Together We Excel: 4 Benefits of Building Alliances with Architects

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By Lloyd Schoen Builders and architects rely on each other’s expertise to translate design concepts into completed spaces that serve the needs of their owners and occupants. Yet, despite the built-in synergies between design teams and construction teams, the relationship isn’t always a cohesive or collaborative one. Too often, it can deteriorate into an adversarial partnership that’s focused more on protecting each team’s self-interests than on meeting the client’s goals. In this scenario, no one wins. As a superintendent with more than a decade of field experience, I’ve learned practical lessons about the importance of building strong alliances with architects … Read more

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Interior Construction Site Separation of Waste

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4 best practices from the field when pursuing LEED certification By Michael Orbank As the climate crisis worsens, the impacts of traditional construction and demolition waste disposal have begun to stick out like a dirty, sore thumb. Historically accepted commingled C&D waste practices are becoming unsustainable as the industry quickly realizes that the promises of high landfill diversion, and material recycling percentages from the waste processor, don’t quite match reality. The question is, how can the construction industry improve our waste practices to help promote a cleaner, more circular future? Site separation is key, and superintendents play maybe the most … Read more

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The Threat from Below: Considerations for Subsurface Utility Mapping

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By Matthew Fitzgerald Every construction professional has been there at some point in their career — subsurface utility unknowns causing injuries, schedule delays, budget concerns, design updates or unhappy customers. Plagued by inaccurate and unreliable utility records and as-builts, the design and construction industry continues to see the negative impacts of underground unknowns. Imagine hitting a gas main next to a school or cutting off the oxygen to a hospital’s intensive care unit. What if a hidden set of trolley tracks suddenly derails your building schedule? Or you hit a decades-old fuel tank that was long forgotten until you find … Read more

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Behind the Walls of Adaptive Reuse Projects

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The Ins and Outs of Historic Renovations By Wesley J. Palmisano Some of the nation’s most beautiful structures reside in historic New Orleans neighborhoods — from the iconic French Quarter to the eclectic Garden District. To convert these types of crown jewels into reimagined buildings that function in an entirely new way is a repositioning strategy commonly known as adaptive reuse. This enables owners and developers to breathe new life into aging structures so they can serve a new generation of users. It also helps revitalize neighborhoods and meet the growing demand for certain space types, whether it’s housing, hospitality … Read more

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Intentional Onboarding, Recognition + Mentorship

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Setting up craft professionals for success right out of the gate By Jason Aspinwall The construction industry is an incredibly competitive landscape when it comes to recruitment and retention, especially for the unique and innovative leaders who fill superintendent roles. As such, it’s crucial to not only focus on setting employees up for success, but to also support tenured superintendents so they can continue to engage and learn. Best-in-class construction firms are intentional about onboarding superintendents, leveraging talents and coaching them throughout their careers. Solidify the onboarding process Most contractors are focused on covering all their bases when it comes … Read more

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