Skip to the main content.

Owner Approach

Focused on owner’s requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

Services 
Resources

Owner Approach | Conspectus

 

Contact Us

    Architect Approach

    Focused on architect's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

    Services 
    Resources

    Architects | Conspectus Inc

     

    Contact Us

      Design-Builder Approach

      Focused on design-builder's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

      Services 
      Resources

      Design-Builders | Conspectus Inc

       

      Contact Us

        Construction Manager Approach

        Focused on construction manager's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

        Services 
        Resources

        Construction Managers | Conspectus Inc

         

        Contact Us

          Solutions For Construction Managers

          Decision Management 

          Processes and tools built for you
          CMCI-Provider-Logo

          Our Approach

          Driven by the time, quality and cost triad

          Construction managers focus constantly on managing logistics, controlling costs, and maximizing efficiency. The Conspectus approach helps you mitigate the inherent risks by eliminating inconsistencies, discrepancies, and data gaps that lead to RFIs, change orders, delays, and cost overruns.

          Construction Specifications and Documentation

          The Solution

          The Conspectus approach to construction specifications and documentation focuses from the start on capturing and clearly communicating the owner’s requirements and expectations in a way that enables the entire extended project team to work in concert to meet them.

          For construction managers, the Conspectus approach offers not only the data and information construction managers need for sound decision making, but also documented support for maximizing process efficiency, promoting quality, and adhering to schedule and budget.

           

          Conspectus | Construction Managers
           
          Closing the Gap

          Reducing the Risks

          Traditionally, specifications are developed sequentially as discrete documents, a disjointed process resulting in critical information gaps that often increase risk. Conspectus approaches specifications as a seamless continuum of information gathering, analysis, and documentation that closes the gaps, reduces risk, and adds value for owners, construction managers, and other stakeholders.

          An Emphasis on Collaboration

          Recognize all the Risks

          Because the builder’s performance depends on complete and accurate specifications, the construction manager’s contribution to developing the construction documents can improve the quality of decision making, help avoid mistakes in documentation and construction, and reduce the risk of litigation downstream.

          Construction managers should carefully examine the serious and potentially costly consequences that can result from a lack of transparency in the design and specifications process and the resulting inadequate documentation. This adds risk across the entire project making the construction manager’s job even more difficult.

          Missed Deadlines

          Staying on schedule is a challenge for every construction project, and the blame for delays can extend across the full project team. For example, when downstream contractors can’t understand or execute on a poorly written specification during construction, they issue an RFI, which can take days or weeks to resolve. The administrative tasks and added costs of excessive RFIs can become burdensome, compromising both the project timeline and budget.

          Litigation

          RFIs very often result in change orders, which can trigger schedule disruptions, project delays, unanticipated costs, or all three. Change orders are the breeding ground for litigation, the costs of which can be staggering. In addition, faulty documentation, which lies at the core of the most common change order difficulties, embeds permanent risk for litigation, which can have lingering impacts.

          The Time Cost of Delays

          The time cost of delaying the opening of a building is measurable in real dollars to the construction manager whose incentive lies in putting the building up as efficiently as possible, managing cost, and avoiding delays and scheduling issues. These costs are particularly onerous when liquidated damages are part of the underlying contract.

          Value Engineering

          Flawed specifications, a common culprit for bidding inaccuracies or contingency fees, can trigger reactive value engineering (VE), a process that can also create long delays and sometimes force choices between working in the owner’s best interest and doing what’s expedient to avoid cost overruns.

           

          Loss of Confidence

          Inadequate documentation usually results in a massive addendum, which may be planned before the documents are even issued for bid. This can shake not only the construction manager’s confidence in the quality of the documentation, but also the owner’s faith in the construction manager’s ability to deliver. Such a loss of confidence can trigger opportunistic behavior from all parties and increased costs to resolve differences. Confidence, once lost, is difficult to recover and adds friction to the project.

          The Benefits

          Why the Conspectus Approach Works for Construction Managers
          Transparency, Access, and Collaboration

          The Conspectus approach helps ensure that every key stakeholder can know at every point what decisions are being made, the rationale behind them, and the implications for budget, schedule, and operations It also fosters collaboration among project team members as they make and implement critical design decisions, translate design into construction documents, and manage the actual construction.

          Focused on Quality

          The Conspectus approach naturally integrates quality assurance from the start. As part of our broader role, we monitor processes and raise critical issues along the way to help make sure that inconsistencies, discrepancies, and errors don’t go unnoticed or unresolved or get permanently forgotten.

          Informed Decision Making

          The Conspectus approach comprehensively documents design requirements and designed solutions, allowing comparative analysis of their potential impact on the functionality, quality, and cost of the project. This means that construction documents can reflect optimized decisions instead of best-guess choices.

          Committed to Collaboration

          The comprehensive nature of the Conspectus approach captures deep insights that owners can integrate into optimizing their building’s operation and that of future buildings for those who own, develop, or operate multiple built assets. Conversely, the Conspectus approach enables owners to collaborate actively with construction managers by contributing their own experience and expertise in what will and what won’t work in the design and specifications process.

          Owner's Standards

          Many owners have pre-established standards for their facilities, which may not be fully understood or appreciated by the extended project team. The Conspectus approach integrates an owner’s standards into the communications continuum from the start and can provide analytics to verify that the designed solution complies. This supports one of the construction manager’s primary goals: client satisfaction.

          Conspectus Capabilities Brochure

          Learn More about the Construction Manager Approach

          For a more detailed discussion of how the Conspectus approach can help you can manage risks, control costs, and make sure owner requirements are fully met, view or download the accompanying PDF.

          Download Now

           
          Access Our Resource Database

          Construction Manager Resources

          At Conspectus, we help our clients and colleagues stay up to date on developments and trends that impact construction specifications by providing relevant, expert resources such as the Published Articles, Podcasts, Tech Tips, and more. 

          Learn More
          3 min read

          Truths About the Punch List

          May 4, 2021 by Steve Gantner, RA, CSI, AGCMO, CCS, CCCA

          Last month, we talked about site visits and observations and how the Design Professional is responsible for observing...
          2 min read

          Pre-Con: The Critical Conference

          Oct 30, 2020 by Steve Gantner, RA, CSI, AGCMO, CCS, CCCA

          Later this month, we will begin the holiday season with Thanksgiving, a great time of year to reflect and be thankful...
          3 min read

          Who's Minding Division 01?

          Jul 8, 2013 by David Stutzman

          Why the Architect/Engineer (A/E), of course! CSI MasterFormat Division 01 Level 2 titles courtesy of...

          Start the Conversation

          We deliver the knowledge, insight, and expert judgment your project requires

          Contracting directly for specifications services, wanting a greater voice in choosing your specifications partner, or seeking independent guidance on how to mitigate risk? We're here to help.

          Contact Us