Design Cost Data ™ A DESIGN COST DATA COMPANY Four Reasons to Embrace Digital Tech in 2022 Thermal Transfers vs. Net-Zero Construction Industry Looking to Predictive Analytics to Improve Project Outcomes Construction Technology January/February 2022 $17.00 PraireCare Medical Group/Behavioral Health Rochester, Minnesota Architect: HGAE veryone knows there is currently a shortage of tradesmen, however not all industries are experiencing a shortage in the same way. Overall demand for electricians is on the rise; however, retaining electricians seems to be the root of the current and projected shortage. California has the leading number of electricians in a state with the highest average wages. So why are they experiencing a shortage? Shocking Statistics Indicate Electricians are Projected to Lead the Nation in the Construction Worker Shortage States with the highest employment level in electricians: State Number of Electricians Average Hourly Wage Average Annual Wage California 71,010 $ 36.49 $ 75,900 Texas 60,890 $ 24.69 $ 51,350 Continuing Education for Retention Continuing education credits are required, and can be obtained at ElectricalLicenseRenewal.com. Construction industry employers should also consider training employees with a path toward a goal they value — moving from apprentice to master electrician is one common goal shared in the electrical industry. Steve Cona III, president and CEO of the Associated Builders and Contractors, states, “In this day and age and in this economy, you have to invest in training your workforce. There are no unemployed electricians and plumbers sitting on the sidelines. You have to build your pipeline by investing in people who might not necessarily have the skills that you need at that time. Invest in your employees, train them, put them in apprenticeship programs, and maintain it through their lifecycle as an employee.” Even though California has one of the highest unemployment rates, electrician positions have thousands of job vacancies. When California experienced worker shortages in the past, it relied on population influx from other states. Due to the current state of affairs, California loses more people to other states than it gains. The California Department of Industrial Relations is doing its best to provide programs to train and retain the next generation of electricians in California. Managing the Electrician Shortage in California Since the shortage of electricians will not be filled in the near future, here are some steps to take to manage the impact of the shortage: 1. Seek new employees through high schools and community colleges 2. Work with trade schools and continuing education providers such as ElectricalLicenseRenewal.com 3. Use an agency designated to find electricians and skilled labor workers 4. Increase output with strategic planning 5. Create incentives to keep your electricians loyal to your company and the trade Taking these steps can help ensure you have a happily functioning work environment, where your electricians love the career they’re in. About Electrical License Renewal: Electrical License Renewal is a nationally approved online electrical license/ certificate renewal and electrical continuing education provider dedicated to its electricians. They are approved by the California Department of Industrial Relations to offer California Electrical Continuing Education Courses for California electricians’ certificate renewal. /January-February 2022 3Volume 66 - Number 1 January-February 2022 CONTENTS COST CASE STUDIES 17 INDUSTRY NEWS 3 Electrician Shortage 12 3-D Printed Homes 24 Award for Construction Documents Service 41 IBEW-NECA Apprenticeship Program 45 Lake Austin Residences 5 Digital Tech for Construction Industry 8 Connecting Preconstruction Data 20 STACK and Followup CRM 28 Autodesk Construction Cloud 33 Trimble Software & Spot ® the Robot 37 Predictive Analytics Improve Performance 41 ProjectReady Software Solution CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY ECONOMIC OUTLOOK 20 AGC Construction Economy 49 AGC’s Data Digest 50 Regional Rates for Northeastern Cities 51 BNi Building News Construction Costs 4 /January-February 2022 COVER CASE STUDY 30 9 33 34 CIVIC 17 Washington County Courthouse 21 Clark County 911 42 Delaware City DMV COMMERCIAL 30 Crabby’s Dockside EDUCATIONAL 38 Liberty Middle School 46 Springhill Elementary School MEDICAL 9 PrairieCare Medical Group 25 Stormont Vail Health OFFICE 13 2434 Property RECREATIONAL 34 Chris Cline Athletic Complex 25 38 PROJECT MANAGEMENT 16 Thermal Transfers vs. Net-Zero 24 Price Escalation 16 5 12I t’s hardly surprising that the construction industry repeatedly ranks as one of the least digitized in the world. In fact, it ranks just above agriculture and hunting in its levels of digitization, according to the McKinsey Global Institute industry digitization index. You can put this digital dissatisfaction down to multiple factors — risk aversion, lack of training, and complex platforms. But change is coming. Construction technology is