A successful building or renovation completion is defined as one that is on time, within budget, and free of financial or legal complications. Veterinarians, as skilled as they are in veterinary medicine, are not typically experienced in running a building or renovation project. Construction management is a professional service that may be used by vets to oversee the planning, design and construction or renovation of a vet hospital: in other words, to be their eyes and ears on the project.
A construction manager uses his or her specialized construction experience to carefully analyze how all decisions will impact the budget and schedule of a project. Without a professional construction manager, an unforeseen problem risks derailing the entire project. When a project includes a construction manager early in the process, the construction manager is not only able to better plan for potential problems, but the project also benefits from the construction manager’s ability to find money and time-saving opportunities.
In most instances, the veterinary owner cannot entrust this role to the contractor because the interests of the owner and contractor do not always coincide. That is, the contractor wants to do the work at the lowest cost so as to realize the most profit. Because of this inherent conflict, a vet building or renovating its hospital is best served by placing a third-party construction manager into the supervisory role over the contractor.
Planning and Organizing
The first step in project management is the planning and organizing stage. The project manager works with the project architect on planning the project and the budget.
A qualified construction manager can also assist a vet by working on the solicitation of bids and selection and hiring of contractors. An effective construction manager will review the contracts to ensure that the project can be constructed as plans considering the size, locality and nature of the project. They also will perform a schedule review to ensure appropriate and realistic time frames for starting and completing the project.
Construction Phase
During the construction phase, the construction manager makes sure to stay on top of the project so that the veterinarian can focus on their own work. The construction manager will monitor the progress and quality of the construction. The construction manager may also anticipate and avoid delays in the construction work by guiding the contractor in timely ordering, fabrication of long lead-time items such as windows, and assisting with proper sequencing of the various trade contractors which include plumbers, electrician and carpenters. Attention to the job by the construction manager and regular reporting the vet owner are valuable tools for keeping a project on track and avoiding problems.
Indeed, troubleshooting is one of the main responsibilities of the construction manager. If the construction manager becomes aware that the project is not on time or within budget they can make or suggest adjustments and improvements to assist in keeping the project on track.
Post-Construction
A construction manager’s role does not end with the completion of the work. Rather, support in the form of permit close-out, commissioning new systems, reviewing equipment maintenance manuals, supervising punch list and warranty work, and working with the contractor and the local building department to obtain temporary certificates of occupancy and certificates of occupancy, provide major benefits to the owner at the crucial tail end of the project.
Benefits of Construction Project Management
Some owners may think that they will save money by scrimping on construction management costs, not realizing that not utilizing the specialized skills of a construction manager may cost them more in the long run. By hiring a construction manager, typical problems may be avoided at significant cost saving to the owner. For example, if a skilled construction manager is watching the construction closely, any errors in construction can be detected early, right when it occurs. If such an issue is not detected right away, the remedial work can cause expensive and time-consuming delays to the entire project.
Regular reporting to the vet owner by the construction manager provides the vet owner with valuable peace of mind that a construction professional has their back.