Preconstruction & Estimating

Preconstruction Support

We believe that an effectively managed preconstruction phase is a critical part of successfully delivering a project. When you engage us early in a project, we are able to help drive additional value into the construction phase by supporting you with system selection, budgeting, value-engineering, scheduling, and optimizing your project for Off-Site Manufacturing. Whether we are working with you in a Design/Build or Design/Assist role, involving us in your project in preconstruction consistently results in better project outcomes.

System Selection: Our team will provide you with a detailed comparative analysis of systems that will work with your project, incorporating the most recent and accurate construction cost and procurement information. Because of our robust mechanical, plumbing, and electrical service capability, our team incorporates real world feedback about system life cycle and maintenance considerations, ensuring the long-term performance of your facility.
Estimating & Budgeting: We use a fully transparent accounting of the methodology used to formulate our budget and provide it to you along with the estimating deliverable. We build our estimates using cost data from recently performed similar projects as well as cost forecasting and lead time data collected by our dedicated supply chain group.
Value-Engineering & Design Evaluation: We also use an “open book” approach as we evaluate new systems and approaches embodied in each design evolution, new iterative designs, or value-engineering options. We ensure that we clearly identify the benefits or potential negative impacts to the project of each. We view this level of transparency and communication as critical to ensuring we are able to help meet or exceed all project goals, budget, and schedule benchmarks.
Reconciliation & Variance Tracking: As the design progresses, we provide continuous cost estimating support by reconciling previous budget estimates with updated designs, documenting any changes in a variance log, and providing updated budgets. Each budget iteration is fully supported with detailed notes on outstanding options, potential risks, and remaining variables to ensure full transparency and collaboration throughout the preconstruction phase.
BIM & VDC Support: Whether working with an in-house or third party design team, our BIM team develops the construction model and assists in constructibility review and value-engineering option evaluation by modeling MEP-dense spaces, complicated systems, or key structural components to better evaluate their appropriateness for the overall design. This effort also allows us to drive further value through our robust Off-Site Manufacturing capability.
Schedule Development: We develop baseline schedules in conjunction with each budgeting milestone and incorporate increasingly granular detail as the design coalesces. We integrate with the project team with pull-planning and other scheduling coordination exercises throughout preconstruction. The result is an efficient and detailed, resource-loaded, scope-specific schedule, setting the stage for an efficient construction phase.

How Do We Set Ourselves Apart?

We Don’t Sit On It: We are proactive about any budget busters or opportunities to add value we see in the design. We don’t want the team to burn design time on something the project budget can’t afford.
We Foster Inclusive Collaboration: We make sure that we coordinate with all the trades on the project, regardless of what scope we are performing, to maximize the effectiveness of preconstruction.
We Explain It: We pride ourselves in clearly laying out the downstream impacts and VE option or design iteration we evaluate.
We Provide Path To Budget: We always make sure to provide you with the options that will allow you to meet your budget.