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Your building supports your business.

At Northstar Management Company, we use business-driven strategies to guide you through the complex process of design and construction. Our proven approach, unmatched expertise and client focus ensure a successful and positive project from start to finish.

Every project has its challenges. What are yours?

Get Answers to Common Questions

Your Questions

I need a new facility to support my growing business. Where do I start? What questions should I be asking?

Our Answers

The impact of your building extends far beyond project completion. Thoughtful planning leads to overall project success. Northstar has developed an initial planning process to provide accurate and reliable information early in the process and ensure holistic planning of your facility needs before a significant monetary investment is made. We’ll lead you through our functional programming process, a critical thinking exercise that we conduct as a first step to identify the major planning criteria for all facility projects.

FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING

Your Questions

I’m an expert in my industry but not an expert in construction. I’ve hired a contractor and architect; will they take care of everything I need?

Our Answers

Many owners do not realize that contractors and architects rely on the owner’s staff to assume several key roles for the project, including overall project management, cost accounting (review/pay/track all invoices) and active participation in the development and approval of project scope. In addition, detailed project needs such as surveys, interactions with various governmental bodies and the purchase and installation of all furniture, fixtures and equipment are also typically provided by the owner’s staff. When you engage Northstar, we become an extension of your leadership team and can assume these roles as needed in combination with existing staff or as a single resource. A core element to Northstar’s success is the insight and knowledge we have gained from completing more than 1,000 projects worth over $5 billion. We will guide you through every step of the complex process of planning, design, construction and occupancy.

COMPREHENSIVE OVERSIGHT

Your Questions

Who do I need on my project team? How do I find and engage the right resources?

Our Answers

All project resources are not created equal. To navigate all the variables specific to your project needs, Northstar uses a rigorous process to identify potential team members and obtain qualifications. We have developed an evaluation tool to help you select the best team based on your specific needs, including an architect, construction manager, general contractor and specialty consultants. Once your project team is assembled, we will establish clear lines of authority and facilitate efficient and effective decision making to keep your project moving forward.

ORGANIZE PROJECT TEAM

Your Questions

I’m not sure my facility design aligns with my business needs. How do I know I’m getting what I need and want?

Our Answers

The decisions you make today about your new building will impact your future operations. Northstar will conduct a review and analysis of your project objectives and implement routine meetings with key team members to bring constant focus to your business and operational needs. We will help you make decisions about important factors, such as staff productivity and utilization, to protect not only your current project budget but also your future operating costs.

FACILITY ASSESSMENTS

Your Questions

I don’t want to be surprised by unknown costs. How do I ensure my budget includes all costs from start to finish?

Our Answers

No owner likes getting surprised by unknown or additional cost items. Northstar develops budgetary information based on our extensive experience estimating a variety of projects. We help you stay ahead of unknowns by utilizing an extensive cost database to quickly review and validate all budgetary information. We consider all project cost elements required to complete the scope of work — not just construction costs — and track all budgets, commitments, invoices and costs.

COST CONTROLS

Your Questions

Busted budget? How do I correct, control and get ahead of budget issues?

Our Answers

The key to avoiding a busted budget is to take the time to develop, and constantly confirm, reliable scope-of-work assumptions (quality, quantities, etc.). To ensure that a realistic budget is created and maintained, Northstar developed an exercise called the Cost Opinion Value Analysis (COVA) process. This is an integrated team exercise that reviews all project planning criteria and key assumptions related to major building components. The outcome allows the team to select base scope options and value alternatives to form the basis of the cost estimate. We facilitate this exercise at each major process milestone (schematic design, design development, etc.) to ensure budget compliance as the project develops. In addition, to facilitate informed and timely decisions throughout the project development process, we utilize our owner’s project contingency log to capture all potential scope changes and their impact on the overall budget and schedule.

COVA

Your Questions

Is my schedule realistic? How do I ensure my project will stay on schedule?

Our Answers

A well-planned project must have a defined scope and objectives that are communicated and understood by the entire project team. Northstar develops and continuously communicates an overall master schedule that is informed and updated using project team detailed schedule information. We list tasks by phase and give each task a projected start date, duration and estimated completion date. The result is an accurate projected timeline that provides an easy, at-a-glance status of activities.

MASTER PROJECT SCHEDULE

Your Questions

I’m worried about quality control. What can I do?

Our Answers

Upholding the highest standards of quality isn’t optional. Not understanding requirements and codes can have costly implications today and down the road and can risk the safety of your team and even your staff. Northstar will conduct a review and analysis of all phases of the project and implement routine meetings with key team members to bring constant focus to quality issues. Our up-to-date action item log ensures issues are being addressed and informed decisions are made.

ACTION ITEM LOG

Your Questions

My project is nearing completion. How do I prepare to move into my new facility?

Our Answers

It’s exciting to move into a new facility, but the thought of moving in can also be overwhelming. Northstar routinely facilitates the planning and activation process by establishing a Transitional Operational Planning (TOP) team. We will engage key stakeholders, determine who should be involved in the transition process, bring appropriate resources to the table and clearly phase the move-in process, continuously communicating to all involved.

TRANSITIONAL OPERATIONS PLANNING

Your Questions

My design team is requesting medical equipment information. Who on my project team will determine my equipment needs?

Our Answers

Medical equipment brings an added level of complexity to health care construction projects. An equipment planner is needed when there is a critical amount of equipment that is vital to your organization’s operations. Northstar’s Medical Equipment Specialists will facilitate an equipment management plan, incorporating an inventory evaluation, room-by-room list with budget and an analysis of wants vs. needs based on functional operations. We will then integrate this information with the overall project schedule to determine what is needed and when.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PLANNING

Great minds think alike.

An extension of your team, we care as much about your project as you do. We’ll act on your behalf and always represent your best interests.

Meet Our Team

Your project’s success is as
important to us as it is to you.

Define Your Project Objectives
01

Success can only be measured against defined project objectives. A comprehensive assessment of needs and detailed planning ensures the entire team understands the objectives and expectations.

Establish the Project Management Plan
02

Team members and decision makers all need to know the timing of decisions, project documentation and construction logistics. This information is detailed in a project management plan, which is implemented and controlled through effective management and communication tools.

Assemble and Align the Project Team
03

Team development and dynamics are critical to a project’s success. Our comprehensive process assesses experience and services as well as chemistry with your team and ensures collaboration and ownership of project objectives.

Facilitate Timely Decision Making
04

Establishing clear lines of authority and providing information to make informed, timely decisions streamlines the process to keep your project on schedule.

Ensure a Successful Solution
05

There’s more to do than just move in once the structure is complete. We’ll make sure all of your transition needs are covered, resulting in a finished product that meets and exceeds your expectations and supports your business objectives.