If you are in the process of starting your commercial construction project, you likely don’t want to be thinking about the obstacles your project may face. But what are the consequences to not thinking about the potential obstacles?
You don’t want to find out, and neither do we.
That is why we work closely with you from day one to work through all of the details and ensure that there is no room for any surprises. No stone left unturned.
So what are some of those common obstacles that we help you avoid?
TIME
Whether it is working through design decisions or lead times on materials, things always take longer than you think. That is why we are transparent from the very start to ensure that you know exactly what needs to happen when. We begin with the end in mind so that we can work to ensure your desired timeline is met. In addition, our team will guide you through every step and every decision to make sure that we are hitting those deadlines while also creating a space that you can be proud of for many years to come.
COMMUNICATION
With many moving parts of any given commercial construction project, lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements. We eliminate that problem by having bi-weekly project team meetings, at minimum. We also ensure that our clients are informed early and often of any potential changes. This results in a project team that is on the same page every day and a more enjoyable project experience overall.
MATERIAL DELAYS
Delays aren’t fun for anyone. Which is why utilize our strong relationships in the commercial construction industry to stay on top of news, what is coming, and what effects that may have on our project materials. While we do our best to know about longer lead times ahead of project starts, sometimes there are unforeseen situations (like a global pandemic) that don’t allow us to do so. In the case that unknown delays happen, we work closely with our own team and our subcontractors to see where we have opportunities to accelerate or re-sequence the schedule in order to make up for lost time and still meet the desired end date.
THE UNKNOWNS
We know how important your project is to you, which is why we do all we can to anticipate any unknown challenges. Things happen. And when they do, we have the right processes and people in place from the start of your project to minimize any impact to the project.
With the right partners in our community and the right expertise in our building, we are ready to turn potential challenges into lasting results. When great minds work together to solve complex construction challenges, the sky’s the limit.
For many years, skilled trade positions have been seen as a plan b or c career. However, while working in the office may be the right path for some, it certainly isn’t for everyone. So why are so many people pushed toward the narrative that if they don’t go to college, they somehow won’t do as well in life?
Somewhere out there, there is a great plumber or electrician sitting in an office at a job they don’t enjoy because they thought that is what they had to do to be successful. What if those same people were given the opportunity to understand their career options beyond the classroom? This is the reason I have attended many high school career days over the years. Students have the chance to select a profession and learn more about what that may look like. But so often, I end up with sessions that have only 2-3 students (and many with zero) that want to hear about the trades industry. I wish I could shout from a mountain top what makes this industry great so that more students could excel in a career that they truly enjoy.
Here is what I wish they knew:
- Many trade contractors in the area (including DHE) offer great benefits packages. This includes family health insurance, yearly bonuses, and an employer 401K match.
- Just like any office job, our tradesmen receive paid training and paid vacation. We understand the importance of work-life balance and ensuring everyone is continuously learning.
- Variety! No day is the same on a jobsite. From new schools to breweries to skyscrapers, tradesmen get to experience working on a long list of spaces that all need their specialized skills.
- Want to travel? We have completed the Penguin Exhibit at the Turtleback Zoo, the Jelly fish exhibit at the Georgia Aquarium and even a mangrove exhibit in Dubai. YES, that is plumbing!
Just like every other industry, we need highly talented people. While the path may look different than what is expected, we know you can have a successful life-long career in a skilled trades position.
The destination is always the same: successful delivery of a high-quality, high-performing building on time, on budget that meets the end-user’s needs and vision.
The path to completion depends on multiple factors, including design and system complexity, budget, conditions and more.
The path an owner chooses to bring together the team of trade contractors, construction manager, architects and engineers does affect the building’s destination. And while bringing trade contractors into the mix during the design phase might be assumed to increase construction costs, the opposite is the reality.
Trade contractors — professionals with years of experience who ultimately will physically construct the desired building — play an important role in its design. Their early involvement allows for more cohesive communication, preventing potential design conflicts, redundancy and confusion of responsibilities. They also have the ability to create a preliminary schedule to prevent scheduling conflicts and identify opportunities for prefabrication, early product procurement and more.
Town & Country Group’s reputation of providing Service Second to None never varies, regardless of client or delivery method. But being involved in the design process early allows us to be better stewards of our clients’ money and needs. Our experts know first-hand how to efficiently meet the building’s needs, eliminating unneeded materials and offering practical and lasting products.
Designers and non-trade-specific engineers are not afforded the experience of piping eight sub-panels in a room the size of a postage stamp. But a journeyman-electrician-turned-estimator can quickly foresee and explain why more space is required and how the cost will be reduced. RFI’s, Addendums and Bulletins, which can lead to change orders and extra costs, also are avoided.
