The success of a construction project, no matter the size, complexity or delivery methodology, is most often determined by the decisions made at the very beginning.

Eduvisors design phase services offer significant advantages to projects of every scope and size through its integrated approach to financial planning and design through its in-house and a network of expert associates – architects, structural engineers and designers. During pre-construction, we use our proprietary database of construction information compiled from multiple projects to create highly accurate cost and financial models. These models provide a road map for the entire project team that is critical when making decisions about major systems, materials and equipment.

Our depth of experience in building Education institutions allows us to determine the constructability of the project and develop detailed construction schedules that are realistic and meet the client needs. From project managers and engineers comes input and knowledge during pre-construction that helps save time, control costs and increase value for the School owners.

Pre-construction is a significant piece of the construction services and services categorized under this phase include:

Pre-Project Planning Services

• Feasibility Studies – educational needs assessment, develop educational specifications
• Site assessments and location planning including the demand supply gap and catchment area analysis
• Financial planning – cost estimates, life-cycle cost analyses, cash flow projections
• Estimate size, scope and complexity of construction
• Environmental/sustainability assessments, LEED/Green construction
• Construction phasing strategies, preliminary schedule development, risk assessments

Pre-Construction Services

• Design
• Architectural design
• Schematic design
• Master plan
• Civil and landscape design
• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Mechanical, electrical and plumbing
• Structural designs
• Sanitary and fire fighting
• Interior design drawings

• Project Integration Planning
• Scope and schedule development
• Budgeting
• Construction reviews
• Disruption avoidance planning
• Quality control and assurance
• Long-lead procurement
• Compliance

One can have all the systems and procedures known to mankind, but any project turns successful only when the execution is in the right hands. Eduvisors focuses on finding and training the best builders and labour contractors in the local geography – this is a compelling advantage that our clients get while working with Eduvisors.

During the Construction Phase of a project, whether it’s a new K-12 School or a Higher Education campus in a remote location, Eduvisors mobilizes it’s on-site staff of experienced and knowledgeable builders – acting as the owner’s eyes and ears and interacting closely with the project team throughout the construction process.

In addition to our extensive Project Management services, the Eduvisors team provides the following:

• Construction Services
• Labour subcontractor selection and coordination
• Materials/equipment procurement
• Construction supervision
• Site coordination
• Landscaping
• Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) coordination
• Document and change management
• Schedule management
• Contract administration
• Cost control
• Quality control
• Insurance administration

• Interiors
• Furniture and fixture procurement
• Interior designer, coordination
• Contractor and carpenter management
• Materials procurement
• Installation and implementation supervision

• Post-construction Services
• Owner’s fit-up coordination
• Final cost accounting
• Commissioning
• Warranty

The following are some of the most important aspects of Construction Services in K-12 and Higher Education, which our clients value significantly:

Project Scheduling

Eduvisors provides a system of schedule development and continual monitoring that enables flexibility and encourages communication. Eduvisors’ expertise in Education ensures that our project schedules are highly accurate in projecting construction durations and extremely detailed in the amount of information we provide to the project team. Our historical data is combined with knowledge of the local contracting environment and our experience as creative builders and on-site commercial contractors. We implement principles of Lean construction into our scheduling approach to make the process highly efficient, with minimal working capital requirement, convening regular meetings between our project staff and subcontractors to ensure schedule compliance.

Equipment and Material Procurement

During pre-construction, Eduvisors identifies “long lead time” material and equipment purchases, working closely with the design team to develop a procurement strategy that is later executed by Eduvisors project team. Eduvisors frequently procures major items of equipment prior to the start of construction as decided by it’s project team.

Self-Performance

Eduvisors has a proven track record as a successful self-performing commercial general contractor in K-12 and Higher Education buildings. We do not assume the role of a “broker” of subcontractors – we have the capability to perform the most critical work to drive the project schedule and set quality standards for the project.

Quality Assurance and Planning

Eduvisors’ integrated approach to quality begins in the earliest stages of a project, through pre-construction and construction and past final completion with all the details of Learning Environments planned right upfront. Focus quality initiatives by our team include: Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Coordination Program, Site Specific Quality Plan and Quality Incident Reporting.

Commissioning

Eduvisors coordinates commissioning activities as the School building and interior systems are installed, tested, balanced, and documented. We conduct training sessions with staff and end-users on the operation of all interiors and systems, as well as on-going first-year involvement in the seasonal testing and training of commissioning activities to continue smooth operation.

Even with varying delivery models, our approach to every project is constant – identifying learning environment or education needs, construction industry-leading safety, quality and project management processes to surpass the client expectations.

Each K-12 School or Higher Education building owner may potentially select a different delivery method to best plan, design and construct its project. We have experience with the full range of these, ranging from Hard-Bid where Eduvisors had no involvement during the design phase, to Integrated Project Delivery where Eduvisors played an integral role beginning early in the design process.

The following highlights the range of our experience:

Hard Bid

Eduvisors is awarded a ‘lump sum’ contract for construction services as a result of a price competition based on client-provided contract documents.

Construction Management (CM)

Eduvisors performs pre-construction and construction phase services and is not contracted to self-perform facets of the work. Over 90% of our CM services are conducted on an ‘at risk’ basis, with Eduvisors holding all subcontracts and guaranteeing the cost/schedule. The balance of our CM services are ‘for fee’ – in which the client holds all subcontracts.

During the CM process, Eduvisors is involved with the owner and architect from conceptual design through construction and until the facility is operational and occupied. Eduvisors’ diversified services offer clients complete control over: cost, schedule, constructability, quality, start-up and warranties.

