(10-16-2017 12:11 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(10-13-2017 06:33 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-13-2017 02:28 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(10-13-2017 02:14 PM)Dukie95 Wrote:  

(10-13-2017 02:14 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  Was that stated as fact? (or rumor) I thought JMU was working with Skanska.

Yes, Ballard got a shout-out in the presentation. Their first JMU project.

Thanks, found this...https://pilotonline.com/sports/basketball/virginia-beach-companies-will-design-and-build-a-new-million/article_c76227a2-c53c-563d-8483-801b1f8bfb52.html

Hmmm....award the construction contract before the design is even complete. That's not going to sit well with some of the other contractors that JMU has a relationship with.

It's a common practice today. It's called "design build"...in essence your building while the finished design is being completed. As non-logical as it sounds, it supposedly saves money.

I'm in the business and know what "design build" is. I'm also aware of "fast track" construction. It CAN save money but it's not unusual to see significant cost over-runs. My "hmmmm...." comes from:

1) This isn't design build, Moseley and Populas are the Architects, other firm is providing the construction management for JMU. (can't recall who)
2) Even when a "negotiated contract" is awarded for a project, there is still some type of bidding process based on plans that are usually well along. Maybe the design is a lot father along that what I had thought.

Don't get me wrong, S.B. Bollard is a good company and great choice. I'm just a little surprised that they announced so soon, especially since there are other qualified GC's in Virginia and JMU has long term relationship with some of them.

My guess would be that it's going to be a cost/plus kind of deal and they are going to fast track it. Meaning parts of the work will start before the next part of the work is designed. (ie the foundation gets built before the roof is designed) This certainly has advantages but also comes with some financial risk for the Owner, building before you know the actual cost.

Anyway...this isn't JMU's first rodeo and some pretty exciting stuff for JMU.

It's not a "cost plus" deal...and if you're in the business as you claim, then you should know how a design build project works, and that's exactly the process by which JMU handle's projects of this scale to "fast track" construction as you put it. Rarely (so rarely it's almost safe to say "never") do government projects of this size today have some sort of fixed-bid price set before construction starts. It's not a custom house that's being built.

The designer is Populous...nitty gritty architectural details are going to be worked out by Moseley, who will work with Ballard to save money where they can, while minimizing change orders and expediting construction. Time is money, and labor and material costs are going up. Every day a project might wait around on a bid to be submitted would be money wasted, and a fixed-bid contract puts control of the finished product in the hands of a contractor whose first interest will (naturally) be to maximize their company's profit (perhaps working to the detriment of the owner/client's wishes). "Cost plus" isn't much better. Ballard also built the Ted as I'm told, and I think that experience played a major part in their selection.