Skip to content

Wolgast Blog

Construction blog discussing trends, tips, and insider information from a commercial contractor specialized in general construction, design/build, construction management, and insurance restoration.

Posts about the Wolgast Way (4)

How Much Will a Phase I Save Me on Architectural Costs?

 

Short answer is roughly 20% or more.  Through a number of cost saving opportunities, the Design/Build Phased Approach to construction can be the most economical cost- and time-wise, not only saving on Architectural services, but also on the overall construction budget.

How to Franchise a Restaurant from a Construction Perspective

Franchising a new business is exciting, but it also requires a significant amount of forethought to prepare for a variety of scenarios that a franchisee could encounter. Obviously, your lawyer and consultants can provide the legal and contractual elements of franchising, but as a restaurant construction specialist, we’re more versed with the building design and construction details that you’ll need to establish. Below we offer advice for you to consider during franchise development.

Educational Enhancement the Wolgast Way

As we hear more and more about STEM education and how important it is to expose your students to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math as fields of study, Wolgast offers programs to introduce construction practices to your students during our construction projects at your school.  We call it Educational Enhancement and it has the flexibility to be tailored to your students in many different scenarios.

Why Winter Is the Best Time to Plan Your Construction 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.  

Why Design-Build Works Well for Doctors

 
In this blog, I’ll explore how the Design-Build method of construction is well suited to medical doctors, more so than general construction.  To start, the D-B method was really created to suit the needs of busy business owners, which includes doctors, because it requires less attention from an owner and that owner can set their involvement as much or little as they see fit.  Some customers like to be more engaged in the process than others and we are happy to accommodate each client’s unique desires.

The basic difference of D/B over general construction, is the relationship between the architect and builder.  In this project delivery, they are on the same team.  A doctor only needs to work with one entity to design and then build his or her office.  Also in this scenario, the doctor is protected from any discrepancies from the architect’s drawings to contractor’s application.  With D/B, the contractor and architect are consulting on budget, application and material quality throughout design, so when construction starts there are very little interruptions or change orders.  Should there be a discrepancy, the design-builder will work it out without involving the owner unnecessarily.  This protection is valued by doctors who oftentimes aren’t as familiar with construction, nor have the time to deal with these issues on site.  All of these reasons are exactly why Design-Build was created as an alternative to general construction.

Design-Build Adds a Construction Department to Your Team

When you choose to work with a design-builder, you’re adding a whole construction department to your team that’s dedicated to completing a turn-key project as if it were their own.  Turn-key in this instance includes initial concept through design, construction, and a 1-year warranty program.   

All-Inclusive Vacation in Construction Land

 
Recently, while I was on my first all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean, I realized how much more relaxing and enjoyable it was to know up front what the costs would be and all the activities that were available as part of the resort’s package.  I didn’t have to spend my time making separate plans for a hotel, meals, transportation, or entertainment because the package covered it all.  With all that was included, I had more than enough options to create an affordable and enjoyable vacation without the hassle of budgeting for my next meal or entertainment and I felt that I was getting way more for my travel budget.

Popularity Increasing for Design-Build

As an update to this blog originally posted a few years ago, we have new information to add  from the June 2018 Design-Build Utilization Report funded by Design-Build Institute of America. Findings in this report determined that popularity continues to grow for this delivery method. The results showed, "Design-Build Construction spending in the assessed segments is anticipated to increase 18% from 2018 - 2021", and will likely represent 44% of construction spending by 2021. Researchers determined that the education of building owners on Design-Build benefits is gaining traction, and more owners are experiencing enjoying the benefits first hand.  Additionally, FMI Corporation, a management consulting and investment company, had released a report in March 2019 titled 2019 AGC/FMI Risk Management Survey, whereby they found that "38% of contractors were <planning> to increase their in-house design capabilities last year and 43% this year".  So there will be more collaboration, less risk, and more competition among design and construction moving forward.

Original blog article:

According to the May 2013, “Design-Build Project Delivery Market Share and Market Size Report” by Reed Construction Data and RS Means Intelligence, Design-Build construction delivery method has taken an additional 9% of the construction market since 2005 and General Construction has lost 10% of the market share in that same time.

What is the Design-Build Method of Construction?

We've been providing Design-Build services for almost 40 years and we're curious if it's a well known term among those who haven’t previously been involved with the construction of a commercial building.  Have you heard the term before?  In a nutshell, it’s a method of construction delivery in which the building owner executes a single contract with one entity to provide architectural/engineering and construction services.

Recent Blog Posts