I want you all to take a second take a second to come up with the first two or
second to come up with the first two or
second to come up with the first two or three words that come to mind when you
three words that come to mind when you
three words that come to mind when you hear this term general contractor now
hear this term general contractor now
hear this term general contractor now maybe you associate it with someone you
maybe you associate it with someone you
maybe you associate it with someone you know maybe it’s a prior experience or
know maybe it’s a prior experience or
know maybe it’s a prior experience or maybe more recently you put it towards a
maybe more recently you put it towards a
maybe more recently you put it towards a the popular contractor TV shows on cable
the popular contractor TV shows on cable
the popular contractor TV shows on cable TV got your words good now keep them to
TV got your words good now keep them to
TV got your words good now keep them to yourself I want you to keep them to
yourself I want you to keep them to
yourself I want you to keep them to yourself because more than likely some
yourself because more than likely some
yourself because more than likely some of them were negative and I know that
of them were negative and I know that
of them were negative and I know that because a while back I sent out an
because a while back I sent out an
because a while back I sent out an anonymous survey asking just this
anonymous survey asking just this
anonymous survey asking just this question and these are a few of the
question and these are a few of the
question and these are a few of the responses I received so if you haven’t
responses I received so if you haven’t
responses I received so if you haven’t heard a guest I’m a general contractor
heard a guest I’m a general contractor
heard a guest I’m a general contractor more specifically I work in commercial
more specifically I work in commercial
more specifically I work in commercial construction and throughout my career
construction and throughout my career
construction and throughout my career I’ve learned that this term contractor
I’ve learned that this term contractor
I’ve learned that this term contractor is looked at pretty negatively now some
is looked at pretty negatively now some
is looked at pretty negatively now some of the responses I just showed I’m not
of the responses I just showed I’m not
of the responses I just showed I’m not gonna touch those are for another talk
gonna touch those are for another talk
gonna touch those are for another talk but I do want to touch on my favorite
but I do want to touch on my favorite
but I do want to touch on my favorite one antiquated or old fashioned now I’ll
one antiquated or old fashioned now I’ll
one antiquated or old fashioned now I’ll admit there’s a portion of this industry
admit there’s a portion of this industry
admit there’s a portion of this industry that is stuck saying but that’s the way
that is stuck saying but that’s the way
that is stuck saying but that’s the way we’ve always done it and we’ll get back
we’ve always done it and we’ll get back
we’ve always done it and we’ll get back to them but first a confession I have to
to them but first a confession I have to
to them but first a confession I have to confess something that’s got to stay
confess something that’s got to stay
confess something that’s got to stay between us friends in here I’m not only
between us friends in here I’m not only
between us friends in here I’m not only a contractor I’m also an architect and
a contractor I’m also an architect and
a contractor I’m also an architect and if you know anything about our industry
if you know anything about our industry
if you know anything about our industry contractors and architects don’t always
contractors and architects don’t always
contractors and architects don’t always get along there’s a metaphor somewhere
get along there’s a metaphor somewhere
get along there’s a metaphor somewhere about cats and dogs or something like
about cats and dogs or something like
about cats and dogs or something like that so please keep it here because it
that so please keep it here because it
that so please keep it here because it would make me very unpopular back at the
would make me very unpopular back at the
would make me very unpopular back at the office but to understand why an
office but to understand why an
office but to understand why an architect would want to live in a
architect would want to live in a
architect would want to live in a contractors world we have to go way back
contractors world we have to go way back
contractors world we have to go way back in time all the way to 2014
now you laugh but I’m a millennial
now you laugh but I’m a millennial that’s a long time ago I’m supposed to
that’s a long time ago I’m supposed to
that’s a long time ago I’m supposed to have had like 10 or 12 jobs and to
have had like 10 or 12 jobs and to
have had like 10 or 12 jobs and to sabbaticals since so anyway this is an
sabbaticals since so anyway this is an
sabbaticals since so anyway this is an actual picture of me I’m at a
actual picture of me I’m at a
actual picture of me I’m at a traditional architecture firm and I’m
traditional architecture firm and I’m
traditional architecture firm and I’m roughly a year from what I thought was
