Pat Henderson, the outspoken president of Hardstone Construction, defied industry tradition to apply 3D techniques pioneered in discrete manufacturing to the challenges of a commercial project.
In the process, he proved that cost overruns are not a necessary evil of construction … and that some risks are well worth taking.
Before he founded Hardstone Construction, a Las Vegas-based general contracting firm, Pat Henderson led $3 billion in projects at two of the largest U.S.-based construction companies.
Despite 30 years of experience, however, certain aspects of the industry still puzzle him.
For example, why does the industry accept 20% cost overruns as a normal part of doing business? << Click to Tweet
And why do construction companies resist the 3D design technologies proven in countless other industries – technologies that could eliminate the overruns?
Getting answers to those questions is important to Henderson because he wants to leave his employees and his daughter, whom he is grooming to take over the company, a stronger, more profitable, and less frustrating industry than the one he has known.
“I am convinced 3D has the power to eliminate the problems that abound in the construction industry,” the forthright Henderson said. “I believe it will reduce waste in construction by upwards of 10%. When you consider the trillions of dollars spent on construction in the U.S. alone, that is a very significant savings.”