“The earlier the builder is engaged, the better the outcome.” Abbott | Reed Vice President Aaryn Abbott shares why early GC involvement is key to project success.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in development and construction is this: the earlier the builder is engaged, the better the outcome.
Too often, design and construction are treated as separate phases—architects draw, then contractors build. But in reality, the most successful projects are those where the GC is at the table from the very start.
When builders engage early, three things happen:
1. Rework is reduced Without construction input, drawings sometimes get too far ahead of reality. That’s when redesigns, change orders, and delays creep in. Early collaboration helps ensure that design intent translates cleanly into buildable plans.
2. Costs are controlled Architects and owners aim for vision. Builders bring the lens of cost, constructability, and market realities. When those perspectives are integrated up front, we avoid the painful gap between what’s designed and what’s affordable.
3. Entitlement expectations align Policy makers and community partners want to know a project can actually be delivered. When construction realities are factored in from day one, entitlement conversations are more grounded—and approvals more likely to hold.
The common disconnects
We’ve all seen the pitfalls:
- Idealized design vs. cost reality: Beautiful plans that simply can’t be delivered within budget.
- Value engineering after the fact: Cutting scope late in the process, often diluting design quality.
- Schedule slips: Delays caused by unforeseen constructability challenges.
None of these are failures of design—they’re failures of integration.
Collaboration, not compromise
This isn’t about design losing out to construction. Quite the opposite. Early GC involvement is about protecting design intent by making sure it’s executable, affordable, and resilient through entitlements.
The architect’s vision and the builder’s expertise are two halves of the same equation, and a thoughtful, knowledgeable owner can keep the equation balanced. When all three perspectives align from the very beginning, the result is a project that fulfills the design vision, meets financial and schedule goals, and serves the community.
At Abbott | Reed, we’ve seen firsthand how projects flourish when architects, owners, policy makers, and builders collaborate from the first sketch—shoulder to shoulder, shaping vision into reality.