BJC planning, design and construction ‘builds together’

A recent BJC event gave new meaning to the concept of “building together.”

More than 200 people took part in the first-ever “Meet the CBW Networking and Tradeshow Event: Building Together,” held Aug. 21 in the Atrium at Christian Hospital.

The event brought together groups within the design and construction industry:

• the architects and engineers, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors with whom BJC works on a regular basis — known as BJC’s Toolbox
• dozens of smaller minority- and women-owned businesses — referred to as capacity building warehouse (CBW) companies

“We’ve brought members of these groups together before — for example, to talk about a project,” says Charles Henson, BJC planning, design and construction diversity manager. “But this was a first-of-its-kind event to get everyone in the same room, including the whole PDC&R department. It was an exciting opportunity to meet, network and develop relationships between our current CBW companies and members of the BJC Toolbox.”

Two dozen minority- and women-owned firms took advantage of the opportunity to set up an exhibit and interact with attendees.

Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive, Henson says. In fact, 100 percent of those who responded to a follow-up survey indicated they’d like to attend next year, and several of the participants noted that they made valuable contacts at the event.

“The ‘Building Together’ theme is important,” says Henson. “It’s an ideology that supports the mission of BJC, encompasses all of the diverse people in the communities BJC serves, and encourages all of them to play a role in the building of BJC.

“BJC is committed to establishing a state-of-the-art program for diversity and inclusion, and BJC design and construction is out in front in bringing people together,” Henson adds. “This event was another way of supporting those efforts and creating meaningful relationships among small and large firms.

“BJC has a great opportunity to change what diversity means in design and construction, and we are committed,” Henson adds.