July 12, 2010
CSC conference
Construction Specifications Canada president: ‘We have to be open to change’
Unless the construction and design industries embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM), “we’re going to be left behind,” says the incoming president of Construction Specifications Canada (CSC).
“People ask me what’s on the agenda for this year, and I think foremost is the idea that we have to be open to change,” said Corinne Golding, speaking to Reed Construction Data during CSC’s annual conference in Saskatoon May 26-30.
“There’s a change afoot in the industry related to BIM, and if we’re not open to that change, we’re going to be left behind.
“There are a number of people who are still afraid of BIM,” Golding added, “and I think we need to show them that there are opportunities for everyone here.”
■ Construction Specifications Canada salutes members at Saskatoon conference
■ MasterFormat changes get positive reception from industry
■ Communication was key, says outgoing Construction Specifications Canada president
Construction Specifications Canada is a national multi-disciplinary, non-profit association that focuses on the development and delivery of education programs, publications and services for the construction community.
Golding, a specifications writer at Smith Carter Architects and Engineers in Calgary, says CSC must strive to be more green.
“Based on what I heard at the members’ forum, I think something CSC has to do is offer choices to our members,” she said.
“We heard that people want CSC to be more environmentally conscious, and for that reason, I think we have to give our members choices on how they receive information (PDF documents instead of paper), and how they send information back to the association ... we need to think green.”
While Golding sees challenges ahead in her term as CSC president, in particular pushing the industry toward adopting BIM, “I’m fortunate enough to have around me on the executive council some very good people who are more well-versed in BIM,” she said.
“I have people around me who will make me think outside the box, take me outside my comfort level, and that’s a good thing.”
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