Thilo Wilhelmsen of DPR Construction on What General Contractors Really Want From Glazing Contractors | Episode #17
So I’ve been posting this Newsletter on LinkedIn for a good year or 2 now and had moved away from the Email Newsletter.
But after being hounded by multiple people to do both, I’ve decided to finally bite the bullet and bring the email newsletter back!
Enjoy and I’ll keep bringing more segments to the newsletter as we build it back up.
Here we go again, Facade Focus readers, listeners, and viewers!
Is it me or is Construction still riding the wave of the New Year?
Busy would be an understatement!
But I won't complain, busy is good and long may it continue.
So back to podcast. I have been excited to release this episode for a few weeks now because instead of sitting down with a Glazing Contractor…
I sat down with the General Contractor.
And honestly?
I think every Facade Contractor in the industry should listen to this one carefully.
This week’s guest is Thilo Wilhelmsen , Building Envelope Manager at DPR Construction .
One of the largest General Contractors in the United States.
(Link to YouTube Episode Below)
What makes this conversation so interesting is that Thilo has sat on both sides of the table.
Before joining DPR, he worked for Joseph Gartner, part of the Permasteelisa Group, helping deliver some of the most iconic Facade projects in the country.
Now he’s on the GC side.
Reviewing bids.
Buying out projects.
Managing risk.
Working directly with Owners.
And deciding which trade partners actually bring value to a project.
That perspective makes this episode gold!
Because for once…
You get to hear exactly what a General Contractor is REALLY thinking during the buyout and PreConstruction process.
And some of the points Thilo made actually surprised me.
A key point he raised a few times was “It’s not about the lowest number.”
Now every Facade Contractor reading this probably just rolled their eyes and said:
“Yeah right…..price is everything”
But when you listen to the full conversation, you may think differently.
Thilo explains how DPR looks at:
Project Understanding
Communication
Problem Solving Ability
Collaboration
Trust
Responsiveness
Risk Mitigation
NOT just price.
(Link to Spotify Episode Below)
We also got into something I think the Glass & Metal industry massively overlooks.
Most contractors never actually ask the GC what they need.
Instead, they submit a number and hope for the best.
Meanwhile, the best trade partners are:
Asking Questions
Understanding the Owner’s goals
Identifying Risks Early
Helping Shape Budgets
Acting like true project partners
“Pick up the phone and ask what’s important to us.”
Simple.
But powerful.
Especially in an industry where so much communication still happens through email chains and assumptions.
Here’s what we get into:
What GCs actually value during bid reviews
Why the cheapest number rarely wins alone
How trust impacts project buyout decisions
Why communication is still the biggest issue in construction
The importance of early collaboration and preconstruction
How glazing contractors can become better trade partners
Why feedback after losing a bid matters more than most people think
And how strong relationships are built long before project award
Catch Episode #17 of the Facade Focus Podcast now:
(Link to Apple Podcasts Episode Below)
And as always, a huge thanks to this season’s sponsor: Architectural Glass & Aluminum (AGA)
An employee-owned business with 55+ years of curtainwall experience.
AGA has helped shape some of the most iconic buildings on the West Coast through world-class curtainwall design, engineering, fabrication, and installation.
Known for solving complex glazing challenges with precision and ownership, they turn ambitious architectural visions into reality.
Innovative people. Iconic projects.
Their culture is what sets them apart.
Go check them out!
Until next time, stay Facade Focused.
CEO & Founder | Unity Search
Watch on the Facade Focus Podcast on YouTube Below
