When is project management or Owner representation needed?

When decisions are about to be made by an Owner to proceed with a new project, whether it is a renovation to an existing campus, addition to an existing campus or a complete replacement hospital, you need to ask yourself if you have the experience and expertise in-house to manage a new building program of this magnitude.  We have found that usually plant operations personnel and administrative teams are very busy with their own day-to-day activity in their facility and do not have time to deal with this additional work load.  Keep in mind that when an outside management firm is hired to assist the Owner with project management and Owner representation duties, they will still need to have one spokesperson from the hospital in place to work 5 to 10 hours per week with the manager throughout the project.

Outside project management and Owner representation is required by an Owner when:

Your staff does not have the construction knowledge necessary to start the pre-construction activity.

Your staff is not familiar with the project delivery methods available.

Your staff has not managed the design process.

Your staff has not managed similar size projects before.

Your staff does not have the additional free time necessary.

Your staff does not have the knowledge necessary for value engineering and constructability reviews.

Your staff has not been involved in the design team selection process.

Your staff does not have the experience in dealing with the DOH for new construction projects.

Your staff is not familiar with the State and City building codes.

Your staff has not been involved in project CPM scheduling.

Your staff has not managed asbestos removal and air quality requirements.

Your staff has not managed the change order or pay request approval process.

Your staff has not managed and coordinated a project work site.

Your staff has not managed the phasing of a project.

Your staff has not managed and coordinated major staff relocations.

Your staff has not been involved in a similar project closeout.