STG Design recently attended the Alliance Partner Summit that Structure Tone Global Services hosted in Austin, Texas, on March 21st. The event, hosted by Rob Leon and Dave Ransome, allowed STOBG alliance partners globally and industry professionals to come together and discuss various topics related to the intersection of the construction and design industries. The guest panelists included Brian Jarrett | Managing Director of CBRE Central Texas, Anthony Gonzalez | Managing Principal of Spire Consulting Group, and Sandra Parét | CEO of STG Design. 

The panelists addressed questions from the audience about many of the construction and design economic predictors as well as what the group is seeing as future best practices. The interactive discussion explored market uncertainty, centralized use of technology, figuring ROI on future project budgets, and the value of "design-build and design assist" contract methodologies. 

One of the takeaways in the discussion is the role of technology in the construction and design industry. The panelists agreed that the centralized use of technology, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of project delivery. By using BIM, for example, stakeholders can better visualize and coordinate project elements, reducing the risk of errors and delays, as well as documenting early packages for long lead items. Newforma, a project management software tracks projects and documentation, and is a consistent communication tool that the owner can have access too as well. Architects use design technology tools like Rhino, Sketch up to relay design clarity and Cove Tool for more advanced options for energy analysis. With Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) gaining popularity, Sandra pointed out that it "simulates reasoning, learning from experiences, problem-solving, and more. However, from a design standpoint, developing unique solutions to clients’ challenges sometimes doesn’t lend itself to preconceived solutions." 

The discussion also emphasized the importance of accurately assessing the return on investment (ROI) for future project budgets. Uncertainty is still high due to availability through the supply chain, labor shortages and cost escalations.  By using data-driven analytics and predictive modeling, industry professionals can make more informed decisions about project budgets and timelines, reducing the risk of overruns and delays.  Educating the client in these factors is more important than ever prior to project release or budget approvals. 

Finally, the panelists explored the value of "design-build” and “design assist" contract methodologies. These approaches involve closer collaboration between the design and construction teams, resulting in more efficient and cost-effective project delivery. A client can have more project control by employing one of these methods and selecting partners that are familiar with the advantages of each method.  By working together from the outset, the design and construction teams can better align project goals, reduce the risk of conflicts or delays and make more cost effective decisions. 

Overall, the Alliance Partner Summit hosted by Structure Tone Global Services provided an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to come together and explore essential topics related to the construction and design industry. By collaborating and sharing ideas, we can better navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead, ultimately delivering better projects for our clients.