Top 4 Ways Technology Enhances the Project Experience
Tools that Support Smarter Decisions
At McCownGordon Construction, we’ve spent more than two decades leading the way in construction technology, making innovation a core part of who we are. By integrating advanced tools like Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), drone technology, and 360° cameras, we don’t just build—we create smarter, safer, and more efficient projects. Our approach gives clients the ability to visualize their projects before we even break ground, ensuring better decision-making and seamless execution. For us, technology isn’t just an add-on; it’s how we solve challenges, enhance quality, and deliver exceptional results that set us apart from the competition.
1. Improves Accuracy & Reduces Risk
Leveraging advanced technology in construction significantly enhances accuracy and minimizes risk throughout the project lifecycle. At McCownGordon, tools like 360-degree photography, AI progress monitoring and laser scanning are transforming how we validate and coordinate work onsite.
For example, in a recent renovation for Commerce Bank, we laser scanned the existing conditions and identified a significant slope in the existing floors which would impact ceiling heights across the project. With accuracy down to the millimeter, the model clearly illustrated where clashes would occur, allowing our team to proactively adjust the design before construction began. By mitigating this risk upfront, we not only avoided costly rework and an extended schedule but also ensured a higher level of accuracy throughout the project. The sloped floors, if left unaddressed, would have caused costly cascading issues—particularly with ceiling alignment and the installation of prefabricated elements like glass walls and partitions, which require exact tolerances. Identifying and correcting these discrepancies upfront allowed us to maintain design intent, reduce installation changes, and deliver a smoother, more predictable building experience.
2. Saves Time & Money
Building information modeling (BIM) offers a myriad of advantages for our clients. Beyond clash detection, we often use it to identify and solve unique challenges during construction pre-planning to ensure a smooth, timely build that optimizes budgets. On the State of Missouri Multi-Agency Lab Campus, a robotic system guided by our building information model (BIM) precisely marked hanger locations across 177,000 square feet of concrete slab. Our advanced approach saved approximately 2,000 hours in hanger and pipe installation, streamlining the project schedule.
3. Improves Quality & Safety
Rooted in our core value of performance, you’ll find a deep commitment to both quality and safety. One example of this includes using environmental sensors to monitor temperature and humidity to protect materials during construction and maintain future warranty conditions. We also use concrete sensors to tell us exactly when a slab is cured—preventing premature work which may impact quality or allowing us to proceed sooner.
At McCownGordon, we live our motto, “safety never stops”. Our commitment to safety is reflected in our comprehensive safety program, dedicated onsite team, and the innovative technology we deploy to protect our people, such as wearable devices to monitor body temperature during extreme heat, allowing us to proactively prevent heat-related illnesses and ensure everyone goes home safe at the end of the day.
4. Enhances the Customer Experience
Our goal for each project is to deliver the best building experience and enhance the journey for our associates, clients, partners, and community. This starts with streamlining communication and stakeholder engagement.
Live project webcam feeds, centralized documentation, and automated updates allow remote owners, institutional partners, and internal teams to stay engaged and informed throughout the project lifecycle. For remote owners, this often reduces travel expenses, and uplifts confidence due to the high level of detail provided. By streamlining our communication efforts with advanced technology, we make it a priority to keep all stakeholders informed throughout the entire building experience.
“Partnering with McCownGordon on our biofuel expansion project has been a game-changer. During preconstruction, they introduced the latest laser scanning technology, providing us with an accurate picture of the existing facility down to the millimeter. This approach, which also incorporated 3D photography, significantly enhanced our existing facility’s documentation, and helped us visualize how the new equipment fit into the space. Their proactive planning and innovative ideas saved us an incredible amount of time. McCownGordon streamlined the design process, resulting in substantial time and cost savings. We couldn’t be happier with the results!”
– Matt Greeno (MGP, Biofuel Expansion)
At McCownGordon, technology enhances every step of the project journey—from concept to completion. Whether it’s harnessing real-time data, integrating AI tools, or streamlining collaboration, we use innovation to unlock smarter, safer, and more successful outcomes for our clients
It’s not just the tech that drives us—it’s our people. As a 100% employee-owned company, we foster an entrepreneurial culture where every associate is empowered to take initiative and deliver quality results. When our team is personally invested, our clients benefit from a deep commitment to excellence and client experience that stands apart.
