December - 2020CONSTRUCTIONTECHREVIEW.COM8Few people could have predicted the global COVID-19 pandemic that emerged in March of last year. None of us were ready. This pandemic has forced us to reconsider how we work, live and prioritize the two. We found that the economy and wellness were not aligned enough for firms and families to be successful. Some we found were more aligned than others. We needed to be creative enough to find a way to be more flexible and resilient in all aspects of life. While few industries have been unaffected by the pandemic-led downturn, there are places where adaptability and technological advances have provided a lifeline. The architecture, design, construction and engineering industries now face the necessity to pivot into a virtual workplace where collaboration and digital competence are essential in daily project work. The built environment has now changed forever, and firms in the A/E/C industry that adapt first will be the most successful.At HGA, I have had the unique experience of being able to pivot and adapt to the new remote workplace almost seamlessly. Firms that were more prepared for remote working through Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other platforms along with IT teams that enable remote VPN service were better positioned to continue daily work and service clients during the immediate need in March. Now many industries are adopting a more flexible, confident work from home policy for the future. Work from home employees is now using virtual meetings and digital technology constantly to accomplish tasks.Disruption is defined as both the disturbance or problems which interrupt an event, activity, or process and as a radical change to an existing industry or market due to technological innovation. This pandemic has caused a disruption of the status quo in our lives and forced industries to create new processes providing better outcomes for their employees and clients. This challenge has sparked a revolution of critical thinkers to leverage creativity for the future needs of our population. The design, construction and engineering industries were always made up of professionals focused on creative problem solving through critical thinking on projects. Now, they are doing it together to address COVID-19 issues.Partnerships in the industry, where competitors once existed, emerged organically to address COVID-19 and respond quickly. Creative problem solving and strategic thinking expanded in the A/E/C industry in a matter of weeks between existing relationships, as well. For example, HGA and The Boldt Company partnered to build STAAT ModTM critical care units to address the safety of patients and healthcare workers affected by COVID-19. This modular product has speed-to-market as the only quick-ship prefabricated solution to deliver true Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (as recommended by the CDC) for infectious patients undergoing aerosol-generating procedures. Addressing a truly urgent need for capacity and safety triggered by the outbreak.We have adapted as a firm and in the industry to apply new ideas, processes and cultural adaptations to create better outcomes for our clients. The way buildings are designed, engineered, and constructed has changed forever to accommodate the impacts of global pandemics and work/life balance. Design firms like HGA were already focused on research, evidence-based design to solve problems and exceed expectations for our savvy clients. Now more than our gathering, analyzing and designing from data is necessary to be a truly resilient design firm.The disruption has also brought a surge of creativity that has transpired through these partnerships that is not only benefitting A VIRTUAL CULTURE SHIFT HAS IMPACTED THE A/E/C INDUSTRY PROMOTING RESILIENCY AND FLEXIBILITY: AN INDUSTRY WELL POSITIONED FOR DISRUPTIONBY SUZANNE ABBOTT, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT, HGAIN MYOPINION
< Page 7 | Page 9 >