Our three biggest learnings from the pandemic

And how they are shaping a new evolution in the construction industry

There is no doubt that the pandemic has turned the construction industry on its head and became the catalyst for several challenges that have reshaped the way we work. From remote working and forced site closures to labour and material shortages, we’ve had to learn to ride the wave and do things differently. 

Through it all, the team at Streetbuild has taken it all in their stride to continue to build upon its resilient culture and innate ability to seek solutions to even the toughest, unforeseeable challenges. 

Now, well into 2022, the team at Streetbuild is assessing some of the key learnings that have come out of this phase in our history to help us look ahead and predict the key trends that will shape the future of the construction industry in the years to come. 

  1. Adaptability is important for innovation

With forced office closures, teams moved to remote working overnight, with little warning or preparation. The sudden change brought with it difficulties associated with managing teams remotely, meeting clients and continuing business as usual operations. However, it also brought safety, flexibility and enabled teams an opportunity to be resourceful and explore a new way of conducting business. The Streetbuild team adapted quickly to the new way of working which allowed us to maintain consistency in our work and uncover innovations that we otherwise may have never explored.

While remote working was first viewed as a means to an end, it is now very much here to stay. Streetbuild State Manager – NSW, Carlos Pintos agrees and highlights that this new way of working now also presents a unique opportunity within the construction industry.

“I believe that working remotely will continue throughout the business sector even after the pandemic morphs into an endemic. As a result of the reduced need for office spaces, I believe the opportunity to repurpose existing buildings will rise drastically. This will involve thinking outside the box to achieve the best outcome for the client.”

Carlos Pintos
  1. Embrace technology to unlock greater efficiencies 

With remote working came the rise of video conferencing technologies which didn’t just allow us to continue operations, but equally if not more importantly, discover efficiencies, from client meetings to virtual site inspections.  

With technology advancing rapidly, there are many other opportunities to increase productivity, safety and overall operations. Drone technology, augmented reality, 3D printing – the list goes on. 

These tools all aim to provide rich information and data sources and increase the useability of spaces for clients and their customers. 

According to Streetbuild State Manager – NSW, Carlos Pintos increases in software development will drive many efficiencies across the construction industry. 

The industry has lacked modernisation for many years and has not kept pace with other industries. I think this will change in the next few years.”

Carlos Pintos

Technology will change the construction industry as we know it and must be embraced, otherwise there is a risk of being left behind.

  1. Adversity builds resilience 

In the space of just a few months, the construction industry had to tackle many challenges. Teams found ways to shift and adapt to remote working. Leadership teams navigated their way through constantly changing rules and regulations handed down from state governments. And to top it all off, Project Managers dealt with labour and material shortages while avoiding delays to their projects. 

Through it all, we were reminded of a lesson that we have learnt time and time again. Adversity builds resilience and helps us to grow as a team. As Streetbuild Managing Director, Tim Gagen says,

“Every challenge tests us and pushes us outside of our comfort zone, and that is where we find our greatest growth. While it is extremely uncomfortable to live through challenging times, they also bring with them new perspectives, new ideas and when we look back, we are often surprised at just how much we can handle.”

Tim Gagen

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Woolworths Wollongong eCOMM Expansion

To keep up with ever evolving retail customer needs, Woolworths Group partnered with Streetbuild to erect a new online shopping collection point. The project featured Australia’s first fabric awning, as well as modifications to the loading dock and back of house area to ensure the smooth processing of this new service.

Julie Smith

Chief Financial Officer – Director

Julie is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience advising businesses. With a background in professional services, Julie has worked with companies across a variety of industries at every stage of business to consult on their future plans, execute new ideas, and develop strategies that drive business growth.

As a co-owner of StreetBuild, her main area of focus is applying data analytics to uncover insights behind the numbers to help both our business and our clients. In her role, Julie enjoys collaborating with colleagues across all areas of the business to assist in delivering exceptional results for our clients.

Herman Monserrat

Financa & Administration Manager

As a qualified Accountant with 13 years’ experience across a large number of organisations and industries, Herman manages the Finance and Administration function at Streetbuild.

His strengths lie in project cost management, financial management, forecasting and reporting and his meticulous work ethic and financial management mastery make him an invaluable asset to the Streetbuild team.

