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Growing up, Matt Ventimiglia always wanted to be an architect, but he also wanted to build.
His initial plan was to earn a bachelor’s degree in construction management and a degree in architecture, but along the way he fell in love with the construction process and its team-centered approach.
Since graduating from Indiana University in Indianapolis with a degree in construction technology, he has spent 20 years in construction, including the past four years at Concord, Calif.-based Swinerton, where he became principal of pre-construction two years ago.
He told Construction Dive that his job puts him at the intersection of construction and design, because he works with architects and engineers to help clients realize their vision. Here, Ventimiglia talks to Construction Dive about technology, challenges and why he doesn’t like the term “freecon.”
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
CONSTRUCTION Immersion: What are the main things you focus on as a pre-construction manager?
MATT VENTIMIGLIA: In my current role, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, I do a lot of listening. I listen to clients, architects and my team. Listening helps me see the big picture and gain a clear understanding of the client’s needs and wants, the architect’s design intent, and the potential challenges my team faces.
I’m also a big believer in continuous improvement rather than adopting new tools and processes. I find it’s small changes and tweaks to processes that really increase our efficiency in everything we do. I am constantly looking for opportunities to improve and exceed our customers’ expectations, both by watching and listening to my team.
How does technology come into play in the field of preconstruction?
While technology is a valuable tool, it cannot replace an estimator’s experience and skill set in providing a solid quote to a client. That said, our pre-construction team is moving forward with the technologies we use. While we use several standard preconstruction tools, including BuildingConnected, Onscreen’s Onscreen Takeoff, Bluebeam, and Microsoft Excel, we’re also using more advanced technology that takes our preconstruction services to the next level, such as Destini Estimator, JOIN, and Revit.
The future of estimating and preconstruction depends on our ability to interpret an architect’s model to verify completeness and sometimes develop the model. We are already starting to extract information from the models to better understand project costs, schedule, phasing and logistics. We can also compare different design milestone models to quickly identify changes in designs and adjust budgets and schedules accordingly.
Why is preconstruction important, especially in the face of rising costs and supply chain issues?
A strong pre-construction team is vital to the success and outcome of every project. The sooner a client introduces a general contractor to the project team to provide preconstruction services, the more accurate the project schedule, budget, and overall project quality. In the rapidly changing environment we find ourselves in today, this is vitally important to project success.
Many people think of preconstruction as simply providing a quote to a client upon completion of a design milestone. However, preconstruction is much more.
It includes understanding the client’s needs and desires, working with the architect and his consultants, managing the design to meet the client’s budget, managing the design schedule, evaluating proposed means and methods, evaluating long-term materials, analyzing the constructability of the design and making recommendations to improve efficiency and quality while maintaining the client’s construction goals.
What challenges are you facing this year?
Project start dates have been pushed back more than usual as higher interest rates make proformas and financing more difficult to obtain.
Demand from trading partners and material suppliers in recent years has resulted in increased tariffs, labor rates and material costs, ultimately putting the industry on edge. Only now are trading partners beginning to see and feel a potential slowdown in the sector. Prices are starting to level out and allow some deals to move forward. That said, select materials manufacturers have also warned us of upcoming price increases.
Labor shortages remain a challenge. Business partners are not yet able to find people to support the backlog. Swinerton is working to mitigate this challenge through several workforce development initiatives, including a drywall apprenticeship program and a foreman development series.
Our team makes everything we can, from drywall to specialty to doors, frames, hardware and beyond, so we can have maximum control over quality and schedule.
What else should AEC professionals know about preconstruction?
I have found that in the Southeast the construction industry has coined pre-construction as “freecon”. Traditionally, this “freecon” only includes estimation services at various design milestones. Estimating is only a very small part of what should be included in pre-construction services and more than likely why these pre-construction services that should be called estimating services, have been free.
Swinerton is working to change the way the industry perceives preconstruction services. True pre-construction service offerings manage the news, while “freecon” services simply report it without influence or control. Pre-construction is a vital service that includes planning, budgeting, option cost analysis, scheduling, logistics and phasing and review of material delivery times. This is a valuable set of services that repeatedly saves time and money on the project and is therefore a smart investment on the part of the client.
