< PreviousDIVISION COST % OF SQ.FT. SPECIFICATIONS COST COST PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS 5,000 0.12 0.10 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 34,103 0.84 0.70 — CONCRETE 101,375 2.50 2.09 Forming & accessories, reinforcing, precast. MASONRY 85,660 2.11 1.76 Unit. METALS 28,000 0.70 0.58 Structural metal framing. WOOD, PLASTICS & COMPOSITES 50,000 1.23 1.03 Rough carpentry, finish carpentry. THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION 856,828 21.10 17.63 Thermal protection, weather barriers, roofing & siding panels, membrane roofing, flashing & sheet metal, fire & smoke protection, joint protection. OPENINGS 195,000 4.80 4.01 Doors, frames, entrances, storefronts & curtain walls, roof windows & skylights, hardware, glazing, louvers & vents. FINISHES 237,640 5.85 4.89 Plaster & gypsum board, tiling, ceilings, flooring, acoustic treatment, painting & coating. SPECIALITIES 125,111 3.08 2.57 Interior. SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION 1,412,546 34.79 29.06 Ice rink, telescoping bleachers. FIRE SUPPRESSION 53,200 1.31 1.09 Fire-extinguishing systems, fire pumps. PLUMBING 505,698 12.46 10.41 Piping & pumps, equipment, fixtures. HVAC — — — Included in Plumbing. Piping & pumps, air distribution, central heating, central cooling, central HVAC. ELECTRICAL 369,883 9.11 7.62 Lighting. TOTAL BUILDING COSTS 4,060,044 100% $83.54 EXISTING CONDITIONS 45,000 Demolition. EARTHWORK 160,985 Earthwork methods. TOTAL PROJECT COST 4,266,029 UPDATED ESTIMATE TO DECEMBER 2022: $128.44 PER SQUARE FOOT Regional Cost Trends This project, updated to December 2022 in the selected cities of the United States. Architect JLG Architects 710 S. Second Street, 8th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401 www.jlgarchitects.com White Bear Lake Sports Center RECREATIONAL RC221108 Project General Description Location: White Bear Lake, Minnesota Date Bid: Apr 2018 Construction Period: Apr 2018 to Aug 2018 Site: 20 acres. Total Square Feet: 48,600 Building Size: First floor, 48,600; total 48,600 square feet. Building Height: Floor to floor, 10'; total, 36'. Number of Buildings: One. Basic Construction Type: Renovation/IIB. Foundation: Cast-in-place. Project Team Structural Engineer Heyer Engineering 1020 36th Street, SW, Fargo, ND 58103 Mechanical Engineer CMTA 1331 Tyler Street NE, Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Electrical Engineer CMTA 1331 Tyler Street NE, Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN 55413 General Contractor & Cost Estimator Kraus-Anderson 501 S. 8th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404 Civil Engineer CMTA 1331 Tyler Street NE, Suite 201, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Ice & Refrigeration Engineer Stevens Engineering 211 O’Neil Road, Hudson, WI 54016 EASTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Atlanta, GA $86.93 $4,224,640 Pittsburgh, PA $123.05 $5,980,335 New York, NY $169.34 $8,229,819 WESTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Los Angeles, CA $143.37 $6,967,913 Las Vegas, NV $137.73 $6,693,586 Seattle, WA $126.44 $6,144,931 CENTRAL U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Dallas, TX $83.54 $4,060,044 Kansas City, KS $119.67 $5,815,739 Chicago, IL $153.53 $7,461,702 For more information on this project and similar projects visit www.dcd.com Exterior Walls: CMU, metal panels. Roof: Metal. Floors: Concrete. Interior Walls: CMU. 10 /November-December 2022/November-December 2022 11 I n the race to reach net zero by 2050, the real estate sector will need to reduce emissions up to 50% by 2030. Those responsible for development face a choice: to deliver new, net-zero carbon buildings now, or wait until forced to do so by regulations and market demands. Forward-thinking investors and developers are already seeing how the landscape is changing, responding to tenant and user trends, and looking for opportunities to deliver environmental and social benefits in ways that provide a commercially attractive return and save money in the long term. Government and regulatory agencies are also keeping pace with the demand and the urgency of the sustainability challenge, taking both a carrot and stick approach to sustainable construction and operations. Project teams have a unique opportunity and responsibility to challenge and change perceptions around the cost of sustainable development, and some solutions may be simpler than you think. New Construction: Can a Sustainable Approach Save You Money? 6 things to think about before, during and after construction By Stephen Silverstein, Principal and Managing Director, U.S. Studio, Project & Construction Management and Tracey Kasper, LEED AP, NCIDQ, Principal, Project Management All Together Now Define a robust “Project Charter” to capture the project goals and objectives, including how to reach the sustainability values desired with the best method to deliver on time and on budget. Assemble a team that is sensitive to the project goals and is collaborative in nature, focusing on intentional innovation to achieve sustainable outcomes and open communication channels. Secure regulatory and municipal participation for the project by identifying and engaging key stakeholders. Identify the right vendors and partners who align with the sustainable objectives and have proven track records in delivery. Think about state and federal incentives and communicate them early in the