls

▲ WPP Geometry Regional Headquarters, Cleveland, Ohio

Andrew Hudak, Regional Vice President, Ohio at AMHigley. “We’ve continued that relationship to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, where we recently completed the Asian Highlands Exhibit for Snow Leopards and Red Pandas.

“We’re currently in the planning phases for a further expansion of their rainforest, which is really one of the signature pieces at the zoo,” he adds. “Cleveland Zoo is recognized internationally for its gorilla research, and this new facility expansion is intended to provide a world-class habitat and research environment for gorilla care, with construction likely to begin in a year’s time.”

After successfully navigating the challenges of the last few years, including a Covid-19 imposed halt on a number of projects, the future is looking bright for AMHigley. In March 2022, the company opened a new office in New Jersey, a move that capitalizes on a growing portfolio within the state. “It’s an expansion that’s very much happened organically,” Emily confirms.

Organic growth

“We first went to New Jersey with a previous client who had since moved to a new organization. After completing our first project there, and having established a footing for ourselves, it became clear that it was a place with lots of opportunity, where we already had strong relationships with subcontractors, and where there was close alignment with our key markets.

“We were lucky enough to bring Connor Evans on board as our Regional Vice President, New Jersey,” she goes on. “From the area, he’s charged with growing our business in that region. It’s a similar story to our previous expansions into Pittsburg and Detroit. In each case, we felt that we could take what we were doing in Northeast Ohio, and effectively translate that into those other cities.”

Despite spreading its wings, the company remains firm in its commitment to building communities. “We aren’t going to Chicago

or New York City,” Emily points out. “We’re expanding into cities where we believe we can contribute and make a difference. One of the first things we did in New Jersey was to talk to different non-profits, and to donate to a non-profit in the community as a signal of our long-term commitment.”

AMHigley’s commitment to its communities is echoed in the respect with which it treats its employees, whom Andrew describes as the company’s “most important asset.” He acknowledges that the pandemic has redefined people’s attitudes towards their jobs, with many opting for increased flexibility, and a better work-life balance.

“Construction never stops,” he admits. “Our work starts early in the morning, and can include long days and weekends. Within that, it’s important to recognize that people are giving us a lot of their free time, and we need to be able to repay that. Equally, we’re true believers in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. To that end, our employee-led internal Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG) makes regular policy recommendations to ensure that we’re taking the right steps. On our projects, we set goals – whether owners require them or not – for the proportion of our work that’s contracted to minority-owned, and femaleowned businesses.”

After a record sales year in 2021, AMHigley is facing a significant backlog of work for the months ahead, with expectations of completing construction projects to a value of approximately $300 million. “All our market segments are extremely busy,” Andrew notes. “Our healthcare segment has projects with Western Reserve Hospital, MetroHealth, and Southwest General Health Center lined up, as well as another at the Cleveland Clinic’s Fairview campus. Likewise, we have a number of education projects in the pipeline, for private and higher-ed institutions. We’ll

also be announcing more projects through our Design-Build services group, which we launched in 2022.”

“Our plan is to continue to grow,” Emily concludes. “We aim to put more construction in place every year, increase sales every year, and increase the number of our employees. Today, we have 156 fulltime staff – a growth of 70 from where we were around ten years ago. With regional expansion, new states, and new offices, we can expect something similar in another five years’ time.” ■

www.amhigley.com

▼ Jobsite Tour for Lafayett West, Phase 1 in Detroit, Michigan

A feminine power

Southwest Industrial Electric shares why advocating for women in construction is crucial for the industry’s growth

Despite the challenges currently plaguing the construction industry, Southwest Industrial Electric (Southwest) is determined to overcome the odds. With a persistent team at the helm, the business has been making promising headway in the energy sphere since we last spoke in 2020, through battery energy storage systems and solar installations. “We have undertaken multiple large projects – two of them being rooftop solar installs, one of which is six megawatts, and is one of the ten largest in the country,” shares Kristin Larson, the company’s CEO. She also expresses that

the company’s team members have grown alongside the business’ expansion, and she has continued to develop its culture and training programs. “Our team members have been motivated in these past two years and have taken on more in their positions. We love to see individuals thriving, and being able to grow in their careers,” says Kristin.

