For nearly three months, the construction industry has felt the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many to wonder what the future may hold for the business. But if recent news is any indication, it may involve more companies forming alliances to share best practices and innovations among each other.
Four critical infrastructure and construction companies — Black & Veatch, DPR Construction, Haskell and McCarthy Building Cos. — partnered to form the “NEXT Coalition,” to promote and share safety practices. Together, the firms are using their expertise and practices to ensure the welfare of crews and office associates as they encounter challenges from COVID-19.
With this goal in mind, NEXT wants to identify and advance technologies and processes that will strengthen construction safety. It has put out an open call through “Construction Safety Challenge” to companies, start-ups and innovators that have safety solutions that can be quickly deployed. “This virus and future pandemics won’t wait for us to catch up,” Black & Veatch CEO Steve Edwards said.
“The NEXT Coalition recognizes the opportunities that our companies’ collective scale and experience create to quickly begin sourcing, testing and launching solutions that can impact construction safety fast,” he continued. “To accomplish that goal, we needed to look outside of our own companies. Hence, the need for the open challenge.”
According to McCarthy Southern California Region President Michael Myers, the construction industry’s need for rapid innovation and implementation has never been greater. “This coalition has joined together to source the best solutions to ensure the safety and sustainability of all of our projects,” he said. “As we continue to deliver critical infrastructure across the country, our companies have the reach and the resources to move the needle on an industry-wide basis.”