Together We Excel: 4 Benefits of Building Alliances with Architects

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By Lloyd Schoen Builders and architects rely on each other’s expertise to translate design concepts into completed spaces that serve the needs of their owners and occupants. Yet, despite the built-in synergies between design teams and construction teams, the relationship isn’t always a cohesive or collaborative one. Too often, it can deteriorate into an adversarial partnership that’s focused more on protecting each team’s self-interests than on meeting the client’s goals. In this scenario, no one wins. As a superintendent with more than a decade of field experience, I’ve learned practical lessons about the importance of building strong alliances with architects … Read more

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5 Ways to Prepare for a Design-Build Project

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By Joe Putnam Imagine this: You’re finishing up a successful project, and your vice president walks in with a new opportunity. This one will use Design-Build – your first with that delivery method. How do you prepare for it? Is it any different, or is all that fuss just for the preconstruction teams to hammer out? Design-Build doesn’t change your role as a superintendent, but it does affect how you go about working with your team and other contractors on a jobsite. Here are five ways to prepare for that Design-Build job. Input is important, especially early Every time you … Read more

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We Should Talk: Committing to Meeting of the Minds with PMs

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By John Rowlett One strong indicator of a top-performing construction project is vigorous interaction and communication between the superintendent and the project manager. While it may be common for the two roles to intersect, the argument here is for a heartier, more cohesive relationship, one in which the two parties are fully in sync and clearly understand each other’s expectations and needs. Nowadays, owners expect even their most complex projects to be delivered faster, cheaper and with value-added services. In this environment, what’s called for is not an isolationist “I’ll-do-my job; you-do-yours” relationship between superintendent and project manager. To win … Read more

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Avoiding, Mitigating Contract Disputes with Awareness on the Jobsite

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Spotting, addressing red flags that lead to construction disputes By Roy Cooper A new global study notes an emerging trend: When superintendents recognize and address certain red flags, they can avoid or mitigate the costs of construction disputes. Best practices in daily management, from monitoring time and record keeping, to hiring and selecting the right workers, to mediating conflict, support the critical role superintendents play in reducing the harm caused by disputes. The report, published by Arcadis, finds human factors are driving disputes. The patterns from previous years’ reports are similar, indicating that while the industry has developed better contracts, … Read more

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