What is Construction Management?

Construction Management is not simply a project delivery method – Construction Management is more importantly a very unique relationship between the Owner and his/her Construction Manager. Your relationship with your Construction Manager must be based on trust, and you should always know and feel that your Construction Manager is representing you with exceptional professionalism and integrity. The focus of your Construction Manager should always be on your objectives and best interest as well as that of your project. Your Construction Manager should not have any hidden agendas, and due to a high level of communication, you should be aware of every aspect of your project at all times. You should always know and feel that you are part of a team that respects and values you as a member. Your Construction Manager must realize that team involvement and cooperation is fundamental to the success of your project and that this success is dependant on the success of each team member. Your Construction Manager must offer a completely transparent process that includes full accountability for all team members, with a decision-making process that involves all team members and which allows you to take advantage of the synergy that comes from this teamwork and the combined knowledge.

Your Construction Manager must be in control of your project budget at all times, which gives you full access to all of your project expenses and cost information. This gives you the confidence that your project cost will not be greater than your budget and that you will be able to maximize your construction dollars. Because your Construction Manager is working on a fixed fee, you will have the benefit of receiving any and all construction savings. You will have flexibility in the procurement of Trades and Suppliers while maintaining the benefit of a competitively bid project. You will also have the ability to purchase long lead items in advance thereby preventing delays in the construction phase of your project.

Getting your Construction Manager involved as early in your project as possible gives you the advantage of the construction knowledge and the costing and scheduling expertise that he brings to the table. With the Construction Manager involved early, the procurement process can be placed on the “fast track”, which enables construction to start earlier and results in a shorter overall project schedule, thus saving costs related to saving time. Construction Management, with the aid of your Construction Manager, gives you the ability to evaluate risks and make decisions from those evaluations with the security of costs, time, proficiency, and quality of work.

Construction Management is not simply a project delivery method – it involves relationships that are founded on trust, integrity, communication, teamwork and accountability.