Town & Country Group recently won the bid for a multi-phase renovation project for a long-time healthcare client. We were brought in at the start of construction and quickly discovered conflicts with electrical panels. The panels designed and scheduled to be installed in later phases were actually needed in the first phase. By looking at the project as a whole from the very beginning, we were able to prevent change orders during the later phases.
Instead of installing the electrical panels in Phase 3 as designed, we installed them in Phase 2. As a result, we only needed short power shutdowns to rework the electrical panels in Phase 2 instead of a long shutdown that would have negatively affected the hospital’s daily procedures.
Examples of positive impacts on bringing trade contractors into the design process are endless, and by no means trade specific. All trade professionals, from electricians to glass suppliers, have stories of poor installations that could have been prevented had they been consulted.
Over the years, significant growth has led to the evolution of certain trade contractors. Professional trade contractors are now staffed with engineers and architects fully capable of delivering a warehouse through the design-build delivery method. And today, we have the design-assist delivery method, with the same professional trade contractors partnering with the design expertise of architects and engineers to deliver high-design and highly coordinated projects, such as hospitals, schools, aquatic centers and more.
The Holland Community Aquatic Center, Lakewood Construction, Town & Country Group and other trade contractors are currently teaming using the design-assist delivery method. As a professional trade contactor, we were brought on early after the conceptual phases. Together, we ensured the design meets the owners’ needs and can be constructed without finger-pointing. Together, we have ensured all of the needs are met while maintaining the budget.
The destination of a high-quality, high-performing building for the coming decades of the Holland Community is progressing, swimmingly.
If you’ve gone through the building process before, chances are you have heard of Procore. Procore is a widely used construction software that provides several benefits to all parties involved. At Lakewood Construction, we use it on all of our projects, bringing the power of technology to better your results.
So, what is it?
Procore is a cloud-based platform that allows us to house all of our project documents, manage the bid process, track correspondence, and much more.
More importantly, how does it benefit you?
- Increased Transparency – Because Procore is online, each of the different team members have access to real-time project information. This results in everyone being on the same page from the first meeting through project completion and provides open access at any time.
- Better Teamwork – When your contractor, architect, and subcontractors, all have the project documents at their fingertips, you can expect a project team that goes above and beyond. For you, that means an enjoyable process with the best possible outcome.
- Regular Updates – Part of our Procore process includes regular photo updates from our Project Supervisors. This means you can check in on the project anytime, anywhere, and see what is happening on a day-to-day basis.
We are committed to making sure that we have the tools to provide a best-in-class construction process for every one of our clients and Procore is one piece of that. Whether you want to be involved as much or as little as possible, you have the freedom to decide.
Are you thinking about building? We would love to talk. Send us an email at hello@lakewoodinc.com or give us a call at 616-392-6923.
The difference between outright failure, or a project that at best simply ‘gets done’, and a project that advances your mission is a powerful partnership between your design and construction teams. AMDG has found great joy in building a strong partnership with Lakewood Construction throughout our growing history of highly successful projects together. What are the secrets to building a strong partnership? Trust, humility, respect for each team members expertise, and clear communication.
Understanding the “why”
Before even starting the design work, AMDG and Lakewood meet with you to clearly understand your project goals, concerns, and mission. Both teams work to understand the “why” behind your project. In this early stage, design principles are defined for the project. Very high-level budget parameters, programmatic needs as well as project timelines are also outlined. This early discovery stage provides the basis to inform decisions and successfully guide the team through project completion.
Working together
With well-defined design principles and a deep understanding of your goals, AMDG and Lakewood work with a shared purpose throughout the design and construction process. Communicating early and often, regular checks and balances are in place between AMDG and Lakewood as we balance design, cost and schedule. This healthy tension found in our partnership uniquely positions you as the client to both understand and influence the design and cost decisions throughout the project.
Carrying out Your Project
Whether navigating complex code or permitting issues, anticipating your operational logistical needs, or dealing with thorny construction challenges, AMDG and Lakewood are dedicated – to you, your project, and to one another. This mutual respect and humility catalyzes true teaming and creative problem solving throughout the project for your best interest.
With strong partnership and deep trust, extraordinary results are inevitable. Always keeping your needs at the forefront, Lakewood and AMDG, as committed and respected partners, can successfully advance your mission through your next building project.
A land purchase for your next industrial or commercial building project is certain to bring many unknowns. While price, location, and size are important, there are several other critical things to investigate before signing off on the final purchase commitment. So how do you know what to look out for?
Here are 6 things to investigate before you commit to your next land investment:
- Soil Borings – When looking at a piece of land you will want to secure several soil borings to test the soils on the site in addition to learning where the water table happens to be. This will allow for proper design and pricing for your project.