roughly a year from what I thought was
roughly a year from what I thought was the Holy Grail something I had worked
the Holy Grail something I had worked
the Holy Grail something I had worked toward my entire life I was gonna become
toward my entire life I was gonna become
toward my entire life I was gonna become a licensed architect and of course I was
a licensed architect and of course I was
a licensed architect and of course I was going to change the world until an
going to change the world until an
going to change the world until an opportunity for career change came up
opportunity for career change came up
opportunity for career change came up that seaward we talked about contractor
that seaward we talked about contractor
that seaward we talked about contractor after some contemplation I decided I was
after some contemplation I decided I was
after some contemplation I decided I was gonna quit I talked to my current
gonna quit I talked to my current
gonna quit I talked to my current employer I talked to my wife did all the
employer I talked to my wife did all the
employer I talked to my wife did all the things necessary to make a clean break
things necessary to make a clean break
things necessary to make a clean break except for one one that would prove to
except for one one that would prove to
except for one one that would prove to be the hardest yet I had to tell my mom
be the hardest yet I had to tell my mom
be the hardest yet I had to tell my mom [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] hey mom guess what I said per usual when
hey mom guess what I said per usual when
hey mom guess what I said per usual when I have some idea she said or she showed
I have some idea she said or she showed
I have some idea she said or she showed some concern and she said no Michael you
some concern and she said no Michael you
some concern and she said no Michael you can’t move back home we’ve already
can’t move back home we’ve already
can’t move back home we’ve already turned your bedroom into an Airbnb and I
turned your bedroom into an Airbnb and I
turned your bedroom into an Airbnb and I said come on mom I’m not moving back
said come on mom I’m not moving back
said come on mom I’m not moving back home it’s way worse I’m becoming a
home it’s way worse I’m becoming a
home it’s way worse I’m becoming a contractor I thought she was gonna cry
contractor I thought she was gonna cry
contractor I thought she was gonna cry all that time all that money all that
all that time all that money all that
all that time all that money all that education wasted never you’ll swing a
education wasted never you’ll swing a
education wasted never you’ll swing a hammer you’ll never be the next Franklin
hammer you’ll never be the next Franklin
hammer you’ll never be the next Franklin right my mom’s an insurance she’s not an
right my mom’s an insurance she’s not an
right my mom’s an insurance she’s not an architect now what I didn’t know was
architect now what I didn’t know was
architect now what I didn’t know was this was the first time I would describe
this was the first time I would describe
this was the first time I would describe what I called the best kept secret in
what I called the best kept secret in
what I called the best kept secret in construction something I’ve talked about
construction something I’ve talked about
construction something I’ve talked about no less than a thousand times since I
no less than a thousand times since I
no less than a thousand times since I had gotten a taste of what s Architects
had gotten a taste of what s Architects
had gotten a taste of what s Architects called the dark side and I was hooked I
called the dark side and I was hooked I
called the dark side and I was hooked I didn’t care about being my favorite
didn’t care about being my favorite
didn’t care about being my favorite architect Franklin right
architect Franklin right
architect Franklin right so why the change let’s take a look at
so why the change let’s take a look at
so why the change let’s take a look at the history of innovation and
the history of innovation and
the history of innovation and construction as told by Michael
construction as told by Michael
construction as told by Michael disclaimer I made this up if you can’t
disclaimer I made this up if you can’t
disclaimer I made this up if you can’t tell by the fact that it goes from two
tell by the fact that it goes from two
tell by the fact that it goes from two million BC to just yesterday and I show
million BC to just yesterday and I show
million BC to just yesterday and I show it jokingly but it’s nearly accurate of
it jokingly but it’s nearly accurate of
it jokingly but it’s nearly accurate of course there have been incremental
course there have been incremental
course there have been incremental changes throughout time but you see this
changes throughout time but you see this
changes throughout time but you see this term BIM driving the curve of innovation
term BIM driving the curve of innovation
term BIM driving the curve of innovation BIM is proving to be the biggest
BIM is proving to be the biggest
BIM is proving to be the biggest disruptor that anyone in the current
disruptor that anyone in the current
disruptor that anyone in the current architecture engineering or construction
