A Constructability review is a critical evaluation process within the construction and architectural industry, to ensure that a project's design is practical, efficient, and feasible to construct. This review typically occurs during the design phase and involves collaboration among various stakeholders, including architects, engineers, and construction managers. By identifying potential issues early, these constructability reviews help reduce change orders, prevent delays and better control costs before construction begins.
In this blog post, we will explore the essential components of constructability and provide a professional constructibility review checklist. Additionally, we’ll walk you through the steps of implementing a holistic constructability review and discuss how AI can automate the reporting for it.
What is Constructability?
A constructability review is a systematic evaluation of construction project designs and specifications during the design phases, to help ensure their feasibility and efficiency before actual construction begins. This process is crucial in identifying potential issues that could lead to delays, increased costs, or safety concerns.
Constructability eeviews are most effective when conducted at various stages of design completion—typically when designs are 30%, 60%, or 90% complete— and at the final PS&E stages. Waiting until designs are fully finalized can lead to challenges in implementing changes due to cost implications.
Methods of Assessment
There are several methods that can be employed during a constructability review, including:
- Design Workshops: Collaborative sessions where stakeholders discuss design plans and suggest improvements.
- Field Reviews: On-site evaluations to assess existing conditions that may impact construction.
- Simulation Tools: Utilizing software to model construction processes and identify potential conflicts.
Common Sections of Constructability Review
Here are some of the common sections typically included in a constructability review:
- Project Safety Plan
- Assessment of safety protocols and compliance with regulations.
- Identification of potential safety risks during construction.
- Site Improvement Plan and Logistics
- Review of site preparation needs and logistical considerations.
- Analysis of access routes and staging areas for materials and equipment.
- Construction Equipment Access
- Evaluation of access points for heavy machinery and equipment.
- Consideration of site constraints that may affect equipment movement.
- Heavy Haul/Lifting Plans
- Planning for the transportation and lifting of heavy components.
- Assessment of necessary equipment and safety measures.
- Impacts to Existing Facilities
- Analysis of how construction activities will affect existing structures and utilities.
- Mitigation strategies for minimizing disruptions.
- Project Installation Risk Assessments
- Identification of risks associated with the installation process.
- Development of risk mitigation strategies.
- Construction Work Package List
- Compilation of work packages that outline specific tasks and responsibilities.
- Ensuring clarity in scope and deliverables for contractors.
- Modularization, Prefabrication, and Pre-assembly
- Identification of components suitable for modularization or prefabrication.
- Evaluation of anticipated benefits such as cost savings and schedule improvements.
- Challenges associated with modularization efforts.
- Permitting Requirements
- Review of necessary permits required for construction activities.
- Assessment of timelines related to obtaining permits.
Constructability Review Template
This constructability review template provides a comprehensive list of sections and detailed sub-sections to guide your review process. Download the Word file and use it as a practical resource for a well-executed constructability review.
Draft a Constructability Review Report with AI
AI is transforming the way constructability review reports are created, automating much of the process. Cogram captures detailed minutes from your constructibility discussions and formats them directly into your firm’s constructability review template. Whether your conversations are online—e.g., on Teams or Zoom—or in person, such as on-site or in conference rooms, Cogram efficiently summarizes key discussions. Cogram’s mobile app also lets you take photos on-site, which are automatically added to minutes, to produce a thorough and professional constructability review report, automatically.
Benefits of Constructability Review for Building Projects
1. Improved Quality Assurance
Constructability reviews identify design flaws and overlooked elements early, ensuring plans are practical and meet industry standards. This proactive approach improves construction quality while saving time and resources.
2. Increased Contractor Engagement
Involving contractors in constructability reviews fosters collaboration and ownership, enabling them to provide competitive bids and innovative solutions with a clearer understanding of project goals.
3. Reduced Administrative Overhead
By clarifying project documents, constructability reviews cut down on RFIs and change orders, saving time and reducing administrative costs—especially critical during the bidding phase.
4. Regulatory Compliance
Constructability reviews ensure designs align with local regulations, minimizing the risk of costly revisions or delays caused by non-compliance.
5. Confidence Among Bidders
Clear project specifications from constructability reviews allow bidders to submit more accurate proposals, reducing perceived risks and encouraging active participation in the bidding process.
6. Tailored Solutions
Every project has unique variables like location, scope, and materials. Constructability reviews address these factors with customized recommendations, helping project owners make informed decisions and achieve better outcomes during bidding.
7. Stronger Stakeholder Collaboration
Open communication during constructability reviews fosters collaboration among owners, contractors, and designers, leading to stronger relationships and smoother negotiations.
Steps for Implementing a Constructability Review
1. Planning for Constructability Implementation
- Define Objectives and Scope: Clearly outline the goals of the constructability review, including what aspects of the project will be assessed.
- Assemble Key Stakeholders: Gather a team of designers, engineers, contractors, and other relevant stakeholders to contribute their expertise throughout the process. Cross-functional communication in a constructability review helps in preventing conflicts and ensures that all aspects of the project are considered, to help mitigate excessive change orders and delays.