booming. Spurred on by the increasing digital uptake over the last two years, the industry has quickly realized digital savvy is no longer nice to have, but a must-have. As you move into 2022, one resolution is clear: It’s time to lean into what construction technology can do for your construction business. Here’s why: 1. Pushing Forward is the “New Normal” The COVID-19 pandemic has been a digital accelerator. Over the past two years, all industries, including construction, have embraced new digital ways of working. Four Reasons to Embrace Digital Tech in 2022 Rachel Carey, Senior Communications and Content Executive, Asite /January-February 2022 5 Augmented reality overlays digital information and content onto the real world, and enhances visualization. Drones have proved to be a valuable tool for the construction industry. Digital devices became essential to connect virtually between the jobsite and the office, as remote working became more widespread. And technologies — BIM, digital twins, and cloud computing solutions — took off. In a recent Asite webinar, Niki Taylor, Lead Digital Engineer at Laing O’Rourke Australia, said the pandemic had “forced the masses to use what we would generally use day-to-day.” In this “new normal,” the traditional barriers preventing our industry’s digital uptake fell. Construction workers began to see the benefits of digital tools: easily accessible information, increased collaboration, and enhanced project visibility. As we enter 2022, the move to the new normal shows no signs of slowing down. This digital disruption within the construction ecosystem has reinforced how digital solutions are crucial to maintaining growth. If you haven’t already set plans in motion to embrace the new normal, it’s time to get your skates on. 2. Making Construction Attractive to Gen Z In 2020, there were nearly 11 million people employed in the construction industry in the U.S. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 1 million were younger than age 24. With up to two million potential new jobs up for grabs with the Infrastructure Bill, and Gen Z the most populous generation since the baby boomers, it’s time to ramp up these numbers and get Gen Z on board. Here, construction tech is going to play a huge role. Drones, modular construction, artificial intelligence, augmented reality/virtual reality, smartphone apps, tablets, and wearables are a big draw for Gen Z. Ultimately, tech outweighs traditional tools. Gen Z will want to grow with the continually innovating technological landscape. With the digital know-how engrained from birth, implementing construction technology on your project will help you attract the best up-and-coming talent to your team. 3. Improve the Industry’s Environmental Impact For the global construction industry, climate change and decarbonization are topics that hit close to home. In their construction and operation, buildings currently account for 38% — the largest share — of global energy- related carbon emissions. Pressure is being placed on the industry to not only build more sustainably but to improve existing structures. In April 2021, President Joe Biden increased the U.S. target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 50% − 52% from 2005 levels by 2030. And in his $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Bill, he committed to build, preserve, 6 /January-February 2022 and retrofit more than two million homes and commercial buildings. Tech will be instrumental in achieving these ambitious targets. Digital twins, BIM, and modular construction are all construction tech trends that can significantly impact the industry’s environmental output. Reducing the impact on the environment isn’t always easy, so implementing tech is a big step in the right direction. 4. Say Goodbye to Siloed Ways of Working, and Save Money Fragmented ways of working are unfortunately the norm in the construction industry. Maybe you’re using Excel to keep track of your bidding, email to manage your contracts, and your documents are all held in a shared folder on the project manager’s desktop. When chaos ensues, valuable information is lost and money wasted. Stop cobbling together data and information from several different sources. Instead, good construction software should automatically bring this information together in one secure system. With Project Portfolio Management (PPM) software, all stakeholders have access to project information within a centralized location. This single source of truth allows you to make informed decisions, reduce risk, increase collaboration, and avoid duplication. Good construction tech does the hard work for you. It should save you money and give you back time. In fact, according to McKinsey, when you increase digital uptake and implement construction technologies throughout the asset lifecycle, you could save from 4% to 6% on a typical project. This means no more wasting time digging for documents or inputting formulas into a colossal Excel spreadsheet. Don’t Get Left Behind Today’s construction