Managing billion-euro construction projects across multiple continents requires more than technical expertise—it demands strategic planning that can unite diverse teams around complex, evolving designs.

From Formula One theme parks in Dubai's desert heat to Sweden's groundbreaking European Spallation Source research facility, construction planning specialist Enda Grimes has spent two decades mastering the art of breaking massive projects into manageable pieces.

Now leading his own consultancy Strata, he reveals how digital rehearsals, AI-powered data analytics, and one often-overlooked foundational skill are transforming how Europe's largest construction projects come to life

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How breaking mega construction projects into smaller, team-owned pieces enables successful delivery.
• Why engineering principles provide the strongest foundation for strategic time planning.
• How using digital rehearsals BIM models can safely plan logistics before physical execution on site
• How AI and data management are transforming construction planning
• Why communication skills and practical site experience matter for career advancement
• The value of international experience and cultural adaptability in engineering career progression

GUEST DETAILS

Enda Grimes is Director and Owner of Strata, a construction planning consultancy he founded in 2016 that manages projects valued up to €2 billion. His career spans some of Europe's most complex construction projects, including serving as Head Planner for Skanska on the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden—the world's largest research facility of its kind—where he developed contract programs for this state-of-the-art super-microscope facility. Previously, Enda spent over five years as Planning and Bid Manager with John Paul Construction/Absal Paul in Dublin, leading strategic technical submissions and commercial strategies.

His international experience includes planning the $600M Formula One Theme Park in Dubai and the €145M Criminal Courts Complex PPP in Dublin with PJ Hegarty & Sons. Enda specializes in translating complex construction requirements into executable plans using cutting-edge planning, modeling, and visualization technology.

Connect with Enda:

PUBLIC CONTACT DETAILS
Website: https://stratadigital.io/

Social Media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/enda-grimes-86539a25/?originalSubdomain=ie

MORE INFORMATION

Looking for ways to explore or advance a career in the field of engineering? Visit Engineers Ireland to learn more about the many programs and resources on offer. https://www.engineersireland.ie/

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QUOTES

• Engineering is a really good base for time planning, and if you can understand the technical challenges and relate that to time, you know, you get a lot of respect. - Enda Grimes
• It's made up of multiple project teams. If you're able to isolate each component piece to the individual project teams and let them deal with them on a project by project basis, it's a lot easier. – Enda Grimes
• What is a digital rehearsal? It's about building something digitally and rehearsing it and then putting it in practice in real life... the whole purpose is to plan out those works in a safe manner, to make sure that it works. - Enda Grimes
• I learned that sometimes to be Irish is a good thing in international projects because we're good at talking. We're probably have a good way about us with people, and you're able to bring different cultures together. - Enda Grimes
• I think practical experience is really important actually. There is a shortcoming in our education process at the moment. It's too theoretical, and that connection to industry is lost. - Enda Grimes

KEYWORDS
#Engineering principles #strategicplanning #constructionprojects #FormulaOnethemepark #Europeanspallationsource #projectexecution #timemanagement #digital tools #BIM #digitalrehearsal #communicationskills #career progression #internationalexperience #practicalexperience #leadership