ACEC Research Institute to Host Expert Roundtables on Post-COVID-19 Engineering Industry

ACEC News / Market Forecast

May 28, 2020

ACEC Research Institute to Host Expert Roundtables on Post-COVID-19 Engineering Industry

The ACEC Research Institute will host three virtual expert roundtables over the coming two months exploring the post-COVID-19 engineering industry and the challenges and opportunities for engineering firms.

“Right now all of us are focused on the short term,” said Institute Chair John Carrato of Benesch. “These sessions will look farther out to the horizon to help firm leaders think about what the marketplace will be like and what they need to do to succeed.”

The Institute will live-stream the roundtables and invites ACEC members—and non-members—to attend and participate in the discussions.

“I hope that the attendees will use these sessions to think about what’s necessary to make their businesses resilient,” said Institute Vice-Chair Mike Carragher of VHB. “The world will go on and we need to be prepared, not just for the second half of this year but for the next decade.”

Each roundtable will be an hour-long and will allow for questions from the audience. To register for one or more of the roundtables, click on the links.

June 18 Panel: The Impact of Technology on Engineering (1:30 pm ET)

Given the dramatic impact that COVID-19 has had on the workforce and operation of engineering firms, the panelists will discuss technological tools to speed the design process and enhance culture and collaboration, as well as explore the interconnectivity of systems and the potential impact of AI and machine learning.

• Mike Haley, Head of Machine Intelligence, Autodesk
• Heather Wishart-Smith, SVP of Technology and Innovation, Jacobs
• Chris Luebkeman, Director of Global Foresight & Innovation, Arup
• Jose Luis Blanco, Partner, McKinsey & Company

June 25 Panel: The Buildings We Live and Work In (3:30 pm ET)

What lasting impact will the pandemic have on the design of the commercial, high-rise, healthcare, and mixed-use buildings of the future? And what will change for firms when designing work and living spaces in this new paradigm?

• Peter DiMaggio, Co-CEO, Thornton Tomasetti,
• Kate Wittles Partner, HR&A Advisors
• Dino DeFeo, Managing Partner, AKF
• Arathi Gowda, Associate Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

July 16 Panel: Funding in the New Normal (1:30 pm ET)

When the U.S. economy recovers, what direction will it take, which market sectors will lead the way, and what do firms need to do to ensure they aren’t left behind? Our panelists will tackle these tough questions so firms will be better positioned to take maximum advantage of the market. The panelists will also address the impact of the federal deficit, recessionary challenges, and new funding mechanisms.

• Rosemarie Andolino, Former Chair, Manchester Airport Group
• David Zipper, Visiting Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government
• Anirban Basu, Chairman and CEO, Sage Policy Group
• Jeff Davis, Senior Fellow, Eno Center for Transportation

All comments to blog posts will be moderated by ACEC staff.