An Interview with Dave Curry, Preconstruction Director, Consigli Construction

Jesse Knapp

To meet the growing demand for centrally located housing in Cambridge, Mass., Alexandria Real Estate Equities partnered with Consigli Construction and Boston-based architecture firm DiMella Shaffer to develop Prism Apartments at 50 Rogers Street. With limited inventory for new construction, complicated transportation logistics and a tight skilled trade labor market, cost certainty, accelerating construction timelines and optimizing trade labor resources were top priorities for the design and construction teams.

After analyzing key schedule drivers for the multifamily residential project, Consigli Construction enlisted SurePods to prefabricate Prism’s bathrooms offsite. To learn more about how SurePods saved the project team valuable time and resources, we sat down with Dave Curry, preconstruction director, Consigli Construction, to get the inside scoop.

SurePods: When did Prism’s project team decide to engage SurePods and why?

Curry: In 2017, we engaged SurePods early in the pre-con phase and gathered substantial data. Our findings proved that SurePods could deliver exactly what we were looking for: a high-quality, finished bathroom unit efficiently designed to our exact project specifications.

SurePods: What was the design process like?

Curry: The design process was very collaborative; SurePods proactively offered ideas to bring the project architects’ design goals to life and presented solutions to address challenges during the pre-con phase. The streamlined communication and lean manufacturing methods also made it easier to stay on budget and on schedule. The pods arrived on time and in perfect condition.

SurePods: How did working with SurePods help Prism’s project team accomplish its goals?

Curry: SurePods helped us accomplish what would traditionally require 100 hours of labor per bathroom in 10 minutes. Our estimates show that prefabricating bathroom pods offsite saved $2,500 per bathroom compared to built-in-place bathrooms and also eliminated 10 days of on-site labor per bathroom.

SurePods: Any other advantages of working with SurePods come to mind that you’d like to share?

Curry: Even though we knew SurePods would accelerate our construction schedule from the pre-con phase, we couldn’t have imagined the unusual circumstances brought on by the pandemic. Because the bathrooms were manufactured offsite, tradespeople had safer, more efficient working conditions onsite. This also made it easier to adhere to health and safety regulations without having to sacrifice valuable time.

If you’re a developer, designer or construction industry pro working in the multifamily residential space, let’s talk. Contact us at [email protected].

Spotlight on Healthcare: A look back at SurePods Projects from Coast to Coast

Jesse Knapp

As building owners, construction industry leaders and facility designers alike take inventory of lessons learned over the past year, there’s no doubt that priorities in healthcare design and construction processes will change.

According to Consigli Construction’s latest Market Outlook Report (published March 2021), 71% of surveyed subcontractors and suppliers reported they had seen an increase in requests for design-assist proposals, which Building Design + Construction (BD+C) notes is “a strong sign that speed-to-market is a priority.”

With speed-to-market becoming increasingly important across the board, BD+C also observes that, “the survey’s respondents are also more receptive to cost-saving material management software, tool upgrades, and robotics that improve efficiency.”

Underscoring the importance of speed and efficiency in the future of healthcare design, a Construction Executive feature (published September 2020) titled “Health Care Construction in the Post-COVID Era” dedicates an entire sub-section to the concept of “build efficiency.” Construction Executive explains that “by collaborating with clients and leveraging technology, construction teams can overcome the hurdles brought by COVID-19 to build post-pandemic facilities in an even more safe and efficient manner.”

Healthcare has become one of SurePods’ fastest-growing market sectors over the past year for all the reasons mentioned above. Not to mention, bathroom construction typically requires the complex coordination of hiring and scheduling 8 – 12 construction trades, ranging from plumbing, electrical, painting, tiling and drywall.

To highlight the healthcare industry’s early adopters of SurePods’ modular prefab bathroom pods, we’re taking a look back at trend-leading projects with notable “firsts” for modular construction in this field. From the Western Rockies in Denver to the Gold Coast of South Florida, below are three healthcare projects featuring SurePods modular bathroom pods:

Wellington, FL

Opened in 2012, Wellington Regional Medical Center was the first SurePods project to receive AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) approval. Designed by HKS, the South Florida-based acute care hospital features 80 SurePods bathrooms.

