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Jill Kurth sees unique opportunities to build resilient, environmentally friendly and just infrastructure in Southern California right now.
As AECOM’s chief strategy and growth leader for Los Angeles Metro, Kurth wants the construction industry to embrace AI and other building technologies in order to decarbonize and adapt to extreme weather and other climate challenges .
“An equitable and green future requires us to work together, partner, create pathways and leverage technology in new and different ways,” Kurth said in a AECOM press release.
Jill Kurth
Authorization granted by AECOM
Dallas-based AECOM tapped Kurth in October to lead the Los Angeles region, which includes the city and county of Los Angeles, the LA Department of Water and Power, the LA Metropolitan Transportation Authority, world airports of LA and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games as clients.
“In my new role, I’m excited to help transform the future of LA and advance AECOM’s work and strategic activities in this area,” Kurth said in an email interview with Construction Dive.
Here, Kurth talks with Construction Dive about opportunities in the Southern California market, acquisition strategy in light of inflation and supply chain bottlenecks, plus creative electrification and other mega-infrastructure trends.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Construction Immersion: What is unique about the construction market in LA and Southern California in general? What are the biggest infrastructure needs?
JILL KURTH: Progressive policy goals around climate adaptation are driving mega-infrastructure projects across the region: decarbonisation, electrification and preparing for more frequent and extreme climate events are at the fore. It’s a matter of public safety.
Infrastructure modernization programs must achieve multifaceted goals: not only adapting to climate change, but providing critical infrastructure to underserved communities. Creating social value is paramount.
Securing Southern California’s water future is imperative—it’s safe to say we’re having a “Mulholland moment” for infrastructure. There is a great need for regional-scale initiatives to recycle wastewater, reuse water, capture rainwater to recharge basins, and desalinize the oceans, many of which are already underway.
What do you think builders should know about the economy right now?
Procurement strategy is rapidly evolving in response to inflation and post-pandemic global supply chain dynamics.
We see our customers proactively building relationships with manufacturers and centralizing and expanding their procurement capabilities. Risk is being transferred from contractors to our customers as they race to insure machinery, equipment and bulk materials.
This competitive landscape, together with Requirements to Build America, Buy Americathey are changing the manufacturing landscape virtually overnight.
What are some of the trends you see in the green building space?
The Port of LA and the Port of Long Beach have long been committed to clean air initiatives. Post-COVID, the port and maritime sector is enjoying an influx of private capital that is accelerating ship-to-shore decarbonisation and electrification.
Port tenants are financing their own construction, preferring to finance, design and build their tenant improvements on their own. This is in addition to once-in-a-generation public funding due to the Investment in Infrastructure and Employment Law.
We are also seeing large energy-intensive infrastructure such as dams and wastewater treatment plants implementing the Envision Framework of the Sustainable Infrastructure Institute. I believe we will see creative strategies on how to electrify purpose-built infrastructure such as hospitals, data centers, and large manufacturing enterprises while providing mission-critical resiliency and redundancy.
Is there a new construction technology that excites you?
Technology advances The electrification of buildings is one that I am excited and hopeful about. Today, Buildings are one of the main contributors to climate change in the USA
Building modernization is not only about providing comfort and convenience, but also about reducing the building’s carbon footprint. Technologies such as high-efficiency chillers, thermal energy storage and building automation have the potential to dramatically reduce the impact of buildings on the environment, provide resilience and create value.
What has been your favorite project or association?
It’s hard to choose! Any project or association that improves the quality of life for everyone while protecting our planet is my favorite. One that I am currently excited about is the new home of the LA Clippers, the Intuit Dome, which will open next year. It is one of the most technically advanced stadiums in the world, enhancing fan immersion and an advanced shopping experience.
From a construction standpoint, it’s very exciting. We are using LIDAR and drones for real-time 3D mapping and surveying, we hold coordination meetings in virtual reality, we use AI to manage water quality and optimize operations and we have the first zero emission units in our country that operate on the southern routes. California It’s an exciting time to see how creativity, technology, engineering and construction come together in this space.
