George Wilkinson
Essay to Owners: Start well.. save $
(For purposes of this document, planning, design, construction, and development of real property (a.k.a. buildings) will be referred to as the “AEC” industry.)
It is common that many customers to services in the AEC industry seldom do business there and in many cases the project undertaken is a "one-off." Furthermore, these customers find themselves in the position of attempting to manage many intertwining contracts while all at the same time successfully operating the business that brought them to needing more in the way of property (buildings). These conditions, in and of themselves put up barriers to success, but there are more equally significant obstacles lurking at the outset.
Essay to Investors: Save the planet with timber and energy design
Applied technology in the building industry is now at a tipping point. The intersection of timber construction technologies with indoor climate energy exchange and management is creating powerful new market opportunities.
When design-build is good, it can provide a groundswell of innovation
The cultural headwinds have long been on the bow of the so-called design-build movement. It took nearly 50 years of cultural warfare for the various participants to see their integrative potential. It is easy to see how the cultural divide is built into the DNA of the various designers, engineers, builders, salespeople, financial engineers, and business managers; they are all different people with different worldviews and ways of behaving. The marketplace finally demanded cooperation and collaboration. By the 1990’s, the acceptance of the design-build approach was no longer in dispute.
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Wilkinson Building Advisors provides guidelines and recommendations to define and measure project complexity at an early stage. Whether you are an investor, owner or designer, this protocol provides a better understanding and actionable steps to successfully manage projects and reduce the associated risks that come with complexity.
Our building solutions have small carbon footprints and contribute solving the climate change crisis. Product types are envisioned to include commercial and residential buildings as well as timber framed indoor growing environments.
How your building uses energy is our business.
Work
“Philosophically driven, technically competent”
Capella Tower
Led design and construction for the second tallest building in Minneapolis as the project executive and vice president at Opus Corporation; led a team of 25 people over a two-year period to create a 58 story in downtown Minneapolis in cooperation with Opus real estate executives and the IBM corporate real estate group in Connecticut.
Fifth Street Towers
Led design and construction for the original Opus Corporation effort to build towers in downtown Minneapolis; led 2teams to build a 20 story and 40 story series of towers in downtown Minneapolis.
U.S. Bank executive offices in St. Paul
Supported the US bank real estate group in negotiations with Opus Corporation in connection with design and construction of S. Robert St. executive offices and administrative services.
Holland Partners Platform at Union Station apartments
Led site planning and development studies for a large urban tower built on an abandoned railroad yard; planning involved working with large national contractor for extraordinary industrial waste cleanup to prepare the site for development.
Holland Partners N. 16th St. Line 28 at LoHi apartments
Provided planning and development support for the emerging design and construction group at Holland Partners (Denver) for purposes of development of a luxury apartment complex in North Denver. The north Denver project was a vanguard project in Denver in which the Holland organization was the designer, builder, and developer.
Holland Partners Bellevue Station Milehouse apartments
Provided site layout support as well as planning leadership for selection of substructure, superstructure, and enclosure systems in a large luxury complex (over 500 units); provided cutting edge energy use planning. Concepts for efficient management of energy use in small spaces part of the comprehensive design and operations planning for the very large complex.
Bemidji State Birch Hall redevelopment
Supported the State of Minnesota predesign process to apply for capital bond funding (bi-annual Omnibus Capital Bonding bill) as well as program development; provided administrative support during the ongoing design and construction phases for revitalization of the treasured and oldest residential hall at BSU.
Bemidji State Linden Hall redevelopment
Supported the State of Minnesota predesign process to apply for capital bond funding (bi-annual Omnibus Capital Bonding bill) as well as program development; provided management oversight during design and construction phases of this innovative Suite style living for upperclassmen.
Proposed Pilot Project (concept)
Wilkinson Building Advisors is working on a demonstration project for several mixed use, mass-timber buildings in Minneapolis. If implemented, this project would support the mission of the WoodWorks Wood Products Council and the Softwood Lumber Board to further the use of timber products.
Capabilities
Wilkinson Building Advisors offer a range of services to the architecture, engineering, construction + development industry (AEC + dev) and its customers.
Building investors & owners
To any individual or team financing the development of a project, Wilkinson Building Advisors offers:
Project analysis: Outlining the project and assessing potential risks, before getting started.
Virtual owner representation: There is focus on mediating potential issues that may arise over the course of the project.
Launch feasibility planning: You’ve broken ground, now what? Let’s plan beyond the first 30 days.
Owner management & guidance: Helping you stay organized and in control, amidst the many moving parts,
Technology utilization: Recommendations of the best technology platforms to help you with your project.
AEC + dev
If you or your team are involved with the any of the design or building elements of a development project, Wilkinson Building Advisors offers:
Business Processes: Whether it's providing business analytics using PowerBI, or workgroup collaboration with Microsoft Teams, we can improve workflow, efficiency and productivity for your team.
Design-build innovation: Minimize potential risks by encouraging a single point of responsibility.
Cost planning & management: Organize numbers efficiently for your business.
Technology utilization: Recommendations of the best technology platforms to help with your project.
Market Competitive Advantage: Success storytelling. Financial confidence by way of innovative workflows. Integration of services.
Sustainability initiatives
Wilkinson Building Advisors supports sustainability focused organizations that develop and apply whole-project energy consumption solutions such as the Softwood Lumber Board and Wood Works.
Demonstration projects: Projects that demonstrate the sustainable nature of the organizations behind them in order to bring interest to the subject.
Investment alignment & cost planning: Ensure that the direction that you are moving with your project is financially sound.
Market development: What role does your project play in its greater market? What role will it play in five years?
About Wilkinson Advisors
George Wilkinson answers the questions you didn’t know to ask. With degrees in civil engineering and architecture & a professional background of over 30 years as a design-build focused architectural engineer, today George excels as an industry visionary and collaborative team leader.
George is actively engaged with sustainability initiatives in the residential, industrial and commercial design-build industries.
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