___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Collaboration
zero RFIs , and absolutely no deviation from plans . The point isn ’ t that every project should be unique . It ’ s that for better or worse each project is unique and requires significant collaboration . But if you frontload that collaboration and use configurable building systems with clear logic , you ’ ll lower both the total amount of time you need to coordinate , as well as your risk exposure .
The industry ’ s broader challenges mirror those in individual projects , as do its solutions . We need concerted effort from governments , industry bodies , and civil society organizations to incentivize collaboration before projects begin . We need to develop sensible building standards that align a variety of methodologies into unified code , even though it will take upfront compromise . We need to incubate novel technologies alongside trades , developers , and municipal partners to ensure good ideas don ’ t die in isolation . And we need funding that brings diverse parties together to address some of our most intractable challenges .
The California Energy Commission has recently taken a step in the right direction , introducing grants for groups that partner to develop , test , and demonstrate zero-carbon , cost-effective , modular homes . This initiative ultimately brought together disparate entities – Mighty Buildings , Lawrence Berkeley National Lab , and Habitat for Humanity – to generate novel manufacturing , training , and energy solutions that would have otherwise been impossible to execute in the course of a typical project . Only by demonstrating the impact of these techniques in real buildings , for real people , can we de-risk such approaches and pave a new path for collaborative methods .
Looking ahead , it ’ s clear that the future of construction hinges on more than just technical innovation . It requires a fundamental shift in how we approach projects , emphasizing collaborative methods from the outset . This change isn ’ t just beneficial ; it ’ s necessary for an industry facing global challenges like housing shortages and climate change . ■
Scott Gebicke www . mightybuildings . com
Scott Gebicke has held several leadership roles at Jabil over 11 years , including President of the Industrial Division and of Jabil Defense & Aerospace . He is a veteran US Naval Officer and previously was a leader in McKinsey & Company ’ s industrial practice , supporting high tech clients across areas including growth , innovation , and operational turnouts . Now , as CEO of Mighty Buildings , he is focused on driving adoption of Mighty Buildings ’ 3D-printed net-zero energy homes , which leverage green materials , innovative design and automated precision , to address sustainability , climate resiliency and housing shortage issues in the US and worldwide .
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