Constructive Voices

The 44th episode of Constructive Voices looks Stateside to construction technology expert, Aaron Henderson. Talking to Steve Randall, Aaron navigates the stormy waters of an industry that has been shaken by a range of phenomena.

He discusses how to minimise risk during these turbulent times, while giving listeners an interesting insight into the AEC sectors in America.

As Product Marketing Manager for STACK Construction Technologies, Aaron Henderson is on a mission scale contracting organizations leveraging technology to increase efficiency and minimize risk.

Over his career, Aaron has worked with top AEC industry leaders to streamline systems and processes and develop strategies for more effective growth.

Aaron on construction waste:

Aaron is in charge of helping contractors work 10X faster, eliminate costly errors, and earn more using STACK, the leading software for construction take-off and estimation.

On material shortages in America, Aaron observes that,

About STACK
STACK has been recognized as one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the US six times and has raised $26.3M to date.

They also have 65,000+ active users who have performed 3.7M+ construction take-offs in the last 12 months, and their annual revenues are $6.5M+.

Aaron has 15+ years of construction technology experience leading top AEC firms like PASKR and PioneerIQ through strategic digital transformation for more effective growth.

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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Ireland’s favourite TV Builder, Peter Finn, talks to Scott Delaney of CIS Ireland about the state of the construction industry in Ireland plus he shines a spotlight on the work of CIS Ireland.

They discuss how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of the construction industry. Scott also hones in on the huge challenge of material costs. Learn his insights from his industry researcher’s perspective.

Construction Information Services (CIS) is Ireland’s leading provider of business intelligence to the Construction and Allied Industries. Founded in 1972, CIS provides comprehensive, researched, verified and real-time information on all building projects throughout Ireland – North and South.

CIS Ireland essentially tracks and monitors all major, minor and self-build projects in Ireland from early planning right up to completion. Their customers are able to search, and track when opportunities are on these projects.

It is possible to search using very specific search filters to ensure pinpoint results are brought back to you.

About Scott Delaney

Scott joined CIS in August 2006 after studying Business and Entrepreneurship at the Institute of Art, Design, and Technology (IADT). Scott has worked as a junior researcher, senior researcher, assistant editor, and was appointed Research Manager in 2017.

Scott has extensive knowledge of the planning, procurement, and construction cycles. Scott has worked on many bespoke sector reports as CIS and has developed strong business relationships with many key industrial professionals in the construction sector.

About Construction Information Services (CIS) Ireland

Celebrating 50 Years as Leaders in Irish Construction

Construction Information Services (CIS) is commemorating its 50th year since its establishment in 1972. Since then, it has cemented itself as a cornerstone of the construction and related industries, delivering comprehensive, well-researched, timely, and verified business opportunities and intelligence. CIS hopes to initiate a new era of growth throughout the year to honour its past achievements and to share with its members the milestones and challenges of the last 50 years while looking forward to future opportunities for many years to come.

Read the full Constructive Voices Episode 43 information here.

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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Does this episode title annoy you in the current circumstances that so many of us find ourselves in? It can be hard to stomach concepts like this when our worlds have been turned upside down in so many ways over the last few years.

However, architect and company director of Cityzen, John Smith MCIAT’s interview with Henry McDonald will certainly make you think!

Plus Peter Finn gives his very honest input about the current state of affairs on this topic as a builder in Ireland.

John Smith MCIAT:

About John Smith
John Smith is the Director of Cityzen Limited, a professional services firm that offers professional clients architectural design and planning bids, building regulations packages, and M&E advice for building development. Its team can assist in creating and developing the buildings you require by utilising their skills, experience, and technical knowledge. Building services engineering, thermal performance, feasibility, sustainability, and conservation are some of their specialities.

In this interview, John talks about his work at Cityzen Design and explain what Cityzen does in a nutshell by highlighting two or three projects that he is particularly proud of, as well as aspects of these projects that are good examples of working towards Net Zero. On example is in the photo above.

 John, like many others, feels that there is not enough energy and action at the local and central government level
There is a disconnect between the pace of change that is needed to address the climate crisis and the speed at which governments are currently moving.

This was a recurring theme at the recent FOOTPRINT+ event, where experts from around the world gathered to discuss the latest developments in sustainability.

While there was a general sense of optimism about the progress that is being made, there was also a growing sense of frustration at the lack of energy and action at a local and central government levels. This disconnect is likely to continue unless there is a radical shift in the way that governments operate. Only by working together can we hope to address the climate crisis in a meaningful way.

