(August, 2024)

Where will your business be in five years? For many business owners, growth is inevitable. As your company expands or relocates, finding the right general contractor is critical. Selecting building partner can be a daunting task, having clarity on the right questions is important. Here’s a comprehensive guide to selecting the right design-build general contractor.

When you’ve made the decision that it’s time to begin a construction project, ask yourself these questions:

1. Assess your current situation:

• What works well in your facility and what needs improvement?

2. Determine space needs:

• What is your company’s projected growth?
• How much additional space will you require? Are you doubling your current space, is it a 20% increase, etc.?

3. Identify functional requirements:

• What specific functions will your facility need to accommodate?
• Office spaces? Warehousing? Cold storage? Manufacturing areas? Support spaces? Special slope requirements?

4. Location considerations:

• Do you intend to expand at your current location?
• Are you exploring new sites or buildings?
• If contemplating a new building or site, how far can you relocate while retaining your current workforce? Will you need to recruit new employees, and if so, what geographical radius should be considered?

5. Timing and project scope:

• What is your timeline for the project?
• Is immediate action required, or do you have time to go through due diligence, design, and construction planning?

6. Financial planning:

• What is your budget for the project?
• Are you more inclined towards leasing from a developer, or do you prefer to utilize your own capital to invest in an expansion or new building?

While it’s not required to have all the answers up front, having a trusted design-build general contractor partner who can assist in navigating these considerations internally or externally is invaluable. Addressing these questions will guide you in the best building direction for your company’s needs. We would encourage any business owner working through these inquiries to reach out to a single-source design-build general contractor, or consider engaging other alliance partners such as brokers, owner representatives, etc.