- Develop a Constructability Plan: Create a detailed plan that outlines the process, timelines, and deliverables for the constructability review.
- Schedule Constructability Workshops: Organize workshops with stakeholders to discuss potential issues and brainstorm solutions early in the design phase.
2. Conducting the Constructability Review
- Design Review: Analyze project designs for practicality, identifying potential conflicts or issues that could arise during construction.
- Resource Evaluation: Assess the availability of materials, labor, and equipment necessary for the project. This also includes evaluating skill sets within the workforce.
- Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks associated with construction methods, site conditions, and project timelines. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
- Field Reviews: Conduct site visits to evaluate existing conditions and how they may impact construction activities. This helps in identifying unforeseen challenges.
Download our professional constructability review template for a detailed overview of what to cover in a constructibility review.
3. Implementation Review
- Monitor Construction Progress: Regularly check that construction adheres to the reviewed plans and standards.
- Make Adjustments as Needed: Be prepared to adapt plans based on real-time observations and challenges encountered during construction.
4. Post-Construction Evaluation
- Review Completed Project: After project completion, conduct a review to assess what worked well and what could be improved.
- Document Lessons Learned: Capture insights gained throughout the process for future projects, enhancing overall constructability practices.
By following these steps, firms can effectively implement constructability reviews that enhance project feasibility, reduce costs, and improve overall construction efficiency.
Comparison of Constructability Review and Value Engineering
Constructability reviews prioritize the buildability and efficiency of a project. These reviews assess whether the design can be constructed as planned, focusing on quantities, estimates, proposed plan adjustments, specifications, and special provisions.
Value engineering, on the other hand, emphasizes cost reduction and value enhancement. It evaluates the function of a product or service to achieve its purpose at the lowest possible cost without sacrificing quality or performance. This process explores alternative design concepts, materials, and methods to optimize the project's value.
Both processes rely on collaboration between design and construction teams. In constructability reviews, general contractors work alongside the design team to evaluate and refine construction plans. Similarly, value engineering applies a systematic approach to evaluate the functionality and cost-effectiveness of a project.
Constructability Feedback in VE: Constructability reviews can provide actionable insights that enhance the value engineering process. By assessing the constructability of a design, VE analysts can identify areas where adjustments improve both buildability and overall project value. Conversely, value engineering can inform constructability reviews by suggesting alternative materials or methods that simplify construction while maintaining or improving quality.
Hence, constructability and value engineering are mutually beneficial and early involvement is critical for both processes. Constructability reviews are most effective when the design is developed enough to allow meaningful feedback from the construction team. Similarly, value engineering should occur during the early design stages, typically between 30% and 90% of design completion, to maximize its impact.
Key Points of Integration
- Feedback Loops: Constructability reviews create feedback loops from the implementation phase, which can be incorporated into value engineering to drive continuous improvement throughout the project lifecycle.
- Team Collaboration: Both processes emphasize collaboration among designers, contractors, and other stakeholders to achieve shared objectives.
- Cost and Time Efficiency: When integrated, constructability reviews and value engineering improve cost and time efficiency, minimizing delays, cost overruns, and construction challenges.
Best Practices for Constructability Reviews
Engage Stakeholders Collaboratively
Conduct constructability reviews in a collaborative setting with architects, engineers, contractors, and clients. This multi-stakeholder communication ensures diverse perspectives are considered and issues are resolved early in the design process.
Adopt a Construction-Focused Approach
Simulate the construction process during reviews instead of sequentially examining documents. This step-by-step walkthrough identifies potential conflicts, omissions, and issues related to sequencing and logistics that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Address System Interfaces
Pay close attention to interactions between systems—such as structural, mechanical, and electrical—as issues often arise at these junctions. Clear, well-coordinated specifications for interfaces are essential to prevent conflicts.
Prioritize High-Impact Issues
Focus on issues that significantly affect cost, time, or quality. Streamlining reviews by emphasizing critical items helps avoid overwhelming designers with minor details that do not affect construction execution.
Continuous Improvement and Feedback Mechanisms
Constructability reviews should be iterative, and conducted at key project stages (e.g., 0%, 30%, 60%, and final PS&E stages), with each review reflecting on prior decisions to ensure alignment with project goals. Importantly, any lessons learned should be well-documented and shared to prevent recurring mistakes and improve future processes.
Use AI for Documenting Constructibility Discussions
Use Cogram to automatically draft structured minutes of your constructability review meetings, to ensure all discussions are well-documented and prevent costly disputes and misunderstandings later on. Cogram works across online meeting platforms (e.g., Teams) and in-person, including on-site and in conference rooms. Schedule a live demo and get set up with a 14-day free trial.
Wrapping Up
Constructability reviews are crucial for enhancing project efficiency, minimizing risks, and controlling costs through early identification of potential challenges. However, their true value lies in ensuring findings are well-documented and applicable beyond a single project, contributing to continuous improvement across future projects. AI plays an important role in this context by automating documentation and creating structured, reusable records, to ensure constructability insights drive long-term efficiency and innovation.
