Looking ahead to the future is part of the job for builders, whose work is shaping the places where Chattanoogans will live, work and play for years to come — from waterfront living communities to baseball stadiums.
“Great communities take years to plan and execute, so the decisions we make today often don’t fully materialize for five or even 10 years,” said Gabe Thomas, CEO and managing partner of RP Communities and president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga. “We’re focusing on identifying locations where we can thoughtfully design neighborhoods that will still feel desirable a decade from now.”
From evaluating potential land purchases to construction project management, industry leaders are increasingly incorporating technology into every aspect of development and construction.
“We are all racing to find ways to improve productivity and to leverage tech to increase the capacity of a person’s time,” said Alex Miller, executive vice president of the eastern division of EMJ Construction, which recently built the new Chattanooga Lookouts stadium.
While innovative technology and AI tools are improving the way work is accomplished, relationships and interpersonal skills continue to be vital to success in the industry.