Pictured above: Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney talks with a crowd prior to walking the Hull Street School construction site earlier this summer.
Shockey brings a deep well of construction expertise and a can-do attitude to every project. Yet, what truly sets us apart is our collaborative approach to finding the absolute best value for our clients. It’s one reason why Shockey excels with the Construction Manager at Risk (CM@R) project delivery method.
What is CM@R?
Compared to the traditional design-bid-build process, CM@R entails a commitment by a prequalified construction manager to deliver a building project with open book pricing, at a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). With the CM@R delivery method, the owner chooses the construction manager based on qualifications, expertise, and best value—rather than simply accepting the lowest bid.
The construction manager may be selected at any time prior to bidding, but is often engaged prior to the preconstruction phase when projects guidelines and design strategies are still being developed.
What are the primary advantages of CM@R?
- CM is selected based on qualifications
- Open book on costs
- Flexibility to price projects
- CM@R reduces the time to completion of a construction project (enabling speed to market).
- Once the CM@R contract is executed, the liability rests with the construction manager. The owner will not pay more than the GMP submitted by the CM@R.
What does CM@R look like in action?
When Shockey acts as your CM@R, we function as your consultant during the preconstruction phase. We take on the budget risk, advocate for the owner, and provide nonstop advisory project management—all for a guaranteed maximum price. We are responsible for timely completion of the project and we hold the risk of cost overruns associated with the contractual scope of work.
Shockey has served as construction manager on several recent projects for the City of Richmond. In fact, the first school Shockey built in Richmond was delivered under a CM@R contract in 2019. The Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, which won a Gold Design Award from the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA), was hailed as “an architectural marvel” by the Richmond Times Dispatch. Shockey was subsequently hired to build the new 170,000 SF Hull Street Middle School, which is scheduled for completion in August 2020. As construction manager for the project, Shockey is responsible for both preconstruction and construction of the $56 million new school. Designed by RRMM Architects, Hull Street Middle School should accommodate 1,400 students for classes. It will include community green spaces and be LEED Silver Certified, with energy efficient features.
“Shockey’s strong relationships with repeat clients like the City of Richmond are a sign that we’re managing our projects well, earning trust, and providing strong value in the construction manager at risk arena,” says Jeff Boehm, President.
Choosing the appropriate project delivery method can set the stage for a project’s success or failure. Shockey’s reputation, earned one project at a time, is for applying our deep knowledge of construction to deliver excellent value and high-quality craftsmanship, all with unbeatable integrity.
If you’d like to explore how a CM@R delivery system might benefit your next project, contact Colleen Smith at csmith@howardshockey.com.