Our Services
We strive to exceed the expectations of our clients by balancing user needs, budget requirements, time constraints, and building regulations.
Constructability Reviews
Our constructability review process focuses on supporting the design team to ensure the documents are complete, properly coordinated with the planned procurement and execution of the project and sufficiently detailed as contractors are certain of the designer’s intent. This is a continuous process that starts early in design when it is easiest to make document changes without disruption. KAS draws upon the resources and experiences of our team to complete the constructability reviews.
Our goal matches with the goal of the design team, to present to the contracting community the most complete and biddable set of documents as possible. By accomplishing this goal as a team, we take a major step to producing the very best building at the lowest possible cost. We understand it is the architect’s role to design to meet applicable codes; however, we also provide input on code issues during constructability review. Successful constructability reviews not only reduce change orders, but result in lower initial bids
Design Cost Management (DCM)
DCM or Design Cost Management is a proactive collaborative process between the Owner, A/E firm, builders, suppliers, market conditions, and the estimator. The design is based on a detailed estimate and fixed budget. There are no cost overruns or contingencies in the design/build process. Checks and balances are utilized to maintain the owner’s budget. The process is designed to reduce rework and waste.
These processes improve on Lean Construction practices. The Owner’s Cost ≥ Expected Cost ≥ Target Cost. Therefore, the owner’s budget is never exceeded.
Estimating Components
Construction Reviews
- Preview the documents, drawings, and related data to incorporate changes and minimize cost increases
- Overview of materials at mid-design to flag construction and design conflicts
- Review final materials for constructability issues
Value Engineering (VE)
- Increase the value of goods or services by evaluating their related functions
- Utilize the cost of function ratio to improve or reduce cost
- Recommend steps to maintain cost-effective VE procedures and processes
Client Interface
- Project specific information
- Schedule sensitivity
- Client estimate formatting
- Detailed cost estimates/reports
Software
- Microsoft TM Excel spreadsheets
- “On-Screen Takeoff”
- Vertigraph’s “BidscreenXL” takeoff
- GTCO digitizers
- WinEX cut & fill software
- Autodesk QTO 2010 for BI modeling
Cost Data
- Criteria and bid results that reflect industry trends
- Actual cost and project variances
- Local Labor rates
- Local Vendor quotes
- Local Contractor project or manpower projections
- Local Regional modifiers
Estimating Process
The estimating process is a specialized and critical component of any project.
Every project team balances four primary competing priorities:
- User Needs
- Budget
- Time Constraints
- Building Regulations
We present cost information that supports the team throughout:
- Client Interface
- Project Scope
- Phase Estimates
- Post Construction
Estimating Phases
KAS prepares detailed line item estimates involving civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades. Our estimate formats are designed specifically to your requirements, utilizing CSI, Masterformat, or Uniformat component sorts.
Our estimators have 35+ years of experience preparing construction estimates.
Programming and Conceptual Estimates
This estimate establishes the owner’s project budget. It is based on the project program and desired quality levels to be achieved a program budget. Pricing is usually parametric and based on a combination of historical cost data, site visits, and interviews with user groups, architects, engineers, and facility managers. Once in the conceptual phase, the estimate will be prepared in a Uniformat method and compared to the conceptual estimate. This becomes the basis for the design and program Budget.
Schematic Design Estimates
This estimate is used to verify the established budget and to identify areas that need to adjust to satisfy budget requirements in the conceptual estimate. It is based on macro-scale systems takeoffs from rough system layouts to the schematic documents, prepared utilizing these measurements, and pricing of parametric quantities. This estimate will be prepared in wither CSI of Uniformat and compared to the conceptual estimate. At this early phase in the project we would recommend to use of the uniformat method of estimating since the team can develop budgets and track progress by building components. This becomes the basis for the design.
Design Development Cost Estimates
This estimate further verifies the design versus budget costs for the project. It is based on takeoffs of the systems, material supplier pricing, and completed development drawings, and the outline specifications for the work. These estimates will be prepared in either CSI or Uniformat and schematic design estimate.
Construction Documents Cost Estimates
This estimate provides a cost of what the expected bids should be. Based upon the working drawings and final specifications of the 100% completion stage, a final estimate is prepared. This estimate will be based on the measurement and pricing of quantities. These estimates will be prepared in either CSI or Uniformat for comparison, to evaluate the bids received, enable a comparison with previous estimates and to establish budget.