June 29, 2020 05:00 AM
As New York City continues Phase 2 of reopening, the design, construction and development industries are mapping out how the future workplace will look and how buildings, regardless of their age, will need to change. To gather greater insight, Crain’s Content Studio spoke with Gavin Middleton, chief operating officer at Lehrer Cumming, which advises owners planning or already involved in large-scale construction projects. It focuses on new building construction, major adaptive reuse and complex developments. Middleton is a design and construction executive with 25 years’ experience in North America, the Caribbean and Europe. His expertise is in managing logistically complex mixed-use programs from inception to final delivery and closeout.
Lehrer Cumming has 120 team members across five offices, working on behalf of clients undertaking more than $25 billion worth of construction in the academic, cultural, commercial, residential and health care fields, as well as in the hospitality, retail and infrastructure sectors. It is a division of Cumming, a global project management and cost-consulting company.
CRAIN’S: Projects that were shut down or slowed in the spring are now open again. How have the initial days of reopening gone so far?
GAVIN MIDDLETON: I think all of us who participate in New York construction have been both encouraged and heartened by what we have seen in these first few days back. The trades have shown a deep desire to return to work and abide by the new return-to-work plans that have been put in place by general contractors. Construction managers have been responsive to the guidelines provided by state and city agencies and have carefully considered what a safe and efficient work environment should look like for this return. The high level of energy has been very noticeable on the job sites I have visited during the past few days, and we are encouraged by the daily number of tradespeople back at work and performing at high productivity levels even as they learn an adapted way of working. The numerous initiatives, including staggered starts in the morning, have greatly improved the safe vertical movement of workers and materials on our high-rise projects. Additional hygiene protocols and wellness checks are being diligently enforced on all the jobs I have visited. New York City has responded positively, and there is a strong back-to-work push across job sites.
One thing we are learning here is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution: Each construction site or work environment is affected very differently, depending on the logistics of the job, and all participants need to continue to work together to find unique solutions. While there is a natural and understandable wariness to resuming work during a pandemic, New York City’s construction and development industries have stepped up across the board to deliver job-site environments that make workers feel confident returning to work.
CRAIN’S: What changes need to be made to buildings in the city to make traditional high-touch areas in office environments safer for employees?
GAVIN MIDDLETON: Concern around high-touch areas and communal office items are a huge talking point in the industry on a national level, not just here. Lobbies, bathrooms, office kitchens and elevators are being targeted to be as hands-free as possible. We have numerous projects that are in the process of upgrading entry doors, security check-in screening, elevator operation, security turnstiles and card readers. New technology that uses facial recognition is being installed to help cut additional contamination possibilities and touchpoints. Bathrooms are being overhauled, especially in older buildings, throughout the city. Fixtures, bathroom stalls, soap dispensers, entry doors and hand-drying areas are being modernized to become hands-free.
CRAIN’S: Given the current financial uncertainties, what should owners be thinking about if they are contemplating construction projects?
GAVIN MIDDLETON: If construction slows, there will be enormous opportunities to secure better pricing. Quality subcontractors in most key trades are looking for a 2021 backlog and beyond, so owners will have opportunities to assemble top-tier teams for their projects. We also are seeing a growing interest at all levels of the general contracting community for new projects. Key executives, superintendents and project managers are going to be available on the general contractor-construction manager side of the industry, and these highly regarded teams consistently deliver successful projects, which present a real value proposition for owners who can advance work during this period of uncertainty.
We also will continue to see the consistent advancement of additional prefabrication for many components of the job off-site, in factory and shop environments. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades are showing great creativity in this regard, and while the off-site shift was already underway before the Covid-19 pandemic, it will only accelerate, given today’s unique circumstances.
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