The careful balance of responding to project needs, while managing the budget and meeting the schedule, will always and ultimately rest with Sweetwater. As the
Construction Project Manager, our job is to manage cost, schedule, quality, and subcontractor performance. We believe that commitment to documentation is critical to a successful project and strictly adhere to those procedures.
Preconstruction Expertise
Opportunity to Influence Cost & Project Planning
The ultimate benchmark of a successful building project is the extent to which the functionality, cost, and delivery date reflect the client’s business objectives. At Sweetwater, we pride ourselves on our ability to work with clients and their design professionals to analyze this data. In the Pre-construction phase, we draw on 25 years of experience with multiple building types and pricing input from over 500 pre-qualified subcontractors and suppliers. Experience has taught us that the best Opportunity to Influence Cost is in the conceptual stages of a project. One client actually referred to us as the “Price Police” during this critical stage.
This Opportunity to beneficially Influence Cost and Schedule is at its peak in the beginning of the design period and diminishes thereafter. Based on the client’s articulated intent - along with definition of a building’s structure, infrastructure, and conceptual design - Sweetwater will develop and execute a preliminary budget. As design progresses, we provide interim budget updates; final budgets that continue to define cost, schedule and constructability issues; and we ensure the baseline benchmarks remain in place.
Additionally, Sweetwater will establish a master project schedule. The project team can deliver multiple efficiencies to each client by (1) decreasing the schedule by ordering long-lead items, and (2) executing subcontracts for initial phases of work, and (3) filing building permit applications.
Construction Expertise
Construction Management Documentation
The focus is to make certain that the cost, quality and schedule reflect the Owner’s intentions and expectations. Sweetwater achieves this by utilizing consistent tools. Documentation includes (but is not limited to) Meeting Minutes, Submittal and Shop Drawing Logs, RFIs, Field Notice Transmission, Project Schedule, and Applications for Payment.
Schedule Control: The Project Schedule
Sweetwater regards time, along with cost, as an item essential to a successful project. During project bidding, the master schedule is prepared. Each subcontract articulates the schedule demands; hence each team member embarks with a common understanding and expectation. The schedule is closely monitored and controlled. This schedule is updated at the weekly Owner’s meeting.
Quality Control
Sweetwater’s Quality Control program begins with our Subcontractor Qualification program. This rigorous program reviews subcontractors annually as to their Safety record (EMR), financial performance and stability, and vendor references, in addition to their work on Sweetwater projects. The three cornerstones of our Quality Control program are construction conformance, punch list execution and close-out.
Project Closeout
Recognizing the importance of achieving final completion or close-out on a construction project, Sweetwater Project Manager will manage the completion of any punch-list in a timely manner. He/she will deliver as-built (design) drawings, operational manuals, and warranty information to each owner.
