WRD views the scope development phase as a vital step to ensure a successful project. This phase allows the project team to establish communication links and a common level of expectation for the end result. The project’s building program document records the facility needs on several levels, from the general to the specific. The building program document is organized into three parts: an overall executive summary, analytical categorization of section or departments, and a room-by-room detailed qualitative spatial assessment.

WRD utilizes a collaborative design approach to explore alternative plans and achieve successful solutions for clients. This approach allows the stakeholders to become an integral part in achieving the design solution. Through project team meetings, round-table workshops, and progress sets reviews, we work collaboratively to develop space needs and relationships, review alternative project approaches, and craft a solidified design. The team arrives at the most appropriate solution while keeping the project within budget.

Cost control goes hand-in-hand with the proactive management of planning and building design. WRD has demonstrated its ability to accurately forecast and contain cost while maintaining a balance between the programmatic scope and funding available. We are able to conduct a review of our internal databases for recently bid projects of similar size, scope and location to control cost.

WRD creates a milestone schedule at the beginning of each project. This becomes a benchmark for reviewing progress and tracking the time implications of important submittal dates and decision-making deadlines. The early development of a milestone schedule of submittals for the design and construction phases is key to the project team successfully meeting the time constraints of the project. To be effective, the schedule document must remain fluid and be updated to reflect changing project conditions, while respecting the required completion period.

WRD experience with the public bidding process spans our entire 51-year history. Over this history, every change order and unfavorable document interpretation has provided us with an unrivaled opportunity for continuous improvement of our construction documents. We review our drawings and specifications with a thorough knowledge of how these documents must be structured in order to create a ‘tight’ bid, and run extensive quality control checks in order to weed out the types of ambiguities that create potential cost overruns. WRD also has experience with other project delivery methods, including Job Order Contracting and negotiated bids.

WRD provides full-time support during the construction phases of the project. During construction, WRD will conduct on-site construction progress meetings, review field issues with the contractor, review and respond to contractor questions, and review shop drawings and pay applications.