Denver, CO

Over in the Rocky Mountains, Davis Partnership Architects & H+L Architecture enlisted SurePods to prefabricate 440 SurePods bathrooms for Exempla Saint Joseph Heritage, the very first healthcare project to feature modular bathroom pods on the Western side of the United States. The faith-based hospital opened in Colorado’s capital city of Denver in 2015.

Seattle, WA

TGB Architects and Skanska USA Building general contractors were the first to partner with SurePods on a “shell and core” building method; the team turned to SurePods early in the design and preconstruction phase to prefabricate bathrooms for Seattle’s Virginia Mason Medical Center. Opened in 2015, the non-profit hospital features 51 SurePods bathroom pods.

If you’re a construction industry pro working in the healthcare space, let’s talk. Contact us at [email protected].

Construction Safety Week 2021: Four Ways SurePods De-Risk Jobsites

Jesse Knapp

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Here at SurePods, we celebrated Construction Safety Week! During the first week of May, contractors and building industry professionals work together to share resources and highlight the importance of promoting a culture of safety in construction.

As modular and prefab construction continues to gain momentum as a mainstream building method, SurePods’ commitment to de-risking jobsites remains a top priority. Safety Week 2021 focuses on construction safety from a holistic perspective, so we’re taking a look at the advantages offsite prefabrication offers and how SurePods is uniquely positioned to provide safer working conditions:

Well-lit, climate-controlled work environment

All prefabrication takes place in a climate-controlled, sheltered setting free of dangerous rain-slick floors or the merciless overhead sun. Temperatures remain consistent, supporting an ideal climate for doing one’s best work. With the absence of harsh weather conditions, the factory setting offers a more comfortable and predictable work environment.

Operations take place at ground-level

Most modular building takes place at ground-level, which largely eliminates the likelihood of injury caused by overhead debris. According to OSHA’s “Construction Focus Four” training, each hour pulled off-site and done in the factory at ground-level virtually eliminates fatalities from falls and from getting caught between hazards. With 39.2% of construction deaths related to falls and 5.1% of construction fatalities related to crushing, the single-level, pre-fab factory floor is indeed a safer place to build.

Assistance with automation

Like other modular facilities, SurePods’ multitude of automated systems contribute to the unmatched efficiency of the manufacturing process. They also promote worker wellbeing. Tasks that would otherwise require heavy lifting are simplified and made safer with automation. For example, handling gypsum in the field typically requires two people. In plants like SurePods, manufacturers add vacuum lifters that require only one person to operate.

Efficient operations and spacious settings

By reducing the number of floors where construction employees work inside (compared to outside on a vertical construction site), coordinators and managers have improved visibility of employees’ movements and can be quicker to respond to a potential hazard. Modular methods also require fewer hands-on-deck than a traditional jobsite; fewer employees mean there’s less chance of an incident.

Not only do factory-based modular methods stand to protect employees from substantial injuries compared to traditional construction sites, but the de-risked option can also lessen insurance costs for general contracting firms. Want to learn more about the added value of a de-risked jobsite during Construction Safety Week? Get in touch at [email protected].

https://youtu.be/wjv0zkj_c7Y

Sustainability: SurePods’ Silent “S” – Earth Day 2021

Jesse Knapp

Now more than ever, it’s important for manufacturers to support the building industry’s collective goal of using resources more efficiently and reducing material waste. While SurePods is known for its four S’s of prefab – simplicity, safety, speed and superior quality – one equally important benefit is our “silent S,” sustainability. SurePods bathroom pods help save approximately three cubic yards of waste on projects and can result in approximately $500 a month in electricity savings.

But that’s just the start. In honor of Earth Day, we’re highlighting three ways SurePods modular prefab bathroom pods can help reduce a project’s carbon footprint:

Building with recycled materials and reducing material waste: Modular bathroom pod components are largely comprised of steel and wall board – two building materials that can be produced using recycled content. SurePods relies on 100% recycled steel and 97% recycled wall board to manufacture custom bathroom pods. Thanks to precision manufacturing afforded by a factory-controlled setting, correct amounts of material are ordered and unnecessary material waste is largely eliminated. In the instance a project does yield excess material scraps, SurePods is able to repurpose it in other in-house projects.

