Build Perspectives Podcast

In this illuminating episode of Build Perspectives, we bring together two mass timber industry veterans to break down the economics, challenges, and future of this growing sector. Erica Spiritos and Roy Anderson to offer invaluable insights into the nuanced world of mass timber pricing and market dynamics. Episode Highlights: Understanding the Mass Timber Performance Index: Discover how the index helps quantify costs in an industry where traditional pricing models don't apply https://masstimberconference.com/report/content/mass-timber-price-index-2024/ Debunking the "Commodity" Myth: Learn why mass timber is a value-added product rather than a commodity, despite some industry confusion Capacity Reality Check: Current manufacturers are operating at under 50% capacity - addressing the "supply stalemate" holding back wider adoption Regional Mass Timber Ecosystems: Why building with locally-available species is crucial for sustainability and market growth The Complete Value Chain: From raw lumber to fabrication services, understanding the full cost structure of mass timber projects Supply Chain Challenges: Issues with lumber thickness, moisture content requirements, and forest management policies affecting the industry Future Outlook: Predictions on vertical integration, standardization, and the breaking of the "supply stalemate" Key Quotes: "Mass timber accounts for 0.5% of softwood lumber consumption in North America - it's a drop in the bucket." "I think our climate crisis and our housing crisis together are demanding [standardization] of us." "In the next couple years... we're going to see a 25-50% increase in capacity in the United States with new facilities coming online on both coasts." Connect With Our Guests: Erica Spiritos: VP at Timber Lab and Director of Washington Mass Timber Accelerator https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-spiritos-7b34051b/ Roy Anderson: VP at Beck Group and author of the International Mass Timber Report https://www.linkedin.com/in/royanderson1968/ Resources: Last year's 2024 Entire Mass Timber Report https://masstimberconference.com/report/ Use discount code Build-Timber to register for only $995 ($380 savings!) https://masstimberconference.com/register/ www.Nichiha.com Episode Sponsor Advanciwww.AdvancingConstruction.com - Episode Sponsor A special thanks to Craig Rawlings and Arnie Didier for connecting us and supporting this important industry conversation. Don't miss our next episode! Subscribe to Build Perspectives and leave a review - as Tim's dad always says, "You can never have too much perspective."

Great to catch up LIVE at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com with Amy Marks from Symetri USA and https://queenofprefab.com/  Whats your next Hanson Wade event?  https://advancingconstruction.com/ https://advancing-preconstruction.com/  Chapter 1: Intro 00:00: Tim introduces the event, "Build Perspectives," and his interest in the building products industry. 00:48: Amy Marks introduces herself as the Executive Vice President of Global Strategy at Symmetry, AKA the Queen of Prefab! Chapter 2: Advancing Prefab Event Overview 02:31: Amy Marks discusses the unique aspects of the Advancing Prefab event, emphasizing its focus on authentic conversations and business connections. 03:30: The event is described as a platform for making valuable business connections and fostering collaboration within the construction industry. Chapter 2: Advancing Prefab Event Overview 04:54: The event's evolution over the years is noted, with increased participation from architects, engineers, and general contractors. 05:44: Amy mentions the diverse audience and the positive impact of having decision-makers from various sectors present at the event. Chapter 4: Importance of Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing 07:45: Amy emphasizes the significance of sharing knowledge and experiences within the construction industry. 08:25: The discussion shifts to the need for companies to engage with social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok to attract a more diverse workforce. Chapter 5: Encouraging Diversity in the Construction Industry 09:48: Amy highlights the importance of promoting diversity in the construction industry, particularly in attracting more women and young talent. 10:41: The conversation extends to the role of social media influencers in showcasing diverse careers in construction and related fields. Chapter 6: Amy's Advocacy for Change and Industry Engagement 12:33: Amy encourages companies to actively engage in social media platforms and support initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in the industry. 13:25: The importance of providing platforms for change agents and fostering an environment of courage and openness is emphasized. Chapter 7: Connecting with Amy Marks and Conclusion 14:43: Amy shares ways to connect with her on social media platforms and through Symmetry for further engagement and collaboration. 16:05: Tim acknowledges Amy's contributions and the value of her insights in driving positive change and innovation in the industry.