industry is unrecognizable in comparison to where it was at the turn of the century. We’ve gone from being dependent on paper — carrying papers from the office to the jobsite and wading through A2 sheets to find the latest design — to now having an abundance of technology at our fingertips. According to USG and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 70% of contractors believe that advanced technologies can increase productivity (78%), improve schedule (75%), and enhance safety (79%). The construction industry is transforming before our eyes, with digital leading the charge. Those who don’t embrace what construction technology has to offer will risk getting left behind. Want to learn more about how smart technologies can help you unlock greater value across your projects? Download Asite’s free report, “Digital Engineering: Optimizing Construction's Digital Future.” About the Author: Rachel Carey is a Senior Communications and Content Executive at Asite, the leading digital transformation platform. Register Now! ASPE’s Estimating Academy e-learning courses. For more information visit - https://www.aspenational.org/page/EA Construction Materials and Processes Construction Procurement Methods Estimating and Bidding Fundamentals of Heavy Civil Estimating: Heavy Highway Introduction to Construction Estimating I Plan Reading for Estimating Cinder McDonald Certification@ASPEnational.org 615-347-0373 Courses dates for 2022: • February 21 - April 15 • May 2 - June 24 • July 11 - September 2 • September 19 - November 11COVER Photo Courtesy: John Mgnoski Publisher BARB CASTELLI (barb@dcd.com) Editor-in-Chief JOAN HAMILTON (joan@dcd.com) Editor BILL MAHONEY Estimating Consultant RORY WOOLSEY (rory@dcd.com) Art Director ROBERT WRIGHT (robert@dcd.com) Advisory Board JOHN L. JONES JR. VICE PRESIDENT ESTIMATING, SMOOT CONSTRUCTION HEADQUARTERS: Mailing Address: Advertising, editorial, administration, circulation, and production 990 Park Center Dr., Suite E Vista, CA 92081-8352 Tel: 800-533-5680 Fax: 888-533-5680 Advertising: 800-533-5680 STAFF From the Editor This issue of Design Cost Data focuses on construction software technology, and includes articles regarding new software that enables companies to work smarter in all areas. We’re also offering our tried-and-true square-foot studies of new buildings and renovation projects submitted by your peers. PrairieCare Medical Group, on page 9, is our cover story, and is one of these case studies. PrairieCare specializes in behavioral and mental health services and emphasizes treatment of children and adolescents. Although on a very tight timeframe, this project met its deadlines and the client’s expectations. The architect, HGA, was able to successfully achieve the desired combination of lightness and solidity. The building features neutral-toned metal flush and relief wall panels from Petersen, installed in a vertical arrangement that echoes the curtain wall’s mullions. The vertical metal panels are paired with horizontal courses of woodgrain-patterned aluminum panels in a bright terra cotta finish. Some other projects covered in this issue include: • A 911 communication center renovation and addition (page 21) that includes transforming the 3,600-square-foot kitchen and dining hall into a 20-person training and conference room; • A vision and some metal panels combining to revitalize a car dealership from a bygone era into office and retail space, piquing the curiosity of passersby (page 13); • An athletic complex that provides the perfect partnership of academics, sports medicine, and research (page 34); • The new 10,000-square-foot three-story restaurant on the beach with a third-floor dining area featuring cedar wood ceilings (page 30). All of these studies include square-foot prices for divisions, and regional cost trends to help you convert the total project cost to your area. Thank for choosing this issue of Design Cost Data. Please give us a call or email if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. We’d love to hear from you! Design Cost Data ™ Design Cost Data TM is published bimonthly by DC&D Technologies, a div. of BNi Publications, 990 Park Center Dr. Ste E, Vista CA, 92081, Phone: 800-533-5680. • Subscription rates: United States: $159.00 one year, $239.00 two years; Canada/Mexico: $179.80 one year. Microfilm copies are available from: Department F.A., University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. • ©2021, a div. of BNi Publications. This publication may not be reproduced, photocopied, stored in any electronic retrieval device, or transmitted by facsimile without the written permission of the publisher. 