J&R Construction brings buildings or other assets to a functional state. That includes design, financing, and building the support.

Procurement is the buying (or renting) materials needed to move a project forward. This step usually requires the most coordination, involving multiple vendors with varied delivery schedules.

Construction involves making and delivering structures in a form that can be used for their intended functional purpose. It is a broad field that encompasses any work in building anything from homes to infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, and tunnels. It also covers maintenance and repair work or expanding, upgrading, and improving existing assets.

Planning refers to the process of establishing goals and objectives for a project and developing a strategy for how those goals will be achieved. It is a crucial step that ensures everyone involved in the project understands their role and how they will contribute to the construction project’s success. That includes identifying and communicating risks to stakeholders.

The type of construction project will impact nearly every aspect of its development, from design specifications to contractor prequalification and selection to building material needs and equipment. Because of these differences, it is common for architects, engineers, and construction companies to specialize in a particular type of project.

How a construction project is planned will often impact its final cost, timeframe, and overall quality. That is why it’s important to plan well and include a contingency budget to cover any unexpected expenses or challenges that may arise.

For example, a large construction project may require a significant amount of earthwork to prepare the site for building, or it may need to comply with local land-use planning policies (like zoning ordinances and building codes) before starting. It can also require extensive surveying and data collection to anticipate engineering requirements, environmental impacts, and potential issues with existing utility lines.

Construction managers (CMs) are uniquely qualified through education and experience to help owners, architects, designers, general contractors, and other project stakeholders develop plans and schedules for construction that meet their expectations of scope, quality, cost, and delivery. CMs work with the project team to coordinate activities and facilitate communication, ensuring that all aspects of the construction project work together seamlessly and efficiently. They use management platforms to create workflows that ensure the project is delivered on time, within budget, and at or above the owner’s expected level of performance.

Construction design involves the creation of plans for buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and other structures that are then constructed. That is an important component of industrial culture as it allows society to create various environments to serve many different needs. The design process can be divided into three levels: technological requirements, design resources, and construction technology. Innovative design concepts must be tested for technical feasibility.

Designing is a highly complex process requiring the collaboration of a wide range of professionals. These include research establishments that study material properties and performance, code officials who adopt and enforce safety standards, designers who determine user needs and design a building to meet them, and builders who construct the physical structure. The design phase can also be time-consuming and costly, especially when the designers work under tight deadlines to complete their projects.

A key aspect of the design is the consideration of environmental factors such as air temperature, light and sound levels, humidity, odors, and power availability for machinery and tools. Modern building construction often focuses on achieving high energy efficiency and sustainability levels. That is accomplished by incorporating solar panels, wind turbines, and water recycling systems.

Construction is often a site-specific activity, and site visits are vital to the design stage. Visiting the site allows the designer to examine access roads, water, electrical, and other service utilities near the construction area. It also allows the observation of any interference with existing facilities that may affect the construction process.

Heavy civil construction refers to large-scale engineering projects often associated with infrastructure or public works. These include highways, bridges and tunnels, railways, airports, and water and sewerage systems. In some cases, these projects are designed by specialists in their field and then subcontracted to general contractors for construction.

Design-build is an approach to project delivery that combines the roles of architect and contractor into one part, often called the design-builder. It is an alternative to the traditional model of separate design and builder, and it can be subdivided into architect-led design-build (or ALBDB) and contractor-led design-build. ALBDB is a project delivery method in which the architect serves as owner advocate and steward, providing design strategy and construction expertise to a team of consultants, subcontractors, and materials suppliers.

Many different types of building materials are used in construction, each with unique properties and uses. The choice of materials can significantly impact the durability, energy efficiency, and overall aesthetic of a building project. Structural materials are used to create the basic structure of a building, including the foundation, frame, and walls. Roofing materials are used to cover and protect the roof of a building, and flooring materials are used to create a stable surface for walking and standing. Several building products, such as windows and doors, are used to develop specific features.

Wood is a common natural building material used in construction for centuries. It is a versatile, durable, and renewable resource that can be used for framing, wall sheathing, and roofing. Stone is another popular construction material used for various purposes, including wall cladding and flooring. Clay is a natural material that can be molded and baked into bricks and tiles, commonly used in building walls, floors, and roofing. Straw is a raw material often used for insulation in eco-friendly buildings.

Other common construction materials include concrete, steel, masonry, and glass. Concrete is a strong and durable material used to build foundations, walls, and other structural components. Metal is a low-maintenance and versatile material used in building construction, including framing, wall sheathing, roof trusses, and flooring. Metal is also a good choice for roofing, as it is resistant to fire and heat and can withstand heavy loads. Several types of glass are used in construction, including clear and colored glass, fiberglass, and float glass. Plastics are also used in construction, and several different types of plastics, including vinyl-coated polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene, are used for various applications.

The execution phase of a project involves carrying out the plans for the project. That includes things like setting deadlines, hiring workers, and establishing budgets. It also provides monitoring and controlling activities to ensure the project stays on track. Sometimes, there are hiccups, but that is to be expected in any project. It is important to keep communication channels open between the project manager and the team members involved in executing the plan.

Project management has a specific term for this process: “project execution.” It describes all the activities necessary to achieve the project’s goals and objectives. It is usually done by a project manager who oversees and guides the entire project team responsible for the actual work performed. During this stage, the project manager must ensure the job is completed on time and within budget. That requires complex planning techniques like critical path methods and risk analysis.

Construction can be a complex process, especially when it involves multiple stakeholders. For example, a construction project may include architects, engineers, construction managers, and other personnel from different organizations. That means the project manager must develop a strong relationship with all these people to succeed. That can be difficult, especially if the project has significant delays or issues. However, the project manager can minimize these problems by ensuring that all stakeholders are updated on progress and that everyone is working together.

There are several types of construction projects, including civil and heavy industrial. Civil construction refers to large-scale engineering projects typically associated with infrastructure or public works. These include roads, bridges and tunnels, water and sewage systems, airports, railways, and other transport networks. Heavy industrial construction, conversely, refers to erecting industrial plants and facilities such as oil and gas, refineries, power stations, steel mills, breweries, distilleries, and factories.

Construction and building are often used interchangeably but are two different processes. Construction is the larger umbrella term that encompasses all of these other processes. Building is a specific construction subset involving assembling and erecting structures, such as homes.