- Topography – Is the site low and in need of extensive fill for your building pad and parking? This too will assist in proper design as it relates to neighboring properties, elevation of the road, and proper drainage.
- Wetlands – Because wetlands are protected, permits are required if the wetland area will be affected. While this doesn’t mean the land is unusable, you will want to know how this will affect your desired outcome.
- Flood Plain – Knowing if the site (or a portion of your site) lies in a flood plain will be critical to know sooner than later. This doesn’t mean the site is unbuildable, it does require additional permits, surveying, and time to make the site shovel ready.
- Zoning Compliance for your Intended Use – is the property zoned commercial? Industrial? On occasion, the local municipality has a master plan that could affect what your intended use may be.
- Potential Outstanding Assessments – When buying a piece of land, you may be buying a vacant piece of land that has never been built on. Have the water and sewer assessments been paid already? If not, this is a potential large unplanned expense that you would incur once hooking up to these utilities.
Lakewood Top Tip: A conceptual site plan before committing to the purchase will assure the site will accommodate your desired building size while allowing for future expansions if so desired.
Not sure where to start? We would love to talk. Send us an email at hello@lakewoodinc.com or call us at 616-392-6923
In times like these, we love seeing our community come together to help wherever they can! We wanted to recognize a few of our clients, share some of the good that is happening each and everyday, and let you know how you can help if you are able to.
JR Automation: In just six days, JR Automation (in partnership with General Motors) built an assembly line with customized machinery that can produce 50,000 medical face masks each day! Their first set of much needed masks are expected to be delivered to front line workers on April 8th.
Coppercraft Distillery: Coppercraft committed to producing approximately 10,000 gallons of hand sanitizer to be distributed to local hospitals and health care providers. With Holland Hospital going through at least four times the normal amount used, we know this will be extremely helpful!
Kids Food Basket: With the children of our community not being able to rely on school meals, Kids Food Basket has done great work to continue to ensure that they are properly nourished. If you are willing and able, they are accepting donations at the link above in order to be able to stay on the front lines in fighting hunger during this time.
Community Action House: Community Action House is also working hard in order to feed the families of our community. With a substantial increase in need, they are challenging everyone to join the fight against hunger and pack a family food box right from home. All you have to do is visit the link above to see the detailed instructions and what to include in the box. PLUS, if you pack a family food box and post about it on social media (tagging Community Action House and using #StayHomeFightHunger), we will be donating $10 for each family that participates. Along with Lakewood Construction – PeopleIT, The Insurance Group, Holland Doctors of Audiology, and Mike Goorhouse and Family are also matching for a total of $45 per family food box!
We know there are so many great individuals, companies, and organizations that are doing their part to help in this time of need, and for that we are grateful. Thank you to those mentioned and every single other person on the front line working to take care of our communities!
Most people believe that concrete is a pretty solid substance. Right? Would you be surprised to learn that air is a critical component in its basic structure? A typical batch is made up of sand, water, cement, and air. The percentages of each component varies depending on who is making it and what the application will have in its final stages.
While this might be of interest if you’re in the concrete business or a contestant on Jeopardy, why would anyone really need to know this information? You might if you’re growing your business and in need of a new facility and/or are expanding your current operations with an addition. But, if you’re like most business owners, your priority is about running your business, not figuring out the chemical makeup of concrete.
That’s where a Construction Manager (CM) comes in—handling the details of the construction process so you can do what you do best—run your business.
A CM’s job is to oversee the entire building project from start to finish. We manage the team and communicate with everyone on all sides of the project: you, your architect and engineer, city officials, trades, vendors, and everyone in between.
The best CMs are typically experienced general contractors with plenty of field experience in the construction industry. A good CM can hold a complex project together and lead it in the right direction. Our job is to educate and walk you through all the challenges of the design and construction process, so you get the facility you want and need. On schedule and in budget.
We recommend hiring a CM as early on in the project as possible. It will improve budgeting and scheduling—the two areas that will offer the biggest benefit to you in the long-run. We understand scheduling and budgeting in detail. We utilize software and other technology, so we can monitor everything having to do with your project and quickly account for any changes in the process. We can also make instant adjustments to keep everything moving forward.
We are experts in providing the lowest possible project cost based on selecting the lowest bidder from different bid divisions, and we have a network to secure the right contractors for the job. You will have a better advantage in competitive bidding because the markup of the subcontractor’s initial bids and change orders are gone. We can also see when there is the advantage of breaking your project down into individual bid packages to further lower costs.
As your onsite representative, we ensure all contractors and trades follow the project plan and schedule. Our experience provides us with the ability to determine the competency of a contractor’s workers. Quite often, we can provide alternative methods to bring down project costs.
