Employee Spotlight : Paul Rasztotszky
Q: Can you tell us about your background before joining Connected?
I've had a pretty diverse journey through the construction industry. I started in carpentry, moved into site management, and then transitioned into sales and estimation for office fitouts. I have worked across all types of construction projects, including multi-res apartments, townhouses, and commercial buildings. Each role taught me something different, but they all contributed to understanding the full picture of what it takes to deliver a successful project.
Q: How does your previous role compare to what you're doing now at Connected?
My previous work was heavily design-centred, focussed on high architectural finishes. I'd work closely with architects and interior designers to deliver projects with intricate design details and complex buildability challenges. The main clients were developers who were very cost-focused, so I was constantly managing their budgets while trying to maintain the architect's design intent, which was always a delicate balance.
Those development projects tended to be quite emotional, and design driven. Developers often had a strong personal connection to their projects, having spent years on property acquisition, feasibility studies, town planning, and design development.
At Connected, the approach is completely different. Things here are centre centred around functionality, fit for purpose. Our projects are high-risk and complex. We're dealing with pharmaceutical and life sciences environments, which adds layers of complexity around individual client needs, regulatory requirements, and the specialised environments they work in.
Q: What are some of the key differences you've noticed in how projects are structured?
The client relationships are notably different. We're working with large corporate organisations that tend to be less emotionally connected to the project and more focused on outcomes and functionality. The pace is also much faster, from initial design through to construction, the overall project lifespan is significantly quicker than what I experienced previously.
One of the biggest differences is the consultant team. Our projects involve so many more experts, process engineers, automation specialists, dangerous goods consultants, change management professionals, and property assessors. It's a completely different level of coordination and collaboration.
Q: What are you enjoying most about your role at Connected so far?
The complexity! Each project has this added layer of operating in a high-risk environment, which keeps things interesting. I'm also really enjoying working with such amazing consultants and design teams. Previously, I had no control over team selection, the developer would have already chosen everyone before I came on board. Here, I am part of that process.
The collaborative work environment at Connected has been a great experience so far. It's such a refreshing change to have that level of collaboration and expertise around me.
Q: Connected has a strong reputation for Early Contractor Involvement (ECI). How does your approach differ from what you've experienced elsewhere?
This is where Connected really shines. Previously, as a builder, we'd be engaged much later in the design process with no control over the selection of the design team. That presented so much more risk for the project.
I also felt that the builder's role in the ECI process was highly undervalued in my previous experience. We were mainly there for construction and budgeting advice. At Connected, it's so much more than that, we drive the programme, the design, coordinate the consultants, and bring it all together for the client.
Cost certainty was also much harder to manage when engaged later in the process. Typically, we'd come in after town planning, and the client would already have pricing from a quantity surveyor that was outdated. This made project feasibility difficult to achieve. Projects would sometimes fall over, and we wouldn't get paid for our time unless the project was successful.
At Connected, being involved from the beginning means we can provide real cost certainty, manage client budget expectations effectively, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for everyone involved.
Paul Rasztotszky joined Connected's pre-construction team, bringing extensive experience in design-focused construction and a passion for complex, collaborative projects in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
NB: passion also reflected in his tool belt and green thumb…