  Announcement! Tim teases his upcoming podcast, "ConstructionVerse: Building Empires," a deep dive into the origin stories of influential figures in the building industry who have transformed humble beginnings into multi-billion dollar enterprises. Paying Tribute: Tim remembers Gerry McCauley and Mark Mitchell, acknowledging their significant contributions to offsite construction and building materials marketing. www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com A Titan's Impact: The podcast teases an in-depth look at the Building Industry's newest Titan, highlighting his strategic investments and significant influence in reshaping industries like waste management, equipment rental, and logistics. Introduction of QXO : Tim discusses this new Titan's latest venture, QXO, and its potential to revolutionize the building materials distribution industry through technology and consolidation. How to Make a Few Billion Dollars: The teaser encourages listeners to engage with the full series for more insights and to read the book, "How to Make a Few Billion Dollars," for a deeper understanding of successful business strategies. Advancing Prefabrication is North America's largest prefab & modular summit, uniting over 1,200 of the industry's biggest names & brightest minds. Join us in Denver in February for four days of unmissable content & networking, to keep your finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest in prefab & modular! Resources: The Book: "How to Make a Few Billion Dollars" on Amazon or wherever you buy books Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timseims/  Tim's Website www.TimSeims.com 

Tim shares the latest activities and learnings in building materials / building systems / housing / real estate: unexpected things about advisory / consulting needs thoughts on recent  factory, lbm, and job site visits Columbus OH and how it impacts our industry Whizard Summit highlights (purchase recordings here) about tactical empathy and land developers like Guerrilla Development, who posts their project pro formas directly on their website Venveo and Farnsworth Group BP Event ConnectingPoint events, the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, and how it reminds me of the adaptive reuse hospitality properties by Mcmenamins in Portland. www.TimSeims.com is done! Thanks to Ana at FING Commit Coaching for her help www.TheBuildersDaily.com is going to be a regular resource for the pod as we break down one topic with every episode Recap of www.LaymansGuide.com column topics, including "We Are Where We Should Have Been" Resources: Tim is presenting on some of this at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com. Use Discount Code BP10 for 10% off and join us in Phoenix March 14-17th, 2023 You can check out my LBM and housing column at www.LaymansGuide.com and Carolina's online course at www.HowToJobsite.com  www.TimSeims.com 

In this pod, I'm sharing a bit of a signal on construction labor. It's not what you might think, it's not about the labor market and data. This story isn't just about my friend Mark. It's about new creative human capital opportunities. I'll be presenting on some of this at www.Advancing-Prefabrication.com. Use Discount Code BP10 for 10% off and join us in Phoenix March 14-17th, 2023 You can check out and support my housing column at www.LaymansGuide.com and Carolina's online course at www.HowToJobsite.com  www.TimSeims.com 

Tim and Carolina discuss the many upcoming points of interest coming in the following episodes by bringing contrarian viewpoints and thinking differently than before in order to build perspectives.  Sustainable growth in the building product space. A dosh and curve alignment is important to ensuring pricing power is more balanced. Reminder: Do not panic- Make progress, expand and make way for the better, and success will come.  Modes of going to market, construction, and what is the secret of the universe.  Influencer and creator economy in the builder space.  They will highlight building industry news at the beginning of each episode. How to use keyword research to have more effective conversations with customers. Using title's to get people's appointments and referrals.  How to use targeting, positioning, and strategy, to ensure you call on the right people. Getting people to understand the process of what developers go through to underwrite deals.    Stay tuned for more updates on relevant and exciting industry topics to come on Build Perspectives.   

Join us for shepherd's pie at The Ivy in London, on this second installment of Build Perspectives, live on location. Conversation on sustainability, the future of construction, life on the planet, and more. Recorded during Wimbledon June 2022

Live on location from London June 2022 The sounds of the tube, the streets of Soho, architecture, and more.  

Interview by www.buildperspectives.com With: Nick Gray https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgraynews/ He is the founder of Museum Hack and the best-selling author of How to Make New Friends and Build Big Relationships. He brings his expertise with his 2-hour cocktail party format, NICK: Name tags, Icebreakers, Cocktails only, Kick them out at the end. He discusses the value when you bring together a mixed group of people with simplicity but added structure to ensure everyone makes meaningful connections. He offers many tools and tactics for anyone who wants to create successful mixers and events to expand your network and reach your goals.   

This is not the average Build Perspectives episode. Carolina and Ryan point out many interesting observations while en route to Germany from Switzerland. They take back roads through many small towns describing many differences noticed between Europe and the US.    

