BUILD America

In this episode of BUILD America, Kerry Smith Buck owner of Construction News and Review (CNR) Magazine, explores the world of indoor agriculture with guests Ron Jones and Ron Mitchell from Clayco. Ron Jones, the vice president of Clayco's industrial group, discusses groundbreaking methodologies for delivering capital projects in the indoor grow and greenhouse space. Ron Mitchell, a master grower and expert in aeroponics and hydroponics, highlights the unique qualities of indoor agriculture compared to traditional outdoor methods. The conversation covers the challenges of controlling environmental factors, the diversity of crops grown indoors, and the complexities of mechanical systems and security in these specialized facilities. The episode sheds light on the evolving trends and technologies in indoor agriculture, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and mentorship in this growing industry.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck delves into the dynamics of workforce retention, honing in on the "Big Stay" movement within the construction industry. Jennifer Nguyen and Dana Borchert from CMA Global join the conversation, shedding light on the aftermath of the Great Resignation and the shift towards a more people-centric approach to attract and retain talent. The discussion encompasses the diverse challenges faced by different roles in construction, emphasizing the significance of grasping employee values, autonomy, mastery, and purpose. Nguyen and Borchert underscore the pivotal role of organizational culture in retaining top talent and share CMA Global's data-driven approach to help companies navigate hiring, development, and retention strategies. Real-world examples from construction clients highlight innovative solutions, offering valuable insights for industry leaders grappling with workforce retention in the post-pandemic era.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck interviews Tim Gunn, Vice President Construction at Alberici Constructors Inc., about the topic of prefabrication design and engineering. They discuss the challenges faced by the industry, such as supply chain issues and workforce availability, and how prefabrication can help address these challenges. Tim highlights the benefits of offsite construction, including better control on quality, safety, and materials management. He also shares examples of prefabricated components in projects like City Park Stadium and healthcare facilities. Tim emphasizes the importance of early planning and coordination with designers for successful prefabrication. 

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck interviews Kurt Bangert, President and CEO of Bangert Inc., and Reid Bangert, COO and Integrator of the company. They discuss the role of Bangert Inc. and Sage Intacct Construction in making life easier for the construction industry by automating processes and providing innovative technology solutions. Kurt Bangert emphasizes the company's 40-year history and their belief in the power of applied technology to increase productivity. He also highlights the importance of customer satisfaction and the strong relationship they have with their employees. Reid Bangert explains how their deployment system focuses on providing knowledge and support to customers, rather than just implementing software. 

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck interviews Chris Martin, a marketing guru and president of Atlas Marketing. They discuss the art of storytelling in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry and how to effectively communicate the stories of AEC firms. Chris emphasizes the importance of simplifying complex processes and issues to make them understandable to a wider audience. He compares storytelling in the AEC industry to a movie or film, where various elements and characters come together to create a compelling narrative. Chris also addresses the need for AEC companies to move beyond generic marketing messages like "safe, on time, on budget" and instead focus on showcasing their unique value and expertise. 

For more information, visit www.informationworks.org

In this episode of Build America, host Kerry Smith interviews Kyle Kammer, Director of Quality for Concrete Strategies. They discuss the impact of cement and concrete production on carbon dioxide emissions and the efforts being made in the concrete industry to reduce its carbon footprint. Kyle explains that while concrete is a major producer of CO2, it is also the most used building material in the world. He highlights the importance of considering the whole life cycle of a building and the resilience of concrete structures. Kyle also mentions the concept of "green concrete" and the various methods being explored to lower the carbon footprint of concrete, such as using alternative cementitious materials and reducing the amount of cement used.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck discusses the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) with Alex Etchen, Senior Director for Infrastructure Management at the Associated General Contractors of America. The IIJA is a 1.2 trillion dollar investment in US transportation infrastructure over five years, with a focus on roads, bridges, mass transit, airports, and broadband deployment. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities presented by the IIJA, including supply chain constraints, workforce shortages, and the importance of the Brent Spence Bridge. Despite these obstacles, there is optimism for the future impact of the IIJA.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck discusses the topic of school security with Patrick Aylesworth, Director of Operations at S. M. Wilson Company. S. M. Wilson is a construction management and general contracting firm that focuses on designing and building secure educational facilities. They emphasize the importance of creating spaces that balance safety and a welcoming environment for students and staff. Patrick highlights various security measures, such as secured entry vestibules, biometric fingerprint systems, video surveillance cameras, and secure classrooms. He also mentions the need for layered security and the importance of collaboration between project owners, project teams, and law enforcement agencies.

In this episode of BUILD America, host Kerry Smith Buck interviews Travis Kassebaum, a Principal and Geotechnical Department Manager at Terracon. They discuss the importance of firm foundations for safe buildings and bridges. Travis shares insights into the Leaning Tower of Pisa and its foundation issues. He also explains the role of geotechnical engineering in ensuring the stability and longevity of structures. They touch upon the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35 bridge in Minneapolis and the impact of inspections on construction projects. Travis emphasizes the variability of soil conditions across different regions and the need for tailored engineering solutions. He also highlights the continuous updates and improvements in building codes and standards in response to natural disasters. 

In this episode of BUILD America, the podcast explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on design and engineering in healthcare spaces. The guests are Kevin Token and Ryan King from BSA LifeStructures, an architecture and engineering firm specializing in healing, learning, and discovery. They discuss the challenges faced during the pandemic, such as the need to modify existing systems to ensure safety, the supply chain issues, and the creative solutions they devised to address these challenges. They also talk about the importance of designing for future pandemics and the trend towards creating flexible and multi-purpose spaces in healthcare facilities.