A two-by-four still has a cross-section that’s, well, two inches by four inches. So the basics of construction remain the same, right? Has anything really changed? Randy Hall, senior project manager at Batson-Cook Company, would say not. Others disagree. The industry is changing, they say, and a lot of that change has come within the last few years. Keeping up with advances in technology, new products and architectural trends that work (and some that don’t) makes construction an ever evolving art and craft.

Jody Tidwell, director of development for W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, says technology has become an integral part of his day-to-day project work. “Technology has streamlined all aspects, from tracking sub-contractors to following payments, budgets and schedules.” He adds that state-of-the-art communications technology is also a must-have in today’s market. “Clients are asking for technology-ready facilities — complete with connections to the web and video conferencing capabilities.”

Hall says he doesn’t believe the methods of construction have changed much in the last 5 years — or in the last 20 years. However, he does admit that the Internet has had a colossal impact on the industry. “The Internet has found its way into our business, and we are developing more and more ways to utilize it,” he says. “Now, facilities managers are able to call up information immediately, learn product information and locate a Web site on which to purchase it. In addition, architects no longer have to send their drawings to the blueprint printer, who then sends individual copies. They can send the drawings through e-mail, allowing each party to view them from their desktop.”

Computer technology goes beyond the obvious convenient perks of online surfing and e-mailing. Hall says many owners today are interested in getting manuals on CD Rom — a request unheard of just a few years ago. Dave Schoendorf, senior vice president/division manager of R.J. Griffin & Company, says another trend is generating better quality renderings of project sites, which can then be examined closely from any angle. Matt Riggs of Centurion Construction Company agrees that computers have revolutionized the office. “In the past few years we have seen more robust software [and] a growing dependence on e-mail.” Riggs says computers are even starting to show up in the field.

What’s New?

With new technology comes new products. “Another big area of the construction industry that has been affected by technological advances is the material suppliers and their products,” Riggs says. “The material suppliers now have the ability to produce engineered materials that are stronger and more cost-effective than natural products.” Such engineered products range from additives for concrete, stronger glues, cultured finish materials and many more. By using such advanced synthetic materials, construction companies can offer owners a more aesthetically pleasing product — and still stay within tight budgets. “This is very important in today’s office and retail markets,” Riggs adds.

Mark Lang, superintendent of R.J. Griffin & Company, adds that structural concrete repair products and methods have greatly improved. “Instead of completely removing inferior concrete and starting over, you now have the option of applying thin layers of bonding agents, epoxy grouts and carbon fiber mesh to your existing concrete to increase the strength to any desired level,” he says.

Schoendorf says he has seen changes in mid-rise and high-rise residential construction methods, including the popular Epicore MSR composite floor system (by Infinity Structures) for mid-rises and Tunnel Form systems for high-rise residential.

Another new trend, says Riggs, is tilt-up construction, which he says has been quite popular throughout the Southeast in recent years. “Centurion has always been involved with tilt-up construction,” he says. “However, in the past it was primarily used for industrial and distribution, i.e. big box. In the early ‘80s, we started constructing single-story flex buildings using tilt-up concrete.” The method proved to be both time-efficient and economical, he says. As tilt-up gained popularity, more architectural elements were introduced, including Thin Brick, which Riggs says was introduced in Raleigh 5 or 6 years ago. Thin Brick is a brick façade that is cast into concrete panels. “When we started using the product, we could market a more conventional-looking structure combined with the cost savings of tilt-up construction,” he says.

“Another aspect of the tilt-up trend has been the introduction of multi-story load bearing buildings, which means the walls are actually structural elements and help carry the building loads,” says Riggs. “Traditionally, the building would have used structural steel to take the loads, and the panels would have been architectural.”

Riggs also adds that one of the greatest changes in construction over the last few years is the growing availability of lasers. “They are being implemented in many areas of construction, ranging from site work all the way down to the final finishes,” he says.

Keeping Up With Changing Times

With so much that is changing, how does one keep up with the latest trends?

Batson Cook’s Randy Hall says he never stops trying to learn more. “I lean heavily on the Association of General Contractors to keep up with the construction trends as well as the government regulations and codes,” he says. “Batson-Cook has developed close ties with universities local to our offices, [which] has allowed us to stay abreast of the newest ideas taught in the classroom. I also rely on trade publications to keep me up to date.”

Riggs says Centurion stays current by attending seminars, exhibitions, trade shows, symposiums and design forums. He also agrees that trade publications and literature help his company stay open to new ideas. “We also welcome new products,” he says, “and we are very willing to try new things.”

New trends don’t always pan out for the best, however. Take the low-bid process, for example. Yates’ Jody Tidwell says the process has become less prevalent. “A contractor must be competitive and reliable,” he says.

Hall echoes Tidwell’s sentiments. “I believe the construction manager without risk is a trend that will soon disappear,” he says. “A construction firm is much more effective when they have a stake in the game. There have been rumblings that owners are going to want the general contractors to have a stake in operating their projects for the first year.”

As rumors run rampant, industry experts swap opinions on their predictions for the future of construction. “My prediction us that private sector office construction will increase in the next 1 and a half years,” says Hall. “In addition, I believe this work will turn toward the design-build method of construction.”

Riggs, whose company deals a lot in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, predicts that tilt-up construction will become more prevalent. “The Research Triangle construction market is currently depressed and overbuilt like many other markets across the country,” Riggs explains. “When an owner finds a tenant for an existing space or new construction, we must be able to react very quickly to their needs. Due to the accelerated schedules and cost-conscious owners, tilt-up construction will become more widely used for office and retail construction.”

And so it goes for the construction industry — onward and upward.


©2002 France Publications, Inc. Duplication or reproduction of this article not permitted without authorization from France Publications, Inc. For information on reprints of this article contact Barbara Sherer at (630) 554-6054.