Sam VanValkenburgh - BIM Manager

Sam is a first-generation sheet metal tradesmen and has been in the sheet metal trade for 35+ years. He has been in various leadership roles for 25+ years of his career. He has installed and designed many complex and demanding projects from retail spaces to high purity labs. He enjoys problem solving with multi-trades that come from tight spaces in constrained construction spaces. He enjoys helping my coworkers learn software, good workflows and problem-solving skills that will help them to be successful on their projects.

How long have you been in the construction industry?

• • Over 35 years

Which union are you affiliated with?

• • Smart Local 9 out of Denver, Colorado

What problem would you love to solve for the construction industry?

• • I would like to see BIM started before the construction phase of a project. I think it would allow projects to be more successful and cost effective to bring BIM partners on during the engineers development and design process.

What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on?

• • One of my favorite projects was the metallurgy research and development labs at the school of Mines in Golder Colorado.

If you could live anywhere in America, where would it be?

• • I would love to live in the Flathead valley of Montana or some ware in the lower areas of Alaska.