process to take advantage of any cost savings or rebates. Soak Up the Sun Position your building on site to maximize daylight and P hoto is courtesy of Avison Young.12 /November-December 2022 provide seasonal shading for that geographical location. This can save you money and lower energy costs by: • Reducing the size and cost of mechanical systems to meet heating and cooling requirements • Reducing glare and improving the quality of light while reducing the number of fixtures required to meet artificial lighting requirements Build energy efficient buildings — and not just for cold climates. Solutions like incorporating white roofs to reflect heat, dynamic glazing to provide shade, and incorporating building envelopes into designs that enhance thermal comfort in warmer locations to reduce cooling loads. Seek out regional opportunities and features like local plant species which can be cost-neutral, create a pleasing long lasting green space with reduced maintenance costs over time, reduce water use, and help manage storm water. Plan for possible weather events. If your site is at risk for flooding, consider simple landscaping details that allow for on-site water retention away from your building (also called bioswales). This approach employs vegetation and intentional site grading and retention ponds to manage storm water and directs it away from buildings and into green spaces and stormwater drains. Waste Not Reduce project costs through efficient project and site logistics. Right-size material orders to reduce material damage prior to install and reduce offcut waste, all while lowering the initial capital investment and cost of recycling and waste disposal. Consider ordering materials with less packaging to reduce additional recycling bins and waste management costs. Be creative and reuse/repurpose existing materials. Support locally sourced products to reduce transportation costs and associated carbon emissions. Prioritize fast-growing, wood and fiber board options that are third-party-certified to support well-managed forest principals. Powering Toward Net-Zero Require Energy Star-certified equipment. Get paid to go green: check out renewable power partners to reduce the up-front cost and leverage state and federal incentives. Consider Smart Buildings Technologies for more efficient operations, improved space utilization, excellent occupant health and data-informed continuous improvement opportunities. Get advice on energy-efficient HVAC designs: The MEP engineer is a key partner to provide the best options for consideration, like economizers, energy recovery ventilation and demand control ventilation. Projects that use any combustion for space heating or hot water should consider alternatives and prepare a zero- carbon transition plan. Making Places for People Buildings play a central role in the surrounding neighborhoods and help advance the economic, environmental, and social well-being of our communities. Invest where it counts. There is a greater element of belief that investment in making communities and cities sustainable will pay dividends for generations to come. The desire for sustainable places to live and work are in demand. What is your story to attract trades for construction and align with future occupant needs? Actively engage local communities: • Invite input to the project • Virtual forums make this more accessible than ever • Engage local labor • Don’t just take up space, provide spaces to share with the community. Be a good neighbor: Identify and alleviate any negative impacts to the community during construction, like prioritizing low-noise equipment and enhanced dust control. Consider walkability, bike access, and connectivity to public transit, providing various transportation options to reduce future traffic burdens. Leave Nothing but (Small) Carbon Footprints Roughly 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2050 have already been constructed. This represents a risk, but also presents an opportunity for mass retrofit and regeneration. After benchmarking your current footprint, agree to a carbon reduction goal and evaluate the strategies to get there: • Design: Concrete, aluminium, steel, glass, and foam insulation are often the highest in “embodied carbon.” Smart designers are having great success with low embodied carbon alternatives. Introduce these options early in the design process. • Construction: Before a building even turns the lights on and opens its doors there has already been significant on-site carbon emitted throughout construction. Many construction companies are tracking the emissions related to the electricity and fuel used on-site. Ask your construction partners if this is possible before making your final selection. • Occupancy: Engaging with tenants to understand how the building will be used is a key piece to ensure the long-term optimization of building systems. Insights from tenant surveys, real time smart systems coupled with occupancy sensors can empower building managers to make informed, actionable decisions to further reduce a building’s energy use. The road to sustainability doesn’t have to be daunting! As more companies, governments, and individuals recognize the value in mitigating the global climate crisis, things are getting easier. Solutions are becoming more accessible and cost effective and the needle is moving from a nice-to- have to must-have. Here are a few key takeaways: 1. There is a revolution in new materials, systems, and technologies to meet ambitious goals of stakeholders in reducing energy consumption, carbon footprint, and waste in the built environment. 