Interview by www.buildperspectives.com Tim goes live from Washington D.C. at the Innovate Housing Showcase co-hosted by NAHB.  Tim discusses some common challenges, technology that addresses these problems and encourages the Housing Action Plan that was released recently from the Biden Harris administration to get a future into the vision for funding construction. 

Interview by www.buildperspectives.com With: Dave Simonsen https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstiller/ & Eric Stiller https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-simonsen-b72863132/ Eric and Dave, started https://trueblueproducts.net/ in 2013 where they bring their expertise to build partnerships and opportunities for improving the Rainscreen industry from cladding to structural studs.  We discuss the evolution of new products, how construction has changed over time, thermal performance and the future of construction. 

What were the Top 3 takeaways from the Advancing Prefab 2022 event in Phoenix?  How can people connect more easily at in-person events?  Carolina and Tim share commentary on these PLUS... what shocked Tim the most. His answers might surprise you.

Finding commonalities with the client, and having the technical chops to back it up opens up a career for millennial architecture students graduating into poor economic times, like these.  We talk about serving the specification from the manufacturer's perspective; ethically and holistically. Architectural sales is not a zero-sum game. 

The beachside Aqui y Ahora cafe in Cozumel is where Tim goes to connect in person with like-minded locals and expats. Advancing Prefabrication in Phoenix April 26-29 is where he is going to connect in-person to learn and ideate with the vibrant, diverse, tech-agnostic prefabricated construction community.  Save 10% ($200 savings) with the Build Perspectives coupon code BP10 at checkout https://www.advancing-prefabrication.com/take-part/register/

This isn't a "Debbie Downer" episode, but it is an episode to help you to consider ways to pivot and respond to the labor shortages presenting in our industry today. Is global youth disillusionment to blame? Employers, managers, builders, developers, etc. must creatively solve the biggest problem we face this year in construction. Do you think the grass is greener on the side fertilized with bullsh%t? then this one is for you.    

In this Tim solo episode, he walks you through purpose-built cities and communities. Tim flying solo today (no Carolina) and so low that...he starts off with the Fly the Fields development - super cool and innovative. A short one but a good one!

Tim and I talk about the 6 climate risks caused by climate change.  We talk about how climate events affect the building industry, real estate, the economy and beyond.  We explore ways to mitigate risk and more.

Welcoming in the new year with Omicron and looking hopefully to get rid of the bad and only bring in the best things from 2021 to this year.  Getting out of the home office and creating a year of conscious connection!

Is our industry going from the laggard to innovators in the adoption bell curve? Follow the conversation on the latest in building technology with Tyson Kindstrom's nonlinear path to Vice President of Industrialized Construction at Sto Corp. We tease upcoming topics like digital construction, pre-fab, block chain, and where our industry is headed.

What do the words parapet, rabbeting, and butt-joint have in common? or efflorescence, visqueen and rebar? Where else can you find all of these words in one conversation? Listen and tell us what you think!

Mark Mitchell, a.k.a. The Whizard of building materials sales and marketing, has now become famous for finding hidden talents throughout the building materials industry.  Every year Mark puts on the Whizard Summit in Boulder and various other cities. This is a MUST-SEE event, especially if you're new to the industry. The presenters and keynotes come from complementary backgrounds that will make the most well-rounder marketing or sales leader in your product segment.  Topics: How architects want to hear from you, latest SEO technology, how to properly launch a product, the new chasm in real estate, where do you need to be in social media, messaging, video prospecting and much more. We give you the Build Perspectives happy hour (tequila may or may not have been involved) take here. 

The people at Katerra are the women and men "in the arena". You might think about hiring them to bring that experience and resilience into your organization. Here is the substack blog mentioned in the episode: https://tinyurl.com/mks5mt5n

Do you know which construction type is most common? most expensive? most robust? Special nerdy edition of Build Perspectives talking about the relevance and importance of knowing construction type. And here is the link to the Whizard Summit where we are both presenting. www.buildperspectives.com

The need for connection is not going away. Should you pay for summits when AIAs and CEUs and all kinds of free training abounds in the interwebs? How to network in construction is an episode we're going to do in the coming weeks. It is such an important skill to stay relevant and thrive in our industry. We touch on it a bit in this episode.  We will be at Mark Mitchell's Wizard Summit May 18-20.  Will we see you there? Sign up before May 7th to receive $50 off. You get what you pay for, how will you spend your time? www.buildperspectives.com  

