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Chris McCann was heading up a construction project for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals when the president of a contractor with whom he was working handed him a document on Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). “My response to him was ‘This sounds great,’” McCann recalls. “It would be awesome to build this way, but nobody’s ever going to do it because it would take 100 lawyers to work out a contract.”
Nearly 20 years later, McCann, Vice President of Global Project Management at Wolfspeed, an American developer and manufacturer of wide-bandgap semiconductors, employs IPD on several of his construction projects. His most recent is Wolfspeed’s five-billion-dollar, 2-million-square-foot facility on 225 acres in Siler City, North Carolina. IPD, which required only about 20 lawyers and not 100, is a lean project delivery method in which key parties involved in the design, fabrication, and construction aspects of a project work under a single agreement.
No matter their size, all construction projects comprise individuals and entities with conflicting motivations. “I want to get a project done because I want to start making wafers. A contractor wants to get it done and maximize profit. The designer wants the same. Maybe they want to put their name on something. There are all these different types of motivations,” the VP says. Competing motivations lead to confrontation between contractors as each pulls in a different direction, jeopardizing a project’s success. McCann, who has more than 25 years of construction experience, grew frustrated with the standard delivery methods and their mixed results. He felt IPD was the solution.
“There are a lot of specialized systems that include components with long lead times, and staying very focused on these is paramount to our success.”
Chris McCann
McCann executed his first IPD build with a general contractor called Whiting Turner. “They partnered well with the designer. We had some great relationships at the senior level within the company that grew over time,” McCann says. Following that positive experience, McCann applied IPD to his next project with Whiting Turner. This time he incorporated lean methodology, resulting in an even more collaborative project. “We started down that road and were successful. It ended up being one of the best labs we ever built on our site in Durham, North Carolina,” McCann recalls.
The mantra at Wolfspeed is a one-pack mentality. “It’s a catchphrase. We’re one pack, a pack of wolves, so to speak, and we solve problems. We can bring smart people together to make smart decisions and solve problems quickly. It’s probably our company’s greatest strength,” McCann says. IPD and the one-pack mentality work in concert on Wolfspeed’s construction projects, as that mentality spreads organically to its contractors. “Wolfspeed people are all talking about being one pack and the importance of working as one pack. We built this culture, then we invited this entire project team, these contractors, to be part of our pack,” McCann explains.
IPD not only fits Wolfspeed’s projects, it fits McCann’s personality and leadership style, which features problem solving, trust, adaptability, a reluctance to impose his will on team members and contractors, and collaboration. “I like to work with people so they have satisfaction in what they’re doing the same way I would look for satisfaction,” McCann says.
When a problem arises, he doesn’t solve the problem alone. The Whiting Turner project manager doesn’t solve the problem alone. The entire “pack” solves the problem. IPD drives problem solving down to the lowest levels of the project. When an electrician is charged with a task, for example, they can offer a more efficient and cost-effective method to accomplish that task. Getting to that point, however, takes trust. “We’re going to give you the power to make the right choice. And then as more of those choices are driven to those levels, that trust builds,” the VP says.
Like most individuals who head up construction projects, McCann has one enemy: time. To enable Wolfspeed to “seize the market,” McCann must build its complex facilities as quickly as the market demands. Without question this is McCann’s biggest challenge. “There are a lot of specialized systems that include components with long lead times, and staying very focused on these is paramount to our success. We also have extended timelines around our environmental permitting that we need to navigate,” McCann explains. “The permitting necessary to get one of these facilities up and running is a big challenge.”
His second challenge, which is typical of all construction projects and not unique to Wolfspeed, is the supply chain. Wolfspeed’s foundries consume a prodigious amount of power and require a robust electrical infrastructure. Procuring material to satisfy these needs is trying. “You have to be as fast as possible to secure these materials. Every decision we make, every challenge we face, has a speed component laid over the top of it. There’s always a pressure to react quickly and keep the team and project moving forward,” McCann shares.
McCann’s Siler City project is about to wrap up. “We have a temporary certificate of occupancy and a path to get a final certificate of occupancy sometime in early July,” McCann says. “We have a lot of shell spaces built that are ready to go as soon as the market demands it.”
BA/Science is a group of systems thinkers using data-driven processes to deliver innovative planning, design, project delivery, and continuous improvement. Grown out of Boulder Associates’ four decades+ of designing innovative healthcare spaces, it gives our experts a platform beyond design projects to provide their expertise to clients seeking innovative solutions to business challenges. This drives our practice forward by expanding our definition of design, with the goal of helping clients achieve their key business objectives.
Drees & Sommer is a partner-managed, global consulting company providing consultation and implementation services. Since January 2025, Drees & Sommer and VVA – Part of Drees & Sommer have joined forces in the U.S. to deliver global expertise with local focus. With extensive expertise and proven experience, we support clients across industries such as Semiconductor, Life Sciences and Automotive. Whether brownfield or greenfield, project management or full EPCM delivery – we help industrial companies make their sites fit for the future. All services come from a single source, ensuring seamless execution across the lifecycle. We’re proud to work with Wolfspeed.
HIPP Design + Consulting stands out as a multidisciplinary firm known for its expertise in engineering and architecture. With a focus on pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and industrial sectors, HIPP delivers highly specialized solutions tailored to regulatory and technical demands. Their collaborative approach ensures that innovation meets precision, making them a trusted partner for complex projects. HIPP’s commitment to quality, safety, and client satisfaction solidifies its reputation as a forward-thinking leader in facility design and consulting.
