Taking a Closer Look at Construction Administration
Construction administration is a vital but often underappreciated part of the building process. In today’s blog, we will discuss what construction administration entails and the benefits of having a seasoned team of architects like ours provide it.
To start with the basics, we’ll first introduce what this service is and how it differs from construction management.
An Overview of Construction Administration
Construction administration is the process of overseeing the construction contract between the owner and general contractor. By verifying that all aspects of a contract are being met, the construction administrator ensures that the building is being built accurately. Construction administration is a thorough and detail-oriented process typically completed by an architect or engineer because it requires a deep understanding of construction documents and drawings.
Construction management, on the other hand, is a complementary process that works alongside construction administration to ensure proper construction. Construction management is typically completed by a general contractor or their supervisor and entails managing the day-to-day operations of the project’s construction by making sure they run smoothly, on time, and within budget.
Both construction administration and construction management are integral components of a successful construction process. At MoDE, we are proud to provide our clients with exceptional construction administration services to help their project’s design come to life exactly as we planned.
This brings us to our next topic: our construction administration offering at MoDE.
Construction Administration: Why MoDE?
First things first, our team has tons of previous field experience which we leverage to oversee the construction of your project. With our team going to the site and verifying everything’s being built to our specifications, you can rest assured knowing your project is being constructed as we intended. Our team can also refine the design as needed during construction administration if you continue to work with us in this final stage.
Another reason we’re passionate about providing construction administration is because it gives us a closer look at how the construction phase works, allowing us to continuously refine our own practice. In that way, it benefits not only our clients but our team as well. Our architects are able to learn more from being involved in the construction administration phase than if they were to only produce drawings. Because our team understands buildings better because of this service offering, we can offer better services–and in turn, provide a better final product for our clients. Our in-depth understanding of construction also leads to better drawings, fewer change orders, and smoother construction schedules.
Construction Administration From Project to Project
Every project is unique, which means the demands of construction administration will vary from project to project. If you work with us, we’ll adjust the scope of this service depending on your unique needs. While most projects require a weekly site visit during construction administration, our team can be at your site as often as required. Some projects require more frequent visits to ensure everything is running smoothly and according to specifications.
For instance, when we had the Michael A. Bilandic building project underway, someone from our team was on-site for 24 hours a week. The Bilandic Building had an incredibly fast schedule, with the scope of its first phase requiring a completed 50,000 SF in the first three months. With someone from our team on site so frequently, the contractor could pose a question and respond quickly, optimizing the efficiency of the construction process.
Ultimately, if you choose the right team to complete your construction administration, your project is guaranteed to be built according to the exact specifications of your contract. We highly recommend hiring a seasoned expert for this phase of your project. After all your careful input and the architects’ hard work during the design phase, why wouldn’t you want a great construction administrator to implement it?
Interested in partnering with MoDE for a project or learning more about our construction administration offering? We invite you to contact us. We look forward to connecting with you!
