Interview with Tape Solutions Global Market Manager on Construction Trends

Please tell us about yourself.

I am the worldwide market manager at Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions for industrial and construction markets. I have worked for Saint-Gobain for 20 years and have won business awards for innovation and distinctive value. I have an MBA degree from UMASS and an engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University, but I have had a lot more fun playing basketball and guitar. I am married with two adult children but still have many years of work left until retirement. My family also includes a mini-dachshund puppy, who causes lots of chaos and always makes us laugh with his antics.

What are some sustainable construction trends you see?

Construction is changing rapidly and becoming more sustainable thanks to three trends that improve workplace safety, enhance building materials, and significantly change the way structures are being built.

1. Workplace Safety
2. Use of more sustainable building materials
3. Modular construction 

The first trend is workplace safety. Construction sites are using drones to map hazardous areas and construction robots are employed to do tasks that put workers at risk from repetitive motions or hazardous environments.

The second trend is the use of more sustainable building materials. Some materials that are seeing broader use include:

1. Bamboo
2. Recycled concrete
3. Steel for light construction
4. Reclaimed wood
5. Rammed earth

The third trend is modular construction which significantly changes the way structures are being built. Modular construction is growing rapidly and reduces the time to build a building by up to 50%. Modular construction also improves workplace safety and reduces the number of materials needed to erect a building.

These three trends are making homes more affordable and available, while also supporting the need to make the world a better home.

How do you see housing changing in North America?

There is a shortage of housing in North America. Housing prices are up while mortgage rates are high, making it more difficult to buy a home. Many buyers have shifted to renting instead of owning to wait out the high interest rates. As a result, the building of apartments has increased significantly.

Despite the boom in the construction of apartment buildings, high mortgage interest rates have reduced the demand for new construction, both in residential and commercial buildings overall. U.S. home prices are currently at all-time highs, and less affordable relative to income and mortgage rates. Prices skyrocketed by about 40% during the pandemic. With such high prices, sales of existing homes dropped precipitously. While buyers wait for prices to fall, sellers won’t list their homes because they don’t want to sacrifice the low fixed-rate mortgages that were locked in before rates jumped.

Today, prices for houses remain high. Supply is even more restricted because of severe underbuilding relative to population growth. Experts calculate that 3.2 million new homes are needed in the United States, and this shortage continues to push housing prices up.

Are you seeing similar issues, globally?

Yes, globally, we are seeing similar issues, driven by rising property prices and a short supply of homes. According to Reuters, out of major housing markets including the US, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Germany and Dubai, prices are forecasted to go up between 1–5% in 2025. For home buyers, affordability remains a key concern.

How will smarter cities impact a sustainable future?

Smart cities optimize the use of public resources, enhance service quality, and reduce costs, thus contributing significantly to sustainability by also reducing waste and energy use. A smart city incorporates the following three concepts:

1. Leveraging innovation to improve water and energy use
   
   Managing the volume, quality and quantity of water is important, especially since clean water is becoming increasingly scarce. Smart cities utilize modern-day technologies to gather data. This can aid in identifying which water systems require improvement and rehabilitation. Utilization of field data, coupled with 3D virtual modeling allows smart cities to better monitor and manage the condition of the water infrastructure and detect minor issues before they escalate to serious ones. Hence, water main lines can be replaced before they break and fail, minimizing disruptions to residents and the costs of emergency repairs. Smart city technology is changing the game for utility operations and maintenance, allowing for more proactive planning, streamlined processes, cost savings and, most importantly, better, safer water for city occupants. 
   
   In terms of energy use, electricity has more and more been converted to sustainable sources, but solar is only generated during the day. So, smart cities use data to ensure enough power is available during both day and at night. Key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and achieving energy independence within cities is the integration of renewable energy systems into the building design and infrastructure of smart cities. Whether it is solar, geothermal, or hydroelectric power, these renewable energy technologies are paving the way towards more sustainable urbanization.
    
2. More fluid communication between people companies & government
   
   At the heart of this smart city transformation lies effective communication. Not only is the seamless exchange of data and information integral, but so is the alignment, agreement and shared purpose of stakeholders. For smart cities to thrive, governments, businesses, universities, and local communities need to be aligned in terms of creating the proper environment for sustainable urban development. Regarding communication, through real-time data exchange, the role of IoT (Internet of things) technology, 5G networks, cloud computing and artificial intelligence, smart cities can effectively bridge the gap between these technologies and the immediate needs of the city inhabitants. These smart city technologies can help avoid issues like traffic jams due to enhanced, proper communication. They can even identify when and where recycling needs to be picked up. The capabilities are endless.
    
3. Shared use of goods and services for increased efficiencies
   
   The communication networks of smart cities play a vital role in providing a foundation for our devices to connect and interact with each other. This simplifies the flow of information, which can be leveraged to streamline services such as utility management, waste management, parking, or even shared transportation needs. It can also enhance safety by allowing for integration of advanced security systems and emergency alerts. No doubt, many of us are familiar with car sharing services which are a good example of shared transportation. This is made possible through the interactivity and connectivity between devices. In addition to services like Uber, smart public transportation systems can provide city dwellers with real-time updates on the location of buses and trains, their arrivals and departures, allowing for greater efficiency. These are just a few examples of how shared use of goods and services enables convenience, streamlines processes, and empowers citizens to have greater control of meeting their daily needs efficiently.

All these concepts are important for a smart city to work effectively and contribute to long-term sustainability by building an efficient system.

At Tape Solutions, we value monitoring key trends and issues that are pivotal to the construction industry so that we may be better equipped to help create efficiencies and support changes within this industry. The imperative to collaborate, discuss and create innovations that drive improvements in modern day construction are vital to ensuring thriving communities that can support today’s needs and prosper well into the future.