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It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a professional person should be sought. Statements of fact and opinion are made on the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. BNi nor Design Cost Data magazine do not guaranteed the accuracy, adequacy, or completeness of any published information and are not responsible for any errors or omissions therein or for the results obtained from the use of such information or for any damages resulting there from • Contributions of articles and pictures of interest to readers within the industry are welcome. Due recognition will be given to such contributors. However, publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. All unsolicited material should be accompanied by SASE. /January-February 2022 7W hat is global quantification? Quickly adding quantities to an estimate through a variety of ways, as well as pinpointing where those quantities come from, and doing so early and in one platform. Clear as mud? Let’s break down what global quantification actually is, why it is important in preconstruction, and how it helps construction companies. A Variety of Ways to Add Quantities and Pinpoint the Source Being able to add quantities to a construction estimate through various channels gives estimators greater flexibility. Whether quantities are added through manual entry, 2D takeoff, 3D takeoff, and/or from a template, being able to choose the best route helps speed up the preconstruction process. However, if there is not a clear tracking mechanism for where each quantity came from, then when it comes time to modify a cost item, the estimator can waste precious time searching for the source of the quantity. Being able to pinpoint the quantity source helps the estimator make decisions on whether the initial assumptions are correct. Quantity source is one of the benefits of global quantification. When one construction estimating software platform supports the ability for an estimator to add quantities from any source, they can quickly build the estimate. Then being able to track the source of each cost item and being able to edit and adjust an estimate on the fly means more confidence in the final number given to a project owner. Why is Global Quantification Important? Preconstruction is notoriously under deadline for every project. That’s why detail-oriented adrenaline junkies resonate with preconstruction careers. However, just because deadlines are hectic doesn’t mean we can’t improve the processes that lead us to those deadlines. Plus, we might as well make the detail-oriented piece of the equation more accurate through the use of technology. Being able to dissect, edit, and manage estimating data in one platform provides estimators more insight into their projects. Global quantification ensures the data is fully connected. Preconstruction professionals are accustomed to using multiple tools to get an estimate out the door. But when the estimate needs to be deciphered by Uniformat or sub- structure, for example, the hassle of jumping between software platforms causes havoc and headaches. When the connectivity of global quantification resides in one unified software, the data clarity becomes apparent. The end result is less stress and less jumping through hoops to answer project questions. Being 100% certain of where a cost item originated from seemed like a pipe dream a couple of years ago. However, global quantification has made this a reality. Data source is just as paramount as the data itself. Being confident in the source of project information and tracking it back to previous project iterations allows estimators to see adjustments over time and give insight on whether future changes are needed. Because data can be traced back and the source is known, preconstruction professionals are lowering project risk in real- time. This can only be done with global quantification as the backbone of construction estimating software. When project risk is lowered, the offset is that a construction company’s profit margins can increase — simply by being more confident in the data presented during project stakeholder meetings and being able to recognize any trouble spots along the way. This all leads to speeding up the overall time to complete Global Quantification: Connecting Preconstruction Data By Julie Huval, FSMPS, CPSM, Head of Marketing, Beck Technology 8 /January-February 2022 an estimate. Through global quantification, estimates can be created, modified, and delivered within a deadline while also allowing preconstruction professionals more time to provide high-value activities. Those activities can include a detailed inspection of project assumptions, reviewing various construction scenarios, and working closely with subcontractors during the planning phase. How Does Global Quantification Help Preconstruction? Time to finish an estimate is at the forefront of global quantification; being able to go from “no estimate” to “complete” is more accurate and sped up. When construction estimates are more accurate, the likelihood of winning projects improves. And when the speed at which an estimate is produced is increased, then that means a construction company can go after and submit for more projects or help out in other project pursuit areas of the business. Global quantification is not only helping the individual estimator to complete an