Clear communication on the construction site promotes early and accurate design estimates and the chance to save on materials and supplies. Open and quick communication can lower the potential for problems and disputes between parties and enhance quality control in the building process.
As an objective third party that acts as go-between and can speak the language of each party involved–not only will a CM create cost savings, we also provide the peace of mind knowing that you’re in good hands and your project is going to start off on the right foot— and air in your concrete.
You’re in the process of grow-ing your business. It’s time to hire a construction company to help make your vision a reality. Your architect has made recommendations, you have friends in the construction business. But, have you given any consideration to what’s on your own balance sheet of criteria for hiring this firm once the numbers start hitting your desk? How do you make sense of it all?
From a CFO’s perspective with over 25 years of experience and $1 billion of construction put in place without a failed delivery, there are a couple of other, as equal, if not more important aspects to consider than just a proposed fee or initial cost of what your project will be.
My top three items to consider would be:
- Financial Stability
Choose a contractor with the necessary working capital, bonding capacity, and equity to support not just your project—but, EVERY project they are working on. A handy and free tool for evaluating financial strength is as simple as a letter from their bonding company. If the bonding company is an A-rated carrier, it’s a good indicator of the contractor’s strength. (Poor financial results or high debt often means the contractor has higher premiums from the carrier. Higher premiums may indicate a risk of failure.) Even if you decide the contractor doesn’t need to purchase a bond, the fact that a professional risk credit analyst evaluated and issued a rating can save a tremendous amount of money. If the contractor is unable to obtain a bond from an A-rated carrier, you’ll have to employ other methods for mitigating the risk of failure during the course of construction. - Relationships
Find out if the contractor has a good reputation with the trades and suppliers. These relationships might be necessary for favors, if needed, during construction without incurring additional costs to your project. There is tremendous, intangible value from past working relation- ships. Quite often, these teams operate at a higher capacity and demonstrate a greater initiative toward collaboration and coordination—it ensures everyone is well-informed and as efficient and safe as possible throughout the entire project. - Company Culture
If this is a core element to running your business, take the time to research and evaluate whether your mission and values align with the firm you’re hiring. Social media is another free and transparent tool for ensuring whether there is value align- ment. If their standards step up to your standards, then you have a good match.
Financial experience takes on a unique meaning when taken in the context of more than just a balance sheet. It’s helpful for identifying potential problems and allows time for developing a proactive approach in navigating around any issues. Conversely, lack of experience or failing to act can also have a negative financial impact on your project. A financially strong contractor may be able to employ trade contractors with less than stellar balance sheets, but they have the means for managing that risk and helping those weaker team members get across the finish line successfully on your project.
Your business is growing, and you’re not sure where to start. Standing in the middle of a field doing a 360 evaluation and kicking some dirt around, you wonder if it’s the right place to grow? And, how do you really know?
When owners begin searching for a new site to build a new facility, there are a few things to be aware of and consider before any offers to purchase are made.
From an owner’s perspective, the desired location in most cases (and, depending upon the industry you are in) is the driving factor of the geographical area in which your search starts. Did you outgrow your existing location and it isn’t conducive to expand? In many instances, the first inclination is to stay close to your current operations. We can all be creatures of habit and a move that could add 10 to 15 minutes to a commute isn’t always well received.
We always hear about the importance of location, location, location. However, no matter the industry, every business has different site and location factors central to their specific needs and should be factored into strategic site selection–making location paramount!
OTHER KEY CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE:
The size of your facility—what is the initial required space to build? As your business continues to grow, will there be a need for added space? How large of a building would you potentially need in the future? Once the general location, specific use, and building size has been determined, you can begin your search for that right piece of property.
Most municipalities have similar requirements for building lot coverage, setbacks, and general zoning requirements. Hiring a civil engineer familiar with the requirements in your area to assist in verifying zoning requirements, planning your site with your initial building size, while also considering a master plan showing maximum building size that the property will allow will be money well spent. Other factors to assess with your site as it relates to site planning are parking requirements (short- and long- term). Do you have truck dock requirements?
In most cases, when an offer is made, there is a due diligence period stated in your purchase agreement. This allows you time to further investigate the specifics of the site and a conceptual site layout from a civil engineer should be completed during this time.
If a survey with topographic elevations isn’t provided by the seller, the engineer can help obtain this information. The survey and the topographic ensure lot dimensions and potential easements are discovered before removing this contingency from your offer to purchase. It will also provide critical data in determining any potential for added site work costs. What are the existing soils on the property? How much fill do you need to give you the required building pad elevation?
Not as common, however, a critical element to also investigate during this discovery period, would be potential wetlands and floodplains that may exist on the targeted site.
So you can see, doing your homework up front before committing to your land purchase is a critical first step as you begin the exciting process of building your new facility!