In the built environment, the sheer size of megaprojects often means treating them as a cluster or series of smaller projects. Sometimes one part of the megaproject is planned as a part of the public infrastructure while another is not.
For instance, Wisconsin-based Landmark Development is currently planning a $20 billion Chicago-based megaproject that will include a major transit hub near Soldier Field—the football stadium that’s home to the Chicago Bears.
It’s shaping up to be a steady-as-she-goes kind of year in U.S. building. June was a soft month for megaprojects overall, but estimates say that overall 2019 construction starts in the U.S. will stay fairly level with last year. In the meantime, some truly interesting trends are playing out in the nonresidential construction space. They reveal much not only about key industry drivers, but the world at large.
Will 2019 be the year construction will break through its notorious, decades-long productivity doldrums? The arrival of Industry 4.0 has sparked new interest in how technology can be used to boost efficiency and reduce costs. Let’s take a look at how AEC firms are taking advantage of these new tools to shorten their timelines and shrink project costs.
