By Ryan Regina
In today’s economy, any church looking to start a new construction project faces certain challenges. Choosing the right construction manager and design/builder using criterion based on individualized, industry-specific needs can make the difference between a successful project and a bona fide disaster. It’s imperative to take a few fundamental considerations into account before signing on the dotted line.
A church construction project usually involves one overriding factor above all others: the bottom line. While certainly a critical factor in the decision-making process, budget should not be the only one. When cost alone is the primary focus of a project, serious repercussions are likely to follow, including poor service, time delays, and hidden costs.
When vetting construction managers and design/builders, it’s important to consider each and every aspect of the project “life cycle,” from the company’s own vision to the post-project completion period.
Here are a few key life cycle-based hiring considerations:
Budget
Understanding precisely how financial limitations will impact the related financing process at large is far easier when partnering with an organization knowledgeable about commercial construction finance that can walk the customer through each and every step.
While most developers and design/builders will simply refer their customers to a bank or other lenders for financial advice, it is best to seek a higher caliber, full-service firm that provides such financial planning consultation in-house.
Service Scope
The construction manager and design/builder industry is fragmented, and there is little service standardization. The majority of companies offer only a portion of services required in the entire project life cycle and do not provide the comprehensive oversight that allows clients to disengage from the construction project and maintain focus on their other business development and growth initiatives.
It’s optimal to retain a construction manager and design/builder with a full-solution, end-to-end project management approach, which offers the benefit of single contact point project control and accountability.
Image
If the proposed project is out of reach due to image reasons, a reputable developer and design/build organization should be willing and able to help resolve. This may involve the need to table the project for as long as necessary and assist the organization in corrective measures, such as an image change. Presenting lenders with the right image as a borrower can be facilitated by an experienced developer and design/builder that provides financing procurement as a service.
Additionally, appearance is everything with local and regional authorities, who can also impact a project. To best ensure necessary municipal approvals are granted, hire a developer and design/builder that can position and project your image in a way that’s accurate and a benefit to the community.
Industry Experience
Any type of business has specific needs that not all construction managers and design/builders are prepared to meet. It is essential to hire a company with the ability, experience, and expertise necessary to plan and execute the project so that it meets both the vision of the client and realistic financial restraints.
Companies that are suited for a given project will not only have the technical expertise to build a new facility to the desired specifications, but will also have the client’s best interests in mind throughout the entire process.
Development
Many times, organizations attempt to serve as project developer only to learn it takes a specialized skill set and years of development experience to do the job effectively. While development is viewed as exciting and challenging, it’s usually underestimated from a time and experience perspective.
When developing in the commercial realm, it’s important to hire a firm that has a demonstrated track record of working in partnership with high-caliber architects, engineers and subcontractors with synergistic philosophies and culture to deliver a high-quality product.
Land/Property Acquisition
The most critical step to a successful land acquisition is a properly structured agreement. While this may sound elementary, all too often organizations forego consultation and enter into a land agreement that doesn’t provide them the protection they need when faced with unforeseen circumstances.
This can include land that ultimately does not meet their needs, more time is required to complete governing approvals or, worse, the project fails all together. Ensure the construction manager and design/build firm you hire has direct experience formulating land agreement documentation and be sure to cover a variety of “what if” scenarios as the paperwork is being prepared.
Architecture
The architecture aspect of a project can make or break the budget if clarity is not achieved in the organizational phase. Problems arise when organizations circumvent organizational and financial assessments and go right to the architect, which can lead to multiple plan changes throughout the design phase or a floor plan that does not meet organizational needs.
A qualified construction manager and design/builder will work very closely with the architect, along with professional subcontractors who will be performing the work, to ensure project parameters are crystal clear and maximize the chance of the project being completed to spec, on time, and on budget.
Engineering
A veteran construction manager and design/builder will partner with an engineering firm based on three criterion. The first is an exceptional relationship with town, borough, or city personnel to better ensure required township approvals are secured.
The second is firm size. Usually the bigger the firm, the higher the cost and longer the work turnaround time. While this isn’t true with all large firms, it does happen more often than not.
Third, an engineering firm must have an in-depth understanding of state, county, and local agency requirements. A well-rounded engineer understands the black, the white, and the grey of a projects interpretation.
Legal
Hiring legal help is very similar to engineering with respect to relationships and understanding requirements of state, county, and local agencies, including laws and ordinances. Legal counsel that knows the players within a particular township can make a project much less turbulent.
It’s also important that legal representatives have adequate experience in Land Use Law, as the right counsel will know when a governing body is operating outside its jurisdiction. As a course of businesses, a full-service construction manager and design/builder will identify and manage such legal aspects of project to readily work through the red tape.
Construction
Once the design, development and other front-end aspects of a project are approved, it’s time to build! Having a construction manager and design/builder on board from the vision stage through project completion means that you don’t have to go through the bid process yet again when it’s time to break ground.
As goes without saying, the construction manager and design/build firm you hire should have extensive experience serving as project manager and general contractor for commercial construction projects of similar size, scale, scope, and complexity – optimally in the same industry. Be sure to take on-site tours of buildings the company has helped design, develop, and build, both new and old, as you’ll want to ensure the buildings stand the test of time.
Client Service
Construction management and design/build companies, like any other organization, operate for profit. The most desirable of these, however, are aware that their own success hinges upon that of their clients. Be sure to assess a firm beyond photographs in a project portfolio.
Look for a company that has verifiable examples of how they provided solutions when unexpected problems that arose. Experienced firms will have a well-honed protocol to minimize surprises and to keep a client duly informed. Much is also said about providing outstanding client service throughout the course of a project, but what about after final payment has been rendered and a project is complete? Will the level of service change?
It’s important to thoroughly interview past clients of the development and design/build firm under consideration and to specifically ask about post-project interactions. Stellar referrals in this regard will speak volumes about a company’s integrity and character.
Use this project life cycle-based checklist when hiring a commercial developer and design/builder and you’ll be well on your way to a successful outcome that not only meets, but may very well exceed, expectations.
Ryan Regina is the co-founder and co-owner of BIG SKY Enterprises, an industry-leading construction manager, design/builder and finance firm, www.bigskyllc.com.
Photos are of Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford, New Jersey.
