What Are The Pre-Construction Stages of A Project?

In this blog, I’m going to walk you through the pre-construction phases of a project and how to plan a project successfully. We all know that projects don’t fail in the middle—they fail right from the start. To ensure your project is on the right track from day one, it’s important to go beyond the typical phase descriptions and focus on a more comprehensive approach.

Typically, there are five main phases in the pre-construction process: proposal and interview, concept and schematic design, design development, construction drawings, and finally, project start and mobilization. But today, we’re going to rethink those traditional stages and give them a fresh perspective. Here’s how to approach them differently:

1. Win the Project

The first phase is all about securing the project. This goes beyond just submitting a proposal or doing an interview. Here, it’s essential to align with your project team early on. By doing so, you can create a master schedule, logistics plans, and zone maps, while also developing 3D or 4D plans that set the tone for the project. During this phase, focus on the three key aspects that will solve the client’s problems, showing that you’ve already begun working on their behalf even before the contract is signed.

2. Set the Parameters

Once you’ve secured the project, it’s time to establish the conditions of satisfaction, also known as setting the parameters. In this stage, communication is key—you need to ensure you fully understand what the client expects and how the project team will operate. This includes setting clear goals, determining meeting structures, and understanding the org chart that will guide the entire project. Setting these parameters early on ensures everyone is on the same page, which is crucial during the pre-construction design phases.

3. Enable the Design Team

The next phase focuses on enabling the design team. By providing real-time budget and schedule updates, along with conducting constructability reviews, you’re supporting the designers in fleshing out their work. It’s vital to keep communication flowing with the design team, ensuring they have all the information they need. You’ll want to employ tools like A3 reports, choosing by advantages, and risk and opportunity registers to make sure everything aligns with the broader project plan.

4. Plan with the Builders

This phase is about involving the people who will actually build the project. It’s essential to bring the builders—whether they’re your foremen, contractors, or other key stakeholders—into the planning process. The reason for this is simple: You can’t hold them accountable for the project if they weren’t involved in the planning. During this phase, make sure to lock down permitting, secure long-lead procurement, and complete any civil preparations such as relocation of underground utilities. This is also the stage where you’ll finalize your master schedule, logistics drawings, trailer design, risk and opportunity register, and org chart.

5. Prepare for the Start

Now that you’ve set the project up for success, it’s time to prepare for the actual start of construction. This involves locking in your prime agreements and beginning your quality pre-construction meetings with the trades. You’ll also want to engage your 90-day plan, ensuring that the project kicks off on the right foot. Starting strong is crucial, as it’s far easier to make adjustments in the early phases than it is later on.

The Key to Project Success

Ultimately, if you’re tired of the old labels like proposal, interview, schematic design, and construction drawings, think of the process like this: win the project, set the parameters, enable the design team, plan with the builders, and prepare to start strong. When followed correctly, this process will predict project success. As they say, projects don’t go wrong—they start wrong. Ensuring that you follow these five steps will put your project on the right path from the beginning.