b'TCA MEMBERS DAY KEYNOTETHE VIEWAHEADPCLS CHRIS GOWER SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION A WORLD WHERE MORE COLLABORATION, INGENUITY AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE THE ORDER OF THE DAYBy Roma IhnatowyczWHEN CHRIS GOWER, COO ofPremanufacturing in particular will growincluding progressive design build (PDB) PCLs Buildings Group, took toin importance, noted Gower, improvingwhich incorporates more involvement the podium at TCAs Members Day thiseverything from timelines to safety, andfrom owners. I think progressive past spring, all eyes and ears were onforcing more innovation and collaborationdesign build will be the new version of him. A respected, long-time constructionamong the different players at the outsetcontracting in the future, said Gower. professional, Gower is in charge of theof the procurement process. WithOwners want to have say in the product. bulk of PCLs $9 billion constructionHumber Hospital, we had to determineIn surgical operating rooms, for instance, business. If theres one man who hasthe colour of the washrooms 18 monthsthe lights are to a surgeon what knives his finger on the pulse of the industry,in advance! he revealed. are to a chefthey want to pick them its Gower.out. We will get to a place where it will be Demands such as these are innovatingmore about how do we collaborate. The PCL executive briefed the procurement process, which at the TCA members on what he sees asmoment is not always set up to allowTECHNOLOGY FIRSTthe future of construction in Canada,for all the pre-manufactured elementsOn the technology front, the industry still targeting key trends impactingto be smoothly implemented so longhas a long way to go: Gower quipped prefabrication, procurement andin advance. This will change as newerthat the construction industry tends to technology. The constant acrosstechnology enters the mainstream.fall low on the scale of technology use, Technology will force procurementright behind hunting and gathering. That all these fields, he stressed, is theto change to allow for those newsaid, things are changing. Investments in overwhelmingly rapid pace of change.technologies, said Gower. Procurementsoftware for the construction trade are Changes are moving at a fast andis absolutely changing and for the good.climbing, and the industry can expect furious speed, and embracing theto see more use of digital prints, smart journey is just as important as acceptingLump-sum bidding, a norm in the industrybuilding, and implementation of sensors its outcome. Changes are in front of us,when Gower was starting out almost afor everything from lighting and heating and theyre moving much faster, Gowerquarter century ago, is now making wayto humidity and water penetration. In an reminded the audience. for different models of collaboration,industry constantly pressured to build 18Quarter 2 2019 BUILDERSDIGEST'