How Implementing Pre-Construction Early On Can Greatly Benefit The Success of Your Project
What is Pre-Construction?
Pre-Construction is the preliminary planning and engineering stage of a project where the client works closely with the General Contractor and the Design Team including Architects, Engineers, and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) Consultants, to outline the essential components of the construction project from concept to completion. The team works together to define the project and develop building plans, total project budget, and a project schedule. During this phase, the team also identifies potential construction issues and solutions and makes Value Engineering/cost-saving recommendations to determine the most efficient use of money and resources, ensuring the best value for your project.
While pre-construction services can happen at various levels of the design phase, it is recommended to implement these services early in the concept design phase of the project to ensure seamlessness throughout. A thorough and deliberate pre-construction process is extremely important to ensure the project goes as planned and all potential needs are identified and addressed.
Benefits of Pre-Construction
#1 — CLEARLY LAYS OUT THE CLIENT’S VISION
Once you have established preliminary project goals, the team will work together to determine the feasibility of the project as a whole. Project details are reviewed and a plan is developed that includes all of the various phases of the construction project. This enables the client and the team to see the big picture, ensuring the client’s vision is clearly outlined and understood throughout every stage of the project.
#2 — DEVELOPS A TEAM MENTALITY WITH INCREASED TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Throughout the pre-construction phase, the General Contractor and Design Team will have collaborative round-table style meetings where each team member openly discusses ideas and receives feedback from one another. Any concerns can be addressed during this time resulting in fewer changes as the project gets underway, minimizing the cost of unforeseen issues, and helping prevent unexpected delays. For example, there may be an instance when the General Contractor is able to see that something drawn doesn’t translate to the construction process. By addressing this early on with the Architect and/or Engineer, they can collaborate to work through the means and method. This process establishes transparency and accountability from everyone involved and ensures all parties act in the client’s best interest.
#3 — PROVIDES Significant Financial Benefits
Change orders can derail your carefully crafted budget and cause delays and conflicts within your project schedule. Without a comprehensive plan and detailed statement of work (SOW) in place from the start, a multitude of change orders can occur throughout the project. Due to the collaborative nature of the pre-construction team, a more calculated plan (including budgets, schedules, and designs) is developed and leaves team members with little to no second guessing during decision-making processes. The result is a higher return on your investment by saving you time and money.
#4 — KEEPS SCHEDULING ON TRACK
The pre-construction schedule sets the project up for success from the start by providing the client with a detailed timeline of the projects’ start, progression, and completion estimates. As a result of the collective nature of the pre-construction team, everyone is able to review and decide the best timeline for each phase of the project. This also keeps the team members accountable to the logic and time table that results from this pre-planning.
Thorough and effective pre-construction planning is critical for your project to progress efficiently. Merit Construction can help get your project off to a great start and keep it moving in the right direction. Contact us to learn more about our construction process and how we can help successfully bring your vision to life.
