Commercial Construction Services

Typically a construction manager works on a cost + a fee type of contract (sometimes with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP)). The construction manager is hired during the design process and works with the owner and architect to provide updated budget estimates and construction schedules as the design progresses. After the plans and specifications are complete, the construction manager will solicit subcontractor bids for all of the trade category work. A general contractor typically provides a lump sum bid on the project when the plans and specifications are full completed.

A construction manager becomes part of the project team at the early stages of design, providing expertise regarding the most cost effective materials and methods, and provides updated budgets and schedules as the design progresses. This helps ensure the project is being designed within the owner’s budget and schedule requirements. A general contractor does not provide any of this input and simply bids on the completed plans and specifications. This can result in a project being drastically over budget and require substantial additional cost and time to modify the design.

The key advantage that AVB will bring to your project is that we develop and build projects that we own. This means that we understand exactly what owners want and need from their Construction Management (and Architectural and Engineering) team. We think that this perspective puts us in a unique position to step into your shoes and act as your expert project representative to protect your interests, accomplish all of your goals, and allow you to do your regular job while we take care of your project so you don’t have to worry about whether or not things are being done right. We will treat your project like it is our own, and act as if we are spending our own money.

As building owners ourselves, we understand the importance of meeting the project budget while providing the most value for your dollar. We believe that we are the most focused construction manager in the market when it comes to working towards a defined budget while still maintaining a high level of quality for our client’s projects.

To have a successful project, the owner needs someone on their team who not only has project experience and expertise, but who can also dedicate a substantial amount of time to managing and coordinating all of the owner’s stakeholders and decision makers, as well as interacting with and managing the architect and construction manager or general contractor.

Even if you’ve already hired an architect and a construction manager, an Owner’s Representative could still be a huge benefit to your project. This is because the architect and construction manager or general contractor are both focused on managing and performing their own contract obligations, versus the success of the entire project as whole. For example, there are numerous other costs on a project besides the cost of design and construction. There will be land costs, furniture costs, move costs, construction finance costs, IT, security, and AV costs, just to name a few. We call this the entire program budget and we will keep track of those costs, so that you know what your total project cost will be.

Instead of just using a one person consultant type approach, your AVB project executive who will be be responsible for your project, will have an entire project team as a resource to support him. This means that we will use the knowledge and experience of our entire project team including our project estimator, project manager, and field superintendent to insure that you have a successful project. We are certain that our team, along with your team, your architect, and your construction manager or general contractor will partner well together to create a very successful project.

For a design build project the construction manager hires the architect directly and is responsible for both the design and construction.

The advantage of a design build project is from an owner’s standpoint there is one source of responsibility for the success of your project. The disadvantage of this is the architect works directly for the construction manager, not the owner, which could result in the architect being somewhat more biased toward the construction managers interests.

A general contractor typically provides a lump sum bid on the project when construction plans and specifications are fully completed. A construction manager is hired during the design process and works with the owner and architect to provide updated budget estimates and construction schedules as the design progresses.

Some owners feel that getting competitive lump sum bids by multiple general contractors ensures they are getting the lowest price possible. There are some drawbacks to this approach. For example, an owner will be completely through the design process before they know if their project is within budget or not. This is a huge drawback because if the general contractors bids come in over budget, the result for the owner is a costly re-design process to get back in budget as well as significant scheduling delays. By selecting a qualified Construction Manager, this example situation can be avoided. A Construction Manager will work with the owner and architect design team to provide updated estimates during the design process, ensuring the owner is always informed as to what the current estimated cost is.