Using durable, high-quality materials to conserve resources over the long term: In addition to reducing material waste during initial construction, high-quality prefabricated modular bathrooms help building owners conserve resources over the long-term; especially when it comes time to renovate and refresh high-use facilities. SurePods manufactures its bathroom pods using durable materials like a fully waterproof and crack-proof ceiling and USG Fiberock Aqua-Tough interior panels. Such materials provide a solid foundation for future bathroom upgrades and eliminate the need for drywall replacement. Consider the number of bathrooms in multifamily apartments, hospitals and hotel rooms, and how often they are used. By eliminating the need for unnecessary renovations in the short and long term, building materials and resources can be easily conserved.

Leaning on precision manufacturing to improve air quality and energy efficiency: One surprising green building benefit of modular prefabricated bathrooms is its role in improving air quality by reducing the potential for harmful molds. Factory-controlled environments allow for more accurate construction techniques. The Modular Building Institute explains that modular construction can improve indoor air quality because, “the modular structure is substantially completed in a factory-controlled setting using dry materials, [so] the potential for high levels of moisture being trapped in the new construction is eliminated.”

Electrical, plumbing, finishes and everything in between is constructed to exact project specifications offsite. This means that modular bathroom pods built in a factory can have tighter joints and air filtration, which, in application, allows for better wall insulation and optimized energy efficiency. Pods are also purposefully designed with energy-savings in mind. Energy efficient LEDs, low-energy consumption occupancy sensors and water-conserving fixtures, such as low-flow plumbing fixtures, are just a few examples of design features that help conserve resources and energy.

If you think your project could benefit from the green building benefits SurePods offers, let’s talk. To get started, contact us at [email protected].

Construction Market Update: West Coast Developers See Value of Modular Building Methods

Jesse Knapp

In a recently published article chronicling “How L.A. built homeless housing in just 4 weeks,” Fast Company gives credit where credit is due – noting that “modular construction is becoming a popular way to quickly build affordable and supportive housing.”

Despite the challenges of building new construction in a dense urban environment like Los Angeles, the article notes that “the process of constructing the housing units was fast, with the steel modules craned into place in just four weeks.”

Further supporting the case for adoption of modular building methods in California, an opinion column published by The Orange County Register, “Modular housing could be an answer to the housing crisis,” echoes a similar sentiment. The author explains how “modular construction offers a potential solution to one of the most vexing aspects of California’s housing crisis — the extremely high costs of building apartments meant to house low- and moderate-income families.”

Interestingly, despite public statements in support of modular, Bisnow notes that “modular construction is used in only about 5% of commercial and residential development projects in the United States,” in a feature titled, “Developers Still Reluctant To Go Whole-Hog With Modular Construction.”

While areas like the West Coast are benefitting from modular building techniques, what’s holding developers back as a whole? According to The Dodge Data & Analytics Prefabrication and Modular Construction 2020 report, “the top obstacle in the U.S. for the adoption of modular construction is that company owners aren’t interested in the technique — possibly the old stigma rearing its head.”

“There’s still somewhat of a stigma to it. People hear modular or off-site construction and they instantly think ‘mobile home,’ which is kind of funny, considering that we use modular construction to build very high-end luxury townhomes,” Resolute Capital Partners Managing Director Candace Powell said.

While modular and prefab building methods continue to gain momentum as an efficient, practical and cost-effective solution to challenges associated with affordable housing on the West Coast, the benefits of the building technique span much further. SurePods has been operating in the high-end and luxury development space for over a decade, with several completed hospitality, healthcare and residential projects across North America.

Check out our portfolio of stunning multifamily residential and hospitality projects and get in touch if you think modular bathroom pods sound like a match for your next project. We have a checklist of technical issues we review with the project team based on our extensive experience to make projects seamless. Contact us at [email protected].

Spotlight on Hospitality: A look back at SurePods Projects from Coast to Coast

Jesse Knapp

After a year spent at home, many are eager to get out and safely enjoy a long-awaited vacation. According to the latest research by Cars.com, 57% of Americans plan to take a trip this spring (up 32% from 2020) and 70% are opting to drive to their destinations. The data is unsurprising – in Oct. 2020, a survey conducted by Hilton revealed that 94% of Americans plan to travel once restrictions are lifted.

