How Commercial Construction Management Keeps Restaurant and Retail Projects Moving

Key takeaways:

• Commercial construction projects can be extremely complex because they involve the input and work of numerous people.
• Commercial construction management helps keep projects organized, from the initial planning stages all the way through closeout.
• Strong coordination is instrumental in preventing delays caused by subcontractor conflicts, unclear scope, missed inspections, or poor communication.
• Restaurant and retail projects benefit from experienced project management because they involve specialized vendors, equipment, code requirements, and opening deadlines. 

Commercial Projects Need More Than Construction Labor

Even small stores and restaurants require a ton of work to go from the first designs to the finished product. Not only are there many moving parts; quite a few people are involved. In addition to owners, this includes designers, vendors, subcontractors, inspectors, and property managers.

And what happens when there’s not one central process for managing communication, scope, scheduling, and approvals? Usually costly delays.

Commercial construction management, along with a strong commercial construction project manager, keeps complex projects organized from pre-construction through closeout.

What Does Commercial Construction Management Include?

Commercial construction management involves the overseeing of all facets of a building project. The areas it covers include:

• Planning
• Budgeting
• Scheduling
• Subcontractor coordination
• Documentation
• Inspections
• Owner communication

Construction project management services help owners avoid confusion; exactly who is responsible for what is spelled out early on.

Why Restaurant and Retail Projects Need Stronger Coordination

Both restaurants and retail stores have their own unique requirements. With restaurants, you will need to put in kitchen equipment, ventilation, and plumbing, and everything is subject to compliance with both the health department and fire safety guidelines. Retail projects require layout planning, fixtures, lighting, signage, POS infrastructure, and landlord coordination.

A commercial construction project manager is the one responsible for aligning all trades and ensuring that everything stays on track. They do this through:

• Extensive planning
• Securing the right permits
• Conducting site inspections
• Tracking workflows
• Setting deadlines

Managing the Construction Schedule Before Delays Start

To help ensure a project is completed on time, precise scheduling is vital. Schedules need to be built around permitting, material lead times, subcontractor availability, inspections, and opening deadlines.

They also need to be proactive, identifying conflicts before they can slow a project down. One key component of commercial construction management is properly sequencing the various trades so that work is not duplicated or delayed.

Coordinating Subcontractors, Vendors, and Inspectors

Task order is everything on any construction project. The right tradespeople must work in the right order, including:

• Electricians
• Plumbers
• HVAC teams
• Millwork vendors
• Equipment installers
• Inspectors

Poor coordination results in bottlenecks, missed inspections, rework, and related issues. This is why one of the most important construction project management responsibilities is keeping everyone aligned.

Keeping Scope, Budget, and Change Orders Under Control

Another crucial element of commercial construction management is scope management, which is focused on ensuring that all tasks are completed on time by documenting all required work. When scope is unclear, it can lead to change orders and budget creep, along with owner frustration. 

What to Know About Value Engineering

Because construction expenses can be quite high, it is always a smart idea to figure out ways to reduce them. Value engineering is a method for controlling costs without sacrificing quality or function.

This is the process of analyzing things like materials and processes to find less expensive alternatives. It’s not just about choosing cheaper options, though; value engineering can identify substitutes that are equal or better for improved long-term value.

Communication and Documentation Throughout the Project

During the course of a construction project, changes can happen fast, which is why everything has to be documented precisely. This needs to include:

• Project updates
• Meeting notes
• Approvals
• RFIs
• Submittals
• Inspection documentation

Documentation is essential for protecting a project when questions arise or changes occur. Ensuring that communication is organized is another crucial component of construction project management services, enabling owners are able to make decisions faster.

Closeout: Getting From Finished Work to Opening Day

Every store or restaurant owner dreams of the day when construction is completed. But just because a building is finished doesn’t mean it’s ready yet; there is still the closeout process to consider. This must include: 

• Punch lists
• Final inspections
• Documentation
• Occupancy approvals
• Turnover

Restaurant and retail projects need clean closeouts to meet opening deadlines. Commercial construction project managers can ensure the closeout process is smooth by:

• Ensuring that all work is completed
• Managing inspections
• Collecting all necessary documents
• Coordinating training with staff
• Approving final invoices

Better Management Means Fewer Surprises

It’s stressful enough putting a lot of time and energy (not to mention, money) into a construction project even without surprises. This is the crux of commercial construction management: its goal is to support an entire project from beginning to end, including scope, scheduling, subcontractors, budget, documentation, inspections, and closeout.

It is inevitable that issues will arise, but strong coordination from a commercial construction project manager will help prevent them from turning into big problems that lead to expensive delays. 

Find a Commercial Construction Management Expert

Commercial construction projects need steady coordination from planning through closeout. For nearly 40 years, RPC General Contractors has helped owners of restaurants, retail stores, and other commercial properties keep projects organized and moving forward.

Planning a commercial construction project? Contact RPC to learn how our team can support it.