The Construction Contractor's Perspective

I found your recent feature article (“Getting from Design to Construction,”

EBN

Vol. 11, No. 7/8) one of the most intriguing yet. I participate in many seminars and events surrounding green building, and the same attitudes and comments from the design community come up at each event—[about how] architects in a learning curve for green building do not allow the same grace of a learning curve for general contractors. I appreciate Ms. Koko’s comments on designers being more patient when it comes to the cost, procurement of materials, and understanding of what green building means to the contractor. There is a wealth of information concerning green design. There is not enough information out there for those who make the building a reality.

Additionally, the reality of the bidding process is that one bids on what one knows, the age ol’ learn-by-burn method. Right now this is a “burn” area for some contractors, even those that are a step ahead of the curve. Resistance to getting the GC involved as part of the team early on in a green project, LEED or otherwise, is a mistake. I understand that some projects do not allow for a GCs early involvement, but don’t you think that maybe, just maybe, you are forcing the hand of a GC to price on risk, or “burn,” rather than on what they know? Green building is about education, information exchange, hope for the future, right? So I hope that other contractors out there will stand by me when I say, “Give us a break.” Do not continue to leave us out of the loop. We are not the bad guy. We see that this is the way that construction is going. We see that this is the right thing to do, and we are all just trying to figure it out.

SOME contractors do care about the environment and are working hard to establish lower-impact solutions for construction processes. SOME are working on efforts and initiatives that go beyond what is outlined in LEED or other green building criteria. SOME are even understanding that sustainability applies not just to design and construction but how our businesses/offices operate. Take a closer look at your GCs; get to know them, and get to know what they are doing with all avenues of their business. I think you will like what you see, and it might even be fun!

Kimberly Ann Pexton

Corporate Environmental Specialist

James G. Davis Construction Corp.

McLean, Virginia