b"Ron Hambley Tina Chakraborty Brent Piniuta Andrew KonowalchukModerator Panelist Panelist PanelistPresident, M. Arch., MAA, LEED AP A/ExecutiveP.Eng. Manager, Project Delivery OfficeMAA, MRAIC Associate Vice-President Winnipeg Construction Association Director Capital Projects Planning Planning, Property & Development(Administration) at the University& Delivery at MB Housing Department at the City of Winnipeg of ManitobaHOW COVID-19 ISCHANGING CONSTRUCTIONWCA President leads first Owners Forum webinar By Kelly ParkerJust like that, the world changed. As the global pandemic upended, well, everything, businesses scrambled to adapt while trying to keep the lights on. In late June, the WCA hosted its first Owners Forum webinar to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the construction business, the changes it has forced and what the future holds. The discussion was moderated by WCA President Ron Hambley, who was joined by Tina Chakraborty from Manitoba Housing, Andrew Konowalchuk from the University of Manitoba (U of M) and Brent Piniuta from the City of Winnipeg. Hambley outlined the general impact on the construction industry, detailing that unlike provinces like Ontario, projects continued in Manitoba, albeit at a slightly reduced pace. Konowalchuk echoed that, adding, In Manitoba, safety isdelays, but nothing very significant. When the pandemic first taken very seriously. Overall, the industry was able to adapthit in March, we probably had 90 active projects on campus really quickly to a changing situation. We had a few smallin varying scales, and we didn't really notice much of an impact, so I really appreciate the training. We were certainly fortunate that the province didnt (shut us down). An unexpected upside of the student activity shutdown at the U of M was simpler logistics. On any given day, there would have been anywhere from 26,000 to 28,000 people on campus, noted Konowalchuk, and to just sort of abruptly close the doors was good news in some ways, because access became a lot simpler and the work easier in a lot of ways, so that at least took one large equation offthe table.Project delivery methodology changed at the university, as it did for all types of businessesremote office workspaces, staggered office occupation, attendance by essential personnel only and so on. 32 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca"