Construction Project Management
     Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying
     Consultant for Design-Build Construction

   The complexity and cost of major construction or renovation projects require efficient management to ensure that there is adequate control of manpower, time and expenditures. The Project Management concept involves the implementation of all functions necessary to achieve this objective efficiently while permitting the client the degree of control necessary to determine his wishes and preference.

   Through the application of Project Management principles, the Project Manager relieves the client of the responsibility for providing an organization to deal specifically with the design and construction or renovation of a new facility. These principles apply to all aspects of a project from conception to completion of construction including commissioning.

   The objectives of Project Management are to co-ordinate and control all aspects of the project, and to produce,' a well-designed and constructed facility which will meet the client's requirements of function, schedule, and budget.

   Project Management is particularly applicable where, in order to meet the overall schedule, it is necessary to commence construction before all design is complete.

Construction Economics and Quantity Surveying     

   Clients are frequently faced with the realization that a project is not viable only when it has reached its final design stage and financial commitments have been made. This discovery inevitably involves a wasteful process of reappraisal and redesign, resulting in a reduction in the quality or scope of the scheme, unsatisfactory to both client and consultant. In extreme circumstances the scheme may have to be abandoned altogether.

   Architects and engineers, of necessity, concern themselves with the problems of function and design, and their primary expertise does not lie in the area of costs and finances. The issues of cost control and the general economics of any project deserve the input of an individual concerned solely with this aspect of construction and who has no conflict with design considerations.

   The construction economist/quantity surveyor can be involved at any stage of a project. However, adherence to properly established budgets is facilitated by the appointment of the construction economist/quantity surveyor with full financial responsibility at project inception.

   Organizations offering development finance will often require independent financial assessment of a project's feasibility together with the subsequent monitoring of construction expenditure and progress as well as advice on a "cost to complete" basis. Tillyard can, by calling on its multi-disciplinary group of construction economists, quantity surveyors, engineers and scientists, provide this service for both funding organizations and individual investors from Canada, the United States or overseas.

Consultant for Design-Build Construction     

   The Design-Build method of construction differs from the more traditional forms of contracting in that the client deals with one single administrative entity, the contractor, who provides the design and the construction under one contract package. During construction, any conflicts between design and construction and dividing lines between the various subcontract packages are the responsibility of the contractor.

   After the client makes known his requirements in respect of a new facility the contractor prepares the total design and thereby retains directly architects, engineers and other specialists as required to design the facility. Under the more conventional approach the architect, engineer and other specialists are retained by the client and work under his direction and control.

   Therefore, it can be seen that under the Design-Build method if the client does not have personnel within his own organization who are knowledgeable of the construction process then he will be dealing solely with the contractor - an expert in the field whose motive is generally to maximize profit. if the client does have such personnel on his staff then they should also be capable of evaluating the contractor's proposals and later carrying out inspections of the work and administering all contractual matters. Alternatively it is recommended that the client appoint his own consultant to deal with all matters on his behalf under the Design-Build method of construction, thus allowing the client to progress with his own business commitments. Tillyard can, by calling on its multi disciplinary group of construction economists, quantity surveyors, engineers and scientists, provide this service for both individual and institutional organizations from Canada, the United States or overseas.