Construction Management
Leading Construction with Quality and Precision in Mind
When it comes to getting projects done on time, on budget, and in compliance with a myriad of quality and regulatory standards, it takes technical expertise. From data collection and field surveys to contract documents and observation, construction management is essential for the successful execution of construction projects.
No matter the size, type or complexity of a project, our experienced CE&I team is ready to help. Our construction engineers, inspectors, surveyors and technicians are trained to oversee contractors, coordinate teams and stakeholders, test materials and execute complex staging plans for transportation projects using both traditional and alternative delivery methods.
Proactive Management from Start to Finish
At every phase, our teams provide the careful planning, coordination and oversight necessary for success.
Pre-construction activities are critical to a project’s future success. Starting with schedule, staging and constructability reviews, we’ll verify information is accurate and complete. Collaborating with the project team, we’ll work to identify and resolve any potential challenges before they occur.
We also use this time to establish clear lines of communication, walk the project site and make sure everyone is on the same page starting on day one.
For a project to be completed on time, within budget and according to specifications, careful oversight is required. By keeping consistent communication with the owner, contractor and stakeholders, we are able to effectively manage the schedule and budget. As issues arise, our teams are trained to quickly resolve conflict and identify cost-effective solutions.
Knowing safety and access are always key to success, we make sure staff have the proper equipment and training to get the job done. Additionally, we keep thorough documentation of work performed, materials records, notes and red lines for as-built drawings, equipment usage, extra work documentation and photos.
From experience, we know that staying proactive throughout the project and securing the necessary documentation will make the closeout process more precise, efficient and complete.
When construction nears completion, we perform walk-throughs and create a punch-list of remaining items or activities. We then prepare final documents, payments, computations and other activities required for closeout.
A True Extension of Your Team
Our duty is to ensure your interests are protected, your stakeholders are informed, and that the project is built precisely and to the highest quality possible. To do this, we become an extension of your team.
From large, multi-faceted contracts to small, more focused assignments, our local teams have the expertise to ensure your entire project is managed appropriately. We can contribute to the coordination of multiple, concurrent projects when necessary. We can also conduct training seminars, monitor project scheduling, prepare documentation and more.
Harnessing the Power of Your Project Schedule
Rather than looking at your construction schedule as just a timeline of events, we use it as a powerful tool for the proactive management of challenging project components and sequences.
Construction schedule reviews give us the opportunity to look at project details from every angle and make sure that we’re protecting our clients’ interests.
Elaine Carroll, PE, Benesch Senior Project Manager
With comprehensive knowledge of the intricacies of planning, design, construction oversight, and effective communication, we’re able to use the schedule as a tool to streamline processes, control costs, manage risks and ensure contract compliance. Both at the start of a project and as it progresses, this approach yields distinct benefits.
Using this tool effectively both at the start of a project and as it progresses yields several distinct benefits.
Constructability – It’s All in the Details
Benesch’s experience gives us the ability to anticipate potential constructability issues. With expertise in engineering and construction, we have an eye for the details that can impact schedules, budgets and quality.
During our constructability reviews, we pay careful attention to phasing, utility conflicts, potential weather impacts, access for material delivery, complex MOT changes, stakeholder impacts and more. We make sure each individual piece of the plan fits together and every detail has been accounted for.
Accelerating Construction to Limit Impacts
For most construction projects, time is of the essence. The $13 million reconstruction of the Quincy Avenue and Gun Club Road intersection in Arapahoe County, Colorado was no exception.
Arapahoe County engaged Benesch to perform construction management, inspection and public involvement services which included full-time inspection, materials testing, schedule review, quality control for surveying and constructability review plans prior to advertisement. With the project calling for a nearly two-foot grade change and the use of Cement Treated Subgrade (CTS), there was very little opportunity to complete the work without closing the road entirely. However, our team was determined to reduce impacts on the traveling public and construct the project in an accelerated manner.
The quality and dedication to details of the project by the Benesch team has played a tremendous role in the success of the project.
Jon Williams, PE, Arapahoe County
To find a time-saving solution, we worked with Arapahoe County and the contractor to develop a plan to construct part of the intersection using existing asphalt with an overlay, as opposed to removing the existing pavement and reworking the subgrade. Our staff ran a cost analysis and determined that for a relatively small cost we could build up the intersection in asphalt and run traffic continuously without closing the road or creating long, confusing detours.
Proactive Cost Control
In an era of economic challenges and concerns, cost control throughout the life of a project is paramount to its success. By proactively identifying potential cost overruns and changing conditions, we can get ahead of any issues and identify cost-saving alternatives quickly.
This focus on cost control extends to our own team’s costs. As a project progresses, we monitor how we are trending for projected versus actual effort expended. Change is a constant on construction projects, but by establishing a baseline from the beginning and continuously monitoring it, we’re able to adjust staffing levels proactively and engage the client if any previous assumptions changed.
Individualized Quality Plans
With a reputation built on delivering quality work, we take QA/QC seriously.
To make sure we deliver a high-quality product, each project at Benesch, regardless of size, begins with the creation of a customized Project Quality Management Plan (PQMP) that is accessible to all project staff so that project quality expectations are clear. Checklists are created to verify specific QC tasks for identified milestones, processes and deliverables with staff assigned to make sure the PQMP is being followed.
Keeping the Public Safe and Informed
Whether we are working in urban, residential or rural areas, keeping workers and the public safe and informed while maintaining access to homes, schools and business is vital. Benesch staff are highly trained and prioritize safety on every project.
Our staff have the proper equipment and training to do their job safely and effectively. Using their expertise and relying on thoughtful safety plans developed based on the project needs, they work to keep contractors, our staff and traveling public safe.
When a portion of W. Hawley Street in Mundelein, IL was transformed from a two-lane roadway into a three-lane roadway, 55 residential driveways, multiple lighted intersections, two schools, a church and several businesses were within the project corridor. Serving as construction manager for the project, Benesch prioritized access and safety as construction was underway.
We proposed the construction of temporary pedestrian access points at each intersection to ensure safer crossings for all impacted stakeholders. Our team also conducted door-to-door public outreach efforts to make sure all impacted stakeholders were notified of the project’s start date, and how each stage of the project would affect access to their properties and their ability to travel the corridor.
