10A — November 25 - December 8, 2016 — Professional Services — M id A tlantic
Real Estate Journal
www.marejournal.com
P rofessional S ervices
By Ronald C. Kerins, Jr., CCM, LEED AP, GREYHAWK Construction management and consulting
U
nlike many other busi- nesses, construction can be one of the most
experts, advising and acting in a building owner’s best interest to effectively manage all aspects of the construction process. Then why is it that when embarking on a construction project, some owners hesitate to bring this expertise to the table? First, let us define construc- tion consulting. The scope includes the overall planning, coordination, and control of a construction project from beginning to completion. The service ensures a client's re- quirements to produce a func- tionally and financially viable
project are met. The con- struction consultant provides comprehensive management of every stage of the project, beginning with the original concept and project definition, to yield the greatest benefit to owners. Should a project not go as planned, construction consultants may be engaged to resolve issues or provide an opinion on who bears re- sponsibility. As professionals, construction consultants have a responsibility to advise and protect a client’s interests, even if the advice is not what the client wants to hear. Building owner clients who
view the construction man- ager as a trusted advisor, such as an accountant or lawyer, find that the guidance pro- vided can be most valuable before the project commences and a great asset in the plan- ning process. Financial mat- ters are an ongoing business function that may rely on the independent advice of an ac- countant to guide a company in financial decisions. Legal matters are another ongoing business function that re- quires the independent advice of an attorney. The key with reliance on these two profes- sions is that their services are
ongoing. Construction may be once- in-a-lifetime, or a once-every- 10-years event that occurs when an organization has a planned capital expenditure. If construction, for most own- ers, is a unique event that oc- curs infrequently in the course of a company’s growth, why not seek the advice of profes- sional consultants to provide independent expertise? One of the key factors is that the owner may not be aware that professional con- struction consulting services exist. Another may be that an owner perceives the service as redundant to the architect or contractor. Some owners may have stakeholders who are armed with some knowledge of construction and do not find the process complicated enough to seek outside advice. Today, parallel growth in both the educational and medical markets has created more opportunities for profes- sional construction project management. Growth in the volume and complexity of projects in these sectors has forced many institutions to seek the expertise of consul- tant construction manag- ers. Projects are increasingly complicated by inclusion of Building Information Model- ing (BIM), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), advanced Building Automation Systems (BAS); the use of drones; and the requirements and certifacations for sustainable design, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), GreenGlobes, and other programs. No longer can design and construction teammates agree that if the building is still standing, they did an OK job. Financial and environmental metrics, occupant satisfac- tion, and other criteria now weigh heavily in determining project success. The benefits to the owner and team in terms of project organiza- tion and accountability make the services and guidance of a professional construction consultant more valuable than ever. Ronald C. Kerins, Jr. CCM, LEED AP, is a prin- cipal of GREYHAWK, an award-winning construc- tionmanagement and con- sulting firm headquar- tered in Mount Laurel, NJ. He can be reached at RKerins@greyhawk.com. n
complicated to manage. Every proj- e c t – and every day – presents a different set of challenges and unfore- seen issues
Ronald Kerins, Jr.
that must be addressed in prompt fashion, lest they cause delays in the project’s completion. Professional con- struction consultants exist to serve as subject matter
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