Joe Vila

New engineering rule . . . ALL projects in Hawaii or Puerto Rico REQUIRE an onsite I once froze my butt off outside of Scranton PA in the dead of winter during an inspection and definitely have no interest in repeating that one. Yet, that inspection I went to in San Diego was one I wouldn't have minded staying at for a few more days before and after that actual inspection. You can decide if you want to go to those middle of nowhere or freezing cold places. However, I think we all agree that places with gorgeous beaches and sunshine almost continuously should require an onsite (fully expensed, of course) Considering all of the remote technologies we have today, maybe this is more than just a pipe dream #TheEngineeringMentor #SRENgineringAndConsulting #engineering #engineers #mentoring #engineeringlife #onsite #inspections Btw, I'm an open networker, so don't be shy if you want to reach out to follow/connect

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DPR Construction’s Abe Sipes and Chad Arthur will present with the University of California, Davis Health’s, Creed Kampa, Assoc. DBIA, AIA, and SmithGroup’s, Jacqueline Lee, AIA, WELL AP and Gabriel Fonseca AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Assoc. DBIA at the 2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Conference on their collaborative efforts on the UC Davis Health 48X Complex in Sacramento, California. Their presentation, Accelerating Projects with Smart Blocking and Stacking and Choosing by Advantage will: ✔Demonstrate leadership techniques for early collaborative decision-making and delegation to cluster teams.  ✔Detail how to align teams in clear design concept communication by using cost modeling Smart Blocking, and Stacking.  ✔Assess cost and schedule impacts while efficiently integrating new input and maintaining project milestones. ✔Help identify, plan, and execute prefabrication opportunities. Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/gCvtdwas

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DPR Construction’s Abe Sipes and Chad Arthur will present with the University of California, Davis Health’s, Creed Kampa, Assoc. DBIA, AIA, and SmithGroup’s, Jacqueline Lee, AIA, WELL AP and Gabriel Fonseca AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Assoc. DBIA at the 2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Conference on their collaborative efforts on the UC Davis Health 48X Complex in Sacramento, California. Their presentation, Accelerating Projects with Smart Blocking and Stacking and Choosing by Advantage will: ✔Demonstrate leadership techniques for early collaborative decision-making and delegation to cluster teams.  ✔Detail how to align teams in clear design concept communication by using cost modeling Smart Blocking, and Stacking.  ✔Assess cost and schedule impacts while efficiently integrating new input and maintaining project milestones. ✔Help identify, plan, and execute prefabrication opportunities. Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/gCvtdwas

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I try to avoid political content/posts on LinkedIn… That said, as I watch the world react to the devastating fires spreading across Southern California right now, I think it is important to remember that the response to climate disasters (there is nothing natural about the intensity and frequency of the disasters we are currently experiencing - stop calling them natural disasters) is more than immediate damage control and recovery efforts. Individuals who deny human related impacts on the climate should not be elevated to leadership/policy decision making positions that impact current and future generations. This isn’t just about environmentalism. It’s not a red versus blue thing. We cannot afford to continue to just react. It is time to create real, proactive, and measurable change. Elections aren’t just every four years, policy can be introduced and changed at any time, corporate board members can be replaced. Enough is enough.

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In honor of an absolutely amazing 2024 Women In Construction Conference this week, and because I have significantly more followers than in February when I originally ran this series, I'm going to re-run my week-long special series on 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 tailored specifically for construction leaders, crafted from a panel presentation I gave at the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange/Construction Industry Education Foundation 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 in 2022. My goal this week is to give you some basic tools that will allow you to 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 that you can apply to all sorts of negotiations. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗻𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿. I always tell my clients, "You are driving this bus. I'm just your navigator. I'll give you advice and my opinions, but ultimately you decide whether to follow my suggestions or to take an alternative route to your destination." So how do you create your own personal negotiation framework? Well, come back on Monday, when we'll kick off with 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚 and why it's critical in shaping your negotiation outcomes. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐳 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞! ~~~~~~~~~~~ 𝐎𝐰𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬. 𝙒𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙟𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨. 𝘌𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴. 𝗠𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀. 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫.™️ ~~~~~~~~~~~ 📈 P.S. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬, you're in the right place. I coach subcontractors on how to master their subcontracts to achieve these goals. Let’s turn your contracts into your greatest asset. Questions? Shoot me a message—I love coffee chats! ☕ 📸: Molly Wanless-Smith at this year's workshop on Strategic Communication

