Pair of Construction Experts Share Tips, Trends and More
By Zach Chouteau, Author at Correctional News
Two well-respected veterans of the industry provided their thoughts and input with Correctional News for the ’24 take on our annual Builders Forum, and our appreciation for their candid convo goes to Tim Hancock, Executive Director of Justice with Vanir; and Clint MacDonald, Vice President/Market Leader – Justice, Caddell Construction.
CN: What are some of the most interesting trends you’ve seen and/or led in terms of current justice and corrections construction?
Hancock: One of the most interesting trends in current justice and corrections construction is the shift toward rehabilitation and restorative justice. Modern facilities are now designed to reduce stress and promote positive interactions. They achieve this through features like natural light, green spaces, and comfortable living conditions. Advanced technologies such as smart surveillance systems, biometric access controls, and automated inmate management systems are enhancing security and operational efficiency. Sustainability is also a key focus, with new facilities incorporating environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient systems, aiming for certifications like LEED. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on community integration, with multipurpose spaces for community programs and closer proximity to urban centers to facilitate family visits. Modular and prefabricated construction methods are becoming more common, offering faster construction times and cost savings. Mental health and wellness facilities are being incorporated to address inmates’ mental health needs through therapy and recreational activities. Lastly, data-driven design improves facility functionality and
effectiveness by using analytics to inform decisions on inmate behavior and facility operations. These trends collectively aim to create safer, more humane, and effective correctional environments.
MacDonald: Some trends we’ve been seeing include more normative designs, technological advances in security electronics, increased use of modular construction, mega projects becoming more prevalent, and more investment of resources and program space for overall health, including mental health, as well as more training space and increased focus on reducing recidivism.
CN: Could you tell us about a recent project curveball or industry shift that impacted your firm and how you navigated the situation?
Hancock: Recently, our firm encountered a significant project curveball when a major project experienced a substantial increase in scope due to a large change order. This unexpected expansion impacted the project’s timeline and budget, requiring us to adapt quickly to meet the new demands. To navigate this situation, we immediately worked with the owner to reassess the project objectives and realign resources accordingly. We facilitated additional coordination meetings with all stakeholders, including architects, contractors, and suppliers, to ensure everyone understood the new scope and requirements. We effectively managed the change by enhancing our project management processes, implementing more rigorous oversight, and maintaining transparent communication. Our team’s agility and proactive approach allowed us to successfully incorporate the new requirements, ensuring the project stayed on track and met the owner’s expectations despite the significant increase in scope.
MacDonald: Certainly our market is the same as everywhere else in construction when it comes to the labor shortage and lack of workforce. That’s not unique to corrections, but the pace at which projects are coming available, as well as the size and scope of these projects, really compound the issues brought on by a limited workforce. Combine that with an ongoing contraction of the specialty subcontractor market, and it has a real impact on how much work we pursue and the schedules and staffing plans for the projects we accept.
Another shift has been how ligature is affecting most projects currently, both in design and in construction phases. This brings its own set of challenges. We can’t get into specifics, but one project in particular had already been priced to a specific design. With ligature changes, we were required to redesign some aspects of the facility and include features that were not in the original plan. Thankfully, this happened early enough in the planning phase that discussion with the Owner and design team allowed us to make adjustments while project impacts could be mitigated. This is a perfect example of why early involvement with all parties is so important. By working with the design team and speaking with our trade partners on the project, we were able to gain knowledge about how to implement these changes from experts in the field rather than in a vacuum.
