Owner Representation Services: An Independent Alternative
School Advisor, 2006 Issue No. 1

The construction or renovation of school buildings is a major undertaking for any district. For most districts, the tendency is to hire an architect to design the project and a construction manager to oversee the construction. However, there is an alternative to the traditional approach: an owner representative.

An owner representative is your advocate and exists solely to represent you and your interests. They can coordinate your construction process, from planning through post-construction, providing the talent to assure the job is done correctly, on time, and on budget. As they have no conflicts of interest, owner representatives can recruit and coordinate multiple architects and construction managers, if necessary, to make sure your project benefits from the top talent available at multiple firms. This reduces time and improves quality — at the same cost.

Some school districts realize the value of an owner representative but look inward rather than outward for a solution. The bottom line is that coordinating a construction project is time-consuming and intricate. Establishing clear standards and coordinating multiple parties can be a challenge, but the ultimate benefit to the district is well worth the effort.

Put simply, the use of an owner representative allows your district staff to focus on their core responsibilities, improves the quality of your project, and assists you in reducing project costs and time resulting in a better project.