Page 96 - Built Expressions - Online Construction Magazine - November 2014 Issue

acpaarrozcorrientes.org MASTER Stroke all contributing to integrated A/E/C frms. The primary drivers for this phenomenon are owner demands and the need for businesses to grow and thrive. Although owner demands in any period could be summarized as ‘faster, better, cheaper,’ they often change during periods of economic volatility and are magnifed during prolonged economic cycles. The rise of design-build and related delivery methods in recent decades has largely been a response to the need to reduce project completion times. New delivery methods also tend to address world’s low-cost producer of ethane, expressing a growing level of concern improvements in project collaboration a natural gas liquid (NGL) that is the about how to address shortages of and confict reduction. Indications of primary building block for the many skilled labor in western Canada and A/E/C convergence can be seen in the intermediate chemicals, plastics, and the U.S. Gulf region. rising variety of construction delivery resins used to manufacture thousands The energy revolution now taking methods from design-bid-build to of consumer products. Natural gas place in North America is multifaceted design-build, construction management prices in the U.S. are one-fourth of the and complex. Tremendous access to and program management, and the cost in Europe and one-eighth the cost untapped energy reserves, increased most recent entrant, integrated project in China. The economic implications access to cost-effective alternative delivery (IPD). All of these methods for U.S.-based energy producers, energy resources, and a renewed focus have variations that suit specifc owner the petrochemical industry, utilities, on energy effciency are some of the needs, and may even have specifc and industrial manufacturers are components of this revolution. While marketing elements trademarked by enormous. the energy sector is diverse – and in industry frms to differentiate their The benefts of increased domestic many ways far removed from the work services from the pack. energy production extend well beyond of most engineers and contractors – FMI has routinely surveyed project the U.S. oil and gas industry and are seismic shifts in this “energy space” owners for many years, and one of having an immediate positive impact on will ripple through the construction the perennial standout requirements U.S. heavy industry, power generation, industry for years. Existing market mentioned by owners is the increasing transportation, and consumer product participants cannot meet this demand need for greater collaboration. If manufacturing. These activities are for infrastructure, and larger and less owners are in the driver’s seat in the being funded by private investors and experienced companies from the more current demand-side economy, will have signifcant economic impact on a traditional realms of construction have they simply continue to press for lowest growing number of regions throughout already embarked on myriad strategies price and expect all the other benefts the U.S. This privately funded activity to enable further energy market to fall in line? Some will. However, will be the lead driver of growth in U.S. participation. For more information, FMI’s most recent study of owners engineering and construction activity read the Powerful Energy Facts for the next several years. sidebar. The implications of these energy- related trends for the U.S. engineering Mega Trend #4: Convergence of adafruit.com and construction industries are Design & Construction signifcant. Design frms, pipeline Over the past few years, FMI has contractors, and multi-trade industrial observed a continuing trend in frms are experiencing tremendous which architectural, engineering, and demand for their services. Many U.S. construction frms are conjoining and Canadian pipeline and industrial through a variety of efforts. Mergers frms are growing by as much as 50% and acquisitions (M&A), partnerships, per year. As a result, these frms are consortia, and organic growth are PG 96 Built Expressions Vol: 3 Issue: 11 November 2014