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How to Avoid Broken Construction Projects and Late Schedules

[fa icon="calendar"] Mar 3, 2021 10:15:00 AM / by Peter A. Byrne, PE

Owners have a lot of responsibility when it comes to design and construction—it is their money on the line while they turn to teams of experts to design and build the project. They are the ones who feel the brunt of any problems, which unfortunately abound in the construction industry. Despite awareness of the issues, the industry has not changed much in recent years.

McKinsey's research shows that construction projects typically take 20 percent longer to finish than the original schedule, can be up to 80 percent over budget, and frequently result in litigation.

Even with all the players involved in even the simplest construction project, owners have a lot of power to avoid these types of challenges. Keeping a project on track requires great leadership and the ability to stay on top of myriad issues that pop up along the way. Many building owners do not have the time, expertise, or interest to take on that level of responsibility. In that case, owners turn to a representative to act as their intermediary.

Owner’s representatives act on behalf of the owner, assuring that design, construction management, and construction forces on a project have input from the owner, comply with industry standards, and provide quality built projects that meet the owner’s goals.

What To Look For in an Owner’s Representative

An owner’s representative acts as the eyes, ears, and mouth for the project. They are the person or company that will provide critical oversight, alert owners to any potential challenges, and be the taskmaster, ensuring all parties deliver the project to meet the owner’s goals.

The types of skills that enable a representative to be successful on your project:

  • Strong knowledge of construction contracts and RFPs
  • Full understanding of design
  • Ability to coordinate and work closely with the design team
  • Knowledge of construction and engineering
  • Experience working with various contractors and subcontractors
  • Extensive knowledge of building materials and the construction process

Some owners have an individual with these skills in-house. Others outsource this job to a firm that can manage the project from concept to completion. At CCA we have significant experience acting as owner’s representatives on projects. We take the responsibility seriously.

Topics: Owner's Representative, Trouble Project Turnaround, Construction, Project Management

Peter A. Byrne, PE

Written by Peter A. Byrne, PE