Praising Progress

Since the adoption of Pinnacle Series, NORR has witnessed achievements in training engagement and knowledge-sharing across the organization. And with a recent overview of the last 12 months, these tools paint a picture of growth, adaptability, and potential, including: 

1. Learning Path Progress: Over the last year, NORR’s workforce has shown significant engagement: 

• 193 employees accessed 101 learning paths and up to 780 courses, showcasing a commitment to upskilling across the organization. 

• The 32% completion rate highlights their dedication to developing new skills and knowledge even during busy schedules and project deliverables. 

2. Enrollment Insights 

• Since the deployment of Pinnacle Series three years ago, NORR attracted 288 unique learners to 757 unique courses and 2,465 enrollments, demonstrating proof to the diverse opportunities available to employees. 

3. Course Completion Highlights 

• Popular courses such as Introduction to Revit, and Revit Essential Skills, Architectural Project Setup, Schematic Floor Plans, Doors, Windows and Openings, and Deliverables courses consistently ranked as top performers, with employees collectively dedicating over 800 hours to training. This significant time investment demonstrates NORR’s emphasis on empowering their teams through education, especially on key tools such as Revit. 

 4. Expansion of Course Offerings 

• What began as a focused initiative to upskill teams on Revit evolved into a comprehensive online training program. NORR expanded their course library to include training modules for a variety of tools, such as Microsoft Office, Bentley software, Bluebeam, Chaos Enscape and McNeel Rhino/Grasshopper, catering to the diverse needs of their teams and equipping them with the skills necessary to excel across multiple platforms and departments. 

5. Custom In-House Learning Paths  

• NORR is developing tailored in-house learning paths, courses, workflows, documents, and videos designed to support onboarding, enforce procedures and standards, and deliver specialized and advanced training—further demonstrating their commitment to continuous learning and operational excellence.

Overcoming Challenges and Unlocking Opportunities 

Every great journey comes with its hurdles, and NORR’s pursuit of a stronger learning culture is no exception. Alongside significant progress, the organization encountered challenges that brought forward new opportunities for growth. These obstacles included initial adoption barriers, budget constraints, and underutilized licenses, which offered critical insights into how NORR can fine-tune its approach for even greater impact. 

The shift to remote and flexible work, with roughly 60-70% of employees operating outside traditional office environments, reshaped the training landscape. In-person sessions were no longer practical, prompting a move toward flexible, scalable online solutions. This shift opened the door for NORR to explore long-term, sustainable learning strategies that align with economic priorities like enhanced ROI, cost efficiency, and team productivity. 

NORR’s response to these challenges has laid a foundation for the future. The organization has made strides by: 

1. Categorizing employees into tailored training groups: from beginners to advanced learners eager to upskill. 
2. Offering diverse learning paths and fostering a culture of continuous improvement that resonates across the workforce. 
3. Demonstrating the value of these tools by linking training directly to employee growth and long-term organizational success. 

By embracing these opportunities, NORR is not just addressing challenges but leveraging them to create a strategic vision that will propel the organization forward. 

Scaling Operations and Embracing BIM for Complex Projects 

Équipe Laurence, a leading civil engineering firm in Quebec, has always been at the forefront of delivering top-tier infrastructure, urban planning, and environmental solutions. However, as their projects grew in complexity, so did the pressure to streamline operations, enhance precision, and increase collaboration across teams. They recognized that to maintain their competitive edge and ensure long-term growth, they needed to fully embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM). 

BIM (Building Information Modeling) could provide them with the tools they needed to optimize processes and increase their ability to take on larger, more complex projects. However, implementing this type of system required more than new technology; It required an evolution in the way the team worked, managed data, and communicated across departments. 

For Team Laurence, the challenge was clear: they needed to adopt BIM to stay ahead, but they also needed a strategic plan that would position the company for long-term success. 

Strategic BIM Integration for Operational Efficiency 

The management of Équipe Laurence made the decision to invest in a large-scale BIM transformation. The goal was to speed up project delivery, ensure optimal quality control, improve collaboration between the different disciplines of the company while maximizing resource efficiency. 

The key to this transformation was finding the right partner who could help define the scope and develop a clear strategic plan to bring their vision to life. SolidCAD supported the implementation of improvements throughout their process, including: 

• Optimization of work processes: Laurence team focused on refining and optimizing its work processes using BIM tools. By improving its processes, the company was able to standardize project management practices across departments, which contributed to better tracking of schedules and budgets. 

• Targeted training: It was essential to invest in their team’s expertise. Team Laurence provided comprehensive training to its staff, from project managers to designers and engineers. This training allowed everyone to take full advantage of the new tools and processes, which reduced the learning curve and accelerated project execution. 

• Advanced Software Integration : The use of software and platform 

of state-of-the-art BIM has enabled the company to improve design accuracy and reduce errors. Tools such as Civil 3D, InfoDrainage, Autodesk Construction Cloud and Dynamo for Civil 3D have enabled Équipe Laurence to complete complex civil engineering projects with greater precision, reducing rework and making it easier to track schedules.