If you are board member, staff or stakeholder in an educational, religious, or community service agency, the prospect of tackling a building project can be both exciting and daunting. As a leader in a people-focused organization, you will likely turn to an outside company to guide you through the building process. Terms such as “design-build”, “construction management” and “collaborative design” will be tossed around as architects and contractors vie for the opportunity to lead and manage your project.
As a steward of your group’s resources, there are seven fundamental questions you need answered. Rather than worry about selecting the right process – focus on choosing the right person. The person who answers them the most directly, completely and clearly is the right person to be your project leader.
Do we need to build? Sometimes there are creative solutions that can postpone or eliminate the need for a new building. The best project leader can provide you with tools to objectively analyze whether a building project is the best solution for your needs.
What should I build? Anyone proposing to lead you through the building process not only needs to understand what you do but what you need to do it better. Look for a project leader with an understanding of the trends that will shape the way you operate for the next 15 to 20 years.
How should I build? The technology of building constantly evolves. Increasing material and labor costs, sustainability concerns and the desire for energy efficiency are fueling innovative products and methods. From this myriad of choices, the best project leaders will help you select the systems and processes that are right for your region and project.
What does it cost? Early in a project there are many unknowns that make estimating cost difficult. Experienced builders are cautious for good reason. But the right project leader knows you need financial information to make strategic decision and he or she should provide you with appropriate financial projections along with the understanding of how to interpret and use that information.
How long will it take? In our fast-paced, need-it-now, culture, time is a more precious commodity than money. If your services are in demand, you want to minimize the disruption to your operations. Expect a potential project leader to explain critical milestones and how they will impact your operations.
How should I pay for it? Can the architect or contractor you are talking to connect you to fundraisers, potential grants or lending institutions? Does he or she know what those who will fund your project are looking for?
What will it cost to operate? For not-for-profits, operational costs often trump first costs. Make sure a potential project leader understands how debt service, operational and staffing costs will impact your annual budget.
Sometimes the right person to lead your project will be an architect; sometimes a contractor. But once you’ve found that person, you can have the confidence their company will build the right team and craft the right process to deliver a building of high value that will stand the test of time.
We have built Blue Ridge Architects to answer these questions. If you are growing, community-focused organization, give us a chance to earn your trust and business.
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