Project timelines and budgets are often a wish list in the construction world. As much as construction teams try to adhere to them, sometimes unforeseen delays, expenses or disruptions occur. When this happens, projects get delayed, pushed back, or cut down. One of the most famous examples is theSagrada Family Cathedral.
The Sagrada Family Cathedral was the dream of architect Antoni Gaudi. He imagined a grand downtown Barcelona cathedral with intricate towers topped with local fruit and foliage sculptures so the central nave would resemble a forest. His grandiose plan was to include enough space for 14,000 worshippers when construction began in 1883. Sadly, when only 15% of the job was completed, the famed architect was killed by a streetcar in 1926. His death and the subsequent Spanish Civil War disrupted the construction process. Gaudi’s original design notes and plans were lost in shelling during the war, which halted the project. In 1952, the construction picked up, but at a plodding pace due to the complexity of the design and funding issues. The Cathedral is still under construction today, hoping for a 2026 finish to honor the centenary anniversary of Gaudi’s death. But, even that timeline is still in question, according to the president of the building committee, Joan Rigol, who says the 560-foot-tall structure may be done even two years after 2026.
Most construction projects are less intricate than the Sagrada Family Catherdal, and modern planning and construction methods have significantly increased the pace and speed of building development. But the perpetually delayed Sagrada Family Catherdal’s saga teaches a lesson: construction administration can be beneficial on large projects.
What is construction administration?
A construction administrator or team is a vital part of any building project. Their role is to oversee each phase of the construction process, ensure compliance with the project design, review construction documents, track project details, monitor the budget, and conduct on-site quality checks.
Typically, the architectural team is the official construction manager on most projects, as they are legally liable for the finished product. They must ensure that the contractor’s work meets their design and that the completed project is safe. However, an outside construction administration team or administrator can be a helpful addition to a building project and an advocate for the client to ensure they are getting what they want. Here are a few of the ways a customer administration team can help.
- Quality assurance. During the project’s design phase, each sub-contractor will submit plans for their work to the architect or general contractor. Typically, each sub-contractor submits multiple submissions as the architects refine the design to integrate them. For example, a plumbing sub-contractor will likely have to submit multiple versions of their design to fit the overall design’s needs and make space for other utilities like electrical and HVAC. The architect oversees all these submissions, tracks the overall design and subsequent changes, and ensures the work is completed well. A construction administration team can be an extra set of eyes on this process, advocate for the client’s needs, like budget or timeline constraints, and ensure the work is done to the best quality.
- Record keeping: As we learned in the saga of the Sagdra Family Catherdal and what happened when the architect’s records were lost, tracking design changes and records is essential. For example, change orders typically occur during the building process when the planned work needs are altered in a way that may affect the final cost. Usually, the architect and design team approve these changes. A construction administration team can also help ensure a change order is needed and fits into the client’s budget and timeline. Tracking these changes and other construction records, invoices, permits, and more is a significant part of the administration team’s job.
- Improving communication: Managing a large-scale construction project is challenging, especially with all the different trades and sub-contractors. A construction administration team is there to step in, ask questions and ensure effective communication between the client and the construction team. By conducting on-site inspections, providing progress reports, and handling day-to-day communication, construction administrators can make it much easier for clients to handle their projects.
Let our construction administration team handle your next project
We offer complete construction administration services for our clients. We provide the oversight you need to proceed confidently with a large-scale project. We can oversee the entire project, from the initial bidding process to finding a reputable contractor to supervising the construction work with on-site inspections and progress reports. With the help of our construction administration team, you don’t have to worry about your project getting out of hand. We keep an eye on everything and keep you updated so you can feel confident that the project will meet your expectations. If you have a large construction project in the future, contact our construction administration team today for help!
