Balfour Beatty US: A brief overview

Balfour Beatty is an industry-leading provider of general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services for public and private sector clients across the United States. Performing heavy civil and vertical construction, the company commits to leveraging innovation and technology to equip teammates and industry partners with proven systems and tools that bring value to their clients and construction projects. 

We recently had the opportunity to chat with three senior technology leaders at Balfour Beatty: Dominic Corrado, Director of Construction Technology for the company’s operations in Texas and Arizona; Sam Burns, Director of VDC in the Southeast; and Elizabeth Angel, Director of BIM & VDC at Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company in the Northwest. The trio shared valuable insights into the current challenges the construction industry faces, best practices for the adoption and implementation of new technologies, and highlighted the value of utilizing 4D simulations for planning and sequencing simulations.

Challenges in Construction: Increased project complexities and tighter deadlines

Balfour Beatty is committed to proactively addressing the numerous challenges the industry faces, which include increasing complexities of project designs and construction site logistics, skilled labor shortages, supply chain constraints, cost escalation, accelerated project schedules, and the need for more effective project data tracking and collaboration.

As projects have increasingly evolved in complexity over the past several decades, Balfour Beatty recognizes the transformative power of technology to deliver greater value to its clients and industry partners.

Embracing New Construction Technologies: Tools, not toys

Balfour Beatty’s virtual design and construction (VDC) strategy focuses on deploying the right tools at the right time to enhance project execution and operational excellence. The company’s technology leaders like Dominic, Sam, and Elizabeth emphasize the importance of evaluating available technologies, selecting the best tools for custom project and market needs, and fostering a collaborative environment for effective learning and implementation.

Their goal is to ensure that the company invests in tools and technologies that will provide lasting value, meet the unique needs of project stakeholders and empower field operations to achieve successful project outcomes.

The Power of 4D Simulations: Build it before you build it

4D simulations are one of the key technological advancements Balfour Beatty leverages for site logistics modeling and construction sequencing visualization. 4D models, which incorporate time as a fourth dimension, allow all stakeholders to visualize project sequencing, phasing, temporary works, and site logistics—all in a single location.

This virtual representation of the project enables better decision-making, proactive problem-identification, problem-solving, and optimization of on-site construction processes after performing a “digital dress rehearsal.” As summarized by a Seattle operations leader, “cmBuilder was a great and compact tool for us to clearly communicate the logistical impacts of a phased project on an active hospital campus to the client.”

In the Northwest, Elizabeth has experienced the power of 4D simulations to proactively identify and streamline project execution, leading to improved team communication for challenge identification and resolution.

“I believe the game changer, the big influencer in this scenario, is the early involvement of project teams into the 4D planning process. It allows us to identify problems, positively impact the project and ask the right questions from the beginning. Engaging superintendents from the outset of projects can also significantly improve scheduling, communication and team coordination in ways that impact the project throughout its lifecycle.”

- Elizabeth Angel - Director of BIM & VDC at Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty Company

The Benefits of 4D Simulations: Putting people at the heart of technology

4D simulations aid in daily planning and in facilitating better communication and coordination on the construction site. For instance, the visualization of adjacent buildings within the 4D model enhances the understanding of project complexities. Virtual construction technologies such as 360-degree, hard hat-mounted cameras and drones are utilized to capture progress accurately, leading to data-driven decision-making and improved project efficiency.

In projects across Texas and Arizona, Dominic has witnessed how technology creates a more people-first project experience for Balfour Beatty teammates and industry partners.

“As someone who came up through the industry in an operations role, I take particular pride in watching superintendents’ eyes light up when they interact with dynamic representations of projects’ future states. They can see what adjacent buildings are going to look like and better plan for necessary clearances. This is just one example of how technologies play an important role in democratizing work in the field—that is to say, making planning accessible and inclusive for every team member no matter their role or geographic location. I think this is one of the most important benefits of cmBuilder. It’s incredibly efficient that it’s all available on the cloud and the equipment libraries are always up to date.”

- Dominic Corrado - Director of Construction Technology - Texas/AZ, Balfour Beatty US

Sam’s approach in the Southeast incorporates the “virtual drawing board,” working out all the bugs and testing out various scenarios until the team feels confident in the solution.

“If we take a step back and examine other industries such as manufacturing, no task is performed without running a full simulation, ensuring it is failsafe or reworked as necessary, and then run again as a fully  iterative process. I think 4D phasing in construction and what we're seeing with tools like cmBuilder are important steps in that direction.”

- Sam Burns - Director of VDC - Southeast, Balfour Beatty US

The Construction Industry is Leveling up Its Game

This lively discussion with these industry experts provided a comprehensive overview of challenges facing the construction industry and the transformative potential of emerging technologies to directly address those challenges. With a focus on collaboration, 4D simulation, data utilization, exploration of AI tools and more, Balfour Beatty is driving improved efficiency, enhancing project delivery, and providing greater value to our teams, clients, and industry partners. As the construction sector continues to evolve, Balfour Beatty’s  pursuit of continuous improvement is positioning the company as a recognized and respected leader in innovation.

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