General Contracting (GC)

Eduvisors performs pre-construction and construction phase services that are awarded as a result of contract negotiations and does self-perform facets of the work.

Eduvisors building construction team self-performs a wide variety of civil and structural work for concrete and steel structures, as well as selected finishes and equipment erection/installation. By performing the most critical portions of construction with our own forces, Eduvisors exercises maximum control over cost, schedule and quality-related issues. All subcontracts are held by Eduvisors and the cost/schedule is guaranteed, with the cost contracted on a ‘lump sum’ or ‘guaranteed max”‘ basis.

Design-Assist (DA)

Eduvisors brings an expanded team to the project during pre-construction to augment the design team in their Education expertise. A primary focus of Design-Assist is for the Education sector focused construction experts to work side-by-side with the design professionals to create the best solution to meet all of the client’s needs. In addition, through our BIM (Building Information Modeling) Program, we significantly enhance the sharing and transfer of information from design to construction, streamlining the process.

Design-Build (DB) – Integrated Project Delivery

Eduvisors executes a ‘single source’ contract, which includes all services for planning, designing, constructing and commissioning of a project. In concert with our BIM Program, in Design-Build, Eduvisors brings the leadership and management to virtually build the project in design collaborating with all team members. This includes having 100% drawings completed as part of the design. Contracts are “for a fee” or ‘lump sum’.

We completely believe in ‘lean’. As budgets shrink and education institutions across K-12 and Higher Education consolidate resources, school owners and operators are looking for more ways to manage and control costs.

K-12 and Higher Education expertise of delivering turnkey solutions places Eduvisors uniquely amongst the disparate list of designers, contractors and school operators and some major benefits that our clients accrue include:

Cost Control

During the planning of a school project, cost estimating and scheduling are most critical functions. If not done right, the final design does exceed available funds, and completion misses critical deadlines. Accurate cost estimates do two things – eliminate budget surprises and validate project scope and schedule. Knowing what a planned project will cost to build requires historical cost data. Unlike many contractors that are new to the field of school construction, Eduvisors has a proprietary database containing detailed cost information on most recent school projects. We use this, in addition to the latest estimating software, to give our clients highly accurate cost estimates throughout the design process. Our extensive use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a critical factor in cost control. BIM replaces standard two-dimensional construction drawings with multi-dimensional computer models, letting the project team identify and resolve issues during design, instead of during construction, when they often add cost and extend the schedule.

Real Project Savings

Our pre-construction services are critical to making our client’s project a success. This team of skilled engineers answers critical questions and resolves important issues during the design phase and prior to the start of construction. It is during this phase that we can have the most significant impact on the cost, quality, and schedule of the project.

Schedule

We use our team’s knowledge of past school construction projects, together with advanced software programs, to produce “real life” schedules. While the project is under construction, we use the latest scheduling software to track progress against established milestones to assure timely completion. This assures that the project is completed prior to its planned occupancy date. We use a production management-based approach to project delivery, on our construction projects. Lean changes the way work is done throughout the delivery process by directly involving field personnel in the planning process. It not only assures timely project completion but minimises waste.

Collaboration

Involving all project stakeholders in a recursive interaction of knowledge ensures defined roles and accountability. Collaboration involving everyone associated with the project assures that all goals – big or small – are met. Eduvisors Planning System is the epitome of collaboration. With all stakeholders at the same level of understanding, the group decision process works effectively and promotes team building.

Experience

We have scheduled our personnel to transition seamlessly from the design phase to the construction phase, giving our clients the most comprehensive service available. Our hands – on approach to project delivery provides our clients with unsurpassed quality, timely completion, and value. Personnel is just one of the assets that differentiates us from our competition. We have a team of estimators, project managers, and engineers, and all come with extensive experience working in a collaborative K-12 and Higher Education construction environment.

Quality

A strong quality – control program differentiates us from any other firm with similar offering. Key components include knowing what to look for, paying attention to the details, and anticipating changes in order to deal with them before they become problems. Assignment of clear roles and responsibilities to individual project team members and trades produces greater efficiencies with predictable project results.

By promoting the design and construction of new green schools and by greening existing schools, we make a tremendous impact on student health, school operational costs and the environment.

Green schools are more than normal school buildings. They are places where children learn the wonders of the world and teachers prepare the next generation of leaders and citizens. These schools are built and operated to be full of clean air and sunlight and to be free of toxic materials and harmful chemicals.

Green schools are energy efficient, helping to lower utility costs, conserve resources and reduce waste. Green schools showcase a society’s commitment to its children and their future, who in turn, learn from an early age the importance and benefits of acting as responsible stewards of their communities and the larger world.

Our key focus on green school is on the following 6 identified areas:

1. 1. Sustainable Site
   2. Water Efficiency
   3. Energy and Atmosphere
   4. Materials and Resources
   5. Indoor Environment Quality and
   6. Innovation in Operations

Within the above areas, we consider the following broad goals to ensure green buildings – whether newly set-up or existing buildings:

• Conserves energy and natural resources
• Improves indoor air quality
• Removes toxic materials from places where children learn and play
• Employs day lighting strategies and improves classroom acoustics
• Employs sustainable purchasing and green cleaning practices
• Improves environmental literacy in students
• Decreases the burden on municipal water and wastewater treatment
• Encourages waste management efforts to benefit the local community and region
• Conserves fresh drinking water and helps harvest rainwater
• Encourages recycling
• Promotes habitat protection and
• Reduces demand on local landfills