By the time most people see a project come to life, months or even years of work may have already taken place behind the scenes. Every estimate, conversation, design review, and decision made during preconstruction helps create the roadmap for what eventually gets built.

At Monteith, we often say that most buildings start as a dream, a sketch on a napkin, or a conversation. It is our job to take that idea and help turn it into reality. Before we ever consider putting a shovel in the ground, our preconstruction team is involved.

At its core, the goal of preconstruction is simple: deliver the building you are dreaming about for the budget you have.

The first thing we do in preconstruction is listen. We want to understand what matters most to our clients. What are you trying to accomplish? What are your priorities? What concerns do you have? What does success look like when the project is complete?

Those conversations become the foundation for everything that follows.
Preconstruction is the process of taking a vision and beginning to understand what it will take to build it. Budgets are developed and refined as the design progresses. Materials and building systems are evaluated. Schedules are studied. Constructability challenges are identified. Long-lead items are considered, and opportunities for value engineering are explored.

Each of these decisions helps move a project closer to construction while giving the owner and design team a clearer picture of what lies ahead.

In today’s construction industry, that early planning has become increasingly important. Material pricing, labor availability, supply chains, permitting requirements, and procurement timelines can all influence a project’s budget and schedule. A decision that seems small early in design can have a significant impact once construction begins.

That is why bringing a construction partner into the conversation early can be so valuable. Preconstruction gives the entire project team the opportunity to identify challenges, evaluate options, and make informed decisions while there is still time to make them.

Sometimes that means finding a different material that achieves the same design intent at a better value. Other times, it may mean identifying a long-lead item early enough to protect the construction schedule or evaluating different building systems to determine which solution best supports the owner’s goals.

But good preconstruction is about more than estimating what a building will cost.
It is about understanding why you are building it in the first place.

At Monteith, we know the structures we build become part of the communities where we live and work. They become schools where students learn, healthcare facilities where people receive care, workplaces where careers are built, and public spaces that serve for generations.

We care that we get it right.

That means approaching preconstruction as a partnership. Our role is not simply to provide a number at the end of design. It is to work alongside the owner, architect, engineers, trade partners, and other members of the project team to provide the information needed to make thoughtful decisions throughout the process.

Ultimately, the best time to solve a problem on a construction project is before it ever reaches the field.

Interested in learning more about our preconstruction process or connecting with our team? Reach out to Drew Hardin, Monteith’s Vice President of Preconstruction, at [email protected].

Find more information at monteithco.com.