Construction management and its application to the delivery of the Lamar Towers in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Construction Management (CM) is becoming the delivery method of choice for constructing complicated projects. Previously, the most common method to employ was the General Contracting method, where the contractor and designer were two independent entities and the project was awarded based on a competitive bid and a lump-sum price. Research has shown that a Construction Manager not only understands the professional knowledge required for a project but also bridges the gap between the contractor and designer and promotes cooperation between the two. This delivery method can decrease the project duration, provide flexibility, value engineering and decrease the total cost of the project while satisfying the owner's needs. Therefore, it is key to examine the different types of Construction Management (Agency CM or CM At-Risk) as well as to understand the role that a Construction Manager plays in this delivery method. The application of Construction Management in the construction of the Lamar Towers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is also examined to exemplify the benefits that the method is providing. The interaction between the different parties and issues that the teams have to face on a daily basis are studied in this thesis. A risk/reward analysis is also presented. Finally, suggestions are brought forward to improve the different aspects of this specific delivery method.