My estimating background has trained me to look for indicators that will predict the future cost for the design and construction of a construction project. Over the 50 plus years in the construction business, I have researched those trends and have developed leading indicators that have proven to be useful tools. In the 1980’s, I found understanding the cost of 30-key material and labor costs enabled our adjusting a local data basis of construction costs.  This process enabled my firm to adjust local data basis’s around the world and successfully and accurately forecast project constructi ..read more

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the second quarter inflation was at a forty-year high of 5.4%.  The core consumer price increase was 8.3% (excluding food and energy). To the Construction industry, Inflation is a four-letter word.  Until recently, this word had slipped out of the construction vocabulary.  Currently, the Construction Market is in turmoil.  Contractors have been sharing with us their challenges to holding prices steady and shortages of materials and products which are affecting projects.  Labor rates will be the next challenge to be faced ..read more

In Georgia, many things are returning to normal.  For example, traffic on the roads during the weekends is back and close to the congested experience prior to the pandemic.  Comments about workday traffic include similar observations.  The expected impact will be an increase in truck traffic delivery times. We also understand that select materials are again being targeted for shortages.  A grading contractor shared with us that corrugated metal pipe and concrete pipe are now in high demand and suppliers are finding it difficult to keep up with orders.  We have also bee ..read more

As I reflect over one of the most unusual years that we have ever had, I am reminded of one fact – ‘there is always a way’.  One of our most powerful Core Values at DRB is – “Focus on the Solution, not the Problem.  The answer is always in the Solution”.  This has and continues to be a core value for the companies I have founded or where I am part of the management team. When the team believes that the solution will be predictable and will resolve the challenge, it changes everything.  I am sure everyone has been around true problem solvers.  People who, when faced wit ..read more

The construction estimator’s role is to quantify the project work and assess the cost.  Often this task includes a projection of the future anticipated cost.  To accurately project future costs, I have relied on leading indicators that help guide the estimate projections plus future construction lending and activity.  Clients have been inquiring and seeking insight as to what we see as an outlook for 2021.  After reviewing the data, the future of construction remains cloudy, however, some key directions are very clear. BACKGROUND Since March 2020, normal construction activi ..read more

The Windy City isn’t among the easiest places to manage a major construction project, what with its oftentimes confusing politics and—more recently—the perfect storm of COVID-19 and mass protests that have brought so much business to a standstill. Donald R. Boyken | CEO and Founder | DRB Development Solutions   Such obstacles notwithstanding, the latest addition to Hilton’s brand of Curio Collection hotels should garner its certificate of occupancy in September. And what an impressive structure this new hotel is, situated at the east end of Chicago’s famous Navy Pier, a tourist attract ..read more

In the past few months, the hospitality industry has witnessed an unparalleled impact on occupancy and operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  As we turn the corner and parts of the country begin to reopen, life in our industry will require us to adapt.  The immediate changes offered by each of the major hotel chains will be focused on hotel room cleanliness, social distancing, and changes to foodservice.  What I wanted to focus on in this newsletter were the hotel design changes that may become part of our “new normal” as new projects go forward.  Research indicates seve ..read more

One of our core principles continues to be “The answer is always in the solution, never in the problem” What we find is that people will continuously talk about the Problem and seldom focus on the Solution.  Helping clients find solutions has been the hallmark of our success initially at Boyken International and now at DRB Development Solutions.  To aid in that endeavor, our team had been focused on collecting solutions available as it relates to COVID-19, for construction projects and the small business community, placing them on our website (www.ConsultDRB.com) as a collection poi ..read more

I have worked with some great developers creating iconic destinations, gaming resorts, plus massive complicated structures, such as airports, biocontainment labs, and hospitals just to name a few. Every one of these projects started with a financial and general building program outlining the services and needs that needed to be met. Yes, each of them evolved as the team brought creative ideas to the process, but the successful projects keep their principal goals in focus when making decisions for the project. On the other hand, as an Expert Witness, I have had the opportunity to analyze ..read more

Construction Industry has been extremely active stretching the resources of the contractor and designer’s staffs.  One common cause of project disputes is that the industry attempts to put a “B” team on a project that requires the “A” team.  This often results in project difficulties or worse – disputes.   The topic of this newsletter is the most requested client handout and we are republishing for reference.  Over the years we have assembled these simple keys to alert our clients and staff to recognize an issue before it becomes a problem and affects the outcome of the Project.  A ..read more