2. Your consulting partners have the experience to lead the process and to provide effective solutions. 3. Regulatory and code requirements continue to demand better performance to help us all achieve better environments, the more you learn the more competitive you’ll be. We are on this journey together. Collaboration at all stages of the real estate lifecycle is increasingly important if we are to demonstrate impactful progress for both people and the planet and reach our net-zero goals. For more information, visit www.avisonyoung.us/November-December 2022 13 Virtual Reality Simulations Address Electrical Construction Skills Shortage T ransfr, a skills training platform best known for pioneering the use of virtual reality to simulate on-the-job training, announced the launch of a new package of simulations that harness the power of virtual and augmented reality to help organizations of all kinds create pathways to careers in electrical construction. The virtual reality simulations are designed to equip learners with the foundational knowledge and skills to prepare them for apprenticeships and jobs in the fast-growing electrical construction industry. The latest collection of simulations was built in collaboration with TRIO Electric, a Houston, Texas-based electrical design, construction and service firm that has been using the simulations as part of their own workforce training programs. “The COVID-19 pandemic spurred us to think creatively about how we can train the next generation of electrical construction workers in a scalable and cost-effective way,” explained Beau Pollock, president and CEO of TRIO Electric. He added, “Finding electrical instructors is difficult and time- consuming, and training requires us to use the same materials that technicians use on the job. The virtual simulations not only offer learners real-world experience and hands-on practice before they go into the field, they also help us to conserve resources in the process.” According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, electrical construction represents a $202 billion industry that provides Americans with power, light, and communication technologies, employing more than 650,000 workers. Demand for electricians is expected to grow by 9% through 2030, with an average of 84,700 openings for electricians each year, on average, over the decade. The median annual wage for an electrician is more than $60,000 — a well-paying career path that does not require a four-year degree. The simulations are being used by high school and community college students as well as adults looking for careers and apprenticeships in electrical construction. Students cover key topics such as workplace safety, material and tool recognition and usage, wall rough-in, overhead box installation, wire pulling, conduit bending, and other foundational skills required to become a trained, productive and safe electrical worker. Delivered in concert with employers, colleges, and workforce development organizations, these simulations enable learners to feel as though they are embedded in the physical environment and experience of an actual worksite. Transfr’s innovative approach guides trainees through hands- on skills sessions with the assistance of a digital coach that adapts to their performance, all in a fully-immersive, 360-degree environment that is distraction-free and safe from many of the risks of traditional electrical construction learning. “To keep pace with the complex demands of the electrical industry, employers are in search of new and creative ways to develop the skilled workforce that this dynamic industry demands — and meet our country’s light, power, and connectivity needs,” commented Bharani Rajakumar, CEO of Transfr. “This is about harnessing the potential of virtual and augmented reality to help more aspiring trades people not only learn about careers in electrical work but gain the invaluable on-the-job experience they need to launch their careers.” The electrical construction simulations are the latest addition to a series of fully immersive training modules from Transfr, in fields that include some of the country’s fastest growing jobs and industries. To date, more than 10,000 incumbent workers, job-seekers, and students have already accessed the company’s virtual reality simulations. To learn more about using virtual reality to train for careers in electrical construction, visit www.transfrinc.com/ec. Photo courtesy of pixabay14 /November-December 2022 Photos Courtesy Jeri Jones Photography General Contractor & Cost Estimator Staples Construction Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank Thousand Oaks, California T he Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank, founded in 1971, is an organization that provides food assistance within the Conejo Valley of Southern California. Originally situated in a small house measuring just 700 square feet, the organization subsists mainly off private donations and funding. As the needs of the community have grown throughout the years, Manna was in desperate need of more space and upgraded facilities to meet a growing demand for services. A new site was ultimately selected that included an existing church originally built in the 1940s. With help from the City of Thousand