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October 7, 2016
Sharing Construction Management Expertise Across the Globe
South Korean Delegates Seek Solutions at DDC for Infrastructure Construction Management
Contact:
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583
Dan Leibel
Junior Public Information Officer
718-391-1251
Long Island City, NY – Senior construction management staff from the Infrastructure Division at the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) this week hosted the Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Infrastructure Construction Management Division to share information about DDC’s best practices and payment processes.
DDC Deputy Commissioner for Infrastructure Eric Macfarlane and staff led the visit with a South Korean delegation including Director Kim Jong Geon after the South Korean government requested the meeting to learn more about New York City’s construction contract payment system and to enhance its current construction administrative procedures.
The Seoul Metropolitan Infrastructure Headquarters is responsible for managing the city’s urban planning and infrastructure construction services. Currently Seoul enjoys a highly competitive construction market, with more than 15,000 construction firms who bid on the City’s infrastructure projects. But the large number of firms leads to complications in the system used to pay contractors.
Deputy Commissioner Macfarlane and staff from his design, program administration, and construction divisions provided the delegates with an overview of the agency’s initiatives and contract payment system. The dialogue led to topics about prevailing wage policies, contract processes and construction management practices. The Seoul Construction Management Division is in the preliminary stages of implementing a new construction payment system and plans to incorporate guidance from DDC.
“As New York City’s construction management experts, we’re pleased to share our knowledge worldwide,” said DDC Commissioner Feniosky Peña-Mora. “Collaborating with Seoul on initiatives and challenges also helps us to learn from them about their innovations. The visit was a great opportunity to learn from our international peers, and we look forward to working together again.”
“New York City has one of the best infrastructure systems in the world and we are so happy to collaborate with DDC to learn more about their agency. We are deeply grateful that representatives from DDC took the time out to explain to us their current construction systems,” said Kim Jong Geon, Director of the Seoul Construction Management Division.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $15 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative, and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to city projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.