350: Lego as serious play
“I focus on one thing that I believe is going to fundamentally change the industry, and that is empathy.” This is episode 4 of 4 for a Deep Dive Series recorded at the AEC Summit in Austin, Texas in April 2024! If you hear any background noise, thad's because this episode was recorded LIVE at the AEC Summit! Join us for this episode as Devon chats with Charlie Dunn about his role as a Project Storyteller, and maybe why legos should be taken seriously! Charlie tells a good story. From lightning fast development on the industry in the Las Vegas strip, to oil fueled expansion in Edmonton, Alberta, to once in a generation energy plant upgrades throughout the Southeast, to global mission critical and life science construction for enterprise owners, he thrives in the challenging delivery gap between “as is” conditions and the “to be” designed state. His career highlights include the on-site project management of over 2.5 million square feet of new distribution space across North America with zero recordable injuries, and WANO (World Association of Nuclear Operators) recognition for the use of 4D technology in project delivery. He knows that projects succeed because of people—what they believe, strategy—as it supports creativity and innovation, and tools—to deliver value, drive out waste, and improve safety. Charlie’s current working definition of a project storyteller is this: imagine that which is not, and take others there with you. He believes that construction may be the highest form of storytelling, for it transports humanity in a permanent way. Watch Charlie's TedX talk! Check out LCI (Lean Construction Institute) "Flow" Campaign. Keep up with the Art of Construction (AOC) podcast on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube! Subscribe to the Art of Construction (AOC) podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!