In a state where water is scarce, wildfires are routine, and hills comprise a large portion of the terrain, challenges in being a landscape architect are countless. And yet, despite the hurdles, California’s landscape architects still find a way to craft beautiful, resilient, and sustainable designs. In this article, we’ll explore the many obstacles California’s landscape architects face and how they overcome them.  Designing Appealing Landscapes Despite Strict Water Management Regulations As California endures yet another drought, a set of new water management regulations have come into ..read more

Are you trying to find a construction manager (CM) in Los Angeles? Your choices may seem abundant, but which of these companies is best equipped for tackling your project in a city where new developments are notoriously challenging? In this guide, we will walk you through the qualities that separate the top construction management companies in Los Angeles, CA, from the rest of the pack. We will also explain how to find out as much useful information as you can about a CM before you hire them. How to Select the Right Construction Management Firm in Los Angeles Below are the most vital selection ..read more

Having a new custom home in Los Angeles is the dream of many. Yet, building in the City of Angels can be a complicated — and exciting — journey. In this article, we’ll examine all the challenges faced by new home builders in LA, and explain the best ways of overcoming them. Zoning and Planning In the City of Los Angeles, zoning may still favor single-family residences, but that doesn’t mean that getting approval to build your dream custom home is an easy feat. Depending on the location of the lot, and the land’s current and intended use, you may have to get separate approvals from a number o ..read more

For any person undertaking a construction project, there are benefits to hiring a project manager. That’s because these seasoned construction professionals can streamline construction by: • Creating an effective strategic plan and ensuring buildability • Obtaining permits and entitlements • Hiring the most qualified General Contractor (GC) • Communicating with the design and operations teams • Anticipating risks and reducing change orders Let’s explore how a Project Manager can save a project time and money. 1. Create an Effective Strategic PlanLong before construction gets underway, the pr ..read more

Every construction project faces the inevitable “project management triangle,” which highlights three familiar limitations in construction: time, costs, and scope. In an ideal world, every building will be high quality, take the least amount of time to complete, and be completed well below budget. Unfortunately, this is seldom the case, and many contractors will ask their clients to sacrifice one of these 3 tenets. On the other hand, experienced Construction Managers (CMs) acting as preconstruction managers have a chance to find a balance between time, costs, and scope to achieve the most val ..read more

Safety is always important on every construction project. Unfortunately, accidents and near misses happen on even the safest sites. Construction safety management plans specify when and how these incidents should be investigated, and by whom. Once a root cause has been identified, the team can use the information to determine the best way to mitigate or prevent the incident from happening again. Incident investigations help raise awareness about safety on the jobsite, provide an opportunity for dialogue with workers, and encourage teamwork. What is the purpose of an incident investigation?The ..read more

What is quality planning in project management? In construction, “quality” entails a project meeting its design requirements. When quality is ignored, the ensuing troubles may range from cosmetic defects to structural failures, and everything in between. These, in turn, are likely to cause rifts among the project’s stakeholders. This is why quality is one of the 3 tenets of construction, along with time and budget. Typically, the General Contractor’s (GC) site superintendent makes sure that the work is finished per the stated quality standards. This conventional approach lacks efficiency, a ..read more

A vague term to begin with, “planning” can be hard to wrap your mind around in the context of construction. This post will try to do just that – untangle construction planning and discuss what construction project managers (PMs) do during this project phase. What is construction planning? In construction, “planning” means creating a framework for the project’s management and execution. In a nutshell, planning can fall into two distinct categories: strategic and operational. 1. Strategic planning This is a high-level process that defines the project’s goals. During this stage, the owner’s ..read more

Hiring a project management agency (aka construction management firm) to run your construction project is the best thing you can do to ensure your endeavor’s smooth, efficient outcome. But do you know how to hire a good project manager? In this post, we will talk about the 5 things you should consider before you sign a contract with a PM agency. 1. Do they have experience with similar projects to yours? In construction, quality comes with practice. And while different construction sectors share similarities, you shouldn’t hire a PM specializing in subway tunnels to help you build a luxury v ..read more

Every year OSHA releases the top ten construction safety violations, and they don’t change much from year to year. Fall protection is always number one. Construction managers (CMs) can help companies prevent these violations by providing a health and safety management system. They can provide a general safety program, safety plan, and training for all workers before they start on site, ensuring that everyone has a baseline of knowledge to work from. Note that some CMs will delegate this task to the general contractor (GC) – the effect is the same as long as one entity is responsible for leadin ..read more