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Owner Approach

Focused on owner’s requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

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Owner Approach | Conspectus

 

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    Architect Approach

    Focused on architect's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

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    Architects | Conspectus Inc

     

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      Design-Builder Approach

      Focused on design-builder's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

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      Design-Builders | Conspectus Inc

       

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        Construction Manager Approach

        Focused on construction manager's requirements, Conspectus offers an accurate, transparent view of how decisions made during the design process will ultimately impact project cost, construction quality, and building operations.

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        Construction Managers | Conspectus Inc

         

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          Our Approach

          Rethinking specifications.

          Refocusing Priorities.

          Closing The Gaps

          Traditional approaches to construction specifications focus on a relatively narrow deliverable: a set of documents to help define contractual obligations and guide builders in their work. The Conspectus approach, by contrast, creates and documents a seamless flow of information that extends from the concept phase — well before design begins — through design and construction to owner occupancy and operations.

          Uniformat

          Uniformat describes a project in terms of the systems and assemblies that perform critical functions — substructure, shell, interiors, and services for example — enabling exploration and assessment of the cost and functionality of design options early in a project.

           

          Uniformat

           

          MasterFormat

          MasterFormat organizes data about construction requirements, products, and activities by “work results” and enables communication among designers, specifiers, contractors, and suppliers as they work to meet owner’s requirements, timelines, and budgets.

           

          Masterformat

           

          Design Narrative

          The design narrative tells the story of how a particular design will meet the owner’s requirements. It describes a building’s purpose and functionality, often offering insight about finishes, materials, and systems that will be required.

           

          Design Narrative

           

          Outline Specification

          An outline specification is an itemized list, using brief, concise statements, of significant materials, systems, and equipment and their criteria and levels of quality.
          (Source: AIA and CSI)

           

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          Construction Specification

          A part of the contract documents, construction specifications consist of “the written requirements for materials, equipment, systems, standards, and workmanship for the work and performance of related services.”
          (Source: AIA)

           

          Construction Specification

           

          Closing the Gaps

          The disjointed traditional process approach is riddled with risk-prone information gaps. The Conspectus approach, a seamless continuum of documentation, closes these gaps. The following are the gaps with greatest risk.
          (Source: AIA)

           

          Closing the Gaps

          Design Process Gaps

          Without a continuously updated record of the who, what, and why of design decisions, the design documentation becomes obsolete and disjointed. As a result, the team often duplicates effort and revisits decisions already made.
          (Source: AIA)

           

          Design Process Gaps

          Documentation Gaps

          Serious information gaps result when outline specs differ from the design narrative and construction specs can differ from outline specs with no record of the rationale for the differences. This can result in scope and cost creep, value engineering, and continuous cost escalation.

           

          Documentation Gaps

           

          Owner Operations Gaps

          An owner’s ability to manage and maintain a completed building efficiently can be seriously compromised when errors or disconnects in documentation, which can occur at any project phase, result in incomplete or inaccurate design data, performance data, construction records, and operating information.

           

          Owner Operations Gaps

           

          Construction Specifications and Documentation

          Our Solution

          Making this dynamic information resource accessible to all stakeholders — owners, architects, design-builders, and construction managers — gives them a clear, consistent, and continuously updated understanding of the impact of design decisions and enables them to contribute to the decision-making process.

          This transparent, collaborative approach results in more fully informed decisions during design and construction and provides critical guidance to owners for operating and maintaining their assets.

          Conspectus Specifications Approach

          Designed for You

          What the Conspectus Approach Can Mean for You

          Our rethinking and refocusing of the specifications process makes good business sense for all stakeholders. As projects evolve, the Conspectus approach captures and preserves increasingly complex information, provides data for incremental cost analysis of proposed design and construction options, and documents all decisions as they are made.

          The Benefits

          Why the Conspectus Approach Works
          Focused on Owner's Requirements 

          The Conspectus approach creates an information flow that supports optimized design choices, translates design solutions into reliable construction documents, and provides the data and insight necessary for owners to optimize the operations and maintenance of their facilities.

          Reduces Inconsistencies, Discrepancies, Redundancies, and in-efficiency

          The Conspectus approach gathers comprehensive data from the earliest phases of a project ensuring that no data is lost and that all relevant information and decisions are documented. This helps to reduce both the number and frequency of change orders and to avoid disruptions caused by value engineering efforts to cut costs, regardless of scope or quality implications. It also provides complete documentation for dispute resolution.

          Mitigate Financial Risk

          Because financial risk is always top of mind, Conspectus carefully defines the required systems and assemblies in sufficient detail to enable early cost analysis of the viable options. This promotes fully informed design decision making taking into account the three most critical dimensions: performance, cost, and quality.

          Support Fully Informed Decision Making

          Owners and architects can start making data-driven decisions earlier in the project and at a higher level, which helps keep the design solution aligned with owner requirements. With access and input to centralized, accurate information at every stage of the project, all team members can understand the “what and why” of design solutions and align their efforts with the desired outcome.

          Embodies Transparency and promotes  Collaboration

          The Conspectus approach keeps the extended project team on the same page by providing access to a common, complete, and current data set. This enables team members to make fact-based decisions rather than rely on assumptions and best guesses. It also provides a mechanism for all parties to contribute relevant knowledge, expertise, and experience at the most appropriate time in the project continuum.

           
          Access Our Resource Database

          Conspectus Resources

          At Conspectus, we help our clients and colleagues stay up to date on developments and trends that impact construction specifications by providing relevant, expert resources such as the Published Articles, Podcasts, Tech Tips, and more. 

          Learn More

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          THE Trifecta: BIM Object, Estimate, Spec

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          We deliver the knowledge, insight, and expert judgment your project requires

          Contracting directly for specifications services, wanting a greater voice in choosing your specifications partner, or seeking independent guidance on how to mitigate risk? We're here to help.

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