Looking to kick off a major commercial construction project—whether it’s a new office building, retail space, or large development? You require an individual to coordinate the intricacies, including where to source the subcontractors, the finances and the quality requirements. That’s where a commercial general contractor (GC) comes in. They are directly in charge of everything that happens in the course of the project with the aim of delivering the project on time, within the agreed budget and to the standard required on safety and quality.
In this blog, let us discuss the functionality of a commercial general contractor in construction management and why it is crucial to have one in the team.
What is a Commercial General Contractor?
A commercial general contractor is responsible for managing and overseeing a construction project from start to finish. Their responsibilities are to organize the works, coordinate with the subcontractors, schedule the work and specify that all works must be in accordance with building codes and ordinances. They operate as the major channel of communication between the client and all other players in the construction process such as architects, engineers, sub-contractors and suppliers.
On average, commercial construction projects are relatively larger and complex as compared to residential construction projects and hence need management and coordination. For any construction project whether it is offices, malls, factories or schools, the role that the GC plays is central to success in such a project.
Role of a Commercial General Contractor in Construction Management
Understanding the pivotal responsibilities of a commercial general contractor can illuminate their significance in the construction management process. Here are the key roles they play:
1. Project Planning and Preconstruction
Even though the construction phase is where the general contractor really comes into his own, he has important responsibilities during the planning and preconstruction phases of the project, too. They work closely with architects and engineers to create a detailed project plan. Specific elements are the work breakdown structure, project schedules, approximate cost, and strategies for achieving project objectives.
In this phase, GCs participate through value engineering, which is the effort to identify ways of reducing the cost of designs without necessarily reducing the quality standards. They also make sure that all the required permits and approvals are acquired before the project starts.
2. Project Management and Coordination
The GC assumes the role of the project manager and is responsible for the construction process of a project. They develop a project schedule, track the project’s progress and confirm that all the activities have been accomplished on time. They must act as managers of the other subcontractors, for example, the plumbers, electricians and specialists in concrete work. These are individual specialists working on the construction project, and the GC is supposed to coordinate them and make sure that all of them are doing that part of the construction that they are supposed to do.
Subcontractor control is an important part that influences the project’s schedule, budget and quality. The general contractor’s capacity to organize relationships and coordinate timely delivery of services is conditional on the project’s success.
3. Procurement and Material Management
Another critical duty of a GC is getting the supplies needed for construction through what is referred to as procurement. This involves the processes of contract-making with suppliers, checking on the quality of materials to be used and the arrival of materials at the construction site. The timely and efficient management of materials is of much importance since it determines the overall duration of the project as well as the cost of the project.
While in commercial projects, where it’s common to order large portions of material, the delay in ordering could be very costly. The GC’s knowledge of the situation in this area makes the processes run without a hitch and minimizes the time spent on it.
4. On-Site Supervision
The general contractor supervises the project on-site with a view to supervising the workers’ and subcontractors’ activities. Their presence helps to ensure that the work is being done as per the project plan and that if there are problems or disputes, these can be sorted out immediately. This supervision is mainly important in ensuring that workers work as expected and that the work produced is of the right quality.
Also the GC is responsible for observing the building area regarding safety requirements. Building projects involve potential risks, particularly in big construction projects, and the general contractor will see that on the project site, safety measures are adhered to. Namely, these practices consist of implementing and executing governmental and organizational rules and maintaining a proper frequency of safety meetings with the specified focus on ways of preventing various threats, as well as training the staff in order to be ready for any emergencies.
5. Quality Control and Assurance
Ensuring quality control can also be regarded as one of the essential tasks of a GC, which has to control the whole construction process. The general contractor then guarantees that all work is standard and up to the requirement of the general plan of the project. Routine checkups are performed to ensure that no defects are seen and they are corrected as soon as possible.
Adhering to the quality standards keeps away future complications and delivers a deserved quality building to the client.
6. Budget and Cost Management
The general contractor has the responsibility of cost control in any project, including the aspect of the budget. They are prepared during the planning stage and are kept under check throughout the working process of a project. Limiting the expenses is important for both the satisfied client and the successful completion of the project, and GCs are good at it while taking into consideration the costs.
They also have to look for means of minimizing expenses with regard to labor and materials utilized in the construction project. Their capacity to follow the financial aspect makes it possible for the project to remain financially sustainable right from the onset to the end.
7. Client Communication and Reporting
The GC is mainly responsible for liaising with the client and the team of constructors. They report the status of the work done by the project, the problems encountered by the project, and the ways through which such issues can be solved. This clear communication is important to understand and to know the side of the client in order to avoid unpleasant surprises on the way.
General contractors also have the task of keeping the client involved and informed all the time in the entire project. Such interaction is reciprocating and assists the project in being in sync with the client’s expectations in order to provide the best results.
The Importance of a Commercial General Contractor in Construction Management
The general contractor is a very important team player who ensures that a construction project is properly coordinated, well timed and on schedule. Without their leadership, it would be difficult, almost impossible, to make arrangements for the different subcontractors, plan the work and stick to the time cost and safety lines.
Some key reasons why a commercial general contractor is essential to construction management include:
- Project Efficiency: In this manner, GCs control the process and guarantee that work is performed as per schedule and is not protracted.
- Cost Control: Their experience with budgeting and purchasing capabilities is useful to control project costs.
- Safety Assurance: GCs implement safety standards and measures to be followed by the workers together with safety concerns in the execution of their duties.
- Quality Delivery: They keep close checks on the workers and conduct stringent inspections on the quality and workmanship displayed.
- Client Satisfaction: By proper communication and project management, the GC makes sure that the vision of the client is achieved making the project a success.
Final Words
The role of a commercial general contractor in construction management is indispensable. They manage the project and its implementation by managing the resources, planning works, purchasing, supervision construction work and ensuring quality. By so doing, their knowledge and experience will guarantee the project delivers its objectives within the time frame, cost wisely and above all; safe and quality-driven.
In any commercial construction project, there is always a dire need to ensure that you have hired the right general contractor who is capable of seeing the project through to its completion. A good example of this is Blackstone Corporation which provides professional general contracting services for buildings with the promise of delivering professional standards in every phase of construction.