MIAMI—As construction technology advancements change the face of the industry, one of the largest general contractors in theSoutheast is earning national recognition for using artificial intelligence to accelerate estimating projects.
The AssociatedGeneral Contractors of America (AGC) has named Miami-based Coastal Construction a 2023 AGCConstruction Innovation Award finalist for using the revolutionary technology, Togal.AI, to complete construction bids faster and more efficiently. In 2022, Coastal used Togal to more effectively estimate, analyze, and bid several iconic projects in Miami, including BentleyResidences, AstonMartin Residences and the PlazaCoral Gables, to name a few.
“With Togal.AI’s award-winning technology, our Coastal Construction teams cut nearly14,000 hours of work, saving close to $1 million in our first year using it,”Coastal Construction Chairman and CEO Thomas P. Murphy, Jr. said. “This is the biggest increase in efficiency for our preconstruction department in 20 years.Increased efficiency is needed now more than ever as the industry faces pressing challenges from labor shortages to higher interest rates to rising material costs.”
Seeing the potential for technology to revolutionize construction, Coastal invested seed money to support the launch of Togal.AI in 2019. Since then, Togal has grown to serve hundreds of some of the world’s largest contractors, winning top national and international awards.
“From the very beginning, Coastal Construction believed in the potential of Togal, and we’re thrilled to see what started out as a dream become a huge success,”Togal.AI Founder and CEO Patrick Murphy said. “Coastal has always been at the forefront of innovation to provide the most elite and cutting-edge results, and it’s beyond rewarding to be part of this next chapter.”
Togal uses machine learning to automatically calculate the square footage of areas and complete full takeoffs. It crunches a process called “takeoffs” or“square foot analysis,” which used to take days or weeks, into mere seconds. In the past, estimators had to manually label, measure and identify each area, wall and object, in construction plans with rollers and rulers or by dragging and clicking a mouse on a computer screen. Now, Togal.AI automates that entire process.
“The construction industry is one of the least digitized in the world and is ripe for disruption,” Patrick Murphy added. “Our work with Coastal Construction shows how technology can eliminate mundane tasks and allow teams to focus on higher value functions like value engineering, pricing strategies, scoping and bidding on additional business.”
For more than 100 years, AGC of America has been the leading association for the construction industry. Its annual Innovation Awards launched in 2018 to incentivize and encourage free thinkers to provide pioneering solutions to industry challenges.
As atop three finalist, the Coastal Construction and Togal.AI teams will present to a panel of judges at the AGC Annual Convention on March 13-16 in LasVegas. The winner will be announced during the opening session of the AGCAnnual Convention.
About Coastal Construction: Award-winning CoastalConstruction Group and the Murphy family have been building projects throughoutFlorida for more than five decades and have become one of the largest general contractors in Florida. Coastal currently has operations in Miami, Palm Beach,Naples, Orlando, Tampa and the Florida Keys. Coastal specializes inhospitality, single and multi-family residential, education, commercial and mixed-use projects. Their distinguished portfolio includes, among others: FourSeasons Hotel and Residences at the Surf Club; St. Regis Resort &Residences Bal Harbor; Ritz-Carlton Hotel South Beach; Faena Hotel andResidences; 1450 Brickell; Porsche Design Tower; Fendi Chateau; Oceana Condos;Residences by Armani Casa; Aston Martin Residences; and The Plaza Coral Gables.In addition, the Company was the primary builder for Ocean Reef Club, Deering Bay Club, Miami Design District, Miami Worldcenter and Water Street Tampa.
About Togal.AI: Based in Miami,Florida, Togal.AI is one of the fastest-growing construction technologies, with hundreds of users from some of the world’s largest contractors. In 2022, Togal won The Big 5 Global Construction Pitch Competition in Dubai and Miami’s eMerge Americas Startup competition judged by Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary. The company was featured on the EntrepreneurTV show Elevator Pitch, selected for Venture Atlanta, and has made BuiltWorlds’ Pre-Construction 50 List two years in a row, which names the hottest construction-tech companies in the world.
About Associated General Contractors of America: The Associated GeneralContractors of America (AGC) is the leading association for the construction industry. AGC represents more than 27,000 firms, including over 6,500 ofAmerica’s leading general contractors, and over 9,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 10,500 service providers and suppliers are also associated with AGC, all through a nationwide network of chapters.
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