7 Advantages of Construction Management

Construction management has become the preferred delivery method for many building projects. At Ball Construction, about 50 percent of our projects are delivered through this method.

Traditionally, the most common construction project delivery process is the design-bid-build method, whereby the owner first hires an architect and then has contractors bid on the finished drawings. In this scenario, the design must be 100 percent complete before contractors bid on the project. Essentially, the overall cost of the project is not known until the bidding process is complete. For example, if the architectural drawings submitted for bidding are inaccurate, there may be cost overruns and delays.

But what if your design cannot be finalized before construction is set to begin? What if you require construction cost feedback during the design phase? Construction management works especially well for complex projects where not all aspects of the design can be decided up front. If you prefer a shared understanding of the project scope between you, your architect and your contractor from the beginning, then construction management may be your best option.

Below are seven advantages to choosing construction management:

1. As owner, your interests take precedence.The construction manager acts as your representative to ensure all decisions are to the benefit of your project. They identify all activities involved in planning, coordinating and controlling the project and are directly involved in the tasks, budget and schedule. The construction manager effectively communicates all aspects of project development back to you from start to finish.
2. Construction costs are developed alongside design.The construction manager oversees competitive bidding and develops realistic budgets to ensure your project is completed cost-effectively through the efficient use of resources.
3. Construction can commence before the design is entirely complete.As owner, you are engaged at the beginning of the design phase. This is especially important if you have an elaborate project that must be completed within a short timeframe.
4. Construction management maximizes communication and minimizes conflict. Using a collaborative and inclusive approach, mutual trust is built during the project’s early stages. As the design develops, the construction manager provides you with expertise on subjects like constructability, cost, schedule, value engineering and material selection.
5. There is a central point of communication, control and responsibility. As your principal point of contact, the construction manager is your go-to person and the one who has a thorough understanding of your project’s big picture. They receive input from multiple sources, manage the flow of information, integrate project participants and ensure the work is completed on schedule and on budget.
6. Construction management can save you time and money.By compressing a number of steps in the conventional process, schedules can be accelerated. Through greater flexibility and project control, the risk of overspending is therefore minimized.
7. You have access to a highly qualified project team. The construction manager applies their extensive industry knowledge to advise you on who is best suited to deliver the needs of the project and recommends industry experts to add to the project if necessary.

Is construction management the right choice for your project?

That depends. Construction management works well if you want to compress a schedule, retain control and have price transparency down the contracting chain. Through the construction management process, Ball will create a collaborative partnership with you and the design group. As a team, we’ll work together to deliver a project that exceeds your expectations.

To find out if construction management is right for your project, contact Ball today.