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chapter event



ROUND TABLE AND TOUR
MAY 15 | 5-7 PM



Featuring Uber ATG Facility Leaders
Jeff Fullerton and Aaron Doubt



Come take a look at what UBER is doing in Pittsburgh and how they have taken existing buildings not designed for office space and turned them into great workplaces. Jeff Fullerton and Aaron Doubt will take you through the growth of UBER in Pittsburgh and all the lessons learned. Then we will get a behind the scenes tour of their facility near the strip district.





Uber Advanced Technologies Group
50 33rd Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201



jANUARY CHAPTER MEETING



HOLIDAY CELEBRATION
AT RIVERS CLUB



01.09.2019 | 4:30-7:30 PM





Kick off the new year with your facilities colleagues as we welcome the New Year at Rivers Club in Pittsburgh. This is your chance to mingle and get to all of those people who make IFMA Pittsburgh great─and enjoy some food and merriment. This year we will focus on giving back to our community by taking the proceeds of the event and donating it to one organization. Nominations will be taken at the event and all those in attendance will get to vote on a charity to receive the pot of "cheer". Don't miss this great event and a sneak peek at what is coming up this year for IFMA Pittsburgh.



OCTOBER CHAPTER MEETING





This Event Was generously sponsored by



October 6-7, 2018



Explore an old vault. Experience amazing views. Access private clubs.



DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh is an annual two-day event that provides unique access to explore and experience a collection of iconic, and newly designed buildings, in select neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. This year, DOORS OPEN Pittsburgh will be showcasing Downtown and the North Side. For more information, please visit the official website.



SEPTEMBER CHAPTER MEETING



IFMA PITTSBURGH PRESENTS
CONSTRUCTION MODERNIZATION





A Round Table Discussion



In Honor of
National Tradesman Association Day



Tuesday, September 25, 2018





Meet the Panelists



David Vargo
CTS-D, CTD-I
Principal in Charge Technology Designer



Bright Tree Studios



Alex Lerian
Architectual Market Manager



Haworth



Joe Schultz
Owner



JC Schultz Interiors



Frank Vogel
Foreman



JC Schultz Interiors



Christopher DiCianna
PE, LEED AP, CxA
Vice President



WNA Engineering



Panel Discussion Highlights



Question 1



What is the largest change in the industry you have seen have an impact on your business in the past 12 months?





David Vargo

Bright Tree Studios


Acceptance of the connected environment has led to an understanding, thirst of knowledge and efficiency. Started with typical security and moved into beacon sensoring and gathering data to make better decisions.


Alex Lerian

Mary

Haworth


Teams expand and contract and flexibility and adaptability are necessary.


Chris DiCianna
WNA Engineering


Fast moving schedules, disciplines are on top of each other and educating clients is important to understand time frames.


Joe Schultz

JC Schultz Interiors


More and more clients are moving to flexible furnishings, demountable walls systems and open office plans



Question 2



What impact has modernization of construction methods had on project timing? For example, has the overall project scheduled increased or decreased? What part of the process has increased/decreased the most?





Alex Lerian

Mary

Haworth


Local perspective of drywall and labor shortage, ability to perform with an additional set of installers and carpenters to keep up with the demand. Understanding the timing is critical and ability to keep wall systems in the up-front discussion and planning is key and will impact the costs in ways that the consumers may not be aware of – ease of installation of carpet, less drywall, less painting and budgeting properly.


Chris DiCianna

WNA Engineering


Ability to embrace the schedule is key. Feasibility studies are critical to understand the timing of what may be necessary to provide an operational space and can greatly impact the overall project schedule.



Question 3



What markets do you see mostly embracing change?





David Vargo

Bright Tree Studios


Higher Education, high tech flexible, updating infrastructure and environment. Corporate 100 year-old financial institutions now recruiting for analysts and need Google like space.


Joe Schultz

JC Schultz Interiors


Healthcare, aging hospitals now using modular headwalls and can tear down a room in less than 24 hrs. Headwalls require wet walls with gas and water, pre-plumbed and installed.


Chris DiCianna

WNA Engineering


Consider pond systems and budget per square foot.



Question 4



What ratio of build-outs include demountable wall systems?





Joe Schultz

JC Schultz Interiors


Nearly all (?) projects have some level of demountable wall systems.


Alex Lerian

Haworth


The ability to offer layers of product types for budgeting and compatibility is important. Understanding the product offerings is also important as the mindset for spend could change based on the attributes. Wall systems can offer higher overall acoustical value than standard drywall construction if well designed in the properly controlled environment.



Question 5



How has modernization affected build out costs and what do you see are top priorities for clients engaging in new environments? (In our experience, clients are more open to phasing in to balance their budget and spend more intelligently)





David Vargo

Bright Tree Studios


Priorities IT networks and ability to give back space.


Chris DiCianna

WNA Engineering


Currently working on a space that truly requires and full update on all systems and complex relocation of utilities with slab on grade. When updating, looking at newer efficient systems that will minimize the special impact such as smaller water heaters mounted above the ceiling, etc. What are other things that clients can do to offset their upfront costs and buy back space?


Alex Lerian

Haworth


Consumers are getting smart and understanding that space changes more frequently and the ability to re-use their assets is beneficial.



Question 6



What do you believe is an average renovation cycle for repeat clients?





Joe Schultz

JC Schultz Interiors


Joe Schultz – Churn rate is high, clients have went from 10 yrs down to 1. Clients such as Highmark, PNC and University of Pittsburgh are highly engaged in renovation and ability to move groups on demand. University of Pittsburgh is currently renovating the Cathedral, about 1 floor every 3 months.



Question 7



How has modernization affected build out costs and what do you see are top priorities for clients engaging in new environments? (In our experience, clients are more open to phasing in to balance their budget and spend more intelligently)





Alex Lerian

Haworth


Utilization of demountable walls saves on the future demo/relocation costs as they become property of the tenant. Suggest attic stock for on demand renovation if and when possible. Bayer is an example of swiftly moving in time of need when they split into 2 divisions. Contacted in February to assist with their company transition of splitting the material science portion of Bayer into a separate company now called Covestro. The companies needed to be separate by September of the same year. There were 10 buildings on the campus. We were using Bayer's existing Haworth walls (2-3 years old) and moving them from one building to another supplementing new product to complete the reorganization. The cost savings was in excess of 1/2 million dollars versus having to purchase all new.


Chris DiCianna
WNA Engineering


Provide flexibility in systems when possible, provide additional electric capacity for future moves.



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