Rimon Ayoub

NATIONAL ESTIMATING MANAGER – DIRECTOR

With proven experience in the construction industry, Rimon has served in leadership roles across a variety of sectors. He began with operations management within the construction supply chain industry before transitioning to a project management role in commercial construction, which ultimately led him to his current position as Estimating Manager at StreetBuild, where he is also a co-owner. 

Rimon brings a broad range of professional insight and knowledge to multiple aspects of commercial construction, offering exceptional expertise to StreetBuild. He has built an enviable reputation as an innovative thinker responsible for the pre-construction phase of all national projects.

CAMERON MORRISON

STATE MANAGER WA/SA/NT – DIRECTOR

Cameron is a co-owner of StreetBuild and has played a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and success. He moved to Western Australia in 2007 with his family. 

With significant experience in the construction industry, Cameron holds extensive knowledge and qualifications, including a Diploma of Building, a Diploma of Surveying, and a Certificate III in construction (Fit Out and Finish).  

He has held several leadership roles throughout his career, and his key piece of advice is, “It’s a small world; surround yourself with good people.” 

A personal message from Cam: “I look forward to being a part of the great work delivered by the StreetBuild team over the years.”

Steve Winchester

National Construction Manager – Director

Steve is a highly motivated, goal oriented, and process-driven leader with over three decades in construction, dedicated to fostering collaboration within project teams to achieve optimal outcomes for every client.

As the State Manager for the Queensland construction team and co-owner at StreetBuild, Steve instills his acute attention to detail, quality, and safety into each team member. This commitment has led to an impressive track record of successful projects across commercial, retail, industrial, and residential construction and refurbishment. 

Tim Gagen

Managing Director

With a decade of co-ownership at StreetBuild and backed by extensive construction management experience, Tim is well respected in the industry. This is demonstrated by the strong relationships he has established with his own team, clients, consultants, and sub-contractors.

Tim became Managing Director in June 2018 after a successful tenure with StreetBuild working across all areas of the business.

He has proven to be a leader who understands the importance of effective communication, and whose success lies in his deep commitment to a collaborative management approach.

Having worked and learned under strong mentors himself, Tim recognises the value of providing effective leadership and mentoring to his staff members. He has a natural ability to develop and strengthen both individuals and management teams, resulting in deeply loyal colleagues and inspired teams.

Graeme Street

FOUNDING DIRECTOR – CHAIR

After a successful and diverse construction career, Graeme founded StreetBuild in 1998 and continues to guide the team through its growth. 

From day one, Graeme’s attention to detail ensured that the business was built on the foundations of quality service, industry best practices, strong business ethics and an unwavering desire to go the extra mile for all stakeholders.

To this end, Graeme focussed on establishing StreetBuild as a trusted employer and business partner – something he is proud to have successfully achieved with a dedicated team that uphold these same values and a network of partner organisations across Australia.

After leading StreetBuild as Managing Director for 20 years, in July 2018 Graeme handed the batten to co-owner, Tim Gagen who has since shouldered the overall management and commercial direction of the business.

In 2023, Grame transitioned into a non-executive chairman role, safeguarding the identity and culture that has shaped StreetBuild as a company over the past quarter century.

The transition ensured that StreetBuild’s values remained at the forefront of our operations, with a steadfast commitment to maintaining strong relationships with our subcontractors and suppliers.

It also provided Graeme the opportunity to pursue his passion for developing the StreetBuild team, offering mentorship that encompasses everything from construction expertise to business acumen.

Woolworths Wollongong eCOMM Expansion

To keep up with ever evolving retail customer needs, Woolworths Group partnered with Streetbuild to erect a new online shopping collection point. The project featured Australia’s first fabric awning, as well as modifications to the loading dock and back of house area to ensure the smooth processing of this new service.

Kmart Perth New Store Fit-Out

Over 8 weeks, Streetbuild converted this retail space into a brand new Kmart store. The project began with demolition and removal of existing fit-out which was then replaced with a new store front, upgrade to all internal fittings and relocation of service facilities.

Woolworths Oran Park eCOMM Expansion

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Streetbuild were appointed to construct a new online shopping collection point for Woolworths Group to help facilitate and evolve with rapidly changing customer needs. the changing customer needs. This project included the construction of a new canopy, office, cool room and back of house space.

Big W Blacktown Refurbishment

Streetbuild were engaged to transform this outdated Big W store under the Australia wide Renewal 2.0 initiative. The refurbishment included demolition and modifications to the existing store, installation of new flooring, paint refresh and upgrades to service areas and back of house facilities.