estimate, it is also improving the win rate of the construction company. Tracking quantities throughout the estimate process is a given. A unified estimating software that has global quantification as part of its structural foundation means it is always working in each corner of the platform. Estimators don’t have to toggle on a setting to track data between versions or when completing takeoff. The software automatically tracks the bread crumbs from one data point to another data point. When preconstruction technology is already anticipating what you need to access in two days at a big project meeting, and provides you fingertip access to that information, that’s a big bonus for global quantification. In addition, reassuring estimators that their data is correct will lead to more project pursuits and wins. Global quantification is the stamp of approval that says, “Yes, this information is the best it can be,” and allows an estimator to feel they’ve accomplished a job well done. The worst feeling an estimator can have is when they work on an estimate and nothing pans out, or, even scarier, the company wins the project and the estimate is way off base — costing the company or customer money. (Hint: No one likes an upset employer or customer.) Global quantification changes the rate at which construction projects are won, and gives a boost of self-confidence to preconstruction professionals who feel first-hand the project owner’s decision. Summary of Global Quantification Global quantification is improving how preconstruction is done today and in the future. Finally being able to add cost quantities to a construction estimate through a variety of channels, while also being able to trace where a specific quantity came from, is a game-changer. Using a unified cost and global quantification platform is part time-saving machine and part data mining team member. The extensive benefits of global quantification go beyond the preconstruction function of a construction company, and also improve the bottom line. Estimates with greater accuracy, pursuing more projects, having confidence behind the numbers, and being able to point to the source of information is here, thanks to global quantification. About Beck Technology: For over 25 years, Beck has served the construction industry by applying technology to the preconstruction process. For more information, see www. beck-technology.com.The softness and warmth of wood is deployed against a palette of neutral grays to pro- mote wayfinding and emphasize spaces of repose. Photos Courtesy of John Mgnoski Architect HGA PrairieCare Medical Group/Behavioral Health Rochester, Minnesota P rairieCare Medical Group isn’t your ordinary medical practice: The Minnesota organization specializes in behavioral and mental health services, with an emphasis on children and adolescents. It opened its 10th facility in Rochester, Minnesota in late 2019, with a design that’s equally unique. A primary emphasis is on providing plentiful natural daylight, is made evident from the front façade’s extensive glazing. To frame the glazing and add some calming counterpoint to that elevation’s pattern and color, designers opted for neutral- toned metal flush and relief wall panels installed in a vertical arrangement that echoes the curtain wall’s mullions. This combination of lightness and solidity was on the minds of the project’s architects from the beginning. “Throughout the design process, one of our challenges was trying to strike the balance between the need for a safe and secure facility for patients and staff, while providing a welcoming, comfortable environment that promotes healing and well-being,” explains Seth Behrends, AIA, project architect and senior associate with the Minneapolis office of the building’s design firm, HGA. He adds that PrairieCare is on the leading edge in terms of behavioral health and there really isn't a historical model that meets their spacial needs. This, in turn, fostered a collaborative back-and-forth with the client to develop a truly custom design solution to best support their practice. The vertical metal panels are paired with horizontal courses of woodgrain- patterned aluminum panels in a bright terra cotta finish to highlight the two front entrances, with fiber cement panels, also installed horizontally, in a mixed pattern of neutral grays and creams between the two doorways. “We wanted to give the impression of a contemporary, warm, welcoming facility — that it wasn’t a A primary emphasis on providing plentiful natural daylight is made evident from the front façade’s extensive glazing. /January-February 2022 9 building trapped in a historic typology,” Behrends says. For the vertical panels, HGA opted for Petersen’s Flush and Reveal Wall Panels, in both 7- and 11-inch widths. The .032-gauge aluminum panels were installed in a double-height arrangement and feature a Weathered Zinc finish. This variety was intended to add visual depth and eliminate any feeling of flatness or thinness. “We ran through a series of studies Next >