Videsh Boodu, National Vice President SAIBD
- What have you enjoyed the most about working from home?
- How did you build camaraderie and stay connected during lockdown?
- What do you envision as the new normal for construction professionals?
- Top 3 tips for staying resilient in face of current situation?
Working from home is a great experience. The main reason being the flexibility of hours. I would go so far as to say that I’ve being more productive now than ever. The downside is the craving to go exploring. This might be personal to be as I use long country drives to “press the reset button” which for now is an urgency.
I also think that we would not return to the Business as usual. This includes from the way we interact to the exploiation of the environment to the way society “bows to the alter of predatory capitalism”
Maybe, We have to prepare for simpler personal lives and increase complexity for professional & social interactions. We have to adapt to increase PPE usage and safety protocols when interacting with clients, administrators, other professionals and site personell. As well as using digital resources for meetings.
I would also suggest that Architectural Professionals & other competent persons engage with the proposed energy efficiency standards during this lockdown period as there are major changes. While on the topic of energy efficiency, I would also suggest that professionals and owners rethink the building design principals to sway in favour of passive design.
Lastly, as a first step to recovery, I would encourage the Professionals, Owners, Municipal Planning managers engage to find a workable solution to these trying times to at least initiate the planning process to allow a smooth flow & quick recovery of the econmonic health of the country.