As one of the earliest adopters of modular prefab building solutions, the hospitality industry has played an important role in SurePods’ success. In fact, the first project to include SurePods’ modular bathroom pods is a hotel that opened 15 years ago.

We’re eager to support the brands and partners that have helped us become the company we are today. With that in mind, we’re taking a look back at some of the recent hospitality projects that feature SurePods bathroom pods. From the Pacific Northwest and sunny Southern California to the Bluegrass State of Kentucky, below are three stunning hotels with SurePods modular bathroom pods:

Los Angeles, California: Opened February 2017, the Wilshire Grand Intercontinental Hotel engaged SurePods to prefabricate 698-bathroom pods for the 73-story upscale hotel, which is recognized as the tallest building east of the Mississippi River.

Seattle, Washington: The Emerald City’s construction and real estate market has been hot for quite some time, as evidenced by dozens of cranes throughout downtown and impressive growth of tech companies headquartered on the West Coast. Seattle-based American Life, the developer of the 23-story Embassy Suites by Hilton Seattle Downtown Pioneer Square, enlisted SurePods to prefabricate 282 bathroom units to shorten its construction schedule amid a tight local skilled labor market.

Louisville, Kentucky: Designed by renowned architecture firm HKS, the Omni Louisville Hotel is situated in the heart of downtown and soars 30-stories tall. Opened May 2018, SurePods prefabricated 575 bathrooms for the vibrant downtown destination, which is considered the tallest hotel in Louisville.

If you’re a developer or hotelier looking to make up for lost time in 2020, let’s talk. Contact us at [email protected].

SurePods Close Up – Making the Most of Modular for Multifamily Projects

Jesse Knapp

What do apartments, university dormitories and assisted living facilities have in common? In most instances, a high volume of repeatable units.

In a recent feature on the rise of modular construction, Building Design + Construction (BD+C) acknowledges that “for developers, the rising cost of traditional construction is intersecting with the shrinking cost of modular, making the latter more appealing than ever.”

This is especially true when it comes to bathroom units, which typically require the complex coordination of hiring and scheduling 8 – 12 construction trades ranging from plumbing, electrical, painting, tiling and drywall. As multi-unit housing developers look to innovative solutions to make up for lost time in 2020, modular methods continue to deliver.

Below are three ways SurePods prefabricated modular bathrooms can support developers and contractors looking to make the most of modular construction for multi-unit housing projects:

Accelerating Construction Timelines

“The basic concepts of modular design are not new,” continues BD+C, noting that prefabrication has “been hailed for decades as a solution to inefficiencies, drawn-out timelines and rising construction costs.” SurePods is known for accelerating construction schedules by 10% or more by eliminating bathroom punch lists, which often results in faster revenue generation for multifamily housing projects – prospective residents can sign leases and move in earlier.

Optimizing Material and Labor Resources

Thanks to the precision manufacturing afforded by a factory-controlled setting, material waste is largely eliminated. Bringing construction indoors to a climate-controlled setting also offers a more comfortable, safer work environment. SurePods’ multitude of automated systems contribute to the unmatched efficiency of the manufacturing process.

Eliminating the Bathroom Punch List

In most multi-unit projects, bathroom reworks account for about 60% of punch lists. Prefabricating bathroom pods offsite not only eliminates the coordination of multiple trades, but also eliminates the enormous risk of damaging previously completed work. This keeps quality high and projects moving.

If you’re a developer or contractor involved in multi-family construction and have a project that would make a great fit for pods, let’s talk. Contact us at [email protected].

Why Prefab Construction: Modular Solutions Meet the Need for Speed in Healthcare

Jesse Knapp

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While it goes without saying, the healthcare industry experienced previously unimaginable challenges and demands over the past year. As urgent shifts in priorities directly impacted construction methods, healthcare facilities turned to innovative solutions to meet needs and increase capacities. Building Design + Construction reports that “healthcare, in fact, was one of the few nonresidential building types that showed year-to-year increases in construction spending over the first 10 months of 2020,” according to Census Bureau estimates.

To address the urgent need for flexible space and increase capacity for isolation rooms now and in the future, healthcare leaders and facility managers are increasingly turning to modular building methods for quick, efficient and effective solutions. Prefab manufacturers are rising to the moment and pushing the boundaries of what’s doable, from design and production to delivery and installation. For example, SurePods and its prefab partners DPR Construction and Digital Building Components are able to erect an entire semi-permanent hospital wing in just four weeks.

Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and a factory-controlled environment, rapidly deployable modular solutions are also well-suited to meet healthcare facilities’ long-term needs. Modular building methods not only provide more control over costs, quality and construction schedules, but also reduce labor and disturbances on existing hospital campuses. Project demand shows healthcare facilities are taking note of these advantages. Case in point, prior to 2020, SurePods had already completed more than 2,000 hospital bathrooms for six different hospitals. By April 2020, more than 1,600 additional hospital bathroom pods were in some stage of production or pre-con for nine new hospitals across the United States. In fact, several healthcare networks have further simplified their construction processes by standardizing SurePods’ patient bathroom designs systemwide.

The healthcare industry’s swift adoption of modular building methods continues to push the boundaries of prefab construction. If SurePods’ modular bathroom pods or rapid deployment solutions sound like a match for your healthcare project, let’s talk. Contact us at [email protected].

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.aboutbathroomdecor.com/?p=562

3 Bespoke Bathroom Renovations in Newcastle that Elevate Me-Time!

Jesse Knapp

Make a statement with a bespoke bathroom! A room speciality built for you, utterly unique to your personal preferences and your homes specific measurements.

Since custom tailoring is suited to you and your family’s unique needs, bespoke fitted bathrooms may revolutionise your everyday comfort! By combining elegance and functionality, bespoke bathroom renovations reflect your household’s personality and way of living.

Built specifically to suit you and your family’s unique needs by a team of experienced bathroom renovation specialists, your everyday living can be made even easier by incorporating a few bespoke bathroom renovation ideas!

Our professionally trained team of designers at Novalé specialises in customising spaces to suit your specific demands, creating totally unique and contemporary bathroom renovations.

Novalé designers can advise you on the finest options for practicality and design, whether you’re looking for the appropriate sort of shower for your bathroom, the best porcelain tiles to utilise, or the most effective ventilation solutions.

Are you wanting a custom bathroom renovation but are unsure where to start? To get a clearer picture, let’s have a look at three recent bathroom renovations in Newcastle to get you inspired for your own bathroom renovation ideas.

Bathroom Renovation Bar Beach

Beautiful bathrooms are created by perfectly combining finishes and textures in the overall design. For this Newcastle bathroom renovation, the dark brown textured vanity and matching wall mirror contrasts perfectly with the gold fixtures and glossy components of the tiles.

 

 

Certain decorative components may give a bathroom a luxurious appearance even if the space isn’t especially large. For instance, the décor displays in this Bar Beach bathroom renovation has a lovely blend of gorgeous, natural materials, graceful forms, and remarkable transparency.

Plants are another excellent bathroom renovation idea to liven up a basic looking bathroom. Aloe Vera and the low light loving Chinese evergreen are resilient plants that thrive in humid conditions. Both are excellent choices that will add a touch of green to your bathroom and improve the air quality.

 

 

Bathroom Renovation Maitland

In terms of bathroom renovation ideas and concepts, bespoke designs are limitless – the possibilities are truly infinite. Our experienced bathroom designers pay close attention to detail, ensuring that the aesthetics and functionality of your new bathroom renovations are precisely as you imagined and perfectly compliment the rest of your home.

Allow yourself to be engulfed in the luxury of this wallpaper. Colour has a lot of power in bathroom renovations. The correct colour in the right place may have a stunning aesthetic effect and significantly impact the overall design and ambience.

 

 

Novalé takes pleasure in creatively designing multi-purpose storage solutions, tailoring your bathroom renovation ideas to meet any spatial constraints. Custom modern designs maximise storage capacity, like in this Newcastle bathroom renovation where the mirror and vanity are both custom built to match each other and make use of all the valuable space for additional cupboard space.

No room shape is too complex for our team of professionals to design your dream bathroom renovation ideas within any constraints and provide a completely functional area that meets your demands.

This bathroom renovation Maitland is full of smart bathroom renovation ideas for storage. These built-in cupboards and niches hide the bathroom clutter much better than standalone units, which can appear bulky and are more difficult to clean. Our designers also included a small shelf in the mirror vanity to display attractive décor items. Plus, a shallow wall niche around the bathtub to conveniently store necessary products and attractive décor items.

