How Do I Know I Have The Right Logistical Sequence?

How to Sequence Buildings with Site Utilities Using Week-by-Week Analysis

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through a real-world example where we were faced with a critical question: What building should go first in sequence with the site utilities? You’ll see how we made that determination using a structured method, including the key steps and tools that led us to a data-driven decision.

The Big Question: What Goes First?

Let me set the stage: this was our first project in a multi-phase development. We had garden-style, three-story walk-up multifamily buildings, a clubhouse, and a pool—all part of phase one. It seemed simple at first glance, but when it came down to determining which building to start with, things got complex fast.

Should we go Building 1 → 2 → 3? Or start elsewhere? And what about the clubhouse? All of this had to be planned around ongoing site work phasing in different directions. Verbal back-and-forth wasn’t cutting it. Even with my experience phasing much more complex sites, this stuff is still tough to visualize without the right tools.

The Solution: Week-by-Week Analysis

That’s where week-by-week analysis came in. Huge shout out to Luis, who spearheaded this effort. Here’s what he did:

• Mapped out the site utilities on a plan.
• Overlaid the plan with building locations.
• Plugged the actual production plan into a Takt format below the visual.

The result? A clear time-by-location diagram showing exactly what would be happening each week across the site.

Breaking It Down:

Luis looked at the plan week by week—what’s happening on Week 1, 2, 3, all the way through Week 18. He added internal notes to indicate what he was analyzing and how each scenario would play out.

The visuals made it obvious:

• Was Building 2 accessible in time?
• Would Building 3 create conflicts?
• How early could we get to the clubhouse?

This level of detail gave us the confidence to finalize the building sequence and integrate it directly into the bidding documents.

From Guesswork to Data-Driven Planning:

This process didn’t take days—it took a couple of hours. And it eliminated guesswork. The final logistics plan, including zone breakdowns and building sequence, was based on clear, visual analysis.

So, ask yourself: Is your project plan based on hard data or just intuition?

Why It Matters:

I’ve never seen a complex site—tight layout, basements, concrete-heavy projects—succeed without this kind of day-by-day or week-by-week mapping. The human brain just isn’t wired to visualize it all. You have to draw it out and validate it visually.

Key Takeaway:

When sequencing buildings around site utilities, don’t rely on guesswork—use a week-by-week visual analysis to make data-driven decisions that clarify access, avoid conflicts, and strengthen your production plan.