Having just gone through the preparations for the 100th anniversary of Turner Construction Co. and reviewing more than 300,000 photographs of projects that were built by Turner since 1902, one thing has become apparent about change. The process of building buildings has seen little change over the last 100 years. Technology slowly reduces the amount of labor it takes to put a building together and of course enhances the environment and communications. But, the basic components are still there.

Looking ahead, those basic components will still evolve slowly. Perhaps the most dramatic changes will involve how owners, designers and builders interact and coordinate there respective skills.

Management will likely see lots of change as the process is made more efficient through Internet and wireless capabilities. These will reduce input and make data available to the team (including subcontractors and vendors) in real time. Technology will also provide steady improvement in the composition and cost of basic building materials and systems.

Innovative methods will still be required to figure out how to build creative and unusual designs as reality prevails following ideas put down on paper.

The future of construction will still provide builders owners and designers with dynamic and exciting occupations because these occupations will always be people oriented and will require the sharing of great ideas.

Thomas R. Turner
Vice president national marketing
Turner Construction Co., NYC

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