In this episode of the STO Building Group’s Innovation Expo Series, host Rob Leon sits down with Ellen Giuntini, Founder and CEO of Otto Tech Systems, to discuss how the Otto Smart Ladder System is helping improve jobsite safety—from real-time alerts and digital inspections to data-driven insights.

As builders, we’re delivering spaces where families, students, colleagues, and communities gather. Nowhere is that more evident than in our school projects. While the metrics of budget and schedule remain critical, forward-thinking districts are expanding the definition of project success: improved student outcomes, reduced environmental impact, and buildings that contribute to long-term community health and quite simple, beautiful to behold.

When Fender Musical Instruments Corporation decided to consolidate two Scottsdale locations into a single headquarters, they invested in a 78,000 SF facility that reflected their culture. The building includes a professional recording studio, private practice rooms, a model shop for R&D, and an amplifier testing room where equipment gets pushed to its limits.

Across life sciences, healthcare, mission critical environments, and corporate campuses, one trend has become clear: projects are getting bigger, faster, and more complex than ever before. What was once considered ambitious is quickly becoming the new baseline. We’ve entered an era of “mega projects.”

Climate risk is an increasingly important consideration for the construction industry, with implications for operations, project delivery, and long-term business strategy.