Jeff Birenbaum

Is the number of workers on your projects holding steady or have there been changes?

Active construction projects in the City of Boston have been stopped for the time being, so all site-based resources are on hold. Cumming’s project management team, however, is still operating at the same level, focusing on back-of-house activities. Our team is working on a hospitality project in Atlanta that’s still in preconstruction and moving forward at full capacity, though we have concerns that financing will be pushed back a month or two.

Have your daily tasks and/or role changed as a result of the impacts of COVID-19?

No, not at this time. Our deliverables and drive to move projects forward have remained consistent. Generally, our role involves managing the budget, deliverables, scheduling, quality, and driving the development process overseeing design and construction. Recently, our role has expanded to also include providing a sense of calm and positivity to our clients and broader project teams during this challenging time. We are navigating these challenges daily and are working hard to keep people focused. For me personally, I make more of an effort maintaining connections with our remote team, reinforcing the fact that we all play a key role in supporting our clients and keeping our projects moving. We are all a part of something larger and the role each and every one of us play continues to be vitally important.

How are your project schedules being impacted? What are some of your solutions to help alleviate schedule issues?

All of our projects have been affected to some degree. We are looking at recovery schedules and the potential for acceleration in some instances. Some of our schedules may still be achievable given some built-in float. We are also analyzing and working collaboratively with the general contractors to come up with solutions.

One of our projects currently in preconstruction is in its 80-day countdown to GMP, which was originally scheduled for June 1. The project will likely be pushed 45-60 days as financing is secured. Given the project’s early stage, it is still possible to mitigate schedule impacts through creative solutions. Our goal is to arm our clients with the information they need to make informed decisions.

How is morale? Any insight into how to maintain team member morale during a time like this?

Morale is hugely important. We are all in this together, and strong leadership has never been more important than it is today. I try to keep things light when possible, acknowledge how challenging things are at the moment, and let our team know how much they are appreciated. I also realize how difficult it can be to remain motivated and productive working from home. Some advice I give is to establish routines to help maintain a positive outlook. Little things like making your bed in the morning and getting ready for work as you normally would help to set the tone for a positive and productive day. I have also come to appreciate that how team members are motivated varies by age, experience, background, and many other variables, and the approach to each individual may need to be adjusted.

Do you see the industry’s approach to construction changing over the long term in response to some of the lessons we’ve learned during this crisis?

When it comes to means and methods, I do not. However, I do see the industry needing to adjust how it deals with the supply chain, as well as contracts and agreements. What justifies an acceptable delay, how are issues that trickle down from subs handled, and what constitutes a force majeure event, for instance, are all questions that need to be considered more carefully.

We could all use some positive words of encouragement during this difficult time. Do you have anything you’d like to share?

None of us have been through anything quite like this before, and there’s a ton we can’t control, but if we all remain positive and focused, and work the issues, history tells us we’ll prevail. This positive attitude is inherent in our company culture and is what has led to our continued success. We unfortunately can’t fix all of this with a magic wand, so the next best thing is to just get up, make our beds, and do what we do best.