Maximizing Efficiency in Office Buildouts: The Essential Role of Project Management
You’ve got a project coming up that involves that whole design and construction process thing. And when you start thinking about it, the process doesn’t seem all that overwhelming. We’ve all run projects of one size or another: from installing a doorknob to remodeling a house. Some of us have even managed complicated adventures. And they all get built. Sometimes they don’t turn out exactly the way we imagined. Some of them took a little more time than we expected. And most of them cost more than we originally anticipated. Sound familiar?
The role of project management is to improve this process and ensure the right product is delivered on schedule and under budget.
Bringing on a project manager at the onset of the process will establish project goals, define realistic task durations, and establish an all-inclusive project budget. During the consultant and contractor selection phases, well-defined goals will clarify expectations and maximize the competitive bid process. Interviewing prospective team members affords the tenant the opportunity to acquire a sense of who has the best understanding of the tenant’s needs. In today’s competitive market, serious bidders can get to a low number. The decision frequently hinges on the quality of personnel. A qualified project manager orchestrates this process to discern accurate information so the tenant can make informed and intelligent decisions.
So now you’ve made the decision to hire a project manager, but what do you base your decision on? At the end of an interview with a qualified candidate, the tenant should have a clear and detailed understanding of how the PM is going to manage the design and construction process. Their presentation should address the following: Details and examples of the competitive bid process are going to be presented.
- Methodology to documentation and follow-up on critical project issues.
- Problem-solving philosophy
- Regularly scheduled reporting tools
- Communication
Look for someone who is not going to push paper from one team member to the next. If their idea of problem resolution is to pick up the phone and blame someone, run away. The PM should direct a consensus-driven partnering effort to achieve the project’s goals. So the last question is how does the tenant afford project management? Well, the fact of the matter is how can a tenant not afford to hire a PM? Fees usually range from 2% to 5% of the project cost.
- If the PM can’t save his fee in the process, then the PM selection process is flawed.
- Utilizing a PM ensures an expedited schedule to minimize disruption to the tenant.
- Having a PM on board allows the tenant to remain focused on their business.
The design and construction process are not complicated. But it does have a lot of moving parts that need to be effectively managed. Utilizing a competent project management professional ensures that this process is completed on schedule, under budget, and with no surprises.
Guest Post by Bart Morey, Colliers | Houston
Bart Morey
Bart Morey is Senior Vice President of Project Management in the Houston office of Colliers. Since earning his graduate degree in 1980, he has worked as a project manager on projects across the United States. Bart has been directly responsible for approximately 8.5 million square feet of commercial projects totaling more than half a billion.
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