When undertaking a major commercial construction project, companies have a key decision to make early on: do they want to move into an existing building, or have one built completely customized to their needs? The latter option, known as built-to-suit (BTS), has unique advantages and disadvantages to weigh. Before committing to a tailor-made facility, be sure to carefully consider these major pros and cons of the built-to-suit process with guidance from construction project management consultants. Benefits of Developing a Custom-Made Building Total Design Control The most obvious appeal of built-to-suit is the ability to dictate every aspect of the building’s design. You can fine-tune the layout to optimize workflow and operations. Things like room sizes, flooring materials, lighting, and HVAC can be selected based on your exact business requirements, rather than trying to make do with what already exists in a space. Construction project management consultants can advise on optimizing layout and material selections. Purpose-Built for Your Use With BTS construction, you don’t have to make compromises or revisions to work within a space that wasn’t originally intended for your needs. The structure is crafted specifically for the activities, equipment, teams, and processes that your company will house there. Things function better when the facility itself is designed for its purpose. Construction project management consultants specialize in built-to-suit projects tailored to clients' specific needs. Drawbacks to Building New vs. Buying Existing Higher Upfront Capital Investment The obvious tradeoff for built-to-suit’s benefits is the increased initial expenditure it requires over leasing an already-finished space. You’ll generally be committing more money earlier in the process to fund design, land acquisition, materials, permitting, site development costs, construction fees, etc. Construction cost consultants can provide accurate budget estimates for the built-to-suit process. Longer Timeline from Start to Move-In Depending on the size of your project, creating an entire facility from the ground up can add months or years to your timeline, compared to moving into an available building. Skilled construction project management consultants will develop comprehensive project plans and timelines for built-to-suit construction. Assessing if Built-to-Suit Achieves Your Goals Evaluating the pros and cons will determine if built-to-suit construction aligns strategically with your infrastructure goals, budget, and timeline. Do you envision needing flexibility for future changes? Does custom-tailoring each detail enable operations enough to justify costs? Construction project management consultants and construction cost consultants can advise if built-to-suit is the right strategic decision for your organization and goals. Navigating Everything Built-to-Suit Entails Given the complexities and variables involved in custom-designed construction, it’s highly advisable to assemble an experienced team including architects, contractors, construction project management consultants, and construction cost consultants. Engaging project management consultants and cost consultants early on will facilitate bringing your vision to reality on a budget. Construction project management consultants keep oversight on meeting milestones and deliverables across all contractors and trades. Meanwhile, construction cost consultants conduct objective estimates and models to provide reliable budgets you can leverage for accurate planning and decision-making. With bespoke construction, unexpected challenges can emerge; having resilient project governance from construction project management consultants and finances prevents derailments. Your custom building is a major investment—ensure it receives focused managerial expertise from construction project management consultants. With its bespoke nature and complete design control, built-to-suit can be an alluring option for transformative or innovative construction projects. However, it requires extensive construction project management consultants' guidance on highly customized plans, budgets, and timelines unique to your needs. When designed thoughtfully with construction project management consultants, a custom-made facility can be a strategic, performance-optimizing investment in your business’ foundation for decades to come.
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