Construction Management

In this course we will review the owner’s primary goal in choosing a project delivery method to ensure that the planned project will meet the project goals and objectives, fit within the culture of their organization, and at the same time allow the project to be delivered on time, within budget, and achieve good quality.

We will review the primary project delivery method arrangements with their advantages and disadvantages, and cover the three major types of contracts. It is the owner’s requirement to analyze the project delivery method advantages and disadvantages. The best way to do this is to examine the project risks and major categories of project risk.

Next, we’ll address design. Good design is a result of collaboration among many different people, including the construction manager, architect, engineers, and owner. Although there is always a lead designer, the project is a combination of the collaborative process and consultation with other experts.

In this course we describe the roles and responsibilities of the construction management professional during the design phase:

• Understanding value engineering.
• Tasks that fall outside the design activities. These include investigations of local conditions, construction practices, labor markets, and the site conditions.
• Knowing when to bid a project. Significant time and costs are incurred in preparing a bid. To bid or not to bid.
• Know the construction phase, and how the work is the same no matter what contract form or project delivery method was chosen.
• Summarize the activities necessary to properly organize and prepare a project for construction.

The construction phase can be the most exciting part of the project cycle. Every day the job conditions change. There will always be problems to solve, logistical challenges to meet, and new people to work with. This is the job of the construction manager.

The industry and profession in construction management is big business. The construction industry will continue to play a key role in society.

Opportunities in construction management are endless. The course covers some of the following topics:

• Characteristics that define the construction industry.
• Four major sectors of construction management projects.
• Current trends within the construction industry and role in society.
• Skills to lead construction, specifically the Owner, Designer, and Construction Manager, and key stakeholders.

This course concentrates on the people who fill the roles of owner, designer, and construction manager, and must understand the following:

• Responsibility and authority of the key construction management participants.
• How is the construction industry changing?
• Construction companies need leaders.
• Continuous quality improvement.
• The three forms of business organizations.
• Characteristics of an effective construction management leader.
• The art and science of organizing and leading a construction management project.
• How the life of a facility goes through phases starting out as an idea combined with money and a project is born.
• Understand planning, design, and construction tasks and how people are involved in the lifecycle of a building.
• Analyze the need for the facility and whether it is economically feasible. This is life-cycle cost analysis.
• Differentiate construction workers , their construction trade , and work experience.
• What is the employment growth in the construction industry?
• Differences in building construction projects and infrastructure projects.
• How to use project management techniques in construction management.
• Best practices in communication skills and field operations.
• Construction methods and materials.
• The role of civil engineering and other engineering disciplines.
• Improving your construction experience and benefiting from real world lessons learned.

Architects design the project. Construction management professionals build the project at the construction site. All parties need to work in harmony to fulfill the functions that must be performed.

Can building structures be sustainable?

This course aims to answer that question. It covers sustainable construction management project elements from conception to completion. We discuss the important contributions facility managers and property managers make to sustainable construction projects by acting as the owner’s representatives. And we show how the construction contract and project delivery method greatly influences how the project will be performed sustainably.

Sustainable construction methods and processes are highlighted, along with newer construction document production systems such as building information modeling (BIM), laser scanning, and drones. This course also gives an example of a scheduling method known as the critical path method (CPM).

We discuss methods, materials, and the equipment used to mitigate damage to buildings due to environmental conditions, and the different types of building systems. Current technologies and green innovations also reviewed include exterior wall systems, green roofs, elevators, HVAC systems, and new methods of sustainable building choices for green construction best practices.

Other topics include sustainable maintenance operations, energy management, green building certifications, renewable energy, sustainability construction trends and the use of best practices in sustainable planning, design, and construction, including the steps needed to develop a high-performance project.

Core concepts include:

• Frameworks for implementing a sustainable green project or a high-performance project.
• Role of the facility manager.
• Sustainable building design, construction, remodeling, and building improvements.
• Disaster management procedures.
• Sustainable Infrastructure.
• Decision making techniques in sustainable project development
• How to reduce emissions during construction
• How to control energy consumption and maximize sustainable efficiency
• Climate control.
• Greenhouse gas emissions.
• Stormwater management controls.
• Sediment and erosion controls.
• Renewable energy use
• Involvement of stakeholders in the planning, design, and construction process.
• Green building certifications, such as LEED and Green Globes.
• Latest trends and future in sustainable construction management.
• The best sustainable practices in design and construction.