Typical Project Process

There are many steps involved in completing a project and a lot of them happen outside of AES’s control (legal reviews, Division of Building Safety reviews, document signature routing, etc.). We do our best to move your project through this process as quickly as possible and here are the various steps you can expect to encounter along the way.

• Project Approval: Your project is approved via the Capital Project Needs Request (CPNR) or Campus Architect and queued for the next available project manager.
• Feasibility Review: Before assigning a project manager, we want to make sure you have enough time and money to do what you want. This helps everyone have realistic expectations about the project.
• Assignment to a Project Manager: Once a project manager is available, they will be assigned to the project. You will be notified and contacted by the project manager who will guide you through the rest of the process.
• Project Funding Authority: Initial project budgets, Project Funding Authorizations, and other required project setup is completed.
• Consultation Selection: The architect, engineer, and other required consultants are hired to design the project.
• Programming/Estimating: Big-picture goals and timeline are determined. This is the best time for any big scope changes to occur without delaying the project.
• Schematic Design: The design is put down on paper and we verify it meets the goals set forth in the Programming/Estimating stage.
• Design Development: The design is developed to include specific design features, materials and finishes, and code requirements.
• Construction Documents: The design is finalized and ready for bidding. This is a bad time to make big changes, but still a better time than after documents are approved.
• Plan Check: The Division of Building Safety must review and approve plans. Any comments they have must be addressed before the project can be bid.
• Bidding/Award: The project is bid and awarded to the lowest responsive bidder.
• Construction: The construction phase effectively ends at substantial completion. At substantial completion, the project can be used for its intended purposes. For projects with a tight schedule, the occupants may move in at this point. However, there are usually still a few items to complete after substantial completion.
• Project Closeout: Contractors have 30 days from substantial completion to finish or fix the items necessary for final completion. There may be contractors coming in occasionally to fix items even after you have moved into the space.
• Warranty Period: Most projects have a 1-year warranty period. You may find things that need to be adjusted or fixed as you use the space so please inform your project manager of these items within the warranty period.