Juggling project budgets, schedules and expectations from stakeholders while managing relationships with designers and contractors is enough to make any project owner think, ‘there has to be a better way.’  For complex infrastructure projects, alternative delivery methods may offer a more efficient path forward. 

 

 

As projects become more complex, owners increasingly use collaborative delivery methods to improve coordination, schedule alignment and cost management. Alternative delivery methods such as design-build, construction manager at risk (CMAR), and progressive or collaborative design-build improve collaboration throughout the duration of the project.

While these methods are commonplace in Texas and the Southwest, their adoption varies across the country and among different project types. If you haven’t considered alternative delivery methods for your own projects yet, learning about what they are and how they can help you reach your project goals is the first step towards more successful outcomes.

 

Four ways to know if an alternative delivery method may be right for your project

 

1.  You want your project to feel like a collaboration with your contractor

Alternative delivery methods encourage owners, designers and contractors to work together from the beginning of the project. Instead of working on their portion of the project in a silo, each group comes together and operates as one cohesive team. This approach improves communication, increases transparency and allows teams to identify any project risks sooner. Owners are given greater visibility into costs, schedules and decision-making throughout the process, while contractors have more opportunities to support planning initiatives, coordinate with stakeholders and allocate resources.  When challenges arise, there’s a shared responsibility to find solutions that best serve project outcomes.

“Sundt demonstrated their commitment to the success of this project by constantly being proactive in looking at different options and alternatives that would benefit the client. Sundt was always responsive to our requests and worked hard to hit important project deadlines.”

– Kurtis McDavid, Plant Supervisor, Town of Gilbert

 

 

2. You want to get what you ask for, instead of what someone wants to give you.

Alternative delivery methods provide owners with greater visibility throughout the project. Directly communicating with the contractor from day one allows owners to ask for exactly what they want out of the project and adjust project features based on any budget and time constraints. This collaborative approach helps reduce surprises during construction and improves coordination as the project moves forward.

 

3. You’re invested in efficient use of time.

Spending additional time planning early in a project’s lifecycle can improve schedule performance in the long run. Working together during the preconstruction phase allows for our teams to spend time running through different value and constructability scenarios with stakeholders to determine the best fit for their project goals.

An efficient preconstruction phase helps manage risk, cost and schedules. It also can eliminate unexpected change orders down the line. This saved time and effort equates to saved money, which can be reinvested into the project or returned to the owner. Rather than focusing only on construction, project teams work together to identify solutions that support overall project goals.

 

4. Your project requires more than just a “low-bid mentality.”

Construction projects are complex with multiple stakeholders and community impacts to consider. Reducing the complicated nature of projects to a “low-bid mentality” can diminish a project’s complexity and leave room for blind spots. When collaboration occurs earlier, teams align on goals sooner. With this alignment comes trust between the contractor and owner, and a better project culture emerges. A strong project culture leads to a project that’s run more efficiently, with improved communication and collaboration.

 

Your partner in alternative delivery

For owners exploring alternative delivery methods for the first time, an experienced project partner can help simplify the process. Sundt has served as a partner for a variety of owners” first alternative delivery projects across several markets.

Eighty percent of our projects are for repeat clients, reflecting our commitment to maintaining long-term relationships, open communication, transparency and collaborative project delivery. As alternative delivery methods continue to expand across the industry, our teams remain dedicated to helping owners navigate complex projects with confidence.

“Sundt has exceeded our expectations in how proactively they find solutions to various project challenges and unforeseen conditions. They have had to deal with scope, budget and project schedule challenges all along the way. Their people have done a phenomenal job in keeping this project moving forward. We are not used to the CM/GC method but are slowly getting used to a collaborative process. Sundt’s personnel are clear and consistent, and always willing to listen to our concerns and be a partner.”
– Jason Brown, Deputy Director, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities