SDS offers comprehensive and integrated support services for all aspects of construction and real estate development. These include:

• General Contracting
• Project and Development Management
• Design Coordination
• Site Selection
• City, County, and State Permitting, Zoning and Land Use Analysis
• Environmental and Geotechnical Studies and Reports
• Asset and Risk Management Plans
• Consultant and Contractor Selection
• Bid Solicitation and Analysis
• Permit Applications and Approvals
• Construction Management
• FF&E Procurement and Installation
• Property Condition Assessment and Reports

Using a qualified and cost competitive team, we make every effort to ensure that the owner receives the highest possible quality product by the scheduled date. We manage each phase of development from start to finish. All of our services are provided with an emphasis on quality, productivity, innovation and technical excellence.  From full scope to a specific task, our services are provided with the understanding that our client comes first and deliverables are tailored to meet our client’s exact requirements

Architecture/Design

SDS manages and coordinates the design process on behalf of our clients. We focus on integrating construction realities into the design. In this way, scope, schedule, site logistics and budget remain tightly linked from start to finish. In addition to design activities, we perform constructability reviews for our projects. This proactive review of design documents for completeness, system function, construction logic, and material tolerances result in an uninterrupted construction process and reduced number of changes. Specialties include the planning and design of buildings with complex technical requirements.

Preconstruction

The success of our projects is rooted in our emphasis on preconstruction planning. The earlier the planning begins, the more opportunities there are for time and budget savings. Our project planning includes civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, systems control estimating, and value engineering in-house and outsourced. Our estimating approach reflects the maximum level of detail known about any component of the project and an understanding of how costs in one area affect the project as a whole. We create cost models to predict a building’s ultimate content in advance of completed construction drawings. Our modeling process combines information from past projects and proprietary data bases, in addition to project-specific information. This model serves as a check on the cost of the project as it progresses from schematics to design development to contract documents. Working from an extensive and continually updated database of costs, sorted by building type, project type and locality, we know what a specific project should cost in
a specific market.

We analyze all aspects of a project with a cross-disciplinary team that includes mechanical, electrical, building controls, and civil estimators that meet to discuss their findings. In this way, we know how choices in one area affect another, and can deliver a well-tested estimate. We continuously link scope and budget using our cost modeling process and monitor changes as design evolves.

We will assess construction documents for completeness, ability to achieve product quality, and construction logistics. We look at the details from a builder’s perspective, supporting, but not assuming, the duties of the designer. The result is an uninterrupted construction process and reduced number of changes.

General Contracting and Construction Management

Our construction management approach focuses on vigorously controlling scheduling, cost, quality, scope, and safety. Throughout the construction of a project, our integrated management system immediately and accurately assesses the project status and enforces contract compliance to minimize the owner’s risk.

We ensure that project objectives our realized through expert coordination. SDS has become synonymous with professionalism, quality and efficiency, and has earned a reputation for completing projects under significant time constraints. We have developed solid relationships with local trade contractors, consultants, and regulatory officials, which further aids us in efficiently delivering a project.

SDS becomes an integrated member of our client’s staff, communicating and orchestrating the entire construction process.   Our experienced professionals are proactive
problem-solvers who can lead the team, facilitate all phases of the process, and manage the cost and schedule as the project moves from planning to completion.

We understand the construction process and maintain the necessary controls required through the use of Action Agendas, RFI logs, Change Order and Submittal logs, Schedule Updates, and we review and coordinate the implementation of design changes and clarifications including ASK’s, SSK’s, ESK’s, MSK’s, and shop drawings. SDS provides accurate record keeping and comprehensive communication through the use of Daily Field and Monthly Status Reports, and OAC and contractor meetings. We establish the communication network between the Owner, the Design Team, Associations, and the Local Governmental Authorities.

Delivery Methods

The consideration of project variables such as scale, complexity, client experience with similar projects and client objectives drive the choice of project-delivery system. Delivery classifications are flexible and varied to accommodate special project needs.

We have substantial experience and success in the following delivery methods:

• General contracting: In this role, we hire and supervise trade contractors to achieve desired quality. We may self-perform portions of the work. Design / bid / build phases are typically sequential (rather than overlapping).  GC work is most often performed under a single, lump-sum construction contract based on completed design documents.
• Design / build: In this role, we manage design and construction as a single process. Design and construction schedules overlap, saving time. The final price is usually guaranteed and is commonly practiced where strict deadlines and budget constraints are paramount.
• Project management: In this role, we are responsible to the owner for the entire program, directing work from pre-design through post-construction. Feasibility studies, concept development, programming, design management, bid management, construction, management of FF&E procurement and installation, occupancy planning and facility management may all be included.
• Construction management: In this role, we provide pre-design and preconstruction planning (phased schedule, budget, bid / award), and field management. Depending upon the options our clients choose, we may hold trade contracts. Often these services are provided for multiple overlapping projects, an aggressive schedule, and where there is a need for full preconstruction services.