Making Good Choices in School and Municipal Design and Construction
by Nancy Greenwald and Bob Margolis
Whether your community is in need of a school, town hall, community center, public safety complex, or smaller projects, design and construction is a complicated process that involves far more than simply building something. Buildings can define the landscape of a town, and municipal construction can be a particularly complex process. There are multiple stakeholders involved in the process and thousands of taxpayers in the community, many of whom will be outspoken regarding the success or (perceived) failure of the project. Municipal buildings need to be healthy, safe, technologically advanced, and, at the same time, adaptable to changing needs and uses. Not only is the design and construction process complex, municipal construction is also a major investment for any community. Meeting the design and construction needs while working with multiple boards, commissions, officials, politicians, and the public at large takes a very special team.
The mindset of the team needs to be project focused and collaborative from the outset, with the understanding that the measure of project success does not end when the building doors open. Approximately 75% to 80% of the cost of a building is in the maintenance and operation of a building over time. A short-term savings in construction can result in increased costs over the life of the building.
The Construction Institute, a neutral, nonprofit association, is dedicating time and expertise to the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. We have developed a presentation to give decision-makers the information they need to create a road map through the planning, design, and construction process and to help make their construction projects successful by any measure. We’ll cover everything from identifying project priorities to the actual construction (which is usually the easy part!). Our panel of experts will be representative of the owner, the design team, and the construction team. Our panel will help to break down the complexities of municipal construction so that it’s at least less daunting and better understood.
The program, “Municipal Construction Guide,” will be presented at the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities’ Annual Conference, November 15, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at Foxwoods Resort.
Nancy Greenwald
Bob Margolis
Nancy Greenwald is the director of the Construction Institute; Bob Margolis is the director of business development at STV | DPM.
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The Construction Institute/University of Hartford is a non-profit, non-partisan association of diverse professionals working to improve the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry. Our mission is to promote cross-industry collaboration. Our members include owners, architects, engineers, constructors, building owners, facilities managers, and the many providers who support this core group. The Construction Institute is known for its dedicated and engaged membership, its high quality Programs, including the annual Visionaries Program, its practical Professional Education Workshops taught by experienced professionals, and meaningful opportunities for connecting with other dedicated industry professionals through committee work, speaking and writing opportunities, and networking through committee work and social events.
