By Wayne T. Hudson, LEED AP
As a facilities management expert, you have many responsibilities and your main focus is and should be the outcome of a construction project — the building.
Therefore, dealing with the details of the construction process, such as managing an energy performance improvement project — from soliciting bids and managing contractors, to analyzing and approving change orders, formulating budgets etc. — may not be the highest and best use of your skills. At times like these, you need the services of an experienced green construction management professional who will assist you during each phase.
Get a Rep
Specifically, what you need is an owner’s representative, typically an individual or third party who is hired by a building’s owner or property manager to represent them during selection, design, and construction of a building site.
A skilled owner’s rep can serve as a project manager and take charge of every step of the process, from organizing the bidding and recommending a contractor, to assembling design and construction teams, to compiling accurate budgets and offering objective advice for decision-making, to overseeing the commissioning of the new building or space, and organizing the occupancy transition from contractor to user.
In essence, an owner’s rep can provide the continuity required to successfully bring an energy performance improvement project from concept to execution, allowing you to realize a better space and achieve a more rapid payback on energy savings.
For additional information about hiring an owner’s representative, contact us.