The Pros and Cons of the Construction Manager as Constructor Delivery Method
Continuing our journey of defining the four most common construction delivery methods, today we’re talking about all things Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc). This method is also referred to as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). This delivery method could be defined as “the silver bullet” delivery method because it’s incredibly versatile and can be used by almost any owner. There is one exception. CMc is not allowed as a delivery method for public works projects – think public schools, police stations, etc. – in 3 of the 50 US states.
The Pros of Construction Manager as Constructor
This delivery method provides an array of benefits to an owner, including:
- The freedom to select the contractor with whom they want to work.
- The perspective of both the designer (architect) and contractor during the preconstruction phase.
- The advantage of receiving accurate cost opinions and project timelines based on current market conditions.
- The ability to fast-track their project.
It’s sometimes advantageous for an owner to fast-track their project when their construction timeline is very tight. While their building’s design may not yet be fully completed, some aspects of construction can begin. For example, an owner and designer may still be selecting windows; however, since the foundation has already been designed, the contractor can break ground and start work.
Another benefit of this delivery method is that, as the design process progresses, the CM can offer constructability reviews. Let’s take a medical center for example. An MRI machine needs to be placed in the basement; however, the building’s existing doors aren’t wide enough for the equipment to safely fit through them. After speaking with the equipment provider and understanding how many pieces the machine can be broken down into, the contractor will offer several options to get the equipment into the space, from opening a wall, to going through a window, or even leaving open an entire face of the building in order to install the machine before completing the facade. If each of these scenarios aren’t considered when developing the drawings, the cost to install the machine could result in a significant increase to the owner and could delay the project.
The Cons of Construction Manager as Constructor
Some owners may be uncomfortable selecting a contractor before the design is complete because they don’t yet have a firm understanding of the total cost of their project.
Typically, an owner who is considering hiring a construction manager (CM) at the same time as their designer will ask the CM to identify their construction management fee. This fee is often a percentage of the overall cost of the work. What’s important for the owner to understand is that the CM will deliver this cost of work in an open book accounting format. For example, once the design is complete, the CM will obtain quotes from trade contractors like electricians, carpenters, etc. Then, the CM will present these quotes to the owner and they will then work collaboratively to select the best team for the project. The CM fee is then applied to the cost of the work and the total project costs are known. So, while the total cost of the project may not be known when the contractor is selected, the owner has the early expertise of the CM to ensure the project’s costs are competitive and help achieve the desired project budget.
Timing is Critical When Selecting a Construction Manager as Constructor
The sooner an owner selects a designer and CM, the better. The most significant benefit of this delivery method is the ability to have a clearly defined scope of work created collaboratively during the design process with the owner, designer, and CM.
If an owner waits to hire a CM until the drawings are partially complete, the owner loses the benefit of the contractor’s expertise during the early design phases. These early design phases are when the CM has the greatest ability to ensure the owner’s budget is aligned with the intended design. When the budget and design are aligned, costly redesign and design phase schedule delays can be avoided.
How NOT to select a Construction Manager as Constructor
In some cases, the owner may want to select a CM based on a firm fixed price for a project that is only partially designed. We have witnessed several cases where this approach was not in the owner’s long-term best interest. One of these cases was an automobile dealership. We were one of three CMs being considered and were the only one with past dealership experience. Because the drawings were incomplete, our proposal listed all the aspects of the project we knew would be needed but weren’t specifically identified in the drawings. These additional scope items increased our overall cost of the project and we were not selected. Ultimately, the owner selected a contractor without dealership experience who “didn’t know what they didn’t know.” At the end of the project, the selected contractor provided all features the owner needed, but at a significantly greater cost to the owner and with a longer design and construction timeline.
The fee-based approach mentioned above has proven to be the best way for an owner to select a CM.
Owners Best Suited for this Delivery Method
Owners that tend to favor the CMc delivery method are those with complex projects, need to meet a demanding construction schedule or are adding onto or renovating their occupied facility. We recently finished a CMc delivery method project for a private higher education client that included renovating their existing 38,000 SF building and constructing a 16,000 SF new addition. Another project currently underway is a church renovation and addition. While the facility isn’t fully occupied during the weekdays, by Sunday mornings we must ensure the building is clean and the flow of traffic is safe for Sunday parishioners.
Learn More
We recently published a podcast on the CMc delivery method. To hear more real-world use cases, tune into the episode here. In addition, follow our blog series on the construction delivery methods:
- Construction Delivery Methods: 4 Paths For Business Owners
- A Deep Dive Into The Design-Bid-Build Or Hard Bid Delivery Method
The world of construction can be confusing, but with Bush Construction as your partner, we can guide you every step of the way. Ready to get started?
