20 Stories for 20 Years: Keeping Up with the Times
When Thomas Construction Group first started building in 2005, the construction industry was a different world. Superintendents walked job sites with clipboards in hand, flipping through stacks of drawings rolled up under their arms. Schedules were often handwritten, updated with red pens and passed across desks in weekly meetings.
Fast forward 20 years, and our superintendents now walk sites with iPads instead of clipboards, pulling up LiDAR scanned 3D models and project dashboards that update clients or owners in real time. A drone might be flying overhead to capture progress photos and videos, that are available instantly to the various project team members sometimes located across the country.
The tools may look different, but the foundation of the work hasn’t changed. Construction is still about solving problems, building relationships, and delivering quality projects.
Learning From Each Other
One of the things our seasoned superintendents often talk about is how technology has changed their jobs. They remember when everything was done “manually” – which meant studying drawings at a job site trailer table, not zooming into a digital model on a screen in front of them.
Meanwhile, our younger superintendents started their careers with technology at their fingertips. Learning things like scheduling software and BIM are second nature to them.
What’s special about these relationships and changes in the way we do things – is how much they learn from each other. The younger generation shares shortcuts, apps, and tools to make processes faster. The veterans offer the kind of field experience that no software could ever replace. That mix of knowledge is what makes teams stronger.
From Design-Bid-Build to Design-Build
Two decades ago, most projects followed a traditional Design-Bid-Build approach. The architect designed, contractors bid, and builders executed. Collaboration happened in phases, often after key decisions were already locked in.
Today, collaboration starts much earlier. With Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R) and Design-Build, owners, architects, and contractors work side by side from the start. We problem-solve together, identify cost-saving options earlier, and give clients greater certainty about budget and schedule.
This shift in processes makes our clients more than just customers – they’re partners, part of the same team.
Building Smarter
Materials and methods have also evolved. Twenty years ago, projects often relied on standard, tried-and-true materials with less emphasis on sustainability. Today, there’s a sharper focus on energy efficiency, environmentally friendly materials, and smarter systems.
What Hasn’t Changed
For all the change, some things remain constant. At Thomas, we still believe in mentorships – in pairing younger professionals with seasoned leaders so both can grow. We still believe in relationships – with clients, trade partners, and communities that trust us to build with integrity. And we still believe in quality – in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 20 years, we know that construction will keep evolving. But our story, the one that began in 2005 with a small team and a big vision, reminds us that the best way to keep up with the times is to embrace change without losing sight of what truly matters.
Because whether it’s then, now, or twenty years from now, our greatest strength has always been the people who make it all possible.
