Transforming a building lobby to be more appealing to tenants and visitors could change the space’s environment in unexpected ways. Window condensation could become a problem if proper planning is ignored. (Learn more about the condensation issues.)
I expected to start my career at ESD in 2018 with the Commissioning (Cx) Group. However, another group within the company, Automation, needed my assistance.
I moved from the Commissioning Group to the Automation Group even though I had no knowledge of what controls design entailed—after all, my ESD internship in 2017 had focused on mechanical design. I spent my first 11 months learning controls design standards, developing design documents and coordinating with trades across the firm.
After a while I rejoined the Commissioning Group—while also working for the Automation Group. Within my first week on the Cx team, I drove to a data center construction site with the intention of completing simple VAV functional performance tests. By day three, I was testing two large complex air-handling systems for data halls. By week four, I was our ESD representative on-site lead coordinating the mechanical and electrical testing schedule with our client, the general contractor and the manufacturer’s representatives. Amid all of this, I also trained two new team members.
After six months working for both groups, today I am working solely in the Automation Group. I’ve had some time to reflect upon the question: How does one manage a busy job and heavy workload between two groups?
Here are three lessons learned from my experience:
- Embrace the fire. Oftentimes I found myself not readily jumping to client meetings or taking on small projects in my first months at ESD due to a lack of confidence. Once I did, I portrayed myself as the driving force, showed I was a key player and learned I’m capable of so much more.
- Accept the unexpected. If we always follow a predetermined path, we’ll never challenge ourselves and gather a new knowledge base or skill. Though I had never heard about our Automation Group prior to joining ESD fulltime, now I couldn’t be more grateful for the mentors I’ve gained and the standards I’ve learned.
- Communication is always important! I always find myself struggling to advocate for myself, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be in this position. Set aside time on your peers’ calendars to ask questions, and keep ideas and conversations flowing.
