The stakes have always been high in the dynamic world of energy and infrastructure construction, but there is no doubt the pandemic accelerated issues around cost, access to skilled labour, and scheduling. Lauren Services’ deep experience as an interdisciplinary project delivery provider has brought significant benefits to their client, that can be fully realized with the offering of highly skilled construction management services.    

Construction management involves overseeing and coordinating various aspects of the project to ensure its safe and successful completion – zero injuries, on time, and on budget. But there’s so much more to this integral function. Today’s energy and infrastructure projects are complex and involve multiple phases, disciplines, and stakeholders. At Lauren, they have worked within every project delivery scenario imaginable, however have produced the greatest client benefits through their in-house construction management expertise. When Lauren is procured for truly integrated EPCM services, their clients know and trust that they are tied directly to the constructability of their design.

As a recent example of the value of integrating construction management services, Lauren is proud to have collaborated with their clients at Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd. on a critical infrastructure project. This is an example where they provided full project management, cost control, construction management and contract management services for a glycol rail unloading expansion. Lauren’s team was tasked with bringing this complex project to completion and in service on time and on budget, which was achieved thanks to the integrated approach that will be discussed here in more detail. 

In Lauren’s view, there are obvious and less obvious benefits to integrating construction management services. The obvious benefits include:

Project Planning Expertise:

Lauren’s construction management team lead brings over 35 years of experience across almost every aspect of energy project development and construction, providing an invaluable insider view on what is required to develop a realistic and comprehensive project plan outlining scope, schedule, budget, and resources. Their construction management team brings together a diverse and experienced group, as well as access to a wide network of qualified specialists. The ability to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks sets the project off to a solid start before any ground is broken or resources deployed.

Safety:

Always job number one, a seasoned construction manager has worked firsthand on-site and understands the on-the-ground realities trades and disciplines faced day to day. This experience, combined with specialized safety training and regular safety audits, goes a long way in protecting the most valuable resource on any project: people.

Regulatory Compliance:

Again, this is where experience leading the development of complex, high-value projects will save both cost and time. The project manager acts as the client representative in navigating and fulfilling all levels of regulatory compliance. They work directly with the construction manager and their trusted team handles every aspect, from obtaining the necessary permits and approvals from regulatory authorities, to dealing with a wide variety of inspectors.

Contract Management:

Awarding and managing contracts with contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers requires seasoned negotiating skills along with the respect of those parties and vendors under management. Managing contract compliance and change management is a crucial and often sensitive aspect of the construction management discipline (see Lauren’s point below on the power of relationships).

Budgeting and Cost Control:

Significant and ongoing change orders and creeping cost overruns can quickly put a project into the red. In Lauren’s case, their construction management team works closely with the stakeholders to develop, control, and manage project budgets and the change management process. This includes cost control measures and an on-the-ground sightline to the realities of what is required to move the project forward. There is inherently increased objectivity and reduced conflict of interest when the project manager, contract manager, construction manager and project controller work together as a construction management team aligned on key drivers, requirements, and goals of the stakeholders. 

Scheduling:

One part experience, one part science, and one part art. The detailed project schedule sets out the critical path, and rigorous oversight ensures key milestones are met and any roadblocks to progress are identified and dealt with proactively. Lauren’s ability to see the complex linkages and understand all the project tasks allows them to ensure the entire project team is working in sync. Critical milestones are identified, and the project team works as a unit to make the milestones. This allows for a project schedule that gives its stakeholders confidence. 

Quality Control:

Following safety, quality is a top priority. The construction manager brings with them a proven framework for implementing and managing QC, and this includes access to highly skilled specialists and the latest technologies required to monitor, inspect, and prescribe solutions to meet all pre-determined standards.

Under the direction of project management, other key services can include:

• Procurement, vendor, and supply chain management
• Land, Regulatory and Environmental management
• Commissioning

These may be the so-called table stakes in the provision of effective construction management, but Lauren has discovered – and their clients have directly gained from – a host of perhaps less tangible benefits. 

Relationships:

Enough cannot be said about the value a well-connected and well-respected construction management team brings to the table. Access to the best skilled trades and disciplines means the client gets the right team for the job, every time, reducing the risks that come with unproven resources. Morale on a job site is worthy of its own article, however, they have found this is a change-maker when it comes to teams getting and staying motivated, knowing they are looked after and their safety is a priority, and having someone in the lead who has been in their shoes. While COVID accelerated costs and scheduling issues, the issue of skilled labour shortages has been widely discussed within Lauren’s industry. Their clients can rest easy knowing that Lauren's construction management lead is continually training and developing the next generation.  

Constructability:

Where form and function meet. This was mentioned above, however, it deserves to be underlined: the integrated construction management team is fundamentally set up to identify and mitigate any issues that arise between the design and real-world constructability. This saves time, money, and a lot of needless stress and frustration between parties.    

Real-time Reporting:
Construction management integration with project management and controls facilitates real-time reporting and analytics capabilities, providing valuable insights into project performance. Through data-driven decision-making, project teams can identify trends, forecasts, optimize processes, and make informed adjustments to enhance overall project efficiency.

Faced with today’s challenging environment in terms of managing project costs and ensuring reliable access to specialized labour (not to mention working in hard-to-reach locations), engaging specialized construction management services within the EPCM project delivery model is a winning strategy for the client and project owner.

(Fletcher Evans, P. Eng., PMP is Vice President, Project Execution, at Lauren Services. Fletcher has more than 20 years of experience as a Project Manager and Engineer in industrial facilities and pipelines and pipeline related facilities. Dave Riddell is Construction Management lead at Lauren Services and brings almost three decades of experience managing complex energy and infrastructure projects. From offices in Vancouver, Kelowna, and Calgary, the Lauren team delivers dynamic performance and intelligent design across the entire suite of engineering services to an incredibly diverse client base.)