{"id":98705,"date":"2026-03-30T14:04:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T18:04:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/?p=98705"},"modified":"2026-05-14T14:33:55","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T18:33:55","slug":"bus-planning-design-construction-vp-talks-future-of-building-and-project-management-on-mets-newest-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/news\/bus-planning-design-construction-vp-talks-future-of-building-and-project-management-on-mets-newest-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"BU\u2019s Planning, Design &#038; Construction VP Talks Future of Building and Project Management on MET\u2019s Newest Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For Boston University Associate Vice President of Planning, Design &amp; Construction Michelle Maheu, a project manager\u2019s leading role on a bustling construction site is somewhat symphonic. Allow her to explain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs you\u2019re developing the design of a building, you\u2019re working with several different trades. So, you have an architect, who\u2019s doing the design. You have a structural engineer. You have an electrical engineer. You have an energy person, maybe a sustainability person,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd the project managers\u2019 job is to be, what I always call, the orchestra leader. The orchestra leader who\u2019s bringing together all of these different disciplines and making sure everyone\u2019s coordinated and communicating with one another.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video\" style=\"margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 1.5em;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/283yOPdanjenrqMKswxkgU\/video?utm_source=generator\" width=\"624\" height=\"351\" frameBorder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>Ms. Maheu made the comparison during her recent appearance on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/faculty-research\/podcast\/\"><em>MET Makes Conversation<\/em><\/a>, the podcast series that examines a wide array of topics through a Metropolitan College prism. In the latest episode, \u201cDrafting the Blueprint for Project and Construction Management\u2019s Future,\u201d Ms. Maheu joined BU MET Administrative Sciences Master Lecturer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/profile\/richard-maltzman\/\">Richard Maltzman<\/a> and Administrative Sciences Visiting Professor of the Practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/profile\/anil-sawhney\/\">Dr. Anil Sawhney<\/a> for a sprawling discussion about the challenges and innovations shaping project and construction management today, what tomorrow looks to bring, and the unique role higher education can play in the industry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video vertical\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0nO1Eu00ceM?rel=0\" title=\"YouTube video player - MET Makes Conversation: Project Management: The Art of Balance\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s a conversation that those interested in or pursuing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/degrees-certificates\/ms-construction-management-technology\/\">MS in Construction Management &amp; Technology<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/degrees-certificates\/ms-project-management\/\">MS in Project Management<\/a>, or even the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/degrees-certificates\/ms-supply-chain-management\/\">MS in Supply Chain Management<\/a> at BU\u2019s Metropolitan College won\u2019t want to miss, particularly as it covers topics that include the critical role emerging technologies like AI and 3D scanning will play in the evolving landscape of construction management; the ways the field can adjust to challenging dynamics like skilled labor shortages, changes in workforce expectations, equipment and material volatility, and increased lead time; and the impact recent developments like the pandemic and tariffs have had on the industry.<\/p>\n<p>One element of the modern landscape that was bound to come up in this report on the construction field\u2019s cutting edge is the role artificial intelligence is likely to play in reshaping the future of the industry. On this, all three experts agreed\u2014AI is here for good, and aspiring future leaders will need to adjust and become data fluent accordingly. \u201cI think more and more that the role data, tech, and AI [are] playing in our sector is getting enhanced.\u201d Dr. Sawhney says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you think about it, you can&#8217;t build a building or an infrastructure asset without data,\u201d he adds. \u201cSo having data skills\u2014knowing where the data resides, how to keep the data updated, curate it, maintain it, and use it wisely\u2014is very crucial. That&#8217;s a good skill to have.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"responsive-video vertical\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CsauOOENI7M?rel=0\" title=\"YouTube video player - MET Makes Conversation: BU's Housing Framework Plan\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>The unique role higher education plays in construction management was a major focal point of the discussion, which also touched on the importance of framework planning, public-private partnerships, mixed-use spaces, sustainable housing, and the benefits of modular versus prefab approaches to construction\u2014all topics that are not only critical to educational institutions but also to the world beyond. They\u2019re all part of what Ms. Maheu says makes her so passionate about working in the planning, design, and construction arm of BU.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m really drawn to the mission of higher ed. I truly believe in it. And it brings me great joy to wake up in the morning and know that&#8217;s what I&#8217;m going to do,\u201d Maheu says. \u201cProject management is a great, fundamental underlying background to have and [can be] applied in so many different types of careers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To listen to the latest episode of <em>MET Makes Conversation<\/em>, \u201cDrafting the Blueprint for Project and Construction Management\u2019s Future,\u201d click the embedded link above or visit your preferred podcast platform, like <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/4x2zTYxqAU2k4zvTfSrLMQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Spotify<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/met-makes-conversation\/id1557911612\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, or even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@bumet\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">YouTube<\/a>\u2014and be sure to subscribe for all future episodes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the latest episode of the MET Makes Conversation podcast, \u201cDrafting the Blueprint for Project and Construction Management\u2019s Future,\u201d BU AVP of Planning, Design &#038; Construction Michelle Maheu joins to discuss higher education\u2019s essential role in addressing the skills gap in the construction industry, how public-private partnership models can help address the housing crisis, and the ways technology like AI and advanced modeling is transforming how today\u2019s construction projects are managed. Tune in\u2014and be sure to subscribe!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19676,"featured_media":98708,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[258,193,37,199,79],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98705"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98705"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99929,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98705\/revisions\/99929"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/met\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98705"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}