www.newyorkconstructionnews.com
www.ncconstructionnews.com SUMMER 2018
FALL 2018, Volume 13 No.5
NEW TECHNOLOGIES:
How will they redefine the
architectural, engineering
and construction community?
HURRICANE FLORENCE
At least 35 killed
in devastating floods
SPECIAL PROFILES TOP 10 NEW YORK
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY LEADERS PAGE 7
DeMatteis Organization 100 th Anniversary
Top 10 Concrete contractors
PAGE 15
PAGE 18
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news, analysis and networking opportunities to Florida’s
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tors, specialty contractors, developers, professional services and
building owners throughout Florida.

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2 – OCTOBER 2019 — Florida Construction News
By Mark Buckshon
Publisher, Florida Construction News
Joseph D’Albora’s observations that the
construction industry is at the “tipping
point” for modular construction touches on
what I believe is one of the most important
changes about to affect the industry. It is a
matter so important that I decided to pur-
chase a plane ticket to attend the upcom-
ing Dodge Data and Analytics Construction
Outlook Conference in Chicago in the next
few weeks. Key topics include modular
construction, as well as global BIM, lean
construction and new project delivery mod-
els. A couple of weeks later, I’ll head to
Boulder, Colorado to attend a Google Prod-
uct Experts meet-up. In this case, the flight
is free, because the technology company
has determined that I am expert about its
AdSense ad serving program. My interest
in this event is greater than understanding
a niche product. It relates to the profound
impact of technological change and artifi-
cial intelligence on our businesses and
lives. Some people embrace change, others
resist and most go with the flow. I can see
good reasons for each perspective. How-
ever, I think if your business is to succeed
in the decades ahead you need to pay at-
tention, and at the right time, take the
plunge and implement new technologies
and construction business practices.

I hope to learn even more about these
trends in the next few weeks and report on
them in the next issue, giving you the
heads up you need to make informed deci-
sions. Mark Buckshon is president of the
Construction News and Report Group,
which publishes Florida Construction
News. He can be reached by email at
buckshon@floridaconstructionnews.com.




Off-site and modular building
© CAN STOCK PHOTO / ND3000
The construction industry is at a tipping point
By Jacob D’Albora
Special to Florida Construction News
“The tipping points that magical moment when an
idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips
and spreads like a wild fire.” (Malcolm Gladwell)
The construction industry is notoriously known as
one of the slowest industries to accept change and
evolve with recent technology. Even looking outside of
a monitor screen, the industry is still resistant to assis-
tance from technology in progressing manual labor
which has always been the foundation of building build-
ings. This is about to change.

The construction industry is at a tipping point. What
is this tipping point? What is the revolution that is
about to spread across the built world?
Off-site construction. The process of planning, design-
ing and fabricating building elements at a site other than
the final location, creating a more rapid and efficient
construction of a permanent structure.

The key is this tipping point is not happening be-
cause the industry has finally accepted progressive
ideas and found a willingness to try the new method-
ologies. This tipping point, or what Gladwell refers to
as that magical moment, will be forced out of an act of
urgency and survival by three main factors:
• Labor force
• Rising construction costs
• Global warming
Labor force
The current labor pools have almost dried up and the
cause is directly correlated to the push for all high
school students to go to college and earn a degree. As
noble as that sounds, the act has been a detriment not
just to the construction and other industries but to the
young adults that were pushed that direction. Numer-
ous studies show the debt that student loans accrue
and the burden these individuals live with. Sometimes
for the rest of their life.

“As many as 40 per cent of borrowers could default
on their student loans by 2023.” (H. Hoffower from the
Business Insider.)
——————— Continued on page 4
Shumaker’s construction lawyers represent clients across the construction
industry: general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, owners, develop-
ers, architects, engineers, construction managers, and sureties.

www.shumaker.com Florida Construction News — OCTOBER 2019 – 3