John will discuss his thoughts on the issue, the solutions he believes should be implemented to expedite the situation, and the statement he made in an article:

Discover more on the full Constructive Voices Episo

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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Imagine your mission is to protect one of the most famous books in the whole world. A beautiful and intricate illuminated manuscript that contains the four Gospels of the New Testament that was created by Celtic monks around the year 800. This was the challenge that Peter Finn, Ireland’s Favourite TV Builder and one of the Constructive Voices presenters, faced a while ago.

Ireland’s Favourite TV Builder’s Labour of Love for the Book of Kells

Yes, we are talking about The Book of Kells with its elaborate spiral and interlace patterns, images of animals and birds, which is housed in Trinity College Library in Dublin, Ireland.

The Book of Kells was probably created by monks at the monastery of Iona, off the coast of Scotland. It is unclear how the book made its way to Ireland, where it was eventually donated to the University of Dublin in 1661.

Today, the Book of Kells is on display at Trinity College Library, where visitors can see its ornate pages up close. Despite its age, the Book of Kells remains an awe-inspiring work of art that continues to fascination scholars and laypeople alike.

Hear this unique interview on Episode 41.

Peter Finn, Ireland’s Favourite TV Builder:

The Book of Kells receives over a million visitors each year. In fact, in 2021, after it reopened after COVID restrictions, 78,000 people visited the Book of Kells between May and October.

Peter Finn…blend the old with the new:

So it seems that you know what you are doing, what could possibly go wrong?

Peter Finn…a skeleton in the closet:

Listen to this fascinating interview with Pete The Builder.

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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Wondering how your counterparts are doing Down Under? Curious about the current state of the construction industry in Australia? Then tune in to Episode 40, with our Australian expert guest, Alex Fernandez-Soncini.

Alex will give you a snapshot of the Australian construction industry, where the attitudes are, where the industry is right now based on a survey of several countries across Asia Pacific, that Procore did recently.

Our very own, Steve Randall, talks to Alex Fernandez-Soncini, a Strategic Construction Technologist for Procore Technologies, not only about the state of the construction industry in Australia but also about how technology is now playing a major role in the industry.

It is no secret that Australia is lagging when it comes to the construction industry

It is no secret that Australia is lagging when it comes to the construction industry. Alex claims this is due to the lack of mobile technology utilised compared to Asian parts of the industry that have utilised mobile technologies from the start. However, Alex believes that the introduction of new technologies to the industry has allowed them to gain some ground on Asian countries.

How is climate change affecting the industry in Australia?

Climate change is affecting all industries and the Australian construction one is no different. Alex explains how increased rain and inclement weather are making the job of construction workers much more challenging than before.

About Alex Fernandez-Soncini

Alex Fernandez-Soncini is the Team Lead for Strategic Product Consultants at Procore Technologies.

As Team Lead, Alex utilises his extensive construction knowledge and experience to direct a team and offer guidance on the role of cloud-based technology and best practices to key customers and internal stakeholders. In addition, the team collaborates with industry stakeholders to communicate enhancements for the industry.

Using his in-depth understanding of what makes Australian construction professionals tick, Alex is an innovator who contributes to improving and developing construction technology for the industry. In addition, he possesses the skill to communicate solutions in a way everyone can understand.

With over 10 years of experience in the construction industry, before joining Procore in 2017, Alex’s resume consists of most recently working as a Contracts Administrator at Renascent Australia. He was also with Philip Chin Group working as a Building Code Consultant before joining Parkview Group to take on the role of BCA/Design Coordinator.

Read more about Episode 40 Constructive Voices here

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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The inaugural FOOTPRINT+ was a huge success and we were delighted to be there as a media partner. This bonus episode wraps up the series of super interviews that we recorded at the event.

If you missed any interviews from the event you can catch up on previous specials one, two, three and four. Plus the first bonus special is available here.

Check out the great selection of guests on this bonus episode.

Jason Horner - Head of Infrastructure Services and Director of Environment & Infrastructure at Hilson Moran: Jason is an Infrastructure Planner and Environmental Engineer with a good few years of experience.

We also spoke to Marie-Louise Schembri, Design Director at Hilson Moran

John Macdonald-Brown, Founder, Syzygy

Founded in 2010, Syzygy has grown to become one of the leading specialist low carbon technology consultancies in the UK and Europe.

Kelly Harrison, Associate Director, Whitby Wood

Kelly is an active proponent of sustainable construction, and is particularly experienced in the structural design of engineered timber, hybrid structures, and retro-fitting.

