Pre-Construction
Charting the right course
Knutson's early involvement, prior to construction, can greatly minimize costly surprises and allow you to ask what-if questions about budgeting, scheduling, materials, and design options. Our knowledge of material and construction costs, structural alternatives, and mechanical and electrical systems can significantly impact the quality, cost, and timing of construction.
No matter which delivery method is used, Knutson can provide prompt and expert advice based on the latest technologies and analytical tools, including:
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Building Information Modeling (BIM)
BIM is an innovative method that allows construction firms, architects, and engineers to efficiently generate and exchange information, create digital representations of all stages of the building process, and simulate real-work performance. The end result is streamlined workflow, increased productivity, improved quality, fewer change orders, and better cost control.
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Constructability Reviews
During this process we use our construction expertise to eliminate and reduce conflicts, errors and omissions in design documents before those documents are put out to bid. Knutson pro-actively involves our superintendents, labor foremen, and major subcontractors and suppliers in constructability analysis.
In the Design-Assist process, the architect, engineer, and construction firm work together from the beginning, utilizing the strengths and talents of each entity, to optimize the design and maximize cost-effectiveness. The process can minimize change orders and construction delays associated with unseen conflicts and insure that the project is built on time and within budget.
Our in-house estimators are the best in the business. To make sure marketplace costs are current, we also seek input from major subcontractors and suppliers and solicit their suggestions regarding constructability. Because Knutson enjoys the respect of the subcontracting community they provide us with meaningful estimates that do not contain contingencies and undefined costs.
Instead of merely looking at a facility in terms of cost to design and build, owners are increasingly broadening their perspective to include operations, maintenance, repair, replacement, and disposal costs.The sum of initial and future costs associated with the construction and operation of a building over a period of time is called the life cycle cost of a facility. Through this process Knutson can provide owners with alternative solutions to meet both short and long range goals.
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Value Engineering and Value Analysis
VE and VA are procedures that occur in conjunction with constructability reviews. Design intent and constructability are overlaid with which building systems provide the greatest value for the lowest probable cost resulting in the greatest final value for clients.