Further exciting developments have taken place within the business over the last two years. For example, the company expanded its horizon and gained its license in Texas. It also grew its green energy projects and continues to pursue more in that sector. “We attended the RE+ International Solar Power expo in September, which is one of the largest trade shows for solar energy, with companies flying in internationally to attend,” Kristin adds.

“In terms of investments, Southwest has also expanded its fleet of service vehicles, bringing us to 20 trucks. Otherwise, our main investment has been in our team, expanding our

Kristin Larson Chief Executive Officer

team of electricians, and our sales and marketing this year to be able to deliver on more projects.”

Then, in terms of the business’ order book, project demands have been increasing tremendously as well. “We have two battery energy storage system projects starting in the next couple of months, with more on the horizon,” notes Kristin. Furthermore, the company is installing a 6.3-megawatt photovoltaic solar panel system on a large distribution facility for one of the largest distributors in the world. A total of 14,400 solar panels are being installed, and the project will take approximately nine months. Following completion, the business will be testing and commissioning the installation. “We did everything from racking, wiring, and modules to all other supporting equipment. We are currently in the final phase of pulling and terminating the rest of the wire, and I am pleased to share that the project falls into the top ten in the US, and top 20 in the world.

“We have also helped one of the largest distribution vendors in the world electrify their fleet, and we are currently lined up for more EV projects than ever this year. More frequently, we are seeing our customers reach out for assistance with this sort of development. We are also looking to add a whole new residential department for EV installation for customer homes.”

Alix Smith, the Chief Production Officer overseeing EV projects, briefly expands on this saying, “As demand increases, Southwest is looking for great partnerships with manufacturers of EV trucks and chargers, as well as design teams. We look forward to maximizing our reach in the EV market by partnering with other companies to make this as accessible as possible.”

The EV charger market is rapidly growing and evolving just as fast. For Southwest, the challenge is making sure the business puts infrastructure in place to handle new styles and sizes of chargers. “Internally, I’d love to see

a full EV fleet for our technicians, technical estimators, and salespeople,” says Kristin. “In addition to that, we want to work with our customers to plan for their future, and make sure that they can have as many options for EV charging as possible.

“About four years ago, we had a customer reach out for a pilot program at their sites. They wanted to do small quantities of EV chargers in different configurations to find the best solution for them and their entire fleet. This gave us the opportunity to install different brands of chargers with various install configurations. That was a valuable experience as it allowed us to offer our services regardless of the EV installation type they were looking for.”

Because cities and states are pushing for EV charging, they want to expedite plan checks and coordination times. As a result, customers also know that in the long-term, installing EV charger infrastructure at their site will reduce fuel costs for their fleets,

think by working hard and showing what we can do, we lead the way for more women to participate in the electrical field, as well as construction

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and they will also benefit from government assistance as an incentive to achieve their netzero goals. “There are rebate programs from the government that customers can apply for when installing EV, which will cut down the cost for the project significantly. They also gain control of their fleet being charged, and it streamlines dayto-day operations. Other advantages include cleaner air, especially in places like California, a lower cost of driving, and an increase in property values where the chargers are installed.”

Our conversation then steers towards the discussion of the company culture, which, as we learn from Kristin, is an aspect considered equally important as the business’ overall growth. “One of our core values is team spirit and that is seen throughout many parts of our company. We make it part of our leadership team training to lead by example, and by validating those jobs done well through positive reinforcement.

“We have weekly staff meetings where we share the successes from each part of the company and commend team members for their hard work. We implement activities for the company, based on goals for our production.

Those are then celebrated when targets are met. We also have games for various charity events where teams participate together, which plays a huge role in our overall culture of support and community. We also have an in-house training program, where team members are encouraged to learn more about our industry and are motivated to become experts in their field.”

An added layer of which Kristin is particularly proud is the company’s advocacy for women in construction. “Most of our chief executives and many of our staff are women, and we are also a part of the National Association of Women in Construction. I think by working hard and showing what we can do, we lead the way for more women to participate in the electrical field, as well as construction. We like to shine a light on what a great sector this is, and what our work can do for the community; that is something all people, and all women, can be proud to be a part of.”

With a leading, female-driven team, the pillars of Southwest seem resilient enough to withstand any challenges the future may bring. “The last part of the year is often the busiest, with many projects having deadlines before the year is done. We also have some great opportunities coming up at the end of 2022 that include new construction and solar projects, and orders for battery energy storage systems. We are excited to continue to partner with great companies to produce top-quality installations,” shares Kristin.

