Owner's Representative and Project Management Services

• Residential
• Commercial/Retail
• Institutional
• Structural Failures
• Forensic Analysis
• Construction Team Due Diligence
• Project Team Selection

 

The Owner's Dilemma

The complexities of today's construction projects can create a burden on owners who lack the expertise to adequately determine a project's true status, particularly in light of the potential for scheduling pitfalls, contractor claims, and hidden costs. Expertise in handling these pressures is essential from both a construction and legal standpoint. To secure an informed and objective analysis for the successful completion of your project requires a significant depth and breadth of experience to fully evaluate all of the hidden dangers.

The Owner's Advocate and Representative - An Effective Solution

The owner of a construction project is best served when project management is independent of both the designer and contractor. Only this type of relationship permits a fully objective assessment of the schedule, budget, and quality of a project that enables it to proceed strictly in accordance with the best interests of the owner.

Keeping an accurate pulse on a complex project requires aggressive evaluation and management by experienced professionals. In order to avoid the project goals from falling by the wayside, owners should consider retaining an independent owner's representative and construction counsel even before the project begins to help establish the proper execution strategy unique to each project. These professionals are able to recommend and establish a team of design professionals, contractors, and suppliers appropriate to the owner's specific project; evaluate potential conflicts and dangers; oversee the adherence to the budget and schedule by the team; and navigate the project to satisfactory completion.

LePatner - The Value Added Difference

The LePatner approach differs vastly from typical construction advisors. The depth of combined experience, expertise, and resources found in the staff of professional attorneys and architects at LePatner makes them uniquely qualified to provide corporate and institutional owners undergoing major capital construction projects and developers with seamless agreements, representation, and project management in the context of an "owners-first" environment. The protection of the owner's critical business and legal project objectives is our highest aim. We act quickly to develop creative solutions that implement the best course of action to overcome the inevitable challenges owners face during a construction project.

LePatner has provided its unique combination of legal and project management services for a wide array of clients and building types, including:

• The Core Club, a 25,000 square foot private health and culture club in Midtown Manhattan: Spread over five floors, the Club contains a screening room, a restaurant and lounge, a fitness center, a library, and a full-service spa.

• An underground parking lot conversion in the underutilized cellar of an office building in downtown Manhattan.

• The Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish government's cultural center near the United Nations: Lepatner guided the project through a challenging Landmarks Commission approval process, then established an accelerated completion plan to ensure a timely scheduled completion.

• The Central Park Boathouse renovations: LePatner prepared the proposal which allowed its client to win the Boathouse concessionairre's operating license, then oversaw the completion of the extensive renovations and additions to the lakeside dining terrace, banquet facilities and new modular kitchen.

• The Carlyle hotel: LePatner prepared a full Property Condition Assessment Report for Rosewood Hotels before it purchased the Hotel. Following the purchase, LePatner project managed the renovation of its Landmarked upper facade, and helped untangle several issues pertaining to the Hotel's Certificate of Occupancy.

• Various residential projects including full gut renovations in townhouses, apartments, and multi-family buildings.

The combination of these services provides owners, for the first time, with full and complete representation throughout the construction process. In the fast-paced construction environment, a coordinated approach between construction and legal issues is the key element in owner protection. The owner's peace of mind and confidence in the successful completion of their construction project is perhaps the most valuable difference of all.

Brad Cronk, a registered architect and LEED Accredited Professional, heads LePatner's project management division.