Best practices in project delivery featured at joint CDBI and LCIC national conference in Edmonton
Leaders in design-build and Lean construction were in Edmonton last week for the Canadian Design-Build Institute (CDBI) and Lean Construction Institute of Canada’s (LCIC) first in-person joint conference in two years. Wrapping up on June 17, delegates had the opportunity to learn from and connect with expert Canadian speakers in either session stream.
The conference kicked off with a keynote presentation by Bill Black, president of the Calgary Construction Association, on Low bid to high value. Bill detailed the highs and lows of the current state of the construction industry and the ‘race to the bottom’ mentality that is the result of the traditional practice of rewarding the lowest bidder. Delegates were left to reflect on how they can add value to the industry through chosen design-build methods, or by incorporating Lean principles to projects to increase productivity.
Progressive design-build as an emerging project delivery method was explored within the design-build stream. Speakers discussed their experiences on medium to large scale projects in various Canadian provinces and the range of viewpoints, from the general contractor to the public or private owner, were shared to provide an in-depth analysis on the pros and cons experienced by all parties involved in a project. This was accomplished through various case study sessions, panel presentations and perspective pieces, encapsulating the current trends in the Canadian design-build world.
The Lean stream focused on BIM, work planning and examining integrated project delivery contracts. It provided delegates with tangible examples they could incorporate into their daily work life.
The conference ended with a back-of-house technical tour of the Royal Alberta Museum, an award-winning museum that was moved to a new space in 2018 in downtown Edmonton.
