IMPEL Webinar 4: Industrialized Construction R&D

Media > IMPEL Webinar 4: Industrialized Construction R&D

December 6, 2018

The promise of connected buildings and the pervasive sensor technologies enabling their design and deployment will require a series of innovations in building materials, fabrication techniques and data science. From digital design to off-site fabrication, construction, and commissioning, traditional stakeholders in the construction industry are increasingly asked to accommodate a set of emerging needs, fundamentally shifting the demands on them and their capabilities in order to be successful. Innovation needs range from improved building materials, real-time data analytics, and building automation to digital design and the integration of new processes, into what will inevitably become a transformation in the way buildings are constructed.  In all of this, the role of the building scientist is increasingly shifting to fulfill two critical needs; helping owners understand what is possible, and providing architects and engineers with the technical understanding that enables incorporation of new technologies in their designs.

Speaker Bios

Nolan Browne

Managing Director, ADL Ventures

Entrepreneurial executive, technical business developer, investor, fundraiser and board member specializing in commercialization of emerging technologies to reinvent established industries. 15 years of leadership experience in both multi-national corporations and startup companies. 11 years of P&L responsibility, including 7 years as the head of the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, an applied R&D lab working with industry to commercialize clean energy technology. Recognized commercialization expert who excels at developing first-of-kind programs and products and leading hybrid teams of high performing technical, business and political professionals. For the past four years Nolan has been focused on the intersection of energy, machine learning and blockchain and has co-founded companies in these areas. Prior to that he successfully founded and operated CleanTech accelerators including Fraunhofer TechBridge and holds board seats in a number of energy related concerns. Browne is active in the entrepreneurial and venture capital communities. He holds graduate degrees from the Johns Hopkins and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Colby Swanson

Co-Founder, Momentum Innovation Group

Colby Swanson is a serial entrepreneur who is determined to help the residential industry build smarter, faster and more equitably for everyone. He started as a carpenter, graduated to a building scientist, switched to a corporate strategist, and now is an innovator and scout helping shape the future. His 360 degree understanding of the construction industry stems from swinging a hammer in the field to delivering strategies in the boardroom.

Colby authored long-term construction strategies for BASF and led many cross-divisional business development endeavors. He also launched a unique Employee Benefit Program - similar to a healthcare program,  but for the employees’ homes. This program spurred nearly a thousand home improvement actions that directly reduced the company’s carbon footprint.