One of our core values is creating lasting partnerships with our clients, subcontractors, and industry influencers. Value engineering is one way we establish trust and build relationships with our partners.
Check out the Q&A below with our CEO Jacy Daugherty, Vice President – Central Arkansas Trey Williams, and Project Manager Jennifer Rappold to learn more about how Buffalo Builders leans into value engineering throughout the phases of the construction process.
Left to Right: Jacy Daugherty, Trey Williams, Jennifer Rappold
Q: What is Value Engineering?
Jacy – Value Engineering is the process by which our project team analyzes alternative materials, construction methods, etc. to find construction cost savings without sacrificing performance.
Trey – It is our commitment to our clients to work with all the stakeholders on a project to create cost savings, sustainability incentives and/or sourcing alternatives that align with the client’s vision, budget, and schedule.
Q: As a general contractor, how do you create value engineering opportunities?
Trey – It’s our responsibility to create value from the beginning of the process. We want to be a part of the conceptual phase of the project to ensure all the key stakeholders are working towards the same goal. One way we do that is by working with clients, architects, and subcontractors through pre-design, schematic design and design development leading up to the building process.
Jennifer – If clients already have an approved design and budget, our team is skilled in finding solutions to keep the aesthetics and the performance of various items to find cost savings. We will work with architects and subs to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs. It’s our commitment to partnership that keeps us looking for ways to work within the parameters of approved designs and budgets.
Q: Does Value Engineering work for every type of project?
Trey – Value engineering is a big part of the multifamily sector of our business, especially in today’s market with constant price increases. Our clients want a product that meets their specifications, and they want the buildings to be designed to work to their proforma. We are always looking for ways to work with owners/developers, architects, and subcontractors to keep things within budget, on schedule, and within the design scope.
Jacy – Value engineering can be applied to any job large or small if there is a common goal of reducing the cost of construction. Of course, the larger the project the bigger the impact alternative materials or methods can have. When clients have a plan for future development projects, our experience in design-build allows us to lean into our subcontractor relationships to find cost savings throughout the building process.
Q: How does the team at Buffalo Builders excel in Value Engineering?
Jennifer – Everyone on our team understands all the moving parts of the process. Trey is great at Value Engineering for site work, and Shella and I find Value Engineering opportunities from the slab up. Ultimately, we want our clients to be on schedule and within budget, and we want all the stakeholders to succeed. It’s our commitment to creating lasting relationships, It’s just how we do business.
Jacy – Buffalo Builders thrives in creating a collaborative approach to projects where our team can be involved as early as possible. Often we can apply cost-saving measures during the design process eliminating the need for last-minute exercises to reduce project costs. Buffalo’s extensive reach in subcontractor and material vendor relationships always allows for consideration of alternative materials or trade contractors.
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