 

 

Bathroom Renovation Noraville

Due to a lack of space or privacy concerns, bathrooms are often stuck with small windows. So, since this Newcastle bathroom renovation has breathtaking views, our Novalé designers just had to make the most of it!

Novalé designers selected an extra-large window behind the stunning freestanding bathtub for a truly outstanding luxury experience with a beautiful view. This tub is exactly what we like about the contemporary freestanding tub variations since the simple design doesn’t overtake the view. Yet the fantastic form and design of the freestanding bath quickly take this Newcastle bathroom renovation to new heights of luxury. What a look!

 

 

While often bathroom lighting isn’t the first bathroom renovation idea our clients think of, there are many ways that light may influence the overall ambience and appearance of a bathroom. On the one hand, having too much light in the bathroom can be an eyestrain. But subtle accent lighting applied judiciously in the space, on the other hand, can deliver the best balance of lighting.

For a clever bathroom renovation idea, the accent lighting above the mirror in this Noraville bathroom allows light to bounce evenly over the face, eliminating shadows and glare when getting ready.

 

 

Begin Your Bespoke Bathroom Renovations with Novalé

Whether you are looking for bathroom renovators for an apartment bathroom renovation in Ashfield or small bathroom renovation ideas, Novalé’s highly experienced teams are available to help you produce a beautiful and highly functional small bathroom design in Sydney.

When beginning research on bathroom renovators for your small bathroom renovation project, consider including Novalé Bathrooms in your shortlist. We offer bathroom renovations in Newcastle to bathroom renovations in Alexandria, as well as Bathroom Renovations across Sydney and all the way to bathroom renovations in the Central Coast. For a complete list of the Areas We Service, see here.

Our small renovations teams are ready to start building you a fantastic modern bathroom design. We implement a unique 4 step bathroom renovation process, and we encourage potential customers to read the 4reasons to choose Novalé. Additionally, you can read our testimonials and reviews to learn about the experience others have had to renovate with Novalé. For more information on how we transform your bathroom, please get in contact with the Novalé team on 1800 NOVALÉ.

The post 3 Bespoke Bathroom Renovations in Newcastle that Elevate Me-Time! appeared first on #1 Bathroom Renovations Sydney & Central Coast | Novalé Bathrooms.

Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.aboutbathroomdecor.com/?p=554

Women in Construction Week

Jesse Knapp

Happy Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week from SurePods! During the week of March 7, 2021, the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) celebrates the increasingly important role women play in the construction industry and focuses on highlighting opportunities for Women in Construction (WIC) in local communities.

As the modular construction industry continues to thrive, SurePods honors and recognizes the important role women play in our company’s success. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 10.3% of America’s construction workers are women, we proudly employ more than triple the industry average – approximately 32% of the SurePods team are women.

With safe working conditions and ample opportunities growth, find out why SurePods is uniquely positioned to offer women rewarding career paths in the prefab manufacturing industry:

Safer, improved working conditions

Most modular building takes place at ground-level, which largely eliminates the likelihood of injury caused by overhead debris. Those who enjoy working with their hands appreciate the stability of the factory floor, and anyone with a fear of heights is freed from worry that comes with working several stories above ground.

Empowering and efficient operations

With the absence of rain, sun and other harsh weather conditions, the factory setting offers a more comfortable and predictable work environment. Bringing construction indoors to a climate-controlled setting also presents more opportunity gain experience working with cutting-edge equipment. Like other modular facilities, SurePods’ multitude of automated systems contribute to the unmatched efficiency of the manufacturing process. Tasks that literally require heavy lifting are simplified with automation. For example, handling gypsum in the field typically requires two people. In plants like SurePods, manufacturers add vacuum lifters that require only one person to operate.

Rewarding career paths

With safer and better working conditions, employees are empowered to put their best foot forward and find satisfaction in purpose-driven work. Hospitals with modular components that improve accessibility help those of all ages and ability levels receive the best care possible; prefabricated student housing provides more affordable, sustainable living environments for the next generation. Regardless of the application, the opportunities for rewarding career paths in continue to grow as the construction industry evolves.

Follow SurePods on LinkedIn for the latest job openings and network with Women in Construction in your local community by visiting www.nawic.org.