Contractors need to be nimble enough to position themselves for whatever the market yields. “We want to be a ‘must consider’ for every project, and to be that, we must constantly improve,” says Pat Di Filippo, Executive Vice President of Turner’s Northeast region.
For the past several years, design-build has accounted for 10–15% of Turner’s work. “If you’re going to do design-build, you have to be able to drive the design,” Di Filippo says. The company is also pursuing projects more aggressively via public-private partnerships.
Last year, the company launched Turner Engineering Group, which now has 16 experts. Di Filippo, who leads the group, says there is “a tremendous thirst” for TEG’s services throughout the company. Its services have been expanded to include design peer review.
One recent project where TEG is providing services is the $114 million Center for Cyber Security Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy, which the design-build team of Turner and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has been selected to deliver. The 206,400-sf facility will include a research and testing tank to support its engineering and weapons labs, an observatory, offices, and collaborative spaces for students and faculty.
Turner also has been cultivating its self-perform capabilities, such as concrete pouring. Last year, it hired nine regional Lean practice managers to streamline construction and reduce costs.
Making Turner a Lean practices company is a work in progress. “But the results are moving in the right direction,” Di Filippo says.
He is cautiously optimistic about business, especially in New York City, where several mega-projects are in the works. “We’re geared up for opportunities,” he says.
RETURN TO THE GIANTS 300 LANDING PAGE
Related Stories
AEC Tech | May 9, 2016
Is the nation’s grand tech boom really an innovation funk?
Despite popular belief, the country is not in a great age of technological and digital innovation, at least when compared to the last great innovation era (1870-1970).
Big Data | May 5, 2016
Demand for data integration technologies for buildings is expected to soar over the next decade
A Navigant Research report takes a deeper dive to examine where demand will be strongest by region and building type.
Urban Planning | May 4, 2016
Brookings report details how different industries innovate
In the new report, “How Firms Learn: Industry Specific Strategies for Urban Economies,” Brookings' Scott Andes examines how manufacturing and software services firms develop new products, processes, and ideas.
Contractors | May 3, 2016
ABC: Nonresidential construction spending slips in March
Spending is up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. Half of the 16 nonresidential construction subsectors experienced monthly spending growth last month, while 12 are up on a year-ago basis.
Market Data | Apr 29, 2016
ABC: Quarterly GDP growth slowest in two years
Bureau of Economic Analysis data indicates that the U.S. output is barely growing and that nonresidential investment is down.
Contractors | Apr 29, 2016
OSHA issues advisory to protect workers from Zika virus
Construction industry workers considered at high risk.
Government Buildings | Apr 22, 2016
Public-private partnership used to fund Long Beach Civic Center Project
Arup served as a lead advisor and oversaw financial, commercial, real estate, design, engineering, and cost consulting.
Contractors | Apr 21, 2016
Dewalt introduces rugged construction smartphone
The Android-powered device is waterproof, dustproof, weatherproof, and can withstand drops up to six feet.
Building Tech | Apr 12, 2016
Should we be worried about a tech slowdown?
Is the U.S. in an innovative funk, or is this just the calm before the storm?