There have been many studies done about the design process throughout the years, and they all continue to arrive at a similar conclusion. That conclusion is that the decisions made at the early stages of the design process have the most impact on the success of the project. This is true not only with respect to satisfying the program needs but also in terms of establishing a projectʹs budget and schedule as well. Given this understanding, the role of the Construction Manager as a part of the preconstruction phase/design phase cannot be over‐emphasized.
During the Pre‐construction Phase, an Owner can expect their Construction Manager to provide information, both data, and recommendations that will enable the Owner to make the best design decisions possible. In this role, the Owner can rely on the Construction Manager to provide input about the project with respect to:
- – Estimates of the cost of construction
- – Estimates of comparative costs for different systems (i.e. structural frame, HVAC, exterior skin, roofing, etc.)
- – Alternatives to materials, systems and design approach
- – Schedules for design and construction
- – Develop value engineering alternatives to design
- – Estimates of permitting times and requirements
- – Recommendations for material and equipment selections
- – Price checks on the design as it progresses to ensure it stays within the
- – Budget
- – Recommendations for subcontractors and the bidding process
There are, of course, a variety of other issues which the Construction Manager will focus on during the preconstruction phase as well, but those listed are necessary to the Ownerʹs and Architectʹs decision-making process. With both accurate and timely input from the Construction Manager, the Owner is best positioned to make good decisions and therefore is able to maximize the use of his construction dollar.
Another important role throughout the design phase for the Construction Manager is the role of design reviewer. As such, the Construction Manager troubleshoots the design to prevent change orders and redesign. By reviewing the design, the Construction Manager can also advise on subtle changes that drastically affect the ability of the project to be constructed.