The need for distilled thought and difference of opinions and experiences is more important now than ever! How do you see it? Do you have a process for consuming knowledge and combing through all the information coming at us in all directions? Today Tim and I discuss practices of consuming information and the ability to squeeze our truth, through the filter or our education, culture, upbringing, and experience.  www.buildperspectives.com

Lumber pricing is sky high. Is there a silver lining?  What is going on with the lumber shortage?  We start off with the basics, then get into the goods. And a review of the Global Mass Timber Conference.  www.buildperspectives.com

Alison and Matt Raes, of ILA Marketing, have built a thriving sales and marketing business in the building materials industry for the past 23 years.  In today's episode they reveal the top 3 secrets to success beyond their wildest dreams, despite recessions, being in Canada promoting non-Canadian products, raising kids while being busy entrepreneurs and so much more.  www.buildperspectives.com  

Demand shock, supply shock and labor shock are all occurring simultaneously. Orders haven't stopped but fulfillment has not caught up.  How do we keep happy clients in this craziness? Tune in, evaluate, rate us and leave a review!   www.buildperspectives.com  

Have you heard of 3D Printed houses? Is this a thing builders, manufacturers and installers need to worry about? In this episode we create a foundation of knowledge for the 3D printing technologies we've seen out in the field in the construction industry. We are scratching the surface of this intriguing use of a technology and process that has been around over 30 years. But it is taking on a new form, and the uses one can think up are fascinating to say the least! Please rate and review our podcast and share it with folks you think would like it! www.buildperspectives.com

This is a long one, because it’s a topic Tim and I both are super passionate about. How to increase sales, be more efficient, get more business by deeply understanding and relating to your clients. This a deep dive follow-up to the VE Conundrum episode we dive deeper into the players at the VE table. How do you figure out who you’re talking to? We get into the nitty gritty and break it all down for you. This episode will make you lots of money and greatly diminish heartache and stress if you implement this into your everyday life. www.buildperspectives.com  

In this very exciting episode The Uneducated Economist shares how he picked himself up from a down-and-out economy in 2008 and has become a YouTube influencer with over 45,000 followers. He is generous with all the knowledge he shares and is an example of how hard work and determination are the main keys to massive success. www.buildperspectives.com

We get into the dirty world of value engineering. We get into ways and anecdotes of getting VE'd into and out of projects.  How do you protect your spec? And how can you position yourself to be the natural solution a contractor or goes to when needing alternates?  www.buildperspectives.com

Are you a goal-setter? Are you a let life lead me kind of a person? Or somewhere in between, perhaps?  Many folks have been burned out by goal setting, discouragement is easy. But goal setting does not have to be complicated or lead to disappointment. What if goal setting is just a way to be intentional with how you live your life.  Maybe this is the year where you really make things happen instead of letting things happen to you. Give this method a shot and tell us what you think! What's the worst that can happen? www.buildperspectives.com for all the downloads.

Have you ever kept your opinions to yourself in meetings for fear of getting judged, chastised or even fired?  Are employers losing out on the brilliance of their employees by having them hold back on who they really are? Are you ok with giving free-rein to your team?  How would you do your job if you were not afraid to get fired? We get real about following your heart, avoiding the ego and the money trap to reach true career fulfillment in the industry. www.buildperspectives.com

In April 2020 - when the pandemic hit we came up with personal development plans for the stay at home order. How did we actually do? We recorded this after hours, with Woodford Reserve as our witness.  www.buildperspectives.com  

Come on in to Build Perspectives coffee talk where we review how far this pandemic has taken the housing crisis, the great migration out of cities, the revamped work space, building materials sales, distribution and so much more.  www.buildperspectives.com  

This self starting NC State grad and former imagineer walks us through his path to a successful business in human centered modular home building. This is next level, design focused housing. Brian graciously shares details and inspiration for his business and we go into a case study: The Latham House, featuring Nichiha panels for the exterior and Fireclay tile inside.  www.buildperspectives.com

As we close the first year of Build Perspectives episodes, we share with you the most downloaded episodes, our most memorable shows and what we're planning for this coming year for you. www.buildperspectives.com

Ever been the only woman in the room? Ever want to get into real estate investing but don't think you can afford it? Think you're too old to start investing? Think you don't know enough about the industry? Britt and Ash are here to dispel all these myths and excuses have you become a real estate investor right now! This information is super relevant to those of us in this industry who have the knowledge base and network to lower the barrier of entry into this area of investing. www.buildperspectives.com

