When many people think about what a construction project entails, they imagine large machines on the job sites, methodically building their new building. However, it takes a little planning and teamwork to get to that stage. These steps are less obvious, but just as important. This is one of the steps, if not the most important, in any construction project.
During the design phase of your project, you begin planning what the building will look like and the needs it will meet. In a design-build project, this is when you would choose a design-build team. In some cases, this team will have a construction company and a design company that will propose their project as a joint team. Essentially, they will combine forces for your project and condense the experience of both firms into one convenient point of contact.
Using a design, supply and construction method, you will first select a design team that will guide you through the third step. Then, once the project has been conceptualized, you'll send the drawings to several construction companies. They'll use the construction documents to draw up an offer, and then you'll select the construction company based on the offer and its qualifications. Design and construction projects benefit from initial collaboration between construction and design teams, which are contractually linked.
This creates an inclusive and team-centered atmosphere surrounding the project, where all contributions are discussed together and decisions are taken as a unit. In addition, the design and construction company will assume other responsibilities that would otherwise fall on the owner, such as paperwork, team coordination, and other miscellaneous administrative tasks. This differs from the design, supply and construction method, in which the architect focuses and is contractually bound only to the design part, and the construction team focuses and is contractually bound only to the part of the building. This means that the collaborative exchange of significant information in the design process between the two is often lacking in design, supply and construction scenarios, since the designer and the builder focus, with good reason, only on their contractual obligations.
A common misconception regarding delivery methods is that the only method for offering competitive bids is to design, tender and build. However, this is not the case at all. In fact, statistically, design and construction projects are more likely to fit the budget, because there are fewer change orders. In addition, most design and construction projects (and all design and construction projects with Horst) will continue to be competitively tendered to subcontractors, so you can be sure that you'll get a great price.
During the design phase, you'll work with the design team to turn the vision of your project into drawings and plans. They will be sure to consider programming and viability with aspects such as the size and design of the building. This will lead to the schematic design, which is a sketch that will give you an idea of what the building will look like. The sketches will then be used during design development, where the team will begin to consider the costs associated with creating that space.
To learn more about the 30-60-90 design process, check out this blog. In a design-build approach, the construction team will be there to contribute their expertise during the design phase. They will be able to offer suggestions on constructability, the best value for money, the selection of materials and longevity factors, and more. With a design, supply and construction approach, the construction team will be incorporated once the project has been designed, making changes difficult and more expensive at this later stage.
While steps 1 to 3 focus on planning the building in general, pre-construction is where the construction team will develop a plan for the actual construction of the project. The objective of this stage is to create a plan to build the project that is in line with your objectives and vision. It will deal with budgets, schedules, and other factors essential to complete the project. The pre-construction team must also identify potential problems and take corrective or precautionary measures to try to reduce the number of change orders and delays.
If it hasn't been resolved in step 2 (Selecting equipment and delivery method), your construction team will deliver the packages to bid for your list of trusted bidders. They will select the best company to complete the project. While they will surely consider price, they will also consider important factors such as experience, reputation, and overall ability to do a good job. They will also finalize and align the purchase of materials and equipment needed for the project.
To facilitate this process, you'll want to partner with a construction team that has experience building in the area and is familiar with the necessary steps. They will know when to start the process to meet the objectives of your project schedule. As the pre-construction is finished, the construction phase can begin. While this is where the construction team and their subcontractors assume most of the responsibility, all other teammates will continue to participate.
The design team will perform quality inspections to ensure that the work being done matches your design and will be available to respond to RFIs (requests for information). As with every step of a construction process, communication between all parties is essential to keep the project going and to ensure that the work is completed according to specifications. While in the past communication could be a major obstacle for teams, new technology makes it easier than ever to communicate significant information on a regular basis with the people who need it. In addition, your construction team must have a professional specialized in occupational safety who visits the site regularly.
They will ensure that everyone works safely and will be able to address any concerns to help prevent future incidents. As the project owner, you can also tour the site and check the progress in person. If your workplace is in another city or state, or if regular visits to the project don't fit your busy schedule, your construction team can still keep you on top of the project process. They'll work with you to establish the right amount and format of information, so that it's useful and informative, but never overwhelming.
During this stage of the project, your construction team will draw up the to-do list for the project and ensure that the building is delivered with all the finishing touches made. The project owner will receive all the information about the closure of the project, including the guarantees and the equipment's manuals, and how it was built. Every construction project requires a lot of planning, coordination, and work, no matter how big or small. Each step builds on the next, which means that if a mistake is made in the early stages, the side effects will be felt throughout the rest of the project.
If you need help winning more good construction projects, 1build can help with our independent estimating services. Book a demo today to learn more and see it in action. Some steps in the predesign phase overlap with the development and planning stages because both involve outlining the expectations and objectives of the project. For example, some may wait until the pre-design phase to coordinate the meeting between the architect and the general contractor, while others may do so during planning.
Some combine pre-design and planning in a single phase and use the design phase as the second stage in the commercial building construction sequence. After the pre-design phase and the establishment of the general requirements of the building, you can hire engineers and summarize the most specific information in the design phase. The process also continues after construction is completed to ensure that the building complies with the law and meets the customer's standards. Focusing on preparation during the initial stages of commercial building construction can reduce unexpected delays or project cost overruns.
These components hide the signs of recent construction, make the site more aesthetically pleasing, and can provide color or shade. Construction management experts understand the importance of these planning steps and make the most of them to reduce problems during the construction project. Since most physical constructions are done linearly, a construction team may be waiting for another team to complete their part of the project. The land preparation phase of the actual construction turns the land into a working place for the next few weeks.
Even after completing the major steps of the construction process, the building isn't completely ready for occupants to move in. When evaluating the proposed sites, the construction project team should study the soil to determine if the structure will need additional reinforcements. Gathering the documentation related to the project and placing it in the hands of the owner is one of the final steps of the project management team. The site must be ready for construction, which could involve addressing environmental issues, such as soil analysis.
The construction phase is the part of the project that most people consider “construction” when the word is mentioned. .
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