Ken Hunnisett, Head of Public Sector, Triple Point Investment ManagementKen Hunnisett has spent the last 25 years in asset and infrastructure finance. He was one of the speakers at
The regulation of heat: A new era for heat networks

Lee Golby, SHEQ Manager & Sustainability Lead at Paula Rosa | ManhattanLee is the SHEQ Manager & Sustainability Lead at Paula Rosa | Manhattan.

Mike Reynolds, Vattenfall

Mike is Managing Director of  Vattenfall Heat UK, and lead Vattenfall’s successful UK Market entry in 2018 – taking the business from paper to pipes installed in under three years.

Mitakshi Sirsi, Director at WILL+Partners | Chair, Sustainability Community at CoreNet, UK Chapter

Mitakshi specialises in Sustained the Workplace; particularly in directing management policy through research frameworks; and using training as a tool to integrate high-level strategies and certifications through the life cycle of buildings.

Sam Jarrett U+I - Sam is the Head of Marketing and Communications at U+I PLC who create thriving mixed-use places in the London City Region, Manchester and Dublin, where people can live, work and socialise.

Tom Larsson

Tom is the Design Director at Stanhope, a developer specialising in complex urban regeneration.

Vikki Slade, Cratus Communications

Vikki is a Director at Cratus Communications leading on the work of helping clients r

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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In this episode, Steve Randall speaks to Sam Whitworth and Maddie Podstada of Stelling Properties Limited. Steve was also given a tour around the Stelling Properties factory and himself and Pete the Builder discuss modular construction.

If you have an interest in modular construction or you want to hear how it is being used to aid civilians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine then this episode is for you!

Sam Whitworth is the Engineering Director for Stelling Properties. Sam’s portfolio consists of working in the Marina, Aerospace and Civil Sectors. Sam is committed to the development and delivery of new technology and products. He also enjoys being challenged and works well under pressure.

Stelling Properties are one of the UK’s leading modular development and construction companies. They traditionally focus on student accommodation, residential developments, and hotels.

Today however they are using their expertise to help civilians fleeing the conflict in Ukraine.

Stelling Properties are now designing and building transportable accommodation inside shipping containers to aid in housing civilians living in dangerous and freezing conditions in refugee camps in Europe.

The carefully designed and insulated units can provide shelter for up to two adults and two children or three adults at a time. They provide them with space to sleep and eat.

Known as Project Re: Haus, this venture is staff-led and is a separate charitable initiative started by the team just days after the news of the war broke around the world.

Maddie Podstada is the Project Coordinator for Project Re: Haus. A future charitable organisation that is designed to be a solution for those displaced by conflict, war, and natural emergencies.

Maddie believes that the speed of modular is what makes it suitable for a crisis. A modular can be built, transported and then be ready for use within two hours.

Visibly emotional when the first containers were transported, Maddie and her team are very proud of the hard work and long hours that they put in to help families fleeing from their countries.

If you wish to help Maddie and her team with their admirable project you can make a donation at www.rehaus.org.

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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To kick off this bonus FOOTPRINT+ episode, Pete the Builder spoke to Andrew Waugh about using timber in construction

Andrew Waugh, Waugh Thistleton Architects

Andrew is a founding director of Waugh Thistleton Architects, an architecture practice dedicated to designing buildings and places of the highest architectural quality that acknowledge their impact on the environment.

 “…for the last 20 years, we’ve become increasingly fascinated, even slightly obsessed with the opportunities for building in timber for designing beautiful buildings in timber.”

Next up, Steve Randall spoke to Angela Crowther about repurposing existing buildings

Angela Crowther is an Associate Director at Arup. She was a keynote speaker at the event. Her talk was entitled Repurposing existing buildings to save the embodied carbon. Modernising assets to make them more energy-efficient can be done in various ways. For example, one could choose the retrofitting option to make a building fit for purpose for the future.

“The opportunity to immediately save 50% of our carbon budget by protecting and celebrating and reusing what we have already built in the past into the future, rather than starting again.”

Peter the Builder spoke to Ann-Marie Fallon of Architype about Passivhaus

Ann-Marie Fallon is an Associate Director and CEPH Designer at Architype. She was a keynote speaker at the event. Her talk was entitled Is Passivhaus the answer?

  “My context from working with Passivhaus buildings for the last 13 years is that it’s become a bit of a dirty word. You know, clients are afraid of it, design teams don’t want to touch it, contractors are nervous of building.”

Pete the Builder spoke to Councillor Samer Bagaeen about the government’s role in achieving Net-Zero

Samer Bagaeen is a member of the Brighton & Hove City Council. With a background in the built environment, Samer is a chartered town planner and a chartered surveyor.

