Integrated Expertise for Your Build
Guiding Your Vision to Reality
At Johnston Builders, we offer a comprehensive Construction Management service, providing expert guidance and oversight for your building project from start to finish. This collaborative approach means we partner with you to manage both the design and construction phases, ensuring a seamless and efficient process. We act as your advocate, bringing our extensive construction knowledge to the table from the outset, helping you make informed decisions that benefit your project’s budget, schedule, and quality.
Our Construction Management delivery method is divided into two distinct yet integrated phases: pre-construction and construction. This structure enables early input and continuous value throughout the entire project life cycle.
The Two Phases of Construction Management
Phase 1
Strategic Pre-Construction Planning
The pre-construction phase is where the groundwork for a successful project is truly laid. At this crucial stage, our team actively assists in shaping the project’s vision before any physical work commences. This includes:
- Design Collaboration: We work closely with you and the design team, providing valuable insights on constructability, materials, and cost implications as drawings and specifications are developed. Our early involvement helps to optimize the design, identifying potential challenges and opportunities for efficiency.
- Budgeting & Cost Control: We develop detailed, realistic budgets, providing cost estimates at various stages of design development. Our aim is to ensure your project stays financially viable and to identify cost-saving measures without compromising quality.
- Scheduling & Phasing: We create comprehensive project schedules that outline key milestones and critical paths. This includes advising on optimal sequencing of work to achieve your desired completion date.
- Permitting & Approvals: We help navigate the often-complex world of permits and regulatory approvals, ensuring all necessary documentation is in place to keep your project on track.
- Construction Methodology: We advise on the most efficient and effective construction methods, taking into account site logistics, safety, and overall project objectives.
A key differentiator in our Construction Management approach is how consultants are managed. Typically, Johnston Builders will retain the architects, engineers, and specialist consultants under our contract, rather than them being under direct contract with you. This streamlines communication and fosters a cohesive team environment from the outset, allowing us to manage all design-related coordination efficiently. Engaging us as your Construction Manager early in this phase, even before design is complete, is highly advantageous as our expertise can help determine the overall feasibility and practicalities of your project.
Phase 2
Efficient Construction Execution
Phase 2
Once the pre-construction planning is complete and the project is ready to proceed, our focus shifts to the seamless execution of the build. During this phase, Johnston Builders is responsible for:
- Subcontractor Coordination & Management: We handle the selection, contracting, and meticulous management of all subcontractors, trades, and suppliers. Our rigorous vetting process ensures we work with only the most qualified and reliable partners.
- Cost Control & Financial Oversight: We meticulously track project costs, managing budgets and expenditures to ensure transparency and prevent overruns. You receive detailed reporting on all project expenses.
- Schedule Adherence: We actively manage the construction schedule, coordinating all activities to ensure milestones are met and the project progresses efficiently towards its completion date.
- Quality Assurance: We implement stringent quality control measures throughout the construction process, ensuring all work meets the highest standards and complies with specifications.
- Commissioning & Project Turnover: We oversee the final stages of the project, including systems commissioning, final inspections, and the organized handover of the completed building to you. Our goal is to ensure a smooth transition, allowing you to understand all aspects of your new facility.
Transparent Project Costing
The Construction Management delivery method is based on actual costs plus a predetermined fee. You are billed directly for expenses like labour, materials, equipment, and subcontractors. The Construction Manager’s fee—fixed or percentage—is agreed upon upfront. This structure ensures full transparency, providing clear visibility into how every dollar is spent throughout the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Construction Management
How does the Construction Management fee structure compare to a fixed-price contract?
With Construction Management, you pay the actual costs of materials, labour, and subcontractors, plus a pre-negotiated fee for our management services. In contrast, a fixed-price contract provides one lump sum, where the contractor assumes more risk for cost overruns but typically includes a higher contingency. The CM model offers greater cost transparency and potential savings if actual costs are less than anticipated, as you see exactly where your money is going.
What level of transparency can I expect regarding project costs and progress with Construction Management?
You will receive regular, detailed reports on all project costs, including invoices for materials, labour, and subcontractor payments. We maintain an open-book policy, allowing you to see actual expenditures. Progress updates, schedules, and any potential issues are also communicated frequently, ensuring you are always fully informed.
What happens if the project goes over budget in a Construction Management project?
While our goal in Construction Management is meticulous budget control and proactive cost-saving, if a project faces potential overruns, we work openly with you to identify the causes and explore solutions. Because you pay actual costs, you directly benefit from any savings. If cost increases are unavoidable, we collaborate to find the most cost-effective path forward, often identifying value engineering opportunities to mitigate impacts.
Can I choose some of my own subcontractors if I use the Construction Management method?
While Johnston Builders, as your Construction Manager, is responsible for the overall coordination, contracting, and management of all subcontractors to ensure project success and quality, we are open to discussing your preferences. Suppose you have specific subcontractors you’d like to propose. In that case, we can evaluate their qualifications and determine how they might integrate into the project’s framework, ensuring they meet our standards for performance, safety, and insurance.
How does Construction Management help with project risks compared to other delivery methods?
Construction Management helps mitigate risks by bringing construction expertise into the design phase. This early collaboration enables us to identify potential issues, constructability challenges, and cost risks before they become expensive problems during the construction phase. By having a single entity manage both design coordination and construction execution, many common risks associated with miscommunication or uncoordinated efforts in traditional models are significantly reduced.