architecture engineering or construction
architecture engineering or construction industry has ever seen now I know you’re
industry has ever seen now I know you’re
industry has ever seen now I know you’re saying what is BIM BIM is an acronym for
saying what is BIM BIM is an acronym for
saying what is BIM BIM is an acronym for Building Information modeling and now
Building Information modeling and now
Building Information modeling and now you’re saying what the hell is building
you’re saying what the hell is building
you’re saying what the hell is building information modeling then this 3d
information modeling then this 3d
information modeling then this 3d modeling technology it’s the technology
modeling technology it’s the technology
modeling technology it’s the technology that allows us to virtually build
that allows us to virtually build
that allows us to virtually build visualize coordinate and troubleshoot an
visualize coordinate and troubleshoot an
visualize coordinate and troubleshoot an entire building far before we ever put a
entire building far before we ever put a
entire building far before we ever put a shovel in the ground there’s a cliche
shovel in the ground there’s a cliche
shovel in the ground there’s a cliche you’ve all heard measure twice cut once
you’ve all heard measure twice cut once
you’ve all heard measure twice cut once think of Ben as that for an entire
think of Ben as that for an entire
think of Ben as that for an entire building project we start with a
building project we start with a
building project we start with a baseline model on top of that baseline
baseline model on top of that baseline
baseline model on top of that baseline we iterate and we search for problems
we iterate and we search for problems
we iterate and we search for problems and we do it again and again and again
and we do it again and again and again
and we do it again and again and again until we’ve eliminated as many problems
until we’ve eliminated as many problems
until we’ve eliminated as many problems as possible this gives us a high level
as possible this gives us a high level
as possible this gives us a high level of confidence that what we’ve modeled
of confidence that what we’ve modeled
of confidence that what we’ve modeled will be installed in the field correctly
will be installed in the field correctly
will be installed in the field correctly only then do we build buildings are
only then do we build buildings are
only then do we build buildings are getting continuously more complex and at
getting continuously more complex and at
getting continuously more complex and at the same time demands on budget and
the same time demands on budget and
the same time demands on budget and schedule are getting higher by utilizing
schedule are getting higher by utilizing
schedule are getting higher by utilizing BIM we can continuously improve with the
BIM we can continuously improve with the
BIM we can continuously improve with the goal of less rework less waste and
goal of less rework less waste and
goal of less rework less waste and higher efficiency after all one study
higher efficiency after all one study
higher efficiency after all one study shows that 50 3.4 million tons of waste
shows that 50 3.4 million tons of waste
shows that 50 3.4 million tons of waste per year are attributed to construction
per year are attributed to construction
per year are attributed to construction and that doesn’t include demolition
and that doesn’t include demolition
and that doesn’t include demolition shouldn’t we do our best to reduce that
shouldn’t we do our best to reduce that
shouldn’t we do our best to reduce that but BIM is only the beginning
but BIM is only the beginning
but BIM is only the beginning one of the hardest parts for our clients
one of the hardest parts for our clients
one of the hardest parts for our clients is truly understanding their building
is truly understanding their building
is truly understanding their building based on 2d drawings these are
based on 2d drawings these are
based on 2d drawings these are traditional 2d building elevations
traditional 2d building elevations
traditional 2d building elevations before the expectation was that given
before the expectation was that given
before the expectation was that given these floor plan and the occasional 3d
these floor plan and the occasional 3d
these floor plan and the occasional 3d rendering you’d really understand what
rendering you’d really understand what
rendering you’d really understand what your
your
your getting now we’re visual learners I
getting now we’re visual learners I
getting now we’re visual learners I think that’s a little unrealistic but
think that’s a little unrealistic but
think that’s a little unrealistic but how do we solve it
how do we solve it
how do we solve it one answer lies in video game technology
one answer lies in video game technology
one answer lies in video game technology utilizing this technology we can provide
utilizing this technology we can provide
utilizing this technology we can provide walkthroughs fly throughs in near
walkthroughs fly throughs in near
walkthroughs fly throughs in near real-time we can provide photo real
real-time we can provide photo real
real-time we can provide photo real renderings allowing you to truly
renderings allowing you to truly
