Construction Management At-Risk
This term, commonly abbreviated as CM At-Risk
or CMAR, refers to a specific type of project delivery method as well as a
contractual relationship between CM and client.
If you engage a construction manager at-risk
(CMR), the CMR agrees to coordinate, oversee and deliver your facility for a
guaranteed maximum price. In this legal relationship, the CMR advises the
client from the time of project inception, and acts as the general contractor.
Construction Management Agency
This term, although similar to CMAR, describes
a type of relationship, rather than project delivery
method. In a construction
management agency (CMA) relationship, the CM represents the client as their
dedicated representative. The CM can legally act on behalf of the client to
sign documents and make project-specific decisions.
A CMA agreement can be structured to span the
entire lifecycle of a project, from design through turnover, or for a specific
segment of the design or building process.
PM (Project Manager) $133,116.00
OR (Owners Representative) $120,500.00
CM (Construction Manager) $5,336.00
Hourly* Monthly Annual
Top Earners $55.45 $9,611.33 $115,336.00
Average $47.36 $8,209.00 $98,500.00
Starting $36.30 $6,326.00 $75,920.00
Alternative Project Delivery Methods
In addition to the CMAR method of project
delivery, you can also choose the Design-Build (DB) or Design-Bid-Build (DBB)
approach.
Traditionally, most building projects have
used the DBB method. In this approach, the client contracts with one company to
complete the architecture and engineering phase of the project, and another
firm to oversee the construction phase. The DBB method has become less popular
in recent years, as it exposes the client to the highest levels of risk.
An Owner's Representative works for the best interest
of the owner and intervenes and advocates for the owner's goals
for the project. Project and construction
managers oversee their own team's work for the service they're
offering and would work only for their firm's benefit and interests.
Construction Owners Representative
Salary
Hourly* Monthly Annually
Top Earners $57.93 $10,041.00 $120,500.00
Average $40.49 $7,018.00 $84,221.00
Starting $25.96 $4,500.00 $54,000.00
A PM supervises the CM. The project manager has greater responsibility to the project, as he/she oversees more than the construction process. Therefore, a project manager will often supervise a construction manager.
The project manager is responsible for quality,
schedule, and budget, but not for the people-related functions like training
and discipline. A project manager usually reports to a manager, director,
or vice president of project management although they can
report to any manager in the hierarchy.
Hourly* Monthly Annually
Top Earners $64.00 $11,93.00 $133,116,00
Average $52.00 $9,013.00 $108,160.00
Starting $45.00 $7,800.00 $93,600.00
The primary difference in a construction superintendent versus a project manager is that construction superintendent’s work on construction sites alongside their construction workers, while project managers typically oversee the administrative aspects of a project and work off-site.
Construction
manager, project manager, what’s the difference?
As
it turns out, quite a bit, and understanding those differences is crucial to
any construction firm hoping to make it to the next level.
Small
firms tend to have one person who serves as both the project and construction
manager. That could be holding the firm back, as those are very different roles
that require unique talents. Construction managers and project managers have
their own tasks, their own responsibilities, and their own project management or construction management software.
Here
are a few key differences between a construction manager and project manager
and why this matters to your firm.
Project Management is Broader
The
main difference between project managers
and construction managers is the
scope. Project managers typically are higher up the food chain in an
organization and have broader responsibilities.
For
example, a construction manager may only oversee the construction of the
building itself, whereas a project manager will run all aspects of the project,
from selecting the site to land procurement to, well, hiring the construction
manager.
A
project manager’s job is to give the construction manager and everyone else on
the project the tools and support they need to get the work done.
Common
project manager activities include:
- Site analysis
- Land procurement
- Marketing and public relations
- Budget management
- Timeline and deadline
management
- Staffing (including the
construction manager)
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes119021.htm
