DFW Construction Industry Works Through COVID Challenges and Opportunities

DALLAS—Newly hired Suffolk Dallas general manager Mark Penny says construction is continuing on public sector work, which is using lower costs and public facility downtime to its advantage. These projects dovetail with his professional passion: observing the building process and sharing the end results with the community.

“Small or large, buildings shape communities,” Penny said. “My favorite projects have been the ones where I was part of the process from the very beginning, saw the vision for the project take shape in everyone’s minds, helped to develop that dream and then was a part of delivering that dream. The ultimate satisfaction is driving by a project we built and being able to tell my kids I was part of making it happen.”

Today, this work is continuing on project sites with a greater emphasis on hygiene and safety, Penny says.

“Technology will continue to permeate the industry, especially given the benefits on cost and efficiency,” he predicts. “Suffolk has already harnessed the potential of technology and it will continue to be a point of distinction in a post-COVID world.”

On job sites during COVID, thermal cameras are being used to check and monitor temperatures of workers before boots hit the ground. And, Triax monitors are sensors that employees wear on hardhats to help maintain social distancing. These monitors sense when they are coming in close contact to one another and sound off alarms to remind the team to keep safe distances from each other. Penny says innovation within the construction industry has made impacts in other ways as well.

“The increased use of modular construction is making a tremendous impact,” he says. “With the limited availability of labor, the safety risks to the workers on a site and the need to reduce waste in our industry, being able to fabricate sections of a building in a factory-type setting allows the industry to not only continue to grow, but also benefit those who build.”

Penny points to some of the opportunities in the current COVID environment, namely luxury hotel resorts.

“While companies have restricted travel, resulting in lower occupancies, personal vacations are happening and luxury resorts are getting interest from developers,” Penny tells GlobeSt.com.

On the flip side, the hospitality industry is also facing challenges as commercial hotels have also taken a financial hit.

Other challenges are office projects. While developers are moving forward with projects, builders and architects are required to rethink the office structure to prioritize safety in a post-COVID world.

“Everyone is trying to reimagine what the new normal is, perhaps reduced space or density, or shared workspaces every other week? Companies are learning from COVID and adding technology more than ever before,” Penny tells GlobeSt.com. “And, architects are deep in thought for the office space of the future.”

Another challenge is the supply chain, which is an issue particularly for firms that source materials overseas, he says.

“Logistical traffic flow is slowed,” Penny tells GlobeSt.com. “Overseas supply chains are affected during these times and getting materials is difficult. Some parts of the country are still slowing construction. A lot of people are uncertain about logistics and carrying buffers on costs. You can lose ground on slower deliveries. There are no guarantees right now, and overseas port and customs are compounding these issues.”