Oaks and other municipalities, a design team was assembled to strategically plan a facility that maximized efficiency, and construction began in June of 2021. The project included salvaging/renovating part of the existing church structure and adding a new warehouse and pantry facility to better suit Manna’s needs for administrative offices, a food pantry, and much needed added storage. The remodel and addition provided 7,076 square feet of space to be utilized as a food pantry — including a basement for storage. The facility Manna serves over 20,000 people annually, and that number continues to grow. A new site was selected that included an existing church originally built in the 1940s. os Courtesy Jeri Jones Photography Stucco: Omega Membrane Roofing: Sika; Shingles: Certainteed Entrances & Storefronts: Arcadia Windows: Milgard Flooring: Mannington Commercial Lifts: McKinley Lighting: Lithonia, Juno, Isolite, Tech, Ecosense Product Information features new mechanical equipment, electrical service, accessible restrooms, and a service ramp. A new material lift was installed in the storage area to enable easy transport of food from the basement to the food pantry above it. Exterior improvements included a new courtyard, landscaping, parking lot, and sidewalks. One of the most unique differentiators of Manna’s system is the integration of a “grocery store” style experience for its patrons — allowing them to pick what items best suit their family and lifestyle. Refrigerators and freezers with glass doors were put in for fresh and frozen food options, along with aisles that allow families to come in and walk the space together, selecting what they need. This space is stocked by volunteers of the organization and is open every Tuesday and Thursday to serve the community. At the grand opening of the new facility, Manna President Darin Arrasmith and Executive Director Leanne Portzel emphasized the importance of a building that was constructed to serve the needs of the organization, rather than inhabiting a space built with another purpose in mind. “We wanted this building to be around for a long time. It was built for one use, The pantry features a “grocery store” style experience for its patrons. 7,076 square feet of space is utilized as a food pantry. /November-December 2022 15 and it will always be here for that use,” Arrasmith states. Edgar Thatcher, Facilities Manager, was quick to thank the project team and the “army of volunteers” who support Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank each and every day. Today, Manna serves over 20,000 people annually, and that number continues to grow. Construction of the facility was a collaborative process of all stakeholders sharing a common goal to take care of those in the community who need it most. Staples Construction is proud to have been part of this overall effort. A new material lift was installed in the basement storage area.DIVISION COST % OF SQ.FT. SPECIFICATIONS COST COST PROCUREMENT & CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS 29,394 1.45 4.16 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 539,477 26.53 76.37 — CONCRETE 252,054 12.40 35.68 Cast-in-place. MASONRY 132,545 6.52 18.76 Unit. METALS 120,149 5.91 17.01 Structural metal framing, joists, decking. WOOD, PLASTICS & COMPOSITES 191,331 9.41 27.09 Rough carpentry, finish carpentry, architectural woodwork. THERMAL & MOISTURE PROTECTION 151,425 7.45 21.44 Dampproofing & waterproofing, thermal protection, steep slope roofing, membrane roofing, flashing & sheet metal, roof & wall specialties & accessories, joint protection. OPENINGS 64,670 3.18 9.15 Doors frames, specialty doors & frames, windows, hardware. FINISHES 156,784 7.71 22.19 Plaster & gypsum board, ceilings, flooring, wall finishes, acoustic treatment, painting & coating. SPECIALTIES 39,344 1.94 5.57 Information, interior, exterior. CONVEYING SYSTEMS 113,000 5.56 16.00 Lifts. FIRE SUPPRESSION 25,582 1.26 3.62 Water-based fire-suppression systems. PLUMBING 79,250 3.90 11.22 Piping & pumps, equipment, fixtures. HVAC 59,016 2.90 8.35 Air distribution, central heating, central cooling. ELECTRICAL 79,085 3.88 11.20 Medium-voltage distribution, lighting. TOTAL BUILDING COSTS 2,033,106 100% $287.81 EXISTING CONDITIONS 48,865 Demolition & structure moving. EARTHWORK 155,459 Site clearing, earth moving. EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS 189,103 Bases, bollards & paving, site improvements, planting. UTILITIES 34,536 TOTAL PROJECT COST 2,461,069 UPDATED ESTIMATE TO DECEMBER 2022: $397.64 PER SQUARE FOOT Regional Cost Trends This project, updated to December 2022 in the selected cities of the United States. General Contractor & Cost Estimator Staples Construction 1501 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003 Project Team Manna Conejo Valley Food BankCIVIC CV221114 Project General Description Location: Thousand Oaks, California Date Bid: Oct 2020 Construction Period: Jun 2021 to Jul 2022 Site: 0.33 acre. Total Square Feet: 7,064 Building Sizes: Basement, 1,731; first floor, 4,038; second floor, 1,295; total 7,064 square feet. Building Height: Basement, 10'9"; first floor, 9'; second floor, 23'10"; total, 42'7". Number of Buildings: One. Architect Lauterbach & Associates 300 Montgomery Avenue, Suite C, Oxnard, CA 93036 Structural Engineer Vinci & Associates 175 E. Wilbur Road, Suite 103, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Electrical Engineer JMPE