#032 - John Orr - Designing for a Sustainable Future: Insights from Academia
What is academia's role in ensuring the industry is fit for the future?
On today's podcast, we have John Orr - Professor of Structural Engineering At Cambridge University.
As a top-tier university ranked in the world's top 5, Cambridge is a powerhouse of knowledge, and we are privileged to have John share his expertise with us.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why interdisciplinary education can help solve complex problems
The future of design for structures
Collaboration and its importance in both innovation and climate change
How to become a Cambridge University Professor
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John Orr
Professor of Structural Engineering. Chartered engineer, academic, industrial consultant in embodied carbon. Aiming to transform real estate and construction.
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Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:01:50) - An Exciting Introduction and a Word from Our Sponsor
(00:01:50-00:03:46) - From PhD to Cambridge Professor: John Orr's Journey in Structural Engineering
(00:03:46-00:04:42) - Why Now is the Perfect Time to Be in Structural Engineering
(00:04:42-00:06:51) - What Makes Cambridge-Trained Engineers Stand Out from the Rest?
(00:06:51-00:09:42) - How to Make Structural Engineering More Attractive and Accessible
(00:09:42-00:11:31) - The Role of Structural Engineering in Reducing Carbon Emissions
(00:11:31-00:13:12) - Strategies to Improve Structural Engineering's Sustainability Impact
(00:13:12-00:17:46) - Tackling the Thorny Issue of PI Insurance in Structural Engineering
(00:17:46-00:19:45) - A Glimpse into the Future of Construction
(00:19:45-00:23:25) - The Revolutionary ACORN Project and its Integration with Robotics
(00:23:25-00:24:52) - Predicting the Most Significant Developments in Structural Engineering's Future
(00:24:52-00:26:19) - John Orr's Vision for the Future of Construction
(00:26:19-00:27:34) - Balancing Academia and Practical Applications in Structural Engineering
(00:27:34-00:29:32) - Understanding the Impact of Part Z in Structural Engineering
(00:29:32-00:30:04) - Insights into the Fascinating Work of Part Z
(00:30:04-00:31:23) - The Potential Effects of Part Z on Structural Engineering
(00:31:23-00:32:15) - John Orr's Key Message on Structural Engineering's Role in Building a Sustainable Future
(00:32:15-00:34:15) - Navigating the Intersection of Individual Action and Regulatory Frameworks
(00:34:15-00:38:11) - How to Become a Cambridge Professor in Structural Engineering
(00:38:11-00:39:07) - John Orr's Diverse Range of Hobbies and Interests
(00:39:07-00:39:31) - Get to Know John Orr a Little Better
(00:39:31-00:39:48) - A Memorable Outro and Final Thoughts.
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Bricks & Bytes
#042 - Erin Khan - Bridging the Gap: Effective Strategies for Adopting Construction Tech
Tune in to today's episode with Erin Khan, founder of Erin Khan Consulting. Discover effective technology implementation strategies, from starting small to building communities and raising awareness. Gain valuable insights for aligning tech solutions with the construction industry's needs.
In this episode, we uncover :
- Balance innovation and standardization for employee well-being.
- Start small, gain buy-in before scaling technology.
- Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Involve stakeholders to manage risks effectively.
- Seek enthusiastic advocates for tech adoption
- Tailor solutions to unique team requirements.
If you're finding value in our podcast, we kindly request you to share your feedback by leaving a review. Your support enables us to attract incredible guests and deliver the finest and most enlightening content on technology in the built world.
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Erin Khan, Construction Technology Expert, Erin Khan Consulting
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Today's Sponsor: beta - Construction and technology network platform
- connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
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Bricks & Bytes
#018 - Harsh Badera - Product management in construction tech
What happens when a construction engineer goes into construction tech?
Today we welcome Harsh Badera of Procore.
In this episode we deep dive into:
Harsh’s story starting from construction engineer up to his current position in Procore
ToDo's and not to-do's in the product management
If we are going to see more B2C products in construction
If you’re enjoying our podcast, please leave us a review! This helps us get more amazing guests to give you guys the best and most informative content on technology in the built world.
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Harsh Badera - Product Management at Procore | Startup Investor | Advisor | Speaker
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Today's Sponsor:
@Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
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00:00:00 --> 00:02:03 Intro + Sponsor
00:02:04 --> 00:05:52 History of Harsh’s journey from project manager to product manager
00:05:53 --> 00:07:54 Switching from project manager to product manager
00:08:24 --> 00:09:58 How do you see using software in construction?
00:09:59 --> 00:12:47 What is product management?
00:12:48 --> 00:14:47 Do you see a future where construction offers more services directly to the consumer rather than B2B?
00:14:48 --> 00:16:30 Given the amount of solutions, do you think that there is a singular source where they can all integrate?
