Construction managers apply project management techniques to the planning, design, and construction of a building project, from its beginning to its completion.
Typically known as foremen or forewomen, construction managers are responsible for organizing the overall project and supervising and training employees in their charge.
Prior to World War II, general contractors typically ran construction projects. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, when postwar construction was booming, cost and time overruns became major issues. The position of construction manager was created to be the point person to ensure all work was done within cost and time limitations. To meet that need, training programs were developed for construction managers.
A construction manager is a seasoned specialist who coordinates the work of the trades on a jobsite and keeps the project moving smoothly. Their responsibilities span the full day-to-day operation: training crews, giving clear instructions and documentation, enforcing safe and proper equipment use, organizing schedules, controlling costs, monitoring quality, making on-the-spot decisions, and reporting progress. Many also rely on estimating and planning software to forecast expenses and determine the labor, materials, and time needed to complete the job.
Construction managers typically have a main office but spend most of their time working from a field office at a construction site, where they monitor the project and make daily decisions about construction activities. The need to meet deadlines and respond to emergencies often requires long hours.
Construction manager is not a trade in the sense that an electrician or plumber is a trade, but they are essential to large-scale building projects.
Typically, construction managers are construction workers with many years of experience in a particular trade, but they generally need to have at least a bachelor's degree, and then learn management techniques through on-the-job training.
Large construction firms usually prefer a construction manager with both construction experience and a bachelor's degree in a construction-related program, such as construction science, construction management, architecture, or engineering.
Bachelor degree programs for construction managers typically include courses in project control and management, design, construction methods and materials, cost estimates, building codes and standards, contract administration, mathematics, and statistics.
In addition to previous work in the construction industry, there are various internships, cooperative education programs, and other opportunities to train with experienced construction managers. Some construction managers become qualified solely through long experience in construction, with several years in carpentry, masonry, or other construction specialties.
Some jurisdictions require licensure for construction managers. Many local and community colleges provide certification. The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) awards a nationally recognized Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation to applicants with the required experience and a passing exam score. The America Institute of Constructors awards the Associate Constructor (AC) and Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) designations to candidates who meet its requirements and a passing exam score.
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Located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, the family-owned general contractor, construction manager, and design/builder offers full-service construction management to reduce owner risk, control cost and schedule, and deliver quality on complex public and institutional projects. Its website highlights its on-call, task-order experience, local and regional knowledge, and family-owned continuity. Its services are described in detail on the firm's website. Contacts are provided.
https://www.baltimorecontractors.com/
Catalyst Construction Management
CCM is an Indiana-based construction management and consulting firm that provides end-to-end project services for commercial, medical/dental, office, retail, industrial, and institutional projects. Its core services and approach, as defined on its website, include construction management and project oversight, reconstruction and consulting, and specialty markets, with an emphasis on medical or dental facilities, corporate interiors, retail, industrial, and institutional work.
https://www.catalystcmi.com/
Formed in 1982 to establish standards for managing construction projects, CMAA has 33 chapters across the United States, and is dedicated to career-long education and professional development, beginning with the Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT) program, continuing to the Certified Associate Construction Manager (CACM), through the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential, and beyond to continuing education for advanced professionals. CMAA and ABET are delivery-system neutral.
https://www.cmaanet.org/
The Construction Management (CM) department is one of five units in the University of Washington College of Built Environments, which combines engineering, architecture, and business to prepare students for careers in construction and the built environment. The CM site discusses undergraduate and graduate advising contacts and resources for course planning and enrollment, and its program emphasizes technical skills, project delivery, sustainability, and industry collaboration.
https://cm.be.uw.edu/
MLG is a third-party development, pre-construction, and construction management firm serving owners, institutional investors, and commercial real estate developers in the District Of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia region. Its website outlines its services, project types, and contacts, and describes its leadership and staff as being experienced in engineering, general contracting, owner-development, and third-party owner's representation. Representative projects are highlighted.
https://www.mlg-cm.com/
Positioning itself as a boutique West Coast real-assets firm that provides development management, construction oversight, and investment diligence for complex real estate and infrastructure projects, emphasizing an owner's mindset, long-term value creation, and end-to-end project accountability, the firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with additional office in Portland, Oregon. A portfolio of its work highlights representative projects and focus areas.
https://urbanone.com/