Samer believes that achieving Net-Zero ultimately comes down to what local governments and councils in the cities do. He does however acknowledge that there are constraints, the biggest one being money. Despite these constraints, he believes that governments need to be more ambitious in their policies and the delivery of these policies.

Pete the Builder spoke to Courtney MacDougall of Vattenfall about educating people on low carbon solutions.

Courtney MacDougall is a project engineer for Vattenfall. Working with the wider project team, she provides technical advice and steers the project through the development and delivery stages.

“So it’s really that education piece that you don’t need to have a boiler within your house or in your flat, you can have a heat pump”

Next up, Pete the Builder spoke to Dan Epstein about u

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Julia Watson is a leading light at this crucial moment in humanity's history. We were honoured and delighted to be able to interview her recently about indigenous architecture.

From 5 May - 29 August 2022, the Barbican Centre is featuring Julia's  collaborative exhibition, Our Time on Earth,  which is a major exhibition celebrating the power of global creativity to transform the conversation around the climate emergency. Through art, design, science, music and philosophy, the exhibition presents a range of radical visions for the future of all species.

A journey through immersive, interactive installations and digital works, the exhibition invites visitors to experience a range of perspectives of our shared planet, exploring Earth as a community to which we all belong – humans as just one species among millions.

Aiming to reignite respect for our essential and complex biosphere and inspire awe and wonder for our beautiful planet, the exhibition explores different ways of existing on Earth and finding ways to reconnect with them, while also looking at the role technology has to play in deepening our understanding and connection to the natural world. Our Time on Earth encourages visitors to take an active role and leave feeling empowered to make positive change.

About Julia Watson

Julia is a leading expert of Lo—TEK nature-based technologies for climate-resilience. Her eponymously named studio brings creative and conceptual, interdisciplinary thinking to design projects and corporations interested in systemic and sustainable change.

She is the author of Lo—TEK Design by Radical Indigenism

Julia Watson is a renowned architectural historian but is especially known for her work around Indigenous Architecture

Julia Watson is a renowned architectural historian and the author of several books on the history of architecture. She is a professor at the University of Texas at Austin and has taught at Harvard University, Yale University, and Columbia University. Julia Watson is one of the world’s leading experts on the history of architecture and has published numerous articles and books on the subject.

She is a highly respected authority on the subject and her work is widely respected by her peers. Julia Watson is an important voice in the field of architectural history and her work is essential reading for anyone interested in the subject.

More about Julia Watson on our website.

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We really enjoyed being at the Footprint+ event earlier this month. Speaking to so many different people with the same goal was really refreshing. We still have one more episode to bring you, plus a couple of bonus episodes!

If you missed any interviews from the event, you can catch them on the previous specials one, two and three. 

To begin the final episode of this four-part series, Pete the Builder spoke to Adrienne Bloch about women and their role in the construction industry. Adrienne Bloch is the ESG, Managing Director for Bloch Solutions.

She was a chairperson at the event. Her talk was entitled MMC delivers massive carbon savings.

Adrienne believes that modular construction will make it easier for women to play a more critical role in the industry.

Adrienne leads Bloch Solutions with a specific focus on maximising environmental, social and economic outcomes, and ESG investment.

Next up, Steve Randall spoke to David Lewis about life sciencesDavid Lewis is the Operations & Finance Director for Ironstone Asset Management Limited.

Life Sciences is a topic that is growing at an increasing rate and one in which David takes a particular interest.

He believes that there is a lack of suitable office and lab space in the UK. Together with his team, they try to create space for science. They focus on what they call the golden triangle, the space between London, Cambridge, and Oxford.

“We only have eight people on our team but one of the first people we actually hired was a sustainability director, so that is how important we treat it”

Pete the Builder spoke to Rory Bergin about the hot topic of modular construction

With a personal interest in all things sustainable, Rory Bergin is the Head of Sustainability for HTA Design. He was a keynote speaker at the event. His talk was entitled MMC delivers massive carbon savings.

Rory’s ambition is to deliver some ground-breaking innovative sustainable designs that set the standard for the new generation of environmentally, socially and economically sustainable places.

Justin Guest is a partner at Archipelago Eco Investors. He was a keynote speaker at the event. His talk was entitled Carbon Offsetting – Where is your carbon pot best spent?

“Offsetting is absolutely a legitimate strategy when it is done right”

Pete the Builder spoke to Romy Rawlings for the penultimate interview in this special.Romy Rawlings is the Commercial Director at Vestre. She is a Chartered Landscape Architect with lots of experience as a consultant

Constructive Voices: Inspiring change within the construction industry and related sectors

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