Building the perfect project team.(PROJECT MANAGEMENT: PROJECT TEAM)

Considering the amount of money, time, and resources poured into new construction and renovation projects, the management of these ventures is one of the most important tasks assigned to a building owner.

But, even more essential than the mortar and bricks that make up these buildings is the team that makes it all happen. Starting from your initial vision and lasting through occupancy, the professionals who are by your side throughout this endeavor can make the project a proud accomplishment--or a complete nightmare. A first-rate project team starts and ends with the building owner--it's your responsibility to hire and maintain the best players.

Team Functions Defined

There are key players who are part of almost any project team. In most cases, the team should consist of you, the building owner; an architect; an engineer; an interior designer; and a contractor. Depending on the size and scope of the project, other professionals may be called in as needed (cost estimators, landscape architects, construction managers, etc.).

As the building owner, your role is to provide project definition and scope, financing/budget/scheduling information, and decision-making power. The architect brings a specific expertise to the table that unites structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical goals. "An architect's responsibility is to somehow, in a document, 'memorialize' and define the vision of the owner," says Daniel Sinnott, director of business development, Turner Construction Co., Detroit. The engineer is responsible for handling the facility's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as any structural analysis and design. Smart engineers will also confirm that selected systems integrate with long-term goals and standards, and verify that these systems are installed to code. The interior designer sets up plans for non-load-bearing interior construction (finishes, space planning, furnishings, fixtures, etc.). The contractor brings all of these pieces to life, with responsibility for the actual construction of the project.

What Are You Waiting For?

There are various modes of thought that encircle the project team and how early it should be assembled. Depending on who you ask, there are a few different possibilities. Most professionals agree that involving everyone from the start--and keeping them on through project completion--is the best way to go. Paul Himes, president, Himes Associates Ltd., Fairfax, VA, points out that assembling the team as early as possible provides members the opportunity to play off of other members' strong points. It also increases the efficiency of the design/construction process and mitigates the possible need for design changes and/or redesign due to schedule or budget constraints, says …