kate barrick

Industry Interview with Kate Barrick

Date: Not Specified
Guest: Kate Barrick, Preconstruction Manager at Skanska

Introduction

  • First industry interview session conducted.
  • Key guest: Kate Barrick, a preconstruction manager at Skanska.
  • Moderator encourages audience engagement and questions during the session.

Overview of Preconstruction

  • Preconstruction involves the first five stages of the project life cycle.
  • Construction managers (CMs) are involved early to support design and construction processes.
    • Early involvement is crucial to avoid surprises later in the project.

Kate Barrick's Background

  • Kate has been with Skanska for her entire career, amounting to approximately ten years.
  • Her role starts wherever the owner wants, sometimes from a very basic conceptual sketch.
  • Examples of starting points include:
    • Afternoon sketch from the owner.
    • Napkin sketch indicating basic project requirements.
Schematic Design
  • Majority of projects begin at the schematic design phase, involving basic designs (walls, doors, etc.) and design narratives.
  • Responsibilities include:
    • Making assumptions and qualifications (e.g., amount of wall paneling per office, design attributes like ceiling materials).
    • Collecting and analyzing project drawings and data for estimates.
Quantity Takeoff and Estimation Process
  • Use of software tools like On Screen Takeoff (OST) to conduct quantity takeoffs:
    • Analyzing drawings for lineal footage and total square footage calculations.
  • Gathering subcontractor prices for materials and understanding variance in costs based on specifications:
    • Example: Basic vs. premium exterior brick pricing ($45/sq ft vs. $60/sq ft).
  • Use of Sage software for compiling estimates:
    • Input quantities, descriptions, price per unit to derive total project cost.
  • Final estimate combines all aspects from foundations to interior finishes.
Value Engineering Process
  • Conducted if projects are over budget:
    • Identification of ways to cut costs without severely affecting project quality.
    • Example: Suggesting less expensive materials (e.g., dropping metal panel options to save $200,000).

Kate's Path in Construction Management

  • Joined Washington State University (WSU) with a clear interest in construction management, influenced by early interest in architecture and building.
  • Competitive balance with athletics (water polo) and academics during college.
  • Key experiences include:
    • First internship as a WSU construction management intern working on renovations and demo tasks.
    • Summer internship at Skanska leading to a full-time offer post-graduation.
    • Learning management of large estimates ($5,000,000) even as an intern.

Key Aspects of Working at Skanska

  • Strong focus on personal relationships within the company:
    • The importance of liking the people you work with, since work involves collaboration.
  • Skanska is a large global company with offices across major U.S. metropolitan areas, which allows sharing resources and knowledge between offices.
Movement from Estimating to Field Experience
  • Kate transitioned from estimating to field roles to gain a complete understanding of construction processes.
  • Responsibilities included hands-on management of the exterior envelope, interacting with subcontractors, and understanding workflow and production efficiencies.

Implementation of New Technologies

  • Kate pursued innovations in estimating, particularly the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) for 3D quantity takeoffs.
    • Developed a program for extracting quantities from 3D models, reducing manual data entry and improving efficiency.
    • Unveiled benefits of 4D site logistics plans, illustrating the construction timetable alongside site activity regarding the existing conditions.

Career Advice and Insights

  • Emotional Intelligence: Importance of understanding oneself and how you relate to others in a professional setting.
    • Recommended book: "Emotional Intelligence 2.0" by Daniel Goleman.
  • Teamwork: Recognizing that construction is a collaborative effort involving diverse stakeholders.
    • Importance of relating to different personas—from corporate clients to field workers.
  • Networking and Relationships: Building connections is crucial; phone calls to subcontractors or colleagues can foster relationships and yield future benefits.
Personal Development
  • Focus on continuous learning and curiosity in the industry:
    • Understanding that the construction world is vast and involves ongoing education from peers.
  • Prioritizing personal character development and pursuing one's own passion and goals to find sustainable professional paths.
Final Thoughts
  • Engage actively in networking opportunities (such as conferences and information sessions).
  • Stay open to experiences, internships, and opportunities for growth, even if uncertain.
  • Relationships in construction are key to career success; invest time in building these connections.

Closing

  • The session concluded with an open floor for questions, encouraging students to introduce themselves to industry professionals at upcoming events.