Insights: Using Lean for Fast-Track Project Success

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By Matt Nicholson Any successful project starts with a good plan. In construction, as the projects we work on become increasingly complex, the necessity of detailed planning has never been more evident. It’s important to live by the principles of Lean construction — meaning looking for ways to maximize value and minimize waste in every stage of the building process. The older methods of construction design result in an inherent amount of waste, so it’s crucial for contractors to stay ahead of the curve and constantly look for ways to be more efficient in the way they work. In Turner … Read more

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Multi-Trade Prefab Shaves Time, Cost for Clinic

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The University of California, Davis had clear construction goals for its new on-campus health clinic requiring an innovative approach. The 4,000-square-foot clinic, site utilities and site improvements had to be finished in seven months in time for the university’s open enrollment scheduled for November 2020. The budget for the primary care clinic was fixed and perhaps at odds with the timeline. And, just as construction started, the nation was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. For The Boldt Company and Design-Build partner Boulder Associates, the solution was a highly collaborative environment that made extensive use of prefabrication. This allowed … Read more

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Urban High-Rise Hotel in Chicago Built Lean + Green

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A newly opened 17-story, 206-room Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago River North, located in Illinois, recently opened. Mortenson teamed up with lead developer and owner Akara Partners on the $67-million extended-stay hotel, one of the few Home2 Suites by Hilton’s urban high-rise hotels, while also serving as the Design-Builder with Norr Architects. The general contractor built the flagship hotel in just 14 months on the site of a former parking lot. Unlike the smaller, three-story Homes2 Suites by Hilton suburban locations, the 120,000-square-foot River North building features a modern glass enclosure system and a jump-lobby configuration to maximize space for … Read more

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Tips to Mitigate 5 Common Jobsite Distractions

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By Vern Orpin From physical to mental, distractions are everywhere, and how people handle them can mean life or death—construction jobsites are no different. It is estimated that 80% of industrial accidents and 90% of construction accidents are caused wholly or in part by distractions and human error (according to Heinrich’s Domino Model). Some are the same, some are unique to construction, but all distractions have the potential to change outcomes. That’s why it’s imperative to not only recognize jobsite distractions, but also to build resilience into our systems to have tolerance for all sorts of variables and overcome distractions … Read more

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New Findings on Contractor Use of Safety Best Practices Released

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A new report from CPWR and Dodge Data & Analytics, “Contractor Use of Best Safety Practices,” summarizes the results of two recent surveys that explored topics such as how frequently contractors engage in selected safety practices, differences between large-, small- and medium-sized contractors and use of Lean construction. In the case of Lean construction, the report found that familiarity with the concept has grown considerably. In 2013, when contractors were first surveyed about this concept, only 52% said they were familiar with Lean construction compared to 71% today. As shown in the accompanying chart, this report also found that contractors … Read more

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