Project Management

Project Managers

Partnering

Budget Management

Maintenance and Commissioning

Project Close-out and Post-Occupancy Evaluation

Project Managers
The Commission uses an efficient project delivery model that harnesses the effectiveness of the private sector by employing construction managers from private firms to oversee projects.  The use of these outside contractors ensures uniform quality across projects and achieves cost savings.  OSFC’s oversight model ensures quality construction for all school districts, and to date has seen a rate of defective work of less than one half of one percent of all expended funds. 

For more information, contact: Steve Berezansky, Interim Chief of Projects

Partnering
OSFC is also breaking ground through its Partnering Process.  Each project’s construction managers, architects, Commission Project Administrators, and local school officials establish a system for project oversight and dispute resolution that will be used throughout the project.  The purpose of partnering is to provide a forum where information can be shared and team members can resolve issues that might otherwise result in costly and time-consuming legal actions.  To date, with over 3,500 trade contracts awarded, the Commission has had no significant contractor claim litigation as a result of an aggressive claim mediation program.

Ohio’s school facilities effort is a partnership between a state agency and the local school district in both funding and management.  This arrangement brings statewide expertise in assessment, planning, contracting, and knowledge of the contractor market to each school district, as well as increases public accountability. 

Budget Management
Budget management, scope management, schedule management, and quality management are the corner stones of project management. Each element is important and has to be in balance with the others for a successful project.
Budget management begins at the earliest stages of a project and requires continuous diligence from teams throughout the entire length of a project.

During pre-design phase as school districts select and acquire property for the new construction, the location, size, configuration, topography and availability of utilities have to be balanced against the budget. In the schematic design phase the building's location on the site, configuration, orientation, and layout of spaces and functions all impact the budget. These early design decisions have the greatest influence on a team's ability to manage a projects budget. As the design progresses, the ease and ability to make design changes to balance with the budget diminish.

OSFC works jointly with school districts, architects and construction managers to manage project budgets while maintaining a level of quality established by the Ohio School Design Manual (OSDM). The OSDM provides a palette of high quality choices that can be used to develop designs that are in balance with the project budget. Emphasis of value engineering is made away from the classrooms in order to preserve the highest quality learning environments for the children.

If school districts desire additional space or design features, they may pursue these objectives by incorporating them into their school designs as local funded initiatives (LFI). This flexibility allows districts to further customize and adapt the OSDM compliant building design to their local needs and desires while benefiting from the economies of scale and project management structure provided through the OSFC program.

For more information, contact: Steve Berezansky, Interim Chief of Projects

Maintenance and Commissioning

For more information, contact: Mark Wantage, Maintenance Administrator

Project Close-Out and Post-Occupancy Evaluation
OSFC ensures quality projects through the end of the construction process.  OSFC expects accountability from all members of the project team.  OSFC strives to correct any post-construction issues that might exist, and will conduct a “responsibility analysis” to seek remediation from the proper party.

Testimonials from staff, students, and members of the community provide important input on the new or renovated facility after it is occupied.  An evaluation of all members of the project team-Construction Managers, Architects and Prime Contractors-provides OSFC with information on the quality of the work performed and helps to identify areas of improvement.  All results from these evaluations are available to the public.

For more information, contact: Tom Brannon, Post Construction Administrator

Page last updated 11/6/2006