Dow Smith Company has been in business since 1992. We’ve learned a lot about what to do and what not to do.
What we’ve found over the years is that the traditional method of construction—where the client hires a design team on their own and then brings it to general contractors and takes a low-bid approach—doesn’t work.
It leads to too many change orders and too many design changes. It can become adversarial – which nobody wants. The design team is pointing at the general contractor. The owner is pointing at the design team. And the general contractor is stuck in the middle or has to accept responsibility or pass blame. This way of doing things hasn’t worked throughout the years.
What we’ve learned is really in line with what the design world and general contracting is doing all over the nation. It’s a design-build approach. This is a true partnership that involves teamwork.
We like to get all of the key players involved very early on so that everyone is working together rather than in their own silos. Doing things this way can help you avoid million-dollar mistakes.
Over the years, we’ve developed a process that we call The Dow Smith Way. We partner with local churches and business owners and help guide them through the entire process.
The Dow Smith Way includes four steps:
• Vision Collection
• Pre-Construction Services
• Construction
• Post-Construction
We start with what we call Vision Collection.
First, we have to assemble the team that will be involved with your project. We’ll need:
• Your organization’s decision-makers
• The Designers:
- Architect
- Civil Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors
• The construction team:
- Project Manager & Estimator
- Superintendent
- Subcontractors
• The Bank
It sounds like a lot of people, but this is the best way for us all to get on the same page from the very beginning to develop your needs and determine financial targets and feasibility.
Then we move into Pre-Construction Services.
This step has three phases.
Phase 1 - Due Diligence & Schematic Design Drawings
• Finalize site location (or size of addition & renovation):
- Geotechnical & Phase 1 site reports
• Preliminary site plan & master plan (demo plan for addition/renovations):
- Footprint of building on site
- Building orientation
• Preliminary floor plan
• Preliminary elevations
• Initial discussions with government officials - Re-zoning application, if necessary
• Construction budget with an allowance for site work
Phase 2 - Design Development Drawings
• Completed site plan
• Architectural drawings to 50% complete
• Preliminary engineering for plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and structural
• Subcontractor input
• Formal discussions with City Hall - Planning commission approval
• Budget with 5% contingency
• Order appraisal - If fast-tracked, site work can begin after this phase
Phase 3 - Construction Drawings
• Finalize all construction documents
• Procure subcontractor pricing
• Award subcontracts
• Procure building permit
• Establish construction price with 3% contingency
• Loan closing
There’s a lot of work that has to be done before we ever pick up a hammer or turn a screw. But we’re here to walk with you through it all.
And that brings us to Construction.
This part probably seems simple enough. We break ground and start building. But there’s more to it than that.
A lot of what we do for clients during the construction phase revolves around communication.
We believe in consistent communication. We text. We email. We make telephone calls. And then we communicate what we anticipate to happen next. We communicate what we need to keep the project moving forward.
And then finally in Post-Construction, we’re here to help you move in.
We will:
• Procure a certificate of occupancy
• Coordinate delivery of furniture and other items
• Work through your punch list to make sure everything is perfect
• Go over your warranty and help with any miscellaneous repairs
• And be there to celebrate with you at your ribbon-cutting ceremony
We do a lot of building in Middle Tennessee. But we know the most important thing we build is the relationships we have with our clients. We are here to serve you.
