Wolgast Blog - Construction Trends, Tips and Information

Preliminary plans, such as those provided in a Phase I of the Design-Build process, are the most efficient and economical means to determine the budget for your construction project.

While there has been a shift in the numbers¹, there are still many business owners out there who are skeptical of the Design-Build method of construction.  They are more familiar with the traditional Design-Bid/Build method where they hire an architect, then have general contractors competitively bid the project, and the contractor with the best price/value builds the project.

Other than taking time to prepare a plan when the weather is poor for construction (so you can be ready when the weather is conducive for construction) there are additional benefits to contact your design/builder or general contractor in the winter.  Let me clarify that the following explanation works best when applied in Michigan and other cold winter states.  

Currently, many Michigan auto dealers are feeling varying degrees of pressure from auto manufacturers to modernize their stores, some of which have never been renovated since they were originally built 50 years ago.  While remodeling can be an expensive investment in your business, there are several benefits that go along with the improvements.

Obviously, planning a construction project doesn’t happen overnight.  In most cases, the client has a set occupancy date when construction has to be completed either to satisfy a contract they have acquired or to meet their seasonal market (to name two).  During that construction project time frame, planning through completed project, there are five main activities that need to take place, which include design, cost estimating, obtaining regulatory approval, acquiring materials and construction. 

Continually meet with patients throughout construction

Dentists sometimes put off improvements to their building space due to the anticipated disruption of their business.  Determining how to remodel their office or relocate to a new space when a practice can’t survive without an active patient load can feel like a big risk.  However, I’m here to tell you that it's possible to remodel, renovate or relocate a dental office with minimal impact to your practice when you use a professional contractor.

We’ve all heard that with great power comes great responsibility, but it’s especially true with the power equipment and tools used on school construction sites.  Student safety becomes a big deal as School Districts continue to make updates and renovate their existing/occupied buildings.  It’s a big deal also due to the increase of “strangers” who enter the school grounds to work on a construction project.  This is demonstrated by the increasing efforts of schools to qualify visitors before they’re allowed to enter school buildings.

As your new medical/dental office is about ready to be moved into, are you ready? Here are some experienced helpful tips from Wolgast to make the move go easy and not impact you or your employees in a negative way.