Under One Roof
WHAT IS A FULL-SERVICE CONSTRUCTION FIRM?
For anyone that passes a construction project every day on their way to or from work, it’s no secret that it is a very involved process that takes months and, sometimes, even years to complete. This is just the nature of the construction industry. However, there is an emerging trend that shows certain firms have opted to bring some of the needed services for their projects under one roof in order to streamline this process.
Full-service construction firms are making it easier not only on the client, but on themselves as well. In rearranging their business model to include services that would normally be outsourced, communication becomes much more fluid and reliable.
Below are the major components of what make up a full-service construction firm:
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Business development professionals are there to help clients navigate the design-build process, from concept all the way through a firm’s respective warranty period and beyond. These project champions advocate for you from Day 1 and help you navigate each project milestone.
ACCOUNTING
The firm’s accounting teams will work with clients from start to finish and make a meaningful difference through consistency and accuracy at the financial level. Billing is coming from a single source, alleviating some of the bookkeeping stress for the client.
DESIGN/ARCHITECTURE
Perhaps what is the most important element of bringing everything under one roof is that the design team will be the true catalyst that brings the client’s vision, wants, and needs to reality. They work to create spaces that fit within the budget constraints, while still imparting as many of the client’s desires into the building as possible. Value engineering is important to get the most for each dollar spent, and the design and construction teams begin collaborating immediately to give each client the most design possible for the budget.
ENGINEERING
The phrase “design build” is somewhat misleading, considering everything that it entails. One of the most vital elements of that process is the engineering. The collaboration between architecture and engineering, on a daily basis, is an invaluable resource for this single-source method.
ESTIMATING
Estimating teams approach each project knowing that clients need to view a firm as accountable for every development cost they will incur during the design and construction process, including entitlements and permitting. Firms with their own estimating team foresee what other general contractors do not and educate their clients on the types of costs that often slip through the cracks in conventional design-bid-build scenarios. Having an estimating team working hand-in-hand with the architects and the general contractor ensures that everything is being done to complete the project on or under budget.
CONSTRUCTION
Construction is where architecture and estimating come to life. By staying at the forefront of construction technology, a good construction team looks to deliver quality while letting the client focus on running and growing their business. Speed is always crucial and it can be achieved at the highest level when the general contractor has been dialed into a project from Day 1. This is facilitated by the architect and estimator being available to each other at a moment’s notice.