Value-Design / Value-Engineering Services

LDA provides cost and quality controls for every project that we serve. We approach cost control and value engineering as conscious parts of the design effort. We believe that every project should enjoy the benefits of efficient and economical design and engineering for all building systems.

Cost Control & Value Engineering

LDA works closely with construction professionals to create an accurate budget that is monitored during the entire course of a project. To effectively prevent after-the-fact cost cutting, we recommend constant cost review from the earliest stages of design. Cost information is a design tool that should be used in parallel with other design devices. We have had considerable experience in design-build construction contracts, design-assist construction, and negotiated bid projects that have been successfully completed under this philosophy, for the entirety of our 51-year history.

Project Phasing

In a similar manner, construction phasing and scheduling is a conscious pre-design effort that recognizes the need to provide phasing, either for budgetary reasons, or for assuring the continuity of certain building functions. LDA recognizes that important decisions will result from a need to provide a specified construction sequence. It is easier and more effective to design around the anticipated phases of a project than it is to find ways to divide out pieces in an after-the-design attempt at phasing. LDA has successfully designed fast-track projects, phased construction spanning a period of several years, and projects with elective alternates.

Quality Controls

The control and balance of quality is an integral part of managing the cost of any project. It is convenient to downgrade the quality of any product or assembly that may be used on a project, but the project will be forever adjudged "cheap" by that one glaring weak element. LDA considers the balance of quality to be more important. The deliberate calibration of the entirety of a project to meet a uniform level of quality is essential. As the budget is established early, so too is the level of quality. This is another benefit of early and constant cost monitoring.

Contract Administration

One of the more common tools in publicly and openly bid projects is the desire to afford the general contractor more latitude in "shopping." This is often done using open specifications, listing multiple equivalent products, or using industry standards or performance specifications. LDA approaches each of these cautiously, using the appropriate method for each product or assembly. We are aware that the use of these various techniques requires diligent oversight during construction.