The Development Management role is indispensable on a successful project team, coordinating every phase from defining initial goals and strategy to site identification to the acquisition, zoning, and approvals, design, and construction, as well as supporting fundraising and financing efforts.
A Development Manager can become involved at various phases of a project, and ideally is the first professional engagement. The job of the Development Manager can best be encapsulated by two terms – Project Strategy and Project Management. FGI partners with M3 Development Management on select projects where the complementary skill sets can produce results greater than the sum of the respective organizations parts.
PROJECT STRATEGY
The Development Manager assesses the combination of professions and skills that are required for a specific project. In addition to identifying, recommending, and retaining Architects, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors, the Development Manager assists the Owner in identifying and adding specialty consultants to the project team when needed.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The Development Manager facilitates the efforts of the project team, directing the efforts of the individual specialists required to produce the project, providing managerial oversight of the design and construction process itself, and defining the individual tasks that must be completed in the proper time and sequence.
While the Owner sets initial project goals and outlines the development strategy; a Development Manager can help ensure success for the project by surveying Owner and project stakeholders to refine goals and to better understand project issues. This process builds a working project description with clear internal alignment. Once goals are in place, the Development Manager assembles the project team, which can include the full design and construction teams, a process in which timing and method are critical to the project’s success. Difficult conversations can be a part of this process, as a clients vision may be challenged in terms of expected performance, but honesty and clarity are critical to minimizing risk in any project.
A Development Manager, working closely with the Owner, will help make sure that the project goals and needs as defined earlier are met when setting the overall project scope, budget and schedule. The Development Manager then coordinates team members to design the right project at the right price to be built in and at the right time. It’s at the end of this process that a Project Manager would typically come on board.
During the construction process, the Development Manager can perform the Owner’s Representative or Construction Project Manager’s role, overseeing the day-to-day work of the project team on the Owner’s behalf. They also provide oversight of the budget, schedule, quality and conformity of work, providing periodic reports to the Owner. Keeping the team engaged in the project and maintaining an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect is a key part.
Upon completion of construction, the project segues from contractor control to the Owner’s control. The Development Manager can make sure the project team is focused on the project through final completion, achieving effective turnovers and training, punch list completion, and a warranty library for the building management use. Having the Development Manager involved from the outset maximizes the value of the project for the Owner.
As the development manager, Findlay Group ushers the project through each critical step in the process, while ensuring that it stays on time and on budget. Our involvement can begin as early as concept definition and end well after move-in. We help define the project’s goals; manage site identification, acquisition, and approval, while working with government agencies, community groups, and other stakeholders; help select, contract with, and oversee the entire project team (including architects, engineers, technical consultants, construction contractors, lenders, legal counsel, and others), as well as coordinate with the client’s in-house staff. We excel at both key aspects of the process: construction in the field, and the business end of construction, including contracts and accounting. We manage the team as it produces its collective deliverables, keeping clients informed through detailed reporting and regular meetings.
There are several steps involved in the design process for an architectural project. Each step is very important to the overall look, feel, and safety of the project.
Schematic Design
The first step of the design phase is the schematic design. The schematic design is where the architect gathers information on the needs, style, and wants for the project and from there they will create two to three design options for the client to review.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
In the design development, the architect will take the schematic designs and develop them to an approved design concept. Any changes the client wants to make to the design should be communicated to the architect during this phase.
Construction Documents
Construction documents are given to a contractor for the construction of your project. An architect will put together drawings with a lot of detail on them for the contractors to follow when building.
BIDDINGBidding is when the architect or client seeks a contractor for their project. They bid the job to the contractor by giving them bid documents which display details of the project. These documents include construction documents and technical specifications.
CONSTRUCTIONTestimonials
