Comprehensive Construction
Delivery Services

Commercial Construction Services

Our experienced and talented construction professionals provide you with a wide range of support in the planning and construction of complex projects. We deliver projects using the Owners Representative, Construction Manager, Design-Build, or General Contractor methodology, depending on your preference. Click one of the links below to learn more about how we can help you Build Something Better!

Construction Manager
Pre-Construction Manager
Owner’s Representative
Design-Builder
General Contractor

Gull Road Justice Complex - Kalamazoo MI

Construction Manager

AVB is a leading regional commercial construction firm.

Over 90% of our business is a Construction Management type of contract. We offer expertise in both new construction and renovation work. AVB’s approach to construction management services is divided into three phases; the pre-construction phase, the construction phase, and the post construction phase. AVB will manage your project from start to finish, including the competitive bidding of each category of work so you get the best value the marketplace has to offer.

Pre-Construction Services Include:

Accurate project estimating at all stages of design
Value management services to ensure maximum value
Bond Campaign assistance to help get your message out
Municipal approval and permit coordination assistance
Project scheduling
Site safety and logistics planning
Constructability reviews

Construction Phase Services Include:

Trade contractor bid package development and bid solicitation
Post-bid interviews and award recommendations
Contract and insurance documentation
Professional on-site supervision
Schedule control
Budget control
Quality control and quality assurance
Meeting coordination and management
Web-based document management via AVB Procore™ CloudShare
Professional project accounting and reporting

Post Construction Phase Services Include:

Building systems and equipment training
Owner furnishings and technology vendor coordination
Move-in coordination
Warranty coordination – for all components of the building
One year walk through inspections
Customer service after completion

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between a Construction Manager and a General Contractor?

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.

What is the advantage of hiring a Construction Manager instead of a General Contractor?

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.

Portage Zhang Senior Center - Portage, MI

Pre-Construction Manager

"One of our key responsibilities during the design phase is to ensure that good questions are being asked early on, so we can avoid major surprises in the later phases of design and construction.”

- Andrew Schipper, President of AVB Commercial Construction.

AVB believes the sooner a construction manager can be integrated into a project, the smoother the project will progress. During the pre-construction process, AVB will be continually evaluating the design constructability, sharing concerns and solutions, and communicating with local subcontractors to get the most accurate estimate and schedule developed for the work. More than costing feedback relative to potential value adding ideas, AVB will keep the long-term goals of the project at the forefront of our thinking by providing information relative to long-term durability, specification differences if applicable, any maintenance concerns, and any other information that needs to be shared so the entire team can make an informed decision.

Pre-Construction Services Include:

Accurate project estimating at all stages of design
Value management services to ensure maximum value
Bond Campaign assistance to help get your message out
Facilities Assessment assistance to help define your project scope
Permit and approval coordination assistance
Project scheduling
Site safety and logistics planning
Constructability reviews

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between a Pre-Construction Manager and a Construction Manager?

A Pre-Construction Manager can be hired before, or at the time of, the architect/designer when a full commitment to a build partner is not yet possible or desired. The Pre-Construction Manager is responsible for budget estimating and schedule development during the design phase of a project. A Construction Manager can be hired in lieu of a pre-construction manager if hiring a build partner is possible and desired.

What is the advantage of hiring a Pre-Construction Manager, or Construction Manager during the design phase?

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.

Georgia Heights mixed-use student housing - Athens, GA

Owner’s Representative

AVB is uniquely positioned to serve clients in need of an Owner’s Representative.

We feel that AVB is uniquely qualified to be your Owner Representative. We have been successfully developing and building projects for ourselves and our clients for over 40 years. We will bring a team approach to your project, as opposed to a one-person consultant-type approach. This perspective puts us in a unique position to step into your shoes and act as your expert project representative. We will protect your interests, accomplish all 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. Our team along with your architect and your construction manager or general contractor will partner to create a very successful project.

Owner’s Representative Services include:

Feasibility planning
Project entitlement
Coordination with local municipalities
Developing project financial pro forma and cash flow analysis
Management of overall program budgets
Soliciting and negotiating design contracts
Soliciting and negotiating construction contracts
Managing GMP contract terms and contingency application
Reviewing and approving pay applications and change orders
Monitoring project schedule adherence
Occupancy coordination

Frequently Asked Questions:

What makes AVB the best partner as an Owner Representative?

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.

Why would I need an Owner’s Representative?

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.

Why is a team approach an advantage over a single consultant?

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 them. 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.

Consumers Credit Union - Corner@Drake in Kalamazoo, MI — Newell Brands International Design Center - Kalamazoo, MI

Design-Builder

Some owners prefer to have a single source of responsibility for the design and construction of their projects, and AVB is very experienced at doing these types of projects. We select and work with the most highly qualified and most experienced architect for your type of project, to provide you a cost efficient, highly functional, and great looking project that meets all of your goals.

Design and Pre-Construction Services Include:

Project Programming and Design
Accurate project estimating at all stages of design
Value management services to ensure maximum value
Bond Campaign assistance to help get your message out
Municipal approval and permit coordination assistance
Project scheduling
Site safety and logistics planning
Constructability reviews

Construction Phase Services Include:

Trade contractor bid package development and bid solicitation
Post-bid interviews and award recommendations
Contract and insurance documentation
Professional on-site supervision
Schedule control
Budget control
Quality control and quality assurance
Meeting coordination and management
Web-based document management via AVB Procore™ CloudShare
Professional project accounting and reporting

Post Construction Phase Services Include:

Building systems and equipment training
Owner furnishings and technology vendor coordination
Move-in coordination
Warranty coordination – for all components of the building
One year walk through inspections
Customer service after completion

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between a Design Build project and a project where the owner hires the architect directly?

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

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Design Build project?

The Design Build method gives the client a single point of contact and responsibility for both design and construction. Having one contact for both services streamlines the process, leading to a faster timeline from concept to start of construction. The time gained on the schedule does come at a cost. The design-build client will not have separate contractual agreements with design and with construction therefore losing some control over the process.

General Contractor

Some owners prefer to solicit competitive bids from general contractors. AVB is very competitive and will provide you with a high level of service that is unique among general contractors. We are very owner focused, and will continue to look out for you interests throughout the project.

Construction Phase Services Include:

Contract and insurance documentation
Professional on-site supervision
Schedule control
Budget control
Quality control and quality assurance
Meeting coordination and management
Web-based document management via AVB Procore™ CloudShare
Professional project accounting and reporting

Post Construction Phase Services Include:

Building systems and equipment training
Owner furnishings and technology vendor coordination
Move-in coordination
Warranty coordination – for all components of the building
One year walk through inspections
Customer service after completion

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the difference between a General Contractor and a Construction Manager?

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.

What is the advantage of hiring a General Contractor instead of a Construction Manager?

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.

Dependable, honest and committed, AVB team members are focused on ensuring all of your goals are met and exceeded both during construction and thereafter.

Andrew Schipper
President of Commercial Construction