SponsorArchitectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)Website: https://aga-ca.comLinkedIn:   / agaengineered  GuestThilo Wilhelmsen: Building Envelope Manager – DPR ConstructionLinkedIn:   / thilowilhelmsen  Host:Tom Caldicott CEO of Unity SearchWebsite: www.unitysearchltd.comLinkedIn:   / tom-unitysearch  Chapters00:00 Introduction to Thilo Wilhelmsen and DPR Construction03:07 The Evolution of the Facade Role at DPR06:00 Understanding the Glazing Contractor Perspective09:06 Building Strong Trade Partnerships12:02 The Importance of Communication in Bidding15:04 Value Beyond Price in Project Bids17:45 Feedback and Continuous Improvement in Contractor Relationships21:04 The Role of Trust and Transparency in Partnerships23:53 Navigating Complex Projects and Expectations27:04 The Importance of Early Engagement in Project Development30:06 Final Thoughts on Collaboration and Future Opportunities38:20 Building Strong Relationships with Subcontractors39:14 The Importance of Feedback and Continuous Improvement41:03 Constructive Criticism: A Two-Way Street42:29 The Challenge of Prioritizing Feedback44:04 Communication: The Key to Successful Collaboration45:20 Learning from the Past: A Reflective Approach47:52 Quick Fire Questions: Insights and ReflectionsHey guys, and welcome to another episode of the Facade Focus Podcast, where I aim to connect the global facade industry by sharing knowledge and experience for others to learn from.Over the coming weeks, I’ll be interviewing leaders and industry experts from across the world to discuss common challenges we all face and the innovative solutions helping to move the industry forward.This week, I’m joined by Thilo Wilhelmsen from DPR Construction.Thilo brings a really unique perspective to the conversation because he’s sat on both sides of the table.Before joining DPR, he spent years working for Joseph Gartner, part of the Permasteelisa Group, delivering some of the most complex facade projects in the industry.Today, as Building Envelope Manager at DPR Construction, he works directly with Owners, Architects, Consultants, and Trade Partners to help manage risk, drive collaboration, and deliver projects successfully from preconstruction through to completion.What makes this episode especially interesting is that this is the GC perspective.And let’s be honest…Most Glazing Contractors rarely get to hear exactly what their clients are actually thinking during bid reviews, buyouts, project planning, and day-to-day delivery.In this conversation, we talk about what General Contractors truly value from their facade partners, why communication still breaks down so often in construction, how trust impacts who wins work, and why the cheapest number is rarely the full story.We also get into preconstruction, risk management, relationship building, and how the best trade partners separate themselves long before a contract is ever signed.It’s a really honest conversation about how projects are viewed from the GC side and what facade contractors can do to become stronger long-term partners.Now, quick shout out to our podcast partners, Architectural Glass & Aluminum, otherwise known as AGA.They’re a leader in custom curtain wall systems and have been providing tailored glazing solutions for over 55 years.More impressively, they are one of the largest employee-owned businesses in the glazing industry across the US and have a phenomenal team that buys into their ethos of collaboration and craftsmanship.I’m delighted to have them as a partner of the Pod, so a big shout out to the team over there.In the meantime, let’s get into this week’s episode of the Facade Focus Podcast with Thilo Wilhelmsen from DPR Construction.