This young lady is going to be CEO someday in the not-too-distant future. Olivia Glazer walks us through a day in the life in a territory manager in the residential building materials trades. How to be successful, love your job, get more client exposure, convert installers, builders, and end users. She shows us how she deals with competitors and how to get around being value-engineered out of projects. Full of actionable ideas you can apply right now. www.buildperspectives.com

Is the construction industry the most passionate industry? Join us as we talk to veteran building materials marketing gurus Zach Williams and Beth Popnikolov of Venveo. We talk about the business of building materials, highlights of their podcast, and great advice for anyone working in this industry. www.buildperspectives.com  

Join us as we talk with Paul Lagerstedt of Super Anchor Safety, to discuss the business of keeping your crew safe at job sites. Commercial construction already, largely, does this well. Residential construction still faces stigmas and other obstacles in adopting safety practices.  Paul shows us how easy and inexpensive it is to stay safe and accident free at the job site. www.buildperspecives.com  

The Wizard: Mark Mitchell talks with thousands of architects, designers, manufacturers, facilities managers, lumberyards, dealers, distributors, builders, developers, installers - literally every player in the industry. Here he condenses their needs and wants - golden advice for anyone who wants to succeed in this industry. MUST LISTEN! Best practices for becoming the trusted resource for your clients. Whether you're in sales, marketing, management, accounting, HR, in the estimating office, or in the field. Deep understanding of the channel, and so much more. www.buildperspectives.com  

We talk with Jon Harris, Set Decorator for shows like Stranger Things, The Originals, and movies like Respect (releasing in 2021). Find out what it takes to make a construction career in the film/TV industry. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how set building and decorating works, scene continuity, and more. Jon tells you exactly how to transition from the job site to the movie set. Plus: they're all back at work after the Covid quarantine. See how they've adjusted to making entertainment safely, in a pandemic.  www.buildperspectives.com  

Be inspired by Carly Althoff, architect and Erika Layman, development director at Journeyman International. A nonprofit that connects young architects, designers and engineers with established mentors, to work on humanitarian projects around the world, focusing on using sustainable materials, fighting poverty and improving the human experience.    Get involved. Be the change. www.buildperspectives.com  

As the great-granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright, Melissa Galt is design legacy. Being the daughter of Ann Baxter and goddaughter of Edith Head, also makes her Hollywood legacy. Listen in as Melissa walks us through the path to her zone of genius. An experienced, successful designer who found her zone of genius helping designers to level up their business and practice. 

Dewayne takes you on a journey to success in building materials despite your race and gender. This is a valuable, detailed, practical step-by-step roadmap for those of us feeling passed over for a promotion or stuck in a place with little opportunity for advancement.  It's not easy. It takes work, but it is possible. Leave a rating on itunes and tell us what you think. Ecospec: "Eco sustainable products that are economically achievable" www.buildperspectives.com

Susan comes from a "construction" family, but did not make it into a career until later in life after becoming a single parent. We talk about the transition from going to design school, being a full time designer, then getting into sales and becoming a manufacturer's rep. Susan has only represented sustainable materials and feels lifecycle and maintenance costs are a topic we need to bring to awareness in our industry right now. "Brick has been trending for the last 7-9 thousand years." We also get into what Covid has done with and not letting obstacles and current events derail you. Life cycle of building materials is an important topic we get into and what we all need to be paying more attention to.  www.buildperspectives.com

"The greenest building is the one that already exists," former AIA president Carl Elefante is quoted as saying. Historic preservation is an integral part of sustainability in architecture and the building industry at large.    Cindy Olnick is a communications consultant with over 20 years in the historic preservation community.  A lover of architecture and old buildings, with a deep passion for fundraising and engaging support to save buildings In this episode we talk about the role historic preservation plays in sustainability and the ways we can get involved to save buildings and build for the long haul.   https://buildperspectives.com/podcast/sustainability-and-historic-preservation-with-cindy-olnick/

You'll learn so much, and hopefully, be inspired to do more and take part in sustainability efforts in whatever role you play in our field. Dave Cooper and Mark Wille are thought leaders and early adopters of "green," in their own right. Both experts in the field of modular and sustainability, building materials and trades and are both influencers in their communities, and now the building science world at large. And they're a lot of fun to listen to. We talk passive house, sustainability, general building science, mentoring, getting involved in your community and so much more. This episode is a longer format but packed with amazing content. https://buildperspectives.com/podcast/sustainability-passive-house-modular-and-housing-with-dave-and-mark/