Constructability Improvement During Conceptual Planning, Version 1.1

Constructability involves thinking about how to build a project even before it is designed. Maximum benefits occur when people with construction knowledge and experience become involved at the very beginning of a project. Three constructability issues that have the greatest impact during the conceptual planning phase of a project are the project plan, the site plan, and major construction methods.

In addition, industry tends to separate the functions of design and construction in capital projects. Design tends to place emphasis on minimizing its costs. Construction focuses on minimizing field costs. Fine-tuning the individual parts, however, does not yield the most successful project. Constructability integrates these parts and is one of the most powerful tools owners can use on capital projects. (SD-4, p. ii)

Selecting the contractual approach is a critical decision in constructability improvement. Implementing constructability is easiest on turnkey type projects; it is much more difficult on projects where design and construction are accomplished by distinct and separate contracts. Options to achieving constructability improvements to various contractual approaches, including the use of a construction manager in traditional design/bid/build project delivery systems, are outlined in the research. (SD-4, p. 57)