This is the fourth in a multi-article series examining how the Design Assist approach adds value to the benefits of Off-Site Construction.
As the construction industry continues to embrace Off-Site Construction (OSC), the next logical question becomes, “how do we maximize all the possible benefits that OSC brings to our project?” The Epsilon team has consistently seen significant advantages when clients utilize our team in a Design Assist approach. We’ve highlighted the top six advantages most commonly referenced by the clients and project teams we work with.
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Helps owners get what they want
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Reduces burden on the AE
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Accelerates system optimization
Helps Owners Get What They Want
In theory, every construction team sets out to deliver to owners what they want from a project. In reality, that goal is rarely 100% accomplished, in large part due to a traditionally opaque decision-making process. This is particularly true when it comes to equipment selections, often driven by sub-trades with agendas and priorities that rarely align with those of the owner.
One inherent advantage of the Design Assist approach is the transparency that is baked into the process through having owners, key stakeholders, and subject-matter experts (SMEs) involved early as a team. This environment establishes key owner goals – whether it’s financial (ex: life cycle cost thresholds) or more qualitative (ex: preferred/required vendors for major equipment) – and then enables accountability to those goals through an open-book, data-driven process of design and cost analysis.
We find that insights from the right SMEs are critical to ensuring the end project achieves as many of the owner’s goals as possible. That happens with Design Assist because SMEs are equipped to ask questions, offer suggestions, and make recommendations that most owners and project teams wouldn’t necessarily have the specific experience to consider. And these same SMEs then execute on the decisions necessary to drive successful outcomes – whether it’s configuring a system to achieve a certain level of energy efficiency, or creating a layout that is optimized for a particular equipment manufacturer. If you aren’t building central utility plants or similar specialized, complex systems on a regular basis, your team simply won’t know all the questions to ask.
The Design Assist approach shines a light on any gaps in knowledge or experience early in the process and then fills those voids – ensuring the project scope and end result meet the original intent, giving the owner what they want. Through Design Assist methodologies, that end goal is reached with fewer change orders and more accurate costs and timelines as well.
At Epsilon, we believe that owners should get the results they want. The Design Assist approach helps everyone involved more easily achieve that objective. Contact Epsilon today to learn more about our Design Assist approach for your central utility system project.