renderings allowing you to truly understand your building as it evolves
understand your building as it evolves
understand your building as it evolves but let’s take a step further if you’re
but let’s take a step further if you’re
but let’s take a step further if you’re one of the few the brave who are willing
one of the few the brave who are willing
one of the few the brave who are willing to forget about looking cool you’ll put
to forget about looking cool you’ll put
to forget about looking cool you’ll put on the VR headset virtual reality has
on the VR headset virtual reality has
on the VR headset virtual reality has become so accessible that we can walk
become so accessible that we can walk
become so accessible that we can walk you through your building while we
you through your building while we
you through your building while we simultaneously coordinate the work that
simultaneously coordinate the work that
simultaneously coordinate the work that will go into place again the goal is to
will go into place again the goal is to
will go into place again the goal is to allow you to feel your building to truly
allow you to feel your building to truly
allow you to feel your building to truly understand it and make any necessary
understand it and make any necessary
understand it and make any necessary changes
changes
changes virtually skipping the cost and
virtually skipping the cost and
virtually skipping the cost and inefficiency of making them physically
inefficiency of making them physically
inefficiency of making them physically so let’s do a quick recap BIM takes the
so let’s do a quick recap BIM takes the
so let’s do a quick recap BIM takes the digital into the physical virtual
digital into the physical virtual
digital into the physical virtual reality and other enhanced visualisation
reality and other enhanced visualisation
reality and other enhanced visualisation techniques allow you to truly understand
techniques allow you to truly understand
techniques allow you to truly understand the product that you’re getting at the
the product that you’re getting at the
the product that you’re getting at the end but what about taking the physical
end but what about taking the physical
end but what about taking the physical into the digital in the past I can go to
into the digital in the past I can go to
into the digital in the past I can go to a job site take literally hundreds of
a job site take literally hundreds of
a job site take literally hundreds of dimensions come back to the office only
dimensions come back to the office only
dimensions come back to the office only to realize that I don’t have the one I
to realize that I don’t have the one I
to realize that I don’t have the one I need that’s the same picture of me back
need that’s the same picture of me back
need that’s the same picture of me back at the traditional firms and I don’t use
at the traditional firms and I don’t use
at the traditional firms and I don’t use the word shucks the word I use rhymes
the word shucks the word I use rhymes
the word shucks the word I use rhymes with shucks
with shucks
with shucks [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] today we use reality capture tools to
today we use reality capture tools to
today we use reality capture tools to eliminate those laborious dimensions and
eliminate those laborious dimensions and
eliminate those laborious dimensions and instead scan millions of digital points
instead scan millions of digital points
instead scan millions of digital points and pull them into the model this model
and pull them into the model this model
and pull them into the model this model has every dimension I could ever want
has every dimension I could ever want
has every dimension I could ever want and that can prove invaluable for
and that can prove invaluable for
and that can prove invaluable for projects such as this one a fire station
projects such as this one a fire station
projects such as this one a fire station built in 1902 with little original
built in 1902 with little original
built in 1902 with little original documentation but we aren’t only using
documentation but we aren’t only using
documentation but we aren’t only using reality capture to verify we can also
reality capture to verify we can also
reality capture to verify we can also document today we can provide you with a
document today we can provide you with a
document today we can provide you with a model that sees behind walls so you’re
model that sees behind walls so you’re
model that sees behind walls so you’re aware forever no more old decaying as
aware forever no more old decaying as
aware forever no more old decaying as built drawing sitting in your basement
built drawing sitting in your basement
built drawing sitting in your basement and no more accidentally slamming
and no more accidentally slamming
and no more accidentally slamming through a plumbing pipe during your next
through a plumbing pipe during your next
through a plumbing pipe during your next renovation so I don’t know about you but
renovation so I don’t know about you but
renovation so I don’t know about you but I think all this is pretty cool but what
I think all this is pretty cool but what
I think all this is pretty cool but what does the future hold I recently read an
does the future hold I recently read an
