What is Construction Management?

Construction Management (CM) is a professional service that uses specialized, project management techniques to oversee the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of CM is to control a project’s time / delivery, cost and quality.  CM is compatible with all project delivery systems, including design-bid-build, design-build, CM At-Risk and Public Private Partnerships. Professional construction managers may be reserved for lengthy, large-scale, high budget undertakings (commercial real estate, transportation infrastructure, industrial facilities, and military infrastructure), called capital projects.

There are many delivery and payment options with projects , and sometimes a hybrid approach may work best.

We work with our client’s through the evolution of their projects, delivering on time and on budget. 

Leeswood provides experienced personnel and the latest in Project Management and Project Scheduling systems to manage your project. Our personnel have completed numerous projects for many satisfied clients and we are committed to the client being totally satisfied with their new building and their experience with us.

Leeswood ensures that our systems are best-in-class in the construction industry and must also be client friendly to ensure all reporting methods are clearly understood and presentable. We take pride in our commitment to continually improve our staff by educational programs, seminars, conferences and trade shows.

Pre-Construction Services

Leeswood works directly with all members of the client’s Construction Management Team during the pre-construction phase of the project to ensure the most optimum results.

Project Development

We are actively involved with the Architects, Engineers, Construction Personnel and Material Suppliers during the consultation stage of the project to assist in the development of conceptual design ideas, most suitable construction methods and construction materials.

Our involvement assists all parties in deciding on economical designs and building methods, pre-planning for the avoidance of design and construction interferences and difficulties on site and assisting in the management of time constraints during the stage and the building project.

Project Scheduling

Leeswood, with input from the Construction Management Team, prepares a Project Master Schedule which will provide for the overview of the entire project and guides the subsequent more detailed sub-schedules for the various stages of the project.

Proper scheduling also ensures that the Construction Management Team is aware of long delivery items or processes and deals with them as early as possible to ensure no complications of the building process.

Should the development have multiple activities proceeding at the same time, the Project Team will consist of a dedicated Project Schedule. The project schedule will be able to take the summary level schedules and provided detailed work breakdown’s and schedules for important areas and prospective tenancies. Identification of long delivery items and interferences will allow the project team to elevate areas of concern and develop strategic solutions to avoid conflicts or delays.

Project Budget

Our experience in providing accurate budgets for projects comes from our ability to “pre-build” the project from specifications and conceptual drawings and has allowed us to ensure that clients are not subjected to continued price changes (unless they request them). During the pre-construction phase we will prepare a detailed project budget with involvement from the Construction Team and from sourcing material suppliers and subcontractors that assist us in delivering the most accurate budgets in the industry.

Construction Planning

No project can be successfully completed without the proper planning for the eventual construction phase of the project. Leeswood uses our construction staff to review the site (already completed for this project), discuss methods of construction and present to the construction management team for their input and analyze a plan for the construction events.

Here at Leeswood we have the in house capability to do conceptual building layouts for client evaluations. With years of experience and creativity, we able to design very unique buildings to suit various shapes and sizes of land parcels.

Construction

Following the plan and schedule reviewed with the Construction Management Team, Leeswood will employ the most competent trades available that are generally industry leaders and ensure that methods, materials and manpower used meet or exceed the project’s stated goals.

Project and Cost Control

Cost Control ensures that the project and costs are properly monitored using our Project Management and Cost Accounting systems and make reports on all strategic areas of the construction phase to the Construction Management Team and the Client. Upon approval and certification of the completed work sequences, the Construction Management Team make applications for payment to the subcontractors. It also ensures that Testing and Inspection reports are made available for review by the Team and the Client.

Changes in Scope of Work

Changes in the Scope of the Work are to be prepared and evaluated, and upon approval by the client they will be implemented into the construction program by the Construction Management Team and the Construction Manager.

Project Completion

At Project Completion numerous activities occur including publishing of Substantial Completion Certificate, final clean-up, equipment start-up, keying and completion of all as-built drawings. Leeswood works to ensure compliance of these final activities working with the Construction Management Team to enable a smooth transition to the Owner.

Post Construction Phase

At the post construction phase, Leeswood and the Construction Management Team complete all drawings to as-built conditions. These drawings are electronically provided. Building Managers are educated on operation of building equipment and systems. Operating Manuals and Warranty Manuals are prepared and submitted to the client.

Project Management / Construction Management Systems

Leeswood uses Jonas Software Systems for our Project Control Systems including:

• Job Costing
• Subcontract Control
• Job Scheduler (along with Microsoft Project)
• Construction Management
• T&M Billing
• Contemplated Change Order Control Log
• Change Order Control Log
• Project Management Log

In addition, all our standard project forms in regards to monitoring minutes of meetings, Jobsite Document Checklist, Invoices, Daily Project Diary, Request for Information (RFI), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Addendum, Concrete Daily Material Log, Daily Equipment Log, Change Orders, and Aggregate Material Log are provided for your information.

Value Engineering

At Leeswood, we pride ourselves on offering complete Turn Key solutions. It is our job to guide and direct you through what can appear to be a daunting process. We feel it is our responsibility to take you through this entire process from design to completion. The Leeswood Partners are very hands on and ensure they are involved with every project personally and stand behind our motto of “100% client satisfaction”.

We are confident in our ability to advise you on:

• Cost saving measure without compromising quality
• New Product and Technology
• Realistic completion dates
• Process requirements
• Building Codes and Bylaws