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DPR Construction’s Abe Sipes and Chad Arthur will present with the University of California, Davis Health’s, Creed Kampa, Assoc. DBIA, AIA, and SmithGroup’s, Jacqueline Lee, AIA, WELL AP and Gabriel Fonseca AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Assoc. DBIA at the 2024 DBIA Western Pacific Region Conference on their collaborative efforts on the UC Davis Health 48X Complex in Sacramento, California. Their presentation, Accelerating Projects with Smart Blocking and Stacking and Choosing by Advantage will: ✔Demonstrate leadership techniques for early collaborative decision-making and delegation to cluster teams.  ✔Detail how to align teams in clear design concept communication by using cost modeling Smart Blocking, and Stacking.  ✔Assess cost and schedule impacts while efficiently integrating new input and maintaining project milestones. ✔Help identify, plan, and execute prefabrication opportunities. Learn more about the conference: https://lnkd.in/gCvtdwas

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This is the definition of insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. “He (Muoto) recommends any home built in the last 10 years be allowed to be rebuilt with over-the-counter approval. Building codes haven’t changed much in the last decade, and these newer homes will have gone through a permitting process relatively recently.”   There will continue to be wildfires in California, and framed houses will continue to burn. The building codes need to be updated to require non-combustible construction. Concrete homes will not burn, are insurable, and are super energy efficient, solving at least three problems simultaneously.

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$250k per unit vs $800k per Unit (Workforce & Affordable Housing) Councilmember Tim McOsker who represents the Fifteenth Council District which includes the communities of Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro, Watts, and Wilmington, has submitted this Motion to Los Angeles City Council proposing that any project over 40 units that has a streamline component should have Prevailing Wages, Healthcare Payments and other Labor Standards. Implementing these labor standards could effectively nullify ED 1 by halting thousands of units submitted under this directive. This would create a major setback in addressing the housing and homelessness crisis, disrupting the current momentum in Private Affordable Housing Development and exacerbating the housing shortage. These factors collectively create a challenging environment for privately funded developers aiming to build workforce housing.

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Please take the time to read this, it is a good summary of what a PLA is and how it effects the independent construction companies and their employees.

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NYC DOB Code - Major update *** Are you ready for this change? Effective 12/11/24 , initial DOB filings , permits initially issued after this date, for new buildings or major alterations for buildings that are 7 stories or 75’ H will require a site safety coordinator and a dob approved site safety plan in addition to having a cs - construction superintendent. Current code only included new buildings or major alterations that are 10 stories, 125’ H or buildings that have a ground floor foot print over 100,000 sqf as “site safety projects” - “major buildings“. Lets all be ready and prepared for this major change. Try to have your ssp’s ready in advance so you can file them as soon as the new code update kicks in. #nycdob #sitesafetyjobs #majorbuildingsrule #crsg #ll147

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We are seeing a lot more design and construction companies in Northern California ramp up on their marketing of #leanconstruction recently as they start to realize that their owners are asking for it and are more deliberate in their ask. This is a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that people are taking notice, having a conversation, and are strategizing their options. The bad thing is that most companies see lean as a marketing problem and not a skill / capability problem. So rather than ramp up their lean program, they are just doing the same thing but are ramping up marketing. This is an interesting situation as they have deliberately put themselves in their own “trap”. If your marketing is way a head of your actions and capabilities then someone out there will call bullshit on you. If you don’t market and don’t improve your capabilities you will not be viable for the 5-6 major anchor clients that every large design and construction company needs to survive. So if you do nothing it’s bad. If you do marketing but there is a big gap between what you are saying and what you are doing, eventually someone will call out your bullshit. It seems like the only way out of this situation is to do it for real. It sounds so simple but there are people out there that will do everything everything else besides this. They hope that this “fad” will go away and they can go back to their CM at Risk model and continue to do the same thing they have been doing for decades. Unfortunately the future for project delivery in both the public and private sector will be a combination of CM at Risk, Design-Build, and IPD. All three of these project delivery systems will need to use lean design and construction methods to coordinate the work between the GCs, trades, architect, and owners. You can try to avoid the future as much and as long as you want. It is not something that you can outrun unless you plan on retiring this year or next year.

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Precisely installed framing and drywall is important for structure, stability, energy efficiency, and aesthetic design. We’ve earned our strong reputation through the completion of dozens of large framing and drywall jobs all over the country. We’re widely considered the San Diego area’s best commercial framing and drywall subcontractor. It’s not uncommon for us to install over 1 million sqft of drywall or 500K sqft of framing in a single project. Because we provide framing and drywall for some truly innovative architecture, we often must get creative when it comes to problem solving and overcoming challenges.  Few subcontractors on the market are as good at framing and drywall as we are! 💪 #uniquebuildinggroup #ubg #constructionservices #exterior #interior #drywall #framing #subcontractors #professional #knowledgable #experienced #safety #quality #compliant #organized #teamwork #california #socal #sandiego #losangeles #sanfrancisco #paitning #coating #decorativefinish #exteriorpaitning #interiorpainting

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Excited to share Sellen’s Industry Trends Report! It covers market trends in the Puget Sound region, poll results from leading local firms, and a look at how AI is influencing the industry. Check out the full report for more. 

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The Golden Gate Bridge: A Timeless Icon of Engineering and Inspiration Connecting San Francisco to Marin County, the Golden Gate Bridge isn’t just a marvel of engineering—it’s a symbol of resilience and creativity. Built during the Great Depression (1933-1937), it provided thousands of jobs when they were needed most. Length: 1.7 miles, with a 4,200-foot main span—one of the longest in the world! Iconic orange hue: Chosen for visibility in fog and to make a bold statement. Traffic: 112,000 vehicles cross it daily, plus dedicated walkways for cyclists and pedestrians. Designed to endure powerful ocean currents, heavy fog, and high winds, this masterpiece of art deco design is a testament to teamwork and ingenuity, brought to life by Joseph Strauss, Irving Morrow, and Charles Ellis. From films and TV shows to its role as a cultural and architectural icon, the Golden Gate Bridge is more than just a route—it’s a story of human determination.

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State and Federal construction building projects, please stop wasting my tax dollars by not requiring BIM Coordination or providing any sort of BIM Coordination Specifications on mid to large projects. Yes, this project needs BIM. At over 130k SF, more content then the images show, and congestion like this throughout, there is great risk of delays and claims due to the number of changes that will be required. But without the specifications and clear requirements, not everyone will even include BIM coordination. For those contractors who want so utilize BIM, with no BIM Spec provided, most will receive lack luster results in the end due to the chasing to the bottom, low-cost approach. And unfortunately with these kinds projects, BIM receives a bad representation...I wonder why. I have seen countless project like this and I hear too many of them not going well for the contractors and owners involved. I feel for these contractors and all those from the management to the field. It doesn't have to be this way! If you have the ability to stop this, there are solutions. One option is we provide a BIM Commissioning service to owners, owner representatives, and design build or GC/CM contractors. With this service we bring clear BIM Specifications and accountability across the entire project life cycle so everyone can win in the end with BIM. #BIMBetter #BuildBetter #BIMCoordination

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I've lived in San Francisco for decades, and my expertise is in the built environment. Still, it's difficult to understand why an "affordable" housing unit costs $1M in San Francisco. This is not a single-family home on a private lot. The answer is complicated. One reason is because there is a labor shortage, which is partly due to the high cost of living in the area, which makes this a Catch-22. There's also a lot of bureaucracy, and well-intentioned policies that result in systemic failure. "California, and the Bay Area in particular, have cost drivers that are uncommon in other parts of the country, Mirante said. Whether it’s requiring that affordable homes install solar panels or that construction projects contribute to a city’s arts or parks fund, cities across the Bay Area drive up costs through what Mirante said are well-meaning policy decisions." This San Francisco Chronicle article is well worth the read. #housing#affordablehousing

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As the weather heats up and there is still possible rains in the forecast, it's a smart move to pay extra attention to condition of your roof. The tiniest puncture or in this case, a few backed out screws could be a source to major problems. SoCal property managers and building owners, make the smart choice and reach out for a comprehensive maintenance program to keep your roof in tip-top shape.

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--- **Building the Future of Food: A Day in the Life of Todd Construction Services** In the bustling world of food processing and manufacturing, there's a vital role that often goes unnoticed. Meet Todd Construction Services, a seasoned general contractor based in sunny Southern California. Specializing in creating state-of-the-art facilities where the magic of food transformation happens, they stand at the forefront of the industry, ensuring every project is a testament to quality and efficiency. From the initial blueprint to the final inspection, every day is a new adventure. It's a job that demands a blend of technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of the specific needs of food production. Working closely with architects, engineers, and clients, Todd Construction Services ensures that each facility not only meets stringent regulatory standards but also optimizes workflow and productivity. One of the most rewarding aspects of the job is seeing a facility come to life. From the installation of cutting-edge machinery to the implementation of advanced safety protocols, each step is crucial. And it's not just about the build—it's about creating a space where innovation can thrive and where the future of food production is sustainable and efficient. With years of experience under their belt, Todd Construction Services boasts a portfolio that speaks volumes. Projects range from small-scale specialty food producers to large, high-capacity manufacturing plants. Each project is a unique puzzle, and solving it requires a blend of creativity and technical know-how. In a world where food safety and efficiency are paramount, the role of general contractors in this specialized field is more important than ever. And with Todd Construction Services at the helm, the future of food production facilities looks bright, innovative, and incredibly exciting. --- Ready to build the future of food together? Let's get started with Todd Construction Services, where quality and efficiency meet innovation.

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