Managing the Pre-construction Process

Considering the scope and length of any preconstruction process on a project, the need for a systemic system to manage this preconstruction process is evident. Despite the need, there are few automated tools or software solutions beyond standalone solutions to estimating, scheduling and project manage to manage preconstruction process.

Commercial construction contractors who seek to differentiate themselves from their competition realize that preconstruction is a worthy focus for their resources and attention. When seeking to generate and win contract on more than just a lump sum simple bid basis, organizational capabilities prior to the beginning of construction must go beyond simple (or advanced!) estimating skill. Despite a potentially costly pre-construction costs, most facilities managers, office owners, industrial operators and owners in general still should expect the involvement of their commercial contractor early in the conceptual and design phase and rely upon the cost, schedule and design expertise their selected contractors offer to ensure they receive the most from any construction dollar they are spending.

A well-structured preconstruction process typically moves through several distinct phases: site and feasibility assessment, conceptual budgeting, value engineering, permitting coordination, and final scheduling before ground is broken. Skipping or rushing any one of these phases is where most commercial projects run into trouble later. A feasibility study that glosses over soil conditions or utility access, for example, can turn into a six-figure change order once excavation begins.

Early contractor involvement pays off in ways that are easy to underestimate. When a commercial contractor is brought in during the design phase rather than after drawings are finalized, they can flag constructability issues, suggest material substitutions that hit the same design intent at a lower cost, and build a realistic schedule around actual lead times for equipment and materials. That collaboration between architect, owner, and contractor during preconstruction is often what separates a project that finishes on budget from one that doesn't.

Technology is starting to close some of the gaps in preconstruction management. Cloud-based estimating platforms, digital takeoff tools, and integrated project scheduling software now let teams share cost and schedule data in real time instead of passing spreadsheets back and forth. For owners managing multiple sites, this kind of visibility during preconstruction makes it far easier to standardize budgets and timelines across a program rather than treating each site as a one-off.