by Bill Dall
There were some key themes coming out of BUILDEX Vancouver. In every presentation firms were showing how they were putting new tools and methodologies like BIM into practice. Using technology to close the loop faster on design iterations lets companies provide more options to clients, and ultimately more inspirational infrastructure in our built world. And companies weren’t just waiting for vendors to provide better tech - HDR, StructureCraft, and others were building bespoke internal AI-based tools for knowledge management and parametric design, leveraging the newest that vendors like Autodesk had to offer.
One construction company who put all of this together was ETRO Construction.
They described what it takes to get a large public project done on a very tight schedule and budget, and, as like most projects want to - ‘stay out of the news.’ Or at least ‘stay out of the news’ for the usual reasons big projects are in the news. Being in the news as a big success would be fine for anyone!
ETRO took on the large task of getting BC Place ready for the FIFA World Cup, and doing this while other events are still taking place at the stadium.
How are they accomplishing this? By relying on people-first relationships, agile processes, and leveraging the tech that actually makes a difference.
What resonated with me?
A people‑first mindset. Trusting crews on the ground. Daily huddles, weekly plans, quick handwritten approvals when speed mattered. Keeping rapport and transparency with owners, not just during milestones but continuously.
On the process side, it was all about agility: pull planning, aggressive value engineering, and constant adjustments based on real conditions. They weren’t afraid to iterate mid‑flight.
And utilizing the tech to remove roadblocks, increase collaboration and find quality issues early. Continuous BIM updates based on the as-built reality, clash checks, and choosing the best field and back-office tools to help people with their jobs. Sounds like a lot to set all this up, but with clear benefits. If the tools help you detect key issues early, like clashes, it’s worth it.
It’s a reminder that the future of delivery isn’t just digital or lean or collaborative. It’s all three, anchored by people who are empowered to do their best work.
It made me think about the times when it’s been hard to get everyone on the same side of the table and aligned on a common goal, and how worth it it was once we got there.
In your experience, what’s the most overlooked “people-first” practice that makes the biggest difference?