PRE-CONSTRUCTION
We help conceptualize and define the project in early stages to develop a realistic baseline.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION
Vertcon Builders believes there is great value to both the owner and design team in its pre-construction services. From early schematic phase budgets to site inspections and development of logistics plans and crane placement diagrams, our pre-construction teams help conceptualize and define the project in early stages to develop a realistic baseline. We can provide initial conceptual budget services, constructability reviews, interact with design teams, develop scopes of work, interview and vet bidders, coordinate the RFP process, and award contracts. Vertcon Builders will assign a team of its professionals to assist in the planning and execution of a successful project.
OUR APPROACH
Integrated Approach
Vertcon Builders has worked with property owners and developers on a broad range of residential and mixed-use projects throughout the New York metro area for both public and private entities, assisting with early-stage conceptual budgeting, constructability reviews, site logistics and construction phasing and planning, scheduling, value-engineering, and even real estate finance and valuation specialists. Vertcon Builders has unique capabilities to provide an integrated approach to projects like yours utilizing our experience, market knowledge, open-shop familiarity, and highly qualified staff.
Design Team
The Vertcon Builders team is comprised of skilled and experienced project leaders who have worked on many complex and high-profile projects in NY and surrounding areas. Our teams consist of project executives, project managers, assistant project managers, estimators, site superintendents, safety specialists, schedulers, and real estate finance experts. Vertcon Builders builds a pre-construction team around each project’s unique needs and conditions; both interims of specific skill sets and number of people required.
Coordination with Design Team and Ownership
The Vertcon Builders team is comprised of skilled and experienced project leaders who have worked on many complex and high-profile projects in NY and surrounding areas. Our teams consist of project executives, project managers, assistant project managers, estimators, site superintendents, safety specialists, schedulers, and real estate finance experts. Vertcon Builders builds a pre-construction team around each project’s unique needs and conditions; both interims of specific skill sets and number of people required.
Communication Protocol
All team member's contributions are important, but bringing ideas and observations to the table and to the group requires direct lines of communication and effective leadership. Large teams can lead to multiple individuals and valuable content being lost in the chatter. All team member’s contributions are important, but bringing ideas and observations to the table and to the group requires direct lines of communication and effective leadership. Vertcon gathers information from multiple parties of the teams and formulates the response into a single cohesive statement to “speak with one voice.” Vertcon’s project executive and project manager serve as point person to direct the flow of information and communication between the many stakeholders. Chairing weekly meetings, setting agendas, distributing meeting minutes for all, and even issuing procedural flow charts are just some methods used to keep information moving in the right direction while minimizing any cross-communication.
Document Management
Preconstruction is the most fluid stage of the design process. Concepts, alternates, and drawings change frequently and fast. Keeping track of the information and iterations is an essential role of the Pre-Construction manager. Vertcon utilizes multiple means and processes to track, organize, and share information with the entire team and those outside the organization. From the basics of maintaining a custom folder storage system on multiple in-house computer servers, to more widely accessible platforms such as Procore, On-Screen Takeoff, Blue Beam, One Drive cloud sharing, and managing our own Sharefile FTP site, Vertcon is well equipped to share documents quickly.
Value Engineering
Vertcon Builders has experience in similar types of projects which allows us to insert ourselves in the value engineering process. We typically involve our most sophisticated subcontractors for ideas on cost savings, schedule, as well as means and methods. Subcontractors understand current pricing on material and equipment, supply chain pitfalls and logistic challenges because they are in the trenches daily. Since Vertcon is working on several major construction projects simultaneously we are aware of real-time data about trending costs on designs from structural to finishes. Vertcon also prefers the surgical approach to VE, not slashing and trashing to reduce costs while gutting a design that has its own unique worth. Again, with communication and professionalism, significant savings can be found by working with the design team, reaching consensus, and making cost reductions sensitively and judiciously.
