“We got in trouble with our own partners for investing in technology that disrupted OUR business. Some were actually ‘pissed’ because it threatened our design revenue.”
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Robert Ioanna, Executive Principal of Syska Hennessy Group, sharing his innovative approach to construction tech investment and internal R&D.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Their three-pronged innovation approach: external investments, internal R&D, and corporate ideation
✅ How they gamify innovation with an internal point system that engages 20% of their firm
✅ Why he believes MEP industry disruption will work backwards (from shop drawings to concept)
✅ The challenge of AI adoption in a code-driven, legally-rigid industry with PE stamp requirements
Listen now on Spotify to learn how this 700-person MEP firm is disrupting itself from within rather than waiting for outsiders to do it first.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:52 Introduction to Cisco Hennessey and Roles
05:17 The Three-Pronged Approach to Innovation
09:03 Cisco Innovations: Internal Incubator or CVC?
11:41 Competitive Edge in the MEP Industry
12:05 Innovation Frameworks and Inspirations
17:06 Current Technologies in MEP Design
21:11 Measuring Innovation Success
22:15 Challenges in the MEP Space
35:10 Pain Points in MEP Design Consulting
38:57 The Future of AI in AEC
41:57 Navigating AI’s Impact on MEP Engineering
45:15 Challenges in AI Adoption for Complex Projects
47:01 Understanding Market Dynamics in Construction Tech
55:20 The Evolution of Engineering Rates and Value
58:08 Lessons Learned from Tech Investments
01:00:17 Investor Perspectives on AEC Tech
01:04:31 Fostering Creativity in Innovation
01:09:22 Introducing DigiDux: A New Tool for Engineers
