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Outcome E²C™

Dan McNary, PE Ask Dan McNary

Highly technical renovations require a specialized process to assure critical supporting systems are not diluted, and have the built-in flexibility to adapt emerging technologies of tomorrow. Dan McNary, PE, Managing Director of Commercial/Institutional Construction Programs talks about the importance of the engineering and construction process for technical projects that frequently occur in settings that must remain functional while being renovated or improved. These projects include data centers, lab renovations, energy/infrastructure projects and healthcare renovations. Outcome E²C™ combines engineering and construction, providing a robust technical solution that is integrated and inseparable, and insures the infrastructure can easily evolve, and respond to future needs.

For what sort of facilities is Outcome E²C™ best suited?
We are not “bricks and sticks” contractors, nor are we standard tenant improvement contractors. Outcome E²C™ is focused on high-risk facilities that must be operational through the entire construction process and are critical to our client’s core business. For example: live data centers, live laboratories and hospital environments where downtime causes catastrophic safety and financial impacts. Our collaborative engineering and construction team provides a significant difference to the phasing and choreography, schedule, quality and function of a project.

We’ve had bad experiences in the past with design-build. Why would this be different?
This is not design-build. In the design build delivery model, the engineer provides the engineering concept and then relinquishes control in the hand off to the contractor-lead design-build team. This is where design-build doesn’t meet the client’s expectations for a robust technical facility. Our Outcome E²C™ process is a collaboration of engineers and constructors who, from day one, are assigned responsibility for balancing the systems integrity and operations with cost and schedule compliance.

How is it possible to have engineers involved all the way through and not have the cost go up?
Because the Project Manager is technically-savvy, they can manage projects most effectively and pull both construction and engineering resources at the right time.
Historical data shows the total project cost using Outcome E²C™ (or turnkey delivery methods) will go down compared to traditional design-bid-build. Most cost overruns come from unclear project scope. Gray areas in the scope result in miscommunications during the multiple stages of planning, design, construction and operations. Outcome E²C™ drives this waste out of the process, ensuring clear project goals are set day one, and then measured and tracked through the project with NO HAND OFFS. This results in a more efficient process and the reduction of total project costs.

How do you ensure the integrity of the engineered systems?
You’ve known and trusted Syska Hennessy Group to deliver superior MEP systems. It’s the core of our business and why our customers continue to trust us with their most difficult projects. Outcome E²C™ doesn’t take us away from that commitment. In fact, it further enhances our ability to deliver system-driven projects. It couples our engineering focus with highly skilled builders, and a process dedicated to achieving system integrity. Our reputation and ability to build a long lasting relationship with you depends on it.

My builder can do that with your drawings and oversight.
The model you describe is design-assist, and works well for large projects that have some technical components as opposed to a truly technical facility. In design-assist there is still a hand off to someone who isn’t fully versed in the technical aspects of the project.

How do you accelerate the schedule?
There are many ways Outcome E²C™ makes things happen quicker. For example, the ability to streamline communication between the engineer and builder allows instant feedback of constructability to the designers, and immediate technical feedback for the constructors.

Also, because we are the engineer and builder, we can shift risk and move tasks up in the schedule. We can buy equipment early and typically at 30% of retail cost. We can start demo, framing, etc. while permit documents are in plan check.
CHART

How are my operations really enhanced by this?
Facility operational considerations are taken into account at the earliest planning stages of the Outcome E²C™ process. In traditional processes you will see the design lacks operational understanding and the facility does not run optimally, and eventually requires a change of the infrastructure systems. This is not because the design teams are bad designers, but because they have not had exposure to how that facility team works, or even how the facility will actually operate under various loads and working conditions.

This is becoming more and more key as the need to be competitive and scarce dollars are forcing owners to lower their operational costs.

 

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