A Changing Landscape in

Construction and Design Through the Use of Technology

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Author's Corner

In this white paper, Brandon Ramon, Client Operations Director - BIM, examines the transformative role of technology in reshaping the construction and design industry, with a focus on prefabrication, sustainability, and smart buildings.

Please click on the video to the right to learn more about the author, hear his insights on this white paper, and discover what motivated him to write about this topic.

To discuss this white paper in detail, please contact Brandon using the information provided at the bottom of the page.

The state of construction today is an overly complex, phased process, organized over time into varying methods of project delivery to meet unique client expectations and programmatic needs. For the client, the goal of design may simply be to finish their project as quickly as possible, but the truth is much less straightforward. Successful, timely, and well-coordinated project delivery is a complicated, multi-faceted operation that most clients are not prepared for.

Throughout the project delivery process, architects, engineers, and contractors should be conscious of the natural environment, propose dynamic and thoughtful solutions to design and construction questions, and plan for the functional life of the building. When professionals refuse to adapt to the shift in values of the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry, or clients decide to move against the grain of growth, the project suffers, and the consequences of losing money, time, and quality arise.

Of all efforts by the various professional organizations at play to mitigate these risks and streamline the processes, nothing has helped more than the utilization of technology to ease coordination efforts, advance building functionality and efficiency, and anticipate issues in design and construction.

Proactive Solutions in a Reactive World

In contrast to the process today, the future of the built environment is a standardized, consolidated, and integrated construction and design process. Where developers and owners can benefit from methods of construction and prefabricated designs, taking full advantage of offsite manufacturing.

Plugins with the most widely used design tools today can provide accurate information on sustainable building practices. And lastly, find value by looking to the industry for those forward thinkers who are already monitoring smart building metrics to predict maintenance and future expansion.

Practices such as these culminate in the delivery of a building that is lean and optimized, poised for future additions and changes. Accommodating the changes and challenges of AEC today will not be optional to remain competitive in the new age of technology in construction.

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Who Said Change Comes Easy?

In 2020 McKinsey & Company issued an executive summary titled the “Next Normal in Construction.” Foretelling a disruption in the ecosystem of construction, which encompasses real estate, infrastructure, and industrial structures that account for over 13 percent of the world’s GDP. With so much capital at stake, it was a matter of time before the industry needed a change, and our industry responded. Grappling with the dynamics that impede productivity, iterations of trial and error, and most importantly, accountability of the AEC industry, the first step is admitting we had a problem.

At Vee Technologies, our adjacency to the construction ecosystem puts us in a unique position to grow with the industry, but it is also in our mission and vision to help facilitate and create change. In this analysis, I will highlight areas of the industry involving prefabrication, sustainability, and smart buildings where the industry has made a conscious decision to make changes, either years ago or much more recently.

Prefabrication

The National Institute of Building Sciences studied a hospital project where bathroom prefabrication shortened the opening of a 100-bed hospital by three months with no added cost. At $3,000 per bed per day or $300,000 a day in total, this facility generates $9,000,00 a month per operational bed, which in turn, equates to an additional $27,000,000 in year one revenue.

Prefabrication offers immediate tangible value to a project when executed correctly. It is a repeatable, value-driven solution no matter the project size, and its benefits outweigh any marginal upfront cost. Reduced on-site labor translates to fewer accidents, increased quality, and a shortened time of installation.

prefabrication

Sustainability

A northeastern firm, KT Innovations, partnered with Autodesk to create a Revit plugin known as Tally, which helps designers compare embodied environmental impacts on designs. Owners are becoming increasingly cognizant of the impact a building will have on the environment built in.

Tally takes information that is normally abstract and difficult to comprehend and displays it in a manner that allows architects, contractors, and engineers alike to make accurate, qualified decisions. The result is a Life Cycle Assessment or LCA on demand, providing a valuable layer of decision-making information right in the model in which the design is taking place.

sustainability

Smart Buildings

Smart, connected, integrated, and automated building operations provide a lasting impact on facilities management. This positions the delivery of a building with step-change improvements in decision-making through advanced analytics, allowing remote management of assets where feasible and streamlining maintenance allocation and utilization. To lay a solid foundation for a successful future and deliver desired outcomes, E&C firms should focus on where a design finishes, not just where it begins.

Since 2005, Arizona State University has completed fifty-one certified LEED projects comprised of seventy-five buildings. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings that offer environmental, social, and governance benefits. Over 27% of the total ASU campus’ 29,500,00 sq. ft. complies with LEED and does so alongside an initiative known as campus metabolism. ASU Campus Metabolism offers real-time data to the facilities management on heating and cooling loads, occupancy sensor relay information, solar radiation gain, rainfall, and more.

The data logged in a SQL database is then managed, tracked, and improved upon by ASU as part of its plan to be carbon-neutral by 2025.

smart-buildings

In conclusion, the construction and design industry must move forward, driven by technological advancements and evolving client expectations. Today's complex project delivery processes demand a shift towards integrated, efficient, and sustainable solutions. Means and methods such as prefabrication, sustainable design tools like Tally, and smart building analytics are not just trends but essential components reshaping our built environment.

Prefabrication, exemplified by projects like the hospital study, illustrates tangible benefits in terms of time saved and revenue generated. Sustainability tools like Tally empower stakeholders to make informed decisions, enhancing environmental stewardship through Life Cycle Assessments integrated directly into the design process. Meanwhile, smart building technologies like the implementation at Arizona State University enable real-time data-driven management, optimizing operations and maintenance for enhanced efficiency and end-user experience, pioneering real-time data integration to drive sustainable campus operations, and setting benchmarks for industry-wide adoption.

Looking ahead, embracing these technological advancements not only promises streamlined project execution and improved outcomes but also positions stakeholders to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards and client expectations. By leveraging technology, the construction and design industry can navigate toward a future where efficiency, sustainability, and innovation converge to create enduring value for all stakeholders involved.

Sources:

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Capital%20Projects%20and%20Infrastructure/Our%20Insights/The%20next%20normal%20in%20construction/executive-summary_the-next-normal-in-construction.pdf

https://www.nibs.org/files/pdfs/MI_OSCC_BathroomPods_2017.pdf

https://kierantimberlake.com/page/tally

PK-Das

Meet the Author

Brandon I. Ramon - Client Operations Director - BIM

Brandon Ramon is a licensed architect in Texas (License No. 31524) and a member of the AIA. With over 8 years of experience, he leads Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) projects across multiple sectors, including education, retail, and healthcare. His expertise in coordinating with owners, architects, and contractors ensures seamless project execution. Brandon’s leadership in VDC brings innovative solutions and efficiency to Vee Technologies' clients, helping them push the boundaries of modern construction practices.

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