00:16:31 --> 00:17:27 Agave Startup
00:17:28 --> 00:19:04 Is creating a product in construction different than in other industries?
00:19:05 --> 00:24:15 Do you have a product management process that you follow?
00:24:16 --> 00:27:29 Introduction of Procore
00:27:30 --> 00:29:01 Construction network
00:29:59 --> 00:31:43 Trust verification for the future of contracts
00:31:45 --> 00:36:38 Harsh’s thoughts about Katerra
00:40:20 --> 00:41:40 More about Harsh
00:41:42 --> 00:42:02 Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#037 - Brendan Ardagh - The AI revolution in construction
In this episode, we sit down with Brendan, Co-Founder of Provision, who made the jump from a traditional QS role to a technology role. He shares with us his interesting journey and how he fell in love with construction.
During the episode we dive into:
Brendan's experience with the startup world
His Journey through Y Combinator
World of AI
Machine learning
If you’re enjoying our podcast, please leave us a review! This helps us get more amazing guests to give you guys the best and most informative content on technology in the built world.
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Brendan Ardagh Co-Founder of Provision
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Today's Sponsor: beta - Construction and technology network platform
- connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Chek www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 --> 00:01:22 - Intro
00:01:22 --> 00:02:04 - Sponsor
00:02:04 --> 00:04:35 - Brendan's journey from Quantity Surveyor to entrepreneur
00:04:35 --> 00:05:55 - Differences between the startup and technology scene in South Africa and Canada/US
00:05:55 --> 00:07:25 - Brendan's involvement with Y Combinator and how he got in
00:07:25 --> 00:13:29 - Innovation in construction industry and the difficulty in changing it
00:13:29 --> 00:16:13 - Discussing Y Combinator and the value it provides to startups
00:16:13 --> 00:18:16 - The dinosaur-like view of the construction industry and the potential advantage of being associated with Y Combinator
00:18:16 --> 00:30:31 - Introducing Provision and discussing AI & Chat GPT
00:30:11 --> 00:35:30 - Getting involved in using AI and where to start learning about it
00:35:30 --> 00:39:56 - Chat GPT and how it will impact construction industry in the future
00:39:56 --> 00:41:47 - The importance of utilising GPT effectively and jumping on opportunities presented by it
00:41:47 --> 00:42:55 - How open is OpenAI
00:42:55 --> 00:46:03 - Brendan’s routine
00:46:03 --> 00:46:53 - More about Brendan
00:46:53 --> 00:47:10 - Outro
How China Builds Nuclear Plants Cheaper, Construction's $860bn Problem, Robotics in Solar & Trump 2.0 Germany Effects
EXPOSED: How China is Building Nuclear Power for 90% Less While the West Falls Behind"Every level that you move up the construction chain, you're saving 50 bips of interest. From capital provider to owner to GC to sub to supplier to manufacturer rep - seven, eight steps, 4%. That's why a million-dollar generator costs owners $1.7 million." - Mike Powers, BuildVisionIn this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, our hosts dive into why China can build nuclear reactors at a fraction of Western costs while the US and Europe struggle with massive delays and budget overruns.Key topics include:Why China can build nuclear reactors for $2.7B while Western projects balloon to $40B+The efficiency secrets behind China's massive infrastructure projectsSmall Modular Reactors (SMRs) as a potential solution to nuclear's problemsGermany's trillion-dollar infrastructure investment planHow robotics is revolutionizing solar panel installationWhy industry events might be useful for startups but painful for everyone else"Nuclear is a cash machine when you operate it, but it ruins you when you build it, when you have to maintain it, when you have to repair it, and it completely ruins you once you have to decommission it." - Patric------------Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Global Context06:06 Cost Disparities in Nuclear Energy Projects12:02 China's Nuclear Ambitions and Infrastructure Efficiency19:54 Understanding the Economics of Nuclear Energy31:46 The Future of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)36:31 Energy Independence and Nuclear Power39:44 Germany's Political Landscape and Infrastructure Spending48:55 AI in Construction: Ownership of Workflows54:23 Streamlining Construction Financing and Working Capital01:08:52 Market Dynamics and Demand Aggregation01:10:46 Introduction of James Emerick and Cosmic Robotics01:11:52 Innovations in Construction Robotics01:14:42 Expanding Robotics Applications Beyond Solar01:18:05 Global Competition in Robotics and Solar Installation01:19:50 Future Projections for Solar Demand01:21:24 Business Models in Robotics01:23:10 Path to Becoming a Robotics Engineer01:24:20 The Role of Events in Networking and Business01:31:52 Event Experiences and Startup Strategies
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Construction Crash Coming - Our NEW Host, US Economy Contracts 0.3%, Trump Tariffs Hit Construction, Autodesk vs Procore Battle, AI, Biggest Construction Tech Failures
Is Construction Headed for a Slowdown, or a Full-Blown Crash?
