Dylan Cruess participated in New Hampshire Business Review‘s Ask the Experts: “Engineering Tech Enhances Project Design in NH”. The article takes a deep dive into recent development projects and the innovative engineering that makes the industry so exciting.
Dylan and other industry experts discuss some of the most interesting engineering projects happening in New Hampshire this year, as well as state-of-the-art design trends, energy efficiency, sustainability, and much more!
Continue reading below, or check out the full section on NHBR!
Ask the Experts: Engineering Tech Enhances Project Design in NH
What are some of the most interesting engineering projects happening in New Hampshire this year?
We are seeing many redevelopment and expansion projects throughout the State for the coming year. The inventory of previously undeveloped land, especially in Southern New Hampshire, continues to shrink, so many of our larger projects for 2023 are on redevelopment sites where previous buildings will either be removed, renovated, or expanded to create something new. Redevelopment and expansion projects are particularly interesting because it is necessary to incorporate the existing site conditions and utility connections into the design.
Are you seeing a change in project design as companies downsize, streamline, or expand their capabilities?
Our project design processes are constantly adapting and changing based on the AutoCAD software that we use and the requirements of our clients. Since the COVID pandemic, working remotely outside of the office has become the norm for our company and in the broader construction industry, so we have expanded our utilization of different online file-sharing and collaboration tools to make working remotely more efficient and most importantly more accurate.
What are the latest state-of-the-art design trends that you’re seeing?
The increasing use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the most state-of-the-art design trend that we are seeing. With high construction costs and supply chain delays, we are seeing more clients utilize BIM to virtually see the future construction of their projects. Our primary design software, AutoCAD, can merge the designs for different aspects of a project, such as the underground utility connections with the architect’s building design model. The project team can virtually see a 3D model of the future project and determine if any conflicts will arise during construction.
How much emphasis do you see on incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability in upcoming projects?
We see a very large emphasis on incorporating energy efficiency and sustainability in just about all of our projects. Firstly, over the last 10 years, the international building codes have been updated to include many energy efficiency requirements and standards that were previously thought to be “above and beyond. Also, with energy costs at historically high rates, our Clients are asking us to look into every possible option during the design process to increase efficiency and sustainability in an effort to reduce construction and future maintenance costs.
What are some of the best things a construction firm can do to achieve a healthy bottom line in 2023?
There is a lot of uncertainty in the economic outlook for 2023, but the industry has remained resilient and I don’t foresee any change going into the Spring construction season. As a professional service firm, I think the best thing to maintain a healthy bottom line in 2023 is to continue to focus on providing value and practical solutions to clients.