Employee Insights: Kenny Gunawan
We sat down with Kenny Gunawan, Head of Construction at Connected, to discuss the unique challenges and innovations in laboratory construction. With extensive experience delivering complex life science facilities, Kenny shares valuable insights on quality control, leadership approaches, and the future of specialised construction.
On Quality Control & Documentation
Q: What's your approach to maintaining quality control across specialised teams?
A: We've implemented a digital-first strategy combining Procore and OpenSpace for centralised documentation, custom QC checklists by trade, early commissioning planning with embedded checkpoints, and focused coordination meetings with critical-path subcontractors to track progress and address issues in real time.
On Leadership Evolution
Q: How does leading laboratory projects differ from other commercial construction?
A: Laboratory leadership requires a shift from primarily schedule/budget focus to a more collaborative, compliance-driven approach. Success depends on technical fluency to communicate effectively across disciplines, collaborative planning with end users, and embedding risk mitigation as a cultural priority rather than an afterthought.
On Technical Challenges
Q: What's the biggest challenge in balancing speed with precision?
A: The integration of complex MEP systems while maintaining strict certification requirements is our greatest challenge. We've developed a modular mindset where systems are broken into "mini-commissioning zones" allowing for parallel progress without compromising validation steps. This approach supports compliance while maintaining momentum.
On The Future
Q: How are sustainability and technical performance intersecting in laboratory construction?
A: We're entering an era where these priorities are becoming interdependent rather than competing. Smart building systems now optimise energy based on actual lab usage patterns or special process driven environmental requirements, sustainable materials are appearing in critical lab elements, and water/HVAC reclamation systems are becoming standard. The future is designing labs that are smarter, not just greener.