This week on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, things get spicy.We dig into the 0.3% drop in US GDP—and why it might just be the beginning for the construction sector. But tariffs and rate hikes are only half the story. The real drama? AI hype cycles, Autodesk vs. Procore, and why most “AI for construction” startups are just faucets with no bathtub.
Inside this episode:Why the US economy is wobbling—and how it's already hitting constructionThe real reason projects are stalling (hint: it’s not just input costs)The “bathtub vs. faucet” theory of AI—and how it exposes weak GTM strategiesAutodesk: overpriced legacy? Or sleeping giant ready to crush Procore?The top 20 construction tech failures—modular startups dominate the list
Plus:What BuildingConnected could have become (and why Autodesk isn’t using it)Why not having pricing certainty is killing dealsThe Katerra excuse that made everyone on the show wince
Key Quote:
"You're not solving the problem. You're just identifying the problem for someone else to win." - Dustin DeVan
If you’re in AEC and want to see the next wave coming before it hits... this one’s required listening.
------Chapters00:00 Intro01:35 Introduction and Welcome02:43 US Economy Contraction and Recession Concerns08:38 Impact of Tariffs on Construction Costs13:37 Short-term vs Long-term Economic Perspectives19:40 Global Supply Chain and Trade Dynamics25:34 AI's Role in Construction and Economic Resilience31:35 Business Strategies in a Volatile Market38:25 Innovative Content Formats in AI and Supply Chains40:06 The Role of AI in Construction Economics42:57 AI as a Commodity: The Bathtub Metaphor49:26 Disrupting the Authoring Space: Challenges and Opportunities56:44 Investing in Autodesk: A Critical Analysis01:11:11 Procore's Challenges and Market Dynamics01:13:44 Marketing Strategies in Construction Tech01:15:55 Potential Disruptors: Google and Microsoft01:20:15 Mergers and Acquisitions in Construction Tech01:21:47 Top Construction Tech Failures: A Game01:27:00 Lessons from Construction Tech Failures
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
VCs Are NOT Always The Answer - Bootstrapping Benefits & Sustainable Growth from Funding Experts
"Venture capital in PropTech increased 82X from $200M to $15B in just 15 years - but is VC money right for construction tech founders right now?"In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about J.P. Bowgen's journey from AlphaSites to Macy's corporate innovation team to becoming a partner at Camber Creek.We got to learn about how Camber Creek de-risks investments by testing startups with their 300+ real estate and construction LP network before investing.Also, we learned about J.P.'s hot take that PropTech and ConTech might not actually be mature enough for venture capital money right now - with only 1 in 4 companies spending more than 1% of revenue on digitization.Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Camber Creek operates as an "outsourced R&D department" for real estate companies ✅ Why construction tech is 5-7 years behind PropTech but might soon leapfrog it ✅ The shift in ConTech companies selling upstream to owners instead of just GCs ✅ The importance of personal brand building for VCsListen now on Spotify to hear the full conversation with J.P. Bowgen.-----------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates01:10 Journey into Venture Capital05:30 Transition from Macy's to Camber Creek14:51 Establishing a Presence in Europe16:23 Camber Creek's Investment Thesis and Origins18:29 The Digital Transformation of Real Estate19:55 De-risking Investments through Strategic Engagement21:21 The Role of Strategic Investors in Venture Capital23:41 Navigating the Landscape of Venture Capital26:26 The Importance of Media in Deal Flow30:29 Building a Personal Brand in Venture Capital33:41 Opportunistic Investing in PropTech and Construction Tech37:30 The Shift in Technology Adoption in Construction39:36 Debunking Misconceptions about Venture Capital
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
US VC Returns Underperform Globally - Market Saturation & Hidden Opportunities from Construction Unicorns
"The US VC market is the worst performing of all VC markets across the world in terms of financial performance." In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about BuildOps securing $127 million in Series C funding and achieving unicorn status with a $1B valuation.We also explored the structural differences between US and European contractor software markets, where European contractors are typically smaller and 5-10 years behind in software adoption compared to their US counterparts.Additionally, we gained insight into how fund size impacts investment strategy, with smaller VC funds avoiding obvious competitive spaces that larger funds eagerly pursue.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why BuildOps and Service Titan succeed with modular software for contractors✅ How SaaS business models justify higher valuations than traditional services✅ Why European construction software is following a roll-up strategy✅ The difference between investing in "the business" versus "the share price"------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Recent Developments04:50 BuildOps: A New Unicorn in Construction Tech19:06 Comparing BuildOps and ServiceTitan27:49 Valuation Insights and Market Dynamics