Bill Fuchs
Senior project manager and an owner/member of Menomonee Falls-based Creative Constructors L.L.C.

What is design/build?

"Design/ build is different for different companies. Certain places offer what they call design/build services, and what they do is use their in-house architectural services. Other companies, like ours, assemble a specific design/build team based on the specific needs of the project. ... What we'll do is pull in an architect who has that specialty to coincide with the project, and we'll form a specific design/build team. The architect would be working as part of the team that we're putting together. We're sort of a quarterback or a captain of the team."

What is "turnkey?"

"Basically, you could come in very, very conceptual with the owner and assist them all the way through the conceptual design, development - we even get in ahead of time helping them select land, help set them up with a lending institution, all the way through basically handing them the key and saying, 'Here's your building and we'll walk you through the operations and warranty period.'"

What is construction management?

"The project size, the scope has to fit the needs where the construction manager can provide additional services that the rest of the team does not possess. For example, let's say a developer that has not dealt in a specific area or a specific type of building or specific type of project and may not have the experience, that's something we can help with on the development end. Perhaps he has six or seven different tenants that he doesn't want to tie down to one GC to monitor the entire site. We can come in as the construction manager and handle the entire project without being specifically tied down to one of the tenants. But there are also things where you can CM and construct at the same time, basically one person who is overseeing the entire project. Otherwise, if your just a smaller project, you're CM is strictly an office function acting as a broker almost. ... There are so many variations and nuances per company, and our job really is bringing the best parts, pieces and players to the table to assemble the best project team."

How does a negotiated contract influence delivery?

"In negotiation, there is a much better relationship going in. It eliminates some of the adversarial relationships you have with a hard bid. It's more of a team atmosphere that you're working with the owner and the architect."