Beyond that, the company is planning to have licenses in more states, and is working towards having a footprint in all 50. Kristin ended by revealing that the business will have another branch in Texas soon to provide more service further east. She looks forward to seeing her team grow, as Southwest refines its ability to service customers with the best electrical services it has to offer. ■

Familiar spaces

During this time of the year, New England is idyllic and quaint in the fall, and although the trees experience another change of season, the commercial and residential builds from American Construction Corporation still stand strong. Known more widely as Amcon Corp, the family-owned and operated business is an experienced and dedicated construction management firm that services all of New England, with a

focus on the Massachusetts area. This issue, Construction Today takes a closer look at how the company has brought together immaculate, stateof-the-art builds, with a dedication to detail and a passion for quality.

One aspect of Amcon Corp that makes it a stand-out name among its competitors is its bespoke work. The company prides itself on incorporating a personalized approach to each project, from the early stages of pre-construction

How American Construction Corporation has used its passion to be an integral part of its community

through to project turnover. With the help of its team, the business works closely with customers to ensure that completion is done to the highest quality. With a focus on consistently surpassing client expectations, and a strong emphasis on schedule and budget, the leadership team at Amcon Corp is proud of everyone’s efforts within the group. The continued success of the business is owed to its extreme attention to detail and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction as it upholds its mantra of ‘every project, every client, every time.’

On the topic of its people and company culture, Amcon Corp is championing industry inclusivity by opening opportunities for women in construction. The business was thrilled to announce the addition of two new individuals who will be bringing their skills and expertise to the group. Kara Cronin, for example, joins the team as its new Director of People & Culture. Kara spent the last 19 years of her career at Shawmut, where she grew and developed her career in a variety of roles. Working closely with executive and senior leaders, she helped develop and implement

American Construction Corporation

company goals that aligned with strategic priorities of the business. When asked what she loves most about her career, Kara stated that she loved building relationships with the folks she works with. For her, being able to offer the support they need to bring their whole self to work and build exciting projects is the most rewarding aspect of her career. Amcon Corp strongly believes that Kara will be pivotal to the evolution of its business as it continues to grow.

The second addition to the team is Elena Crupi. Amcon Corp was happy to welcome Elena as the new Financial Controller. Heading

up the business’ accounting team, Elena will play an integral part in leadership and the development of financial strategies. Holding both an MBA and MSA from Suffolk University, matched with her background in the developer and construction sectors, the company looks forward to the future under Elena’s financial expertise. With the business’ excellent team of highly knowledgeable individuals, the scale of the projects within Amcon Corp’s catalog has been both extensive and impressive. It has worked closely with The Sherwin-Williams Company, for example, to build some of its locations in

Massachusetts. Sherwin-Williams, which specializes in the global provision of paint and coatings products, has one of the industry’s most recognized portfolios of branded and private-label products. These products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4438 company operated stores and facilities in the US, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Additional brands for Sherwin-Williams are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors across North America and in parts of Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Amcon Corp was proud to be part of the project that helped expand Sherwin-Williams across the New England region.

Amcon Corp has also completed projects in the hospitality industry. One such project was for Buttermilk & Bourbon, the southern concept in Massachusetts. Drawing on the South’s trademark charm, this restaurant offers a vibrant, cozy atmosphere with an innovative American menu featuring southern influences. Amcon Corp was able to construct a space for Chef Jason Santos to share his love of New Orleans and all things southern by way of his beloved restaurant.

Finally, but certainly not least of all, the company is also an expert in building retail spaces. For example, its most recent project was to create the build for Allmodern, which can be found in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. AllModern is dedicated to bringing the best in modern design. Since 2006, the company has honoured its mission to offer accessible, contemporary furniture at an affordable price.

From our research, the potential of Amcon Corp is endless. Considering the work that the business has already completed, we look forward to seeing the projects still to come, and wish its team the very best as they endeavour to keep the New England region a growing and thriving community. ■

www.amconcorp.com

Subsequently, the company is passionate about finding the latest trends in contemporary decor that will serve as a stylistic guide for a variety of tastes and preferences.

Considering the work that the business has already completed, we look forward to seeing the projects still to come “ “

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