all caused significant destruction. Governments and other
organizations are coming to understand that constantly
putting new buildings in place of the old is too costly, and
a call for more resilient construction has been amplified.
The United States government declared November 2017
to be Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month
as a way to highlight the issue, and projects such as rais-
ing the streets in Miami Beach are potentially just the
vanguard to a more widespread movement in construc-
tion. 6. Sustainability
Somewhat related to resiliency, in the sense of improv-
ing the environmental impact of industry activities, is the
trend towards even more sustainability in construction.
Although most projects incorporate some sustainable ele-
ments, there is a move towards initiatives like mass tim-
ber construction for massive projects such as stadiums,
office buildings, and college dormitories. In addition,
more and more construction companies are recycling
their construction waste from all types of projects—build-
ing, renovation, and demolition.
7. Augmented and virtual reality, and the use of drones
Although the idea of a construction worker with a vir-
tual reality headset and a pair of controllers rather than a
hard hat and a toolbox may seem odd, this technology is
seeing greater adoption across the industry. Through
these systems, workers can control drones that serve nu-
merous purposes, most of them designed for increased
safety. Inspections of high-rise buildings can be carried
out via drone cameras with a minimum of workers mov-
ing around in dangerous areas. In addition, building sites
can be mapped and monitored from angles impossible
for humans to reach. And, finally, AR/VR use may poten-
tially draw in young workers who otherwise would have
had little or no interest in the construction industry.
be voted on in May. Minneapolis has a Southwest light-
rail plan that is ready to go if financing issues are re-
solved. And Boston's Green Line is being 'rebooted',
expanding from Cambridge to Medford, MA, a 4.7-mile
extension. This is on top of smaller projects, mostly in the
area of repair, being planned nationwide.
10. Reduction in growth
Fortunately, a reduction in growth does not mean a
lack of growth. Commercial construction, especially, is ex-
pected to have a double-digit percentage increase in
starts next year, according to industry forecasts from
groups such as Associated General Contractors of Amer-
ica. However, industrial and retail construction are both
expected to see a decline. The industrial construction as-
pect is especially disappointing if true, as 2017 was a
year of substantial growth in that sector.
If you're part of a commercial construction company,
study these trends and use that knowledge to put your-
self a step ahead of the competition. Look ahead, plan
ahead, get ahead.
Jim Lamelza is chief executive officer of DataBid, Inc.,
a construction leads and opportunity service currently
serving certain U.S. and Canadian markets in regions
outside of North Carolina. However, his comments
certainly have relevance here.
8. New regulations
Not all regulations that will impact the industry are
construction-specific; the new tax overhaul, for example,
is designed to have a substantial impact on businesses,
with tax relief for contractors that can now structure
themselves as C-corporations and pass-through entities.
Zooming in on specific locations in the U.S., New York
City now has a law that requires forty hours of safety
training for construction workers, and a new law in Cali-
fornia requires contractors acting as direct contractors on
private construction projects to be "financially responsible
for any wages, fringe benefits and union contributions left
unpaid by subcontractors and their sub-tiers".
9. Increased public transportation investment
As infrastructure problems become more acute across
the U.S., construction companies are seeing increased
business from states and municipalities investing in major
new transportation initiatives, or remodelling existing
ones. For example, Nashville is proposing a $5.2 billion
plan for new infrastructure and transit; this still needs to
Al Windle • 704.945.2176 • awindle@slk-law.com
The North Carolina Construction News — May-June 2018 — 7