does the future hold I recently read an article that said we are entering the
article that said we are entering the
article that said we are entering the golden age of construction and I believe
golden age of construction and I believe
golden age of construction and I believe that wholeheartedly I think we’re just
that wholeheartedly I think we’re just
that wholeheartedly I think we’re just beginning our our industry is
beginning our our industry is
beginning our our industry is experimenting with advanced construction
experimenting with advanced construction
experimenting with advanced construction technologies for modular 2
technologies for modular 2
technologies for modular 2 prefabrication to 3d printing entire
prefabrication to 3d printing entire
prefabrication to 3d printing entire structures we’re using augmented reality
structures we’re using augmented reality
structures we’re using augmented reality wearables and drones and we’re utilizing
wearables and drones and we’re utilizing
wearables and drones and we’re utilizing our data to make quicker and better
our data to make quicker and better
our data to make quicker and better informed decisions so to those in the
informed decisions so to those in the
informed decisions so to those in the industry who say but that’s the way
industry who say but that’s the way
industry who say but that’s the way we’ve always done it I promise you this
we’ve always done it I promise you this
we’ve always done it I promise you this is better than the old way we can build
is better than the old way we can build
is better than the old way we can build better waste less do it more efficiently
better waste less do it more efficiently
better waste less do it more efficiently and do it all at the higher demands of
and do it all at the higher demands of
and do it all at the higher demands of today’s construction environment I call
today’s construction environment I call
today’s construction environment I call this the best kept secret in
this the best kept secret in
this the best kept secret in construction because I bet prior to us
construction because I bet prior to us
construction because I bet prior to us talking you weren’t aware of the
talking you weren’t aware of the
talking you weren’t aware of the technology that we’re using in
technology that we’re using in
technology that we’re using in construction I bet you associated it
construction I bet you associated it
construction I bet you associated it only with our friends architects and
only with our friends architects and
only with our friends architects and engineers but I hope I’m showing you
engineers but I hope I’m showing you
engineers but I hope I’m showing you that the line between us is blurring
that the line between us is blurring
that the line between us is blurring each and every day so let’s go back to
each and every day so let’s go back to
each and every day so let’s go back to those responses I hope that after seeing
those responses I hope that after seeing
those responses I hope that after seeing this the tune has changed instead of
this the tune has changed instead of
this the tune has changed instead of old-fashioned
old-fashioned
old-fashioned how about interesting how about
how about interesting how about
how about interesting how about innovative
innovative
innovative how about awesome I like awesome it’s
how about awesome I like awesome it’s
how about awesome I like awesome it’s simple and at the end of the day what
simple and at the end of the day what
simple and at the end of the day what we’re doing is awesome the built
we’re doing is awesome the built
we’re doing is awesome the built environment is pretty awesome my hope is
environment is pretty awesome my hope is
environment is pretty awesome my hope is that you value contractors in the same
that you value contractors in the same
that you value contractors in the same light that you value our counterparts
light that you value our counterparts
light that you value our counterparts architects and engineers we get to apply
architects and engineers we get to apply
architects and engineers we get to apply technology to an industry that each and
technology to an industry that each and
technology to an industry that each and every one of us experience each and
every one of us experience each and
every one of us experience each and every day we are changing the way your
every day we are changing the way your
every day we are changing the way your built environment is delivered so I only
built environment is delivered so I only
built environment is delivered so I only ask one thing the next time you go to
ask one thing the next time you go to
ask one thing the next time you go to build or better yet the next time you or
build or better yet the next time you or
build or better yet the next time you or your son or your daughter or thinking
your son or your daughter or thinking
your son or your daughter or thinking about entering our industry
about entering our industry
about entering our industry don’t settle for that old fashioned
don’t settle for that old fashioned
don’t settle for that old fashioned contractor ask for an awesome one thank
contractor ask for an awesome one thank
contractor ask for an awesome one thank you
”
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