Electrical Engineering 627 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Mechanical Engineer Jaycocal Engineering 232 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 217, Pasadena, CA 91101 Civil Engineer Delane Engineering 2812 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 206, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Basic Construction Type: Addition/Renovation. Foundation: Cast-in-place, reinforced concrete, slab-on-grade. Exterior Walls: CMU, wood frame/stucco. Roof: Asphalt shingle, membrane. Floors: Concrete, wood. Interior Walls: CMU, wood stud drywall, metal stud drywall. EASTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Atlanta, GA $235.52 $1,663,731 Pittsburgh, PA $333.40 $2,355,152 New York, NY $458.81 $3,241,034 WESTERN U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Los Angeles, CA $388.46 $2,744,076 Las Vegas, NV $373.17 $2,636,041 Seattle, WA $342.58 $2,419,972 CENTRAL U.S. Sq.Ft. Total Cost Cost ________________________________________________ Dallas, TX $226.35 $1,598,910 Kansas City, KS $324.23 $2,290,331 Chicago, IL $415.99 $2,938,538 For more information on this project and similar projects visit www.dcd.com 16 /November-December 2022T he Home Depot Foundation’s Path to Pro program and trades-focused partnerships have trained more than 29,000 participants and introduced more than 126,000 people to the skilled trades, surpassing its commitment to train 20,000 people six years ahead of schedule. To continue expanding no-cost training opportunities to youth, high school students, underserved communities, and separating U.S. military service members, The Home Depot Foundation is granting an additional $3.7 million to its industry- leading partners, Home Builders Institute (HBI), Construction Ready, and SkillPointe Foundation. The incremental funding will support growth of youth programming with 100 Black Men of America, develop an additional academy program in Houston, and add $300,000 in trades school scholarships, among other enhancements. “Through its extraordinary commitment, The Home Depot Foundation is maximizing the impact of training and workforce development on thousands of lives,” announced Ed Brady, HBI president and CEO. “Together we are building the emerging generation of skilled workers in the construction trades.” The Path to Pro trades training program launched in 2018 with a $50 million commitment to train 20,000 skilled tradespeople, diversify the trades industry, and address the then 150,000 open construction roles across the country. Since inception, Path to Pro has made impactful expansions to increase equitable training and careers opportunities and address the more than 400,000 open skilled trades jobs today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each year, the Path to Pro military program provides nearly Home Depot’s Path to Pro Program More than 29,000 skilled tradespeople have been trained in four years, exceeding the initial goal 1,200 exiting service members with industry-recognized pre- apprenticeship certification (PACT) through 10 U.S. military bases. The Path to Pro high school and youth program offers curriculum and hands-on training to students in more than 270 schools across 33 states. The Path to Pro academy program offers training and certification for diverse adult populations, and academies in Denver and Orlando have successfully trained more than 600 students. Through the Path to Pro scholarship program, more than 125 scholarships have been awarded to students pursuing a trade college or postsecondary program, nationwide. “We’re thrilled to have surpassed our initial goal early and we’re just getting started,” declared Shannon Gerber executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “There’s still a great need for skilled tradespeople, and we’ll continue to invest in the innovative programs that our best-in-class partners have created.” About The Home Depot Foundation: The Home Depot Foundation, the nonprofit arm of The Home Depot, works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, support communities impacted by natural disasters, and train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap. Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $400 million in veteran causes and improved more than 50,000 veteran homes and facilities. The Foundation has pledged to invest half of a billion dollars in veteran causes by 2025 and $50 million in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople through the Path to Pro program. To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation, visit HomeDepotFoundation.org. /November-December 2022 17O ver the last few years, the phrase has gone from platitude to a pressing issue, with the UN’s 2021 report on climate change solidifying it as one of the industry’s most fundamental challenges. Compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the report found that the target to limit global warming to 1.5C within 20 years will be missed. It stated climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying, with some trends now irreversible. The UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, referred to the findings as a “code red for humanity.” No matter where you call home, climate change and decarbonization are topics that hit close to home for the construction industry. In their construction and operation, buildings currently account for 38% — the largest share — of global energy-related