Pre-Construction Planning

Discovery is followed by the complex and rigorously detailed process of Pre-Construction Planning. We begin with an overall cost assessment for the project and then follow through with a minutely detailed analysis of procurement, timing, labor and materials for every phase of the work from beginning to end. In this micro-analysis we break down every component of the project into its operational steps.

This micro-analysis is applied both to Whipple’s self-performed work and to that of the subcontractors we invite to bid. Eventually these analyses are costed as to labor, materials and equipment. The resulting dollar figure, combined with the pricing of subcontracted work and the costs of job operations, brings us to the final estimate for your project.

Whipple’s process of Pre-Construction Planning also requires an analysis of the duration of the project, its fit into the seasonal schedule and the delivery time of materials and equipment, all of which are driven by the project’s overall deadline.

We further analyze the pricing of individual trades by comparison to the best quotes of the most qualified subcontractors. It is at this stage that we often engineer value into the project, which may result in the substitution of less costly materials, equipment and construction methods while achieving your desired results. We know the clear relationship between cost and time. Our heavy emphasis on Pre-Construction Planning ensures that your project is completed at the optimum pace and the best price.

If you've been involved in construction, you know that a relatively minor hiccup in one area of a project can bring everything else to a grinding halt, resulting in lost money and a broken deadline. That's why accurate scheduling and phasing are crucial aspects of the overall project.

Scheduling and phasing the many tasks involved in a construction project is part science, part art. We are masters of both. After producing finely detailed scheduling plans in collaboration with you, the client, we publish them to everyone working on the project and update them frequently. This ensures that everyone is on the same page as the project evolves, and allows all involved a familiar intimacy with the details of the job. We monitor the project continually and hold frequent meetings to update subcontractors. We extrapolate the project into the future, so ensuring the smooth transition from one phase to another.

We also have the experience to handle the almost inevitable surprises of construction. The forces working against timely completion are many, including unseasonable weather, hidden environmental issues and the availability of materials. We've been meeting these and many other challenges for a long time, and we know how to get the job done.

At the end of this all-important Pre-Construction Planning phase is a moment of celebration: the delivery of the contract. This is always an exciting moment for us at Whipple. Before a brick is laid, before a nail is hammered home, before the first shovel strikes the ground, we have already come a long way. We have embarked upon a partnership. We have created value for you.