Supply Chain and Labor Issues
In a busy construction market, awareness of subcontractor labor supply issues is key. Vertcon Builders keeps their ear to the ground and continually monitors subcontractors to understand their workload. Most of the subcontractors we work with have been part of our team for many years. Navigating supply chain issues in the past few years has taken on greater importance than ever. Working both globally to buy products at the best prices, as well as locally to stay close to the production cycle, Vertcon reaches out to stay involved with its suppliers. We put in the hours and do the diligence – trips to factories to see material in production, going to job sites to see and touch installed products, checking references with contractors who bought the same products; there’s no other way for us. In this market you need to focus on lead times very early in the process and be smart about building a cushion in your project schedules.
BIM Process Management
Vertcon Builders believes detailed design is where BIM collaboration should shine brightest. Performing regular coordination meetings with different participants of the project allows for every participant of the project to be involved in the process and provide their feedback on possible issues or setbacks. It’s also highly recommended to perform interference checks and clash detections on a regular basis. Some might say that this is a time-consuming process, but correcting a previously undetected error in an existing building takes way more time and resources than finding it at the design phase and fixing it before the construction even gets to that point. The design phase is also where the BIM model could be used in several different ways, and not just its original purpose. The existence of BIM process management allows for a BIM model to be used in scheduling, elevations, walkthroughs, sections, and many other processes -potentially saving a lot of time and money within that project.
Construction Phase
As a project transitions from the design phase to the construction phase, and pre-construction becomes active construction, it’s time to tap into BIM’s capabilities in the field. At this stage of the construction, BIM can still be utilized in many ways to keep the process on the rails, so to speak. A specific piece of software can be used in the field to make sure that the intended design is followed completely, and both the construction manager and the field superintendent are collaborating with the design team for that exact purpose. Running additional clash detection protocols is also common practice at this point to make sure that you’re not missing anything in your building as it’s being constructed. At this stage, it’s also possible to run construction simulations and predict some of the problems before they append and disrupt the progress in the field. Another advantage of using BIM throughout the project’s lifespan is the ability to update the stakeholders with actual walkthroughs and renderings to visualize the final product.
Innovation
Finding innovation in the construction industry was once considered an oxymoron. But building bigger, faster, and better demands advancement in products, methods, equipment, and systems. Vertcon Builders has embraced changes and designs that put us in the forefront with advanced curtain wall systems, pressure equalized rain creen systems, thin stone façade panel systems, ultra-high performance concrete panels (UHPCP), and even the first inclined/declined mast climber installation in NYC. In our constant search for value and competitive pricing, we have turned to some of the newest window and glass products brought to market. We have sourced producers of unique products from as far as Serbia, and have relationships with manufacturers in China, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Innovating isn’t just about new products, it also means thinking quickly and stepping lightly in the field. We are all builders at Vertcon; everyone of us. When obstacles get in our way on the job site, we pool our experience and our abilities to find a way around.
Open Shop and Union Jobs
Vertcon Builders pioneered the open shop labor model in NYC, and literally wrote the script on how to leverage the blended workforce efficiently, productively, and harmoniously. We invite both union and nonunion subcontractors to bid on our projects. Along with Ownership, we select the best subcontractor by considering price, schedule, and resume on a specific project. We have had union companies work alongside nonunion on the same site. We have used this model successfully in almost all our larger projects. At the same time, however, we have built relationships with highly professional nonunion trades with deep labor resources able to meet demanding schedules, competitively priced, and able to compete toe-to-toe with some of the largest union trade shops.
Transition to Construction
Continuity is key to achieving the seamless switchover from preconstruction to construction. Continuity at Vertcon Builders is accomplished by keeping the same leadership involved from preconstruction through to the construction phase whenever possible. The ideal scenario is to roll the same Project Executive, Project Manager, and Assistant Project Manager into the start of the construction, and engage the future Project Superintendent into the latter stages of preconstruction to so they become familiar with the drawings and scope. Vertcon often blends an Early-Start Agreement into its Preconstruction Agreements to keep open the possibility of starting specific portions of work early before a GMP is established, or before fully completed CD’s are issued. A team well-versed in the drawings, that has planned the logistics, and built connections with the design team is invaluable at the start of construction. Vertcon strives to keep teams intact in this transition contingent on timing and the start of a project’s actual construction phase.