carbon emissions. Growing Mandate for Change From Dubai to London to New York City, there has been a worldwide push to implement proactive and reactive measures to meet energy-saving targets to combat this issue. Here in the U.S., President Joe Biden has increased the target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 50% — 52% from 2005 levels by 2030. His $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill plans to build, preserve, and retrofit more than two million homes and commercial buildings. At the same time, the Build Back Better Framework seeks to put the U.S. on course to meet its climate goals. Meanwhile, global leaders have made it clear: if everyone doesn’t embrace and adopt new ways of working quickly, the damage done to the planet will soon be irreversible. So, how does the construction industry change its ways? If you’re a roofer in Florida or a drywall hanger in San Francisco, it may seem overwhelming. One thing is clear: digital technologies are becoming the most common answer. What is Smart Construction? In the UK, the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) is a bridge between government and industry organizations. They promote smart construction as “building design, construction, and operation that through collaborative partnerships makes full use of digital technologies and industrialized manufacturing techniques to improve productivity, minimize whole life cost, improve sustainability, and maximize user benefits.” 18 /November-December 2022 They say smart construction solutions are plentiful and include: Digital twins — touted as the answer to mitigate the crisis. Already adopted globally, with governments building digital twins of entire cities, the innovative tech helps make decisions with predictive technology built into assets. It allows asset owners or managers to assess its previous, existing, and future energy outputs and, in turn, enables them to optimize the asset in the future. Here, asset managers can target the areas performing poorly and improve their environmental output. For example, CKE Restaurants Holdings have been using digital twin technology to amplify productivity in its Carl’s Jr & Hardee’s restaurants. Restaurant floors and kitchens were digitized, permitting the company to test various configurations that would help to decrease employee traffic & improve the environment for customers. Building Information Modeling (BIM) — a foundation for a more collaborative and digital-enabled industry, BIM has been the catalyst for change. BIM is a “digital representation of a physical building or infrastructure asset”. A collaborative way of working underpinned by digital technologies, BIM facilitates design, construction, and operation processes and helps you make better decisions. For example, the $450 million St. Louis Aquarium located inside the St. Louis Union Station used 3D BIM to pre-coordinate all structure, building systems, and theming elements prior to fabrication and installation. Modular Construction—a prime example of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) that has long been associated with offsite construction, i.e., moving construction of new homes from onsite to a factory setting. Modular homes have several advantages: the two primary ones being that they can be built faster and cheaper than traditional homes and they produce less waste. Homes can be made entirely offsite, or prefabricated components can be developed for walls, floors, and roofs. For example, a hospital emergency room wing in New York — Good Samaritan Hospital — was completed three weeks ahead of schedule during the pandemic using modular, off-site construction methods. Solutions like these bring many benefits to a project and organization, including increased quality, reduced whole life P hoto courtesy of Pixabay Why Smart Construction is the Key to a Sustainable Future Rachel Carey, Senior Digital Content Marketer, Asite Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword for the construction industry /November-December 2022 19 building costs, and better environmental performance. Many of these modern methods accelerate project timelines, boost productivity, reduce waste, avoid weather issues, and minimize pollution and disruption. However, some kinks need to be ironed out before smart construction becomes mainstream. Overcoming Barriers to Digital Tools Smart construction will play a vital role in the climate battle that is to come. But to be battle-ready and make the most of what smart construction offers, we first need to understand, organize, and structure our data. This will allow us to collaborate more effectively across our projects. Unfortunately, age-old industry issues stand in the way of the industry being able to embrace what digital technology has to offer — silos, fragmented ways of working, and insufficient knowledge transfer. A single construction project involves countless stakeholders — asset owners, project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors, and material suppliers — all from varying disciplines contributing work and deliverables in various formats. This produces a vast amount of data and information, often unstructured, uncoordinated, and inaccessible. The notoriously fragmented nature of the industry also means that data and insights learned from one project to the next are routinely left by the wayside. This impacts your bottom line, steals valuable time, increases