&estimate

who we are

&estimate is a consulting firm within the PCS family of companies, that provides pre-construction services with an emphasis on probable cost estimates throughout all the design phases of commercial construction projects. We provide our services to architects, engineers, governmental agencies, developers and owners across the country.

&estimate possesses vast pre-construction experience within Architectural, Civil, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical systems as the staff is comprised of specialists with respective knowledge of a single building trade. We focus on all the individual divisions as well as the individual building components. &estimate also maintains a vast material database where we track commodity items, individual items, all equipment such as light fixtures to HVAC as well as labor information. We can estimate a project in its entirety, hard and soft costs with accuracy without going to the market. We walk through a project systematically as we see the assemblies with the value attached. Utilizing the design team’s documents, we quantify the project and anticipate all the building’s future required needs to complete an estimate when design drawings have yet to be completed.

what we'll do for you

&estimate offers pre-construction services from the idea moment through completion when the owner is handed the keys. For over thirty years our clients have depended on us to provide the equilibrium between the owner’s budget and the design.

Services we offer:

Probable Cost Estimating
Building Assessments
Value Engineering
Owner's Representation
Constructability Review

FFE Estimating
FFE Procurement
Scheduling
Cost Segregation
Life Cycle Costing

Our areas of expertise:

Education, Public and Private
Healthcare
Government
Community/Recreational Centers
Corporate
Performing Arts
Museums

Historical Restoration
Senior Living
Hospitality
Housing
Religious
Non-Profit
Mixed-Use
High Performance/Energy Efficient Construction

how we got here

In 1988 three men came together with a singular mission to provide high quality construction services. Skilled in pre-construction cost-estimating, construction scheduling and project management, respectively, these men founded Project and Construction Services, (PCS) to facilitate their mission; providing architects and owners with a precise understanding of their project’s costs, in addition to a likely schedule and managing the build itself, thus effectively integrating the entire construction process from the planning phase all the way to the finished product.

PCS proved to be effective in their approach and their commitment to providing world class construction management services fueled growth catalyzed by two main tenets held by its original founders. What originally were services and then divisions, pre-construction cost-estimating, construction scheduling and project management, grew out to become two separate organizations under the umbrella of the PCS parent company; &estimate, and &build.

&estimate serves architects and owners and is the consultant based pre-construction arm of the PCS Companies offering full pre-construction services to include: Probable Cost Estimates, Owner’s Representation, Cost Segregation and FFE Procurement. The parent company PCS always excelled at pre-construction cost estimating and other pre-construction services and &estimate continues to be a leader amongst its class.

Historically, we expanded our pre-construction reach by assuming a Construction Management Agency (CMA) function with an exclusive responsibility to the owner and acting in their best interests throughout each stage of the project. Utilizing our expertise, in a little over a decade we managed over $1.3 billion dollars of renovations and new school construction in Ohio. Our ultimate success attracted additional opportunities in our neighboring state of West Virginia. Whereby we provided CMA management of school and government facilities.

Additionally, Construction Management at Risk (CMR) was the natural expansion and culmination of all our collective experience- we simply added on the build. Like a CMA, we are involved early in the design process and we manage that process as an advisor to the owner. Unlike a CMA, we provide a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and hire the subs and are responsible to them as well. &build embodies the best of how the PCS family has learned and grown on the job.

recently completed

University School’s Upper Campus Expansion

Hunting Valley, OH

Cleveland Convention Center

Cleveland, OH

Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters

Cleveland, OH

Progressive Field

Cleveland, OH

Library of Congress

Washington, DC

Center for Innovation in Medical Professions

Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Clinic Heart Center

Cleveland, OH

Coronado Theatre

Rockford, IL

Parran and Crabtree Halls, University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Almono Mill 19

Pittsburgh, PA

Westin Hotel

Pittsburgh, PA

University of West Virginia Basketball Facility

Morgantown, WV

Bridge Street District, Bridge Park

Dublin, OH

Little Caesars HQ

Detroit, MI

Harry Truman Building

Washington, DC

the cm process by PCS

Project Development

This is where we add real value to your project. We eliminate the uncertainty and unknowns by marrying the owner’s intent and architect’s vision. We establish the cost, and we guide your project to success.

GMP

Project Development

Idea!

You have an idea for a project. You have a concept meeting with the architect and us, your Construction Management firm.

Schematic Design, (SD)

At this point we have a 10,000’ view of the project—we know what the build is, we know the site, and the size, and intended use. We apply cost to your architect’s vision.

Construction Documents, (CD)

You now have a 100% complete, “permitable” set of drawings. We use these to determine your guaranteed maximum price, (GMP).

Bid Day!

Scope Review

We review the subcontractors’ bids to make sure they’re close to our in-house numbers, and if they’re different, we find out why.

Contract Day

Locking up the subs numbers, write a contract with the owner.

Issue Subcontracts

Build

We build your building.

Construction Complete

We take care of punch list items, make sure everything is squared away and you’re happy.

Close Out

We hand you the keys and start thinking about your next project.

CM-at-Risk contracts, cost-reimbursable GMP (guaranteed maximum price) payment terms, and fast-track schedules are independent concepts.

They can be used alone, but go together like a burger, fries, and shake. The building process is often misunderstood and mismanaged. Clients don’t understand it, and general contractors mismanage it.

Speed, economy, potential for higher quality are all advantages. It takes collaborative people who understand the process, disciplined attention to detail and transparent and trusting relationships. Most of all, a successful team must include an engaged and collaborative owner. We create an environment of collaboration, transparency, and trust.

The secret to success is for everyone to understand the deal—owner, architect, CM, subs, suppliers, and manufacture. This happens through thorough discovery at the start of the project, revealing other’s assumptions about the deal and coming to a mutual, team understanding.

A Construction Manager provides services during design, provides cost guarantees, holds the subcontracts, is responsible for the subcontractors’ work. The difference between a CMR and GC is the preconstruction services during the design phase that the CMR can provide. A CMR plays two roles: A duty to operate as an agent in the best interests of the client, and as a contractor delivering a product.
During the design phase, a CMR has a duty to support the architect’s efforts and operate in the interests of the client, the owner. In the construction phase, a vendor relationship (GC) takes over, we take over management of the subs. We maintain a knife-edge balance between self-interested risk protection, and our duty to act in the best interests of the owner.

specialties

HISTORICAL RENOVATION

Attention to detail, care and craftsmanship are what our clients count on when choosing PCS Builders for construction on a historic building project. Unusual challenges are inherent to many historical structures and we have the expertise to provide creative solutions.
Affiliations: Cleveland Restoration Society

SENIOR LIVING

Our specialized team has a proven track record in renovations and repositionings in occupied senior living residences. We work to ensure each aspect of the design and construction keeps your residents’ wants and needs in mind and helps you maximize your investment.
Affiliations: ICAA (International Council on Active Aging)

EDUCATION

As a K-12 and college CM, PCS Builders offers a variety of education construction expertise for both public school districts and private entities. Whether ground-up facilities, renovations or additions, in an unoccupied or occupied facility, the safety of our clients and construction workers is the number one priority.

HOUSING/MIXED-USE

Our experience in apartment building construction spans from historic renovation projects to new construction. Many of these multi-unit residential projects include integrated or standalone parking structures, as well as other amenities to include fitness centers, retail space, for mixed-use complexes.

recently completed