2021 Year in Review: James Pirot, Cresa

Name: James Pirot

Job Title: Managing Principal/Project Management

Company Name: Cresa

What are your predictions for your industry in 2022?
Commercial property owners and managers will need to implement more interactive and occupier-friendly technology within their buildings, showcased as both an amenity and necessity to satisfy the occupier base. Much of the focus will be safety and security, factoring in wellness and indoor air quality (IAQ). Building Department standards and regulations are transitioning, commensurate with Local Law 97 coming into effect. Certain aspects related to ASHRE standards will need to be revised for proper tracking of IAQ regulations. Expect occupiers to demand definitive confirmation and tracking of clean and safe air work environments, combined with life safety and overall security.

How has your working environment changed over the last year?
The working environment for project management assignments has been dramatically restructured in ways that enhance communication between clients, team members, and vendors. We had to quickly apply multiple virtual platforms and adapt to virtual planning in lieu of in-person project planning and oversight. It was especially challenging on the remote sites we managed nationally, when travel restrictions were in place. But we became proficient in producing virtual tours of job sites, while also conducting virtual weekly/daily site meetings or client visits. Although prior to COVID, VR scanning and visualizations were considered cutting-edge, these technologies quickly became the accepted norm.