risk, and hampers decision-making. By digitizing processes, the industry can begin to take steps in the right direction. But what does this mean? Preparing for a Sustainable Future with Digitization Embracing digital technologies allows you to aggregate information and gives you complete visibility over your projects. With optimization being a key driver of sustainability, this is key. Not only can digital platforms introduce standardization to a project, but they can also help you enable benchmarking and boost collaboration — a key factor the construction industry is sorely lacking. Here, you are missing out on collective learning from your colleagues and counterparts with the same experiences, practices, and problems as you. Climate change is a global issue that requires a global response, and the only way we can achieve that is through enhanced collaboration. Again, it’s smart construction to the rescue. Information and data can be seamlessly transferred using digital technology solutions, meaning projects can better integrate and collaborate. For example, we can pull and push from different platforms by hosting all data within a single, secure location. This means saying goodbye to replicating efforts and hello to considerable time and resource savings. Once this is achieved, you can begin to build a more sustainable future — saving money, time, and the planet. Discover how construction technology can help you and your organization meet sustainability goals and unlock value across your projects. Find out how Asite can help. About the Author: Rachel Carey is a Senior Digital Content Marketer at Asite, the leading digital transformation platform. Over 9 Million Pounds of Waste Recycled at DaVinci ® Roofscapes D uring the past 10 years, DaVinci Roofscapes, a division of Westlake Royal Building Products™, has reprocessed more than 9,200,000 pounds of polymer scrap materials. The composite roofing manufacturer’s operations successfully recycled 1,146,902 pounds of polymer waste in 2021. “Each year around Earth Day we calculate these numbers to showcase our dedication to net zero landfill scrap,” says Mark Pagel, general manager at DaVinci Roofscapes in Lenexa, Kansas. “This is the fifth consecutive year we’ve achieved this status. The 1.1+ million pounds of scrap reprocessed in 2021 went into starter shingles and other pieces. “We’re excited that our Process Engineering team has developed new methods and tooling that can use reprocessed scrap material in solid accessory parts,” Pagel added. “Through an injection process, reprocessed scrap now goes into the unseen underside of the cavity of some accessory parts. This is just one way our team is working to keep waste product out of landfills.” Zero Waste a Top Goal At DaVinci, every pound of scrap generated by the company’s expansive manufacturing operations goes into repurposed product. Green initiatives are always being enhanced to assure scrap from making roofing tiles is recycled back into the company’s manufacturing operations. “We make our composite roofing and siding tiles with virgin polymers,” Pagel explained. “We make our products in dozens of colors and color blends. When we switch from one color to another, there’s a natural transitioning period between the colors. Those transition tiles are ‘off spec’ and cannot be used, so we recycle them.” Pagel relates that the transition tiles are carefully pulled off the product line and segregated into specifically-colored scrap bins by employees. The tiles are then ground up and repurposed into starter tiles, which are generally not seen on a roof. In the past year, the re-ground product has also been used in the underside of the cavity on solid accessory parts, where virgin resins are used on the top visible portion of the product. Meeting the Test of Time DaVinci slate and shake tiles are made of virgin resins, UV and thermal stabilizers. A highly-specialized fire retardant is added to the mix, making them fire-resistant. DaVinci products are warranted to last for decades on homes and commercial projects. However, after their lifespan, they are also 100 percent recyclable. Made for authentic beauty and low maintenance, all DaVinci products resist splitting, cracking, curling, and fading. Each tile has been crafted to resist high winds, mold, algae, fungus, and insects. All DaVinci composite products are Class A fire and Class 4 impact rated. They are certified by ASTM D 3161to straight line winds up to 110 mph and hurricane high velocity winds up to 180 mph. DaVinci products meet the code restrictions for use by Miami-Dade County, FL NOA, HVHZ (TAS 125, up to 180 mph), CA Title 24, Texas Dept. of Insurance, WUI 4175 and CCMC14094-R. Manufactured at the DaVinci Roofscapes facility in Kansas, the composite shake siding and roofing tiles are made with color throughout each piece and require no painting. The composite tiles serve as an environmentally-friendly alternative to real wood shakes, natural slate tiles and plastic siding. About Westlake Royal Building Products: Westlake Royal Building Products USA Inc., a Westlake company, is a leader throughout North America in the innovation, design, and production of a broad and diverse range of exterior and interior building products, including Siding and Accessories, Trim and Moulding, Roofing, Stone, Windows and Outdoor Living. For more information, please visit WestlakeRoyalBuildingProducts. com and DaVinci Roofscapes. Next >