"We're really known in the community as running a very efficient project and a very socially conscious project,” says Wade, the director of the Skanska-led design-build joint venture. “Our people like working for a company that really serves those around us."
Leveraging this mega project to invest in the local cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth has taken many forms, including:
- Subcontracting USD 332.1 M of work to small and disadvantaged businesses, exceeding our contractual requirement of USD 310.1 M.
- Providing 86 people with construction-related skills training, and then jobs that use their new, specialized skills.
- Conducting our operations in ways that safeguard and even improve the environment, which led to being honored with the Virginia Governor's Environmental Excellence Award and other key environmental honors.
- Being a dedicated partner to local charities. For instance, the Edmarc Hospice for Children presented its "You Mean the World to Us" plaque to our team.
- Proactively engaging with community stakeholders so we build and operate the project with their needs in mind.
"We have to be good neighbors, we have to know what the community thinks, and we have to do our work, day in and day out, in a conscious way that minimizes the short-term impacts of the construction activity as we communicate the long-term benefits of the project," Wade says.
Being a good neighbor
The importance of being a good neighbor is a lesson Wade learned throughout his 37-year Skanska career. For instance, when he was directing construction of the iconic Ravenel Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, his team took extra steps to ensure that this span reflected the community. For instance, they held meetings to let community members have a say on bridge girder colors, handrail styles and concrete finishes – all key aspects of the bridge's appearance.
"When you provide a community with the opportunity to take part in a project, they take ownership of it," Wade says.
Today, Charleston residents consider the dramatic cable-stayed Ravenel Bridge their icon.
"No doubt about it, people love it," he says.
The Scouting the Midtown Tunnel event brought more than 100 local Cub and Boy Scouts to the tunnel to introduce them to civil engineering and construction management, and to help them earn their engineering merit badge. "We have to be good neighbors," Wade says.
Developing people
Along with building communities, Wade also uses projects to enhance the capabilities and careers of project team members. Key to that is rotating people to different project roles so they gain new knowledge and perspectives.
"There is a little pain in making those changes because of the learning curves, but I’d rather change people on the same project than lose them to another company," Wade says.
Wade brings to his teams a deep sense of integrity and fairness, along with significant business and technical smarts. Those around him become loyal to him, and see him as a role model.
"Wade is highly respected both inside and outside the company," says Skanska Vice President Tom Fulton.
Wade leverages projects to enhance the capabilities and careers of team members, like these Elizabeth River Tunnels colleagues.
Dedicated to Skanska
Having plentiful opportunities to solve new challenges is why Wade has stayed with Skanska for his entire career. Part of that is because Skanska undertakes large and complex projects that few other companies can handle – such as PPPs in which Skanska’s responsibilities span design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance.
"I've never had a slow day in my 37 years, and I like that," he says. "I believe that when you're really challenged you grow a lot quicker, and I think that’s gotten me to where I am today."
He adds: "Skanska allows you to move up and take on the responsibility that you're willing and capable of taking on at any point in your career. That’s what has kept me here all my life."
"For people who are invigorated by working hard, taking on new challenges and moving up based on their merits, the sky is the limit at Skanska."
The project’s centerpiece involved assembling an underwater vehicle tunnel made of 11 16,000 ton (14.5 million kg) hollow concrete segments – this was a highly complex effort with many technical challenges.