From an experienced team
CMAR & Construction Management Services
Risky business? Not anymore! Trust our construction management services to complete your project efficiently and cost-effectively. From the very beginning of the project planning phase, we work to control construction projects with precision. As a full service construction project management consulting firm, we provide the management and support needed to navigate complex builds.
Commercial Construction Management—Koehn’s Got Skin in the Game
As a leader in commercial construction management, we are proud to offer Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services to ensure our client’s projects are completed well, on time, and on budget. Our team provides the professional oversight and insights necessary for any modern business to thrive during a build.
Construction Manager at Risk - CMAR Delivery Method
CMAR stands for “Construction Manager at Risk.” The cmar delivery method is a specific type of construction project delivery. It involves choosing a construction manager to act in your best interest and oversee the construction projects with the goal of ensuring it’s completed under the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) that is given during the bid phase.
Unlike traditional methods where a contractor residential or commercial firm is hired only after designs are finished, the CMAR process begins much earlier. At the beginning of the project planning phase, the construction manager joins the team as a consultant to provide essential insights into the construction feasibility and cost management of the design.
This management style creates a collaborative environment where the owner, architect, and manager work toward a shared goal. Because the manager takes on the “risk” of meeting the GMP, they have a vested interest in high-level program management and rigorous quality control. We coordinate with all stakeholders to identify potential hurdles early, utilizing our expertise in dispute resolution and construction scheduling to prevent costly mid-build surprises. As a full service construction project management consulting firm, we ensure that this professional oversight translates to a business investment that is protected from the typical volatility of the construction industry.
CMAR Services
At Koehn Construction, our CMAR services combine hands-on construction expertise with proactive risk management. From selecting the right subcontractors to aligning timelines and monitoring costs, our team works closely with architects, engineers, and an owner to keep the project on track and within budget. With a proven track record in industrial and commercial construction, Koehn brings the leadership, foresight, and commitment needed to deliver success under the CMAR model.
We focus on high-stakes commercial cms (construction management services) that require rigorous quality control and program management expertise.
Cost-Effective Delivery
All decisions are made with the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) in mind to ensure your project is completed in the most cost-effective manner possible. Our management services include detailed cost management and construction scheduling to prevent budget overruns.
On-Time Completion
We hate project delays as much as you do. Our construction manager will ensure your project is completed with as little delay as possible. We coordinate every phase of construction to ensure seamless transitions between trades.
On Your Side, Always
Construction management at Risk guarantees you have a representative on the ground ensuring your needs are being met at all times. Our project management approach includes proactive dispute resolution to keep the construction site productive and professional.
Featured Project
Scale:
18500 sq.ft.
Approach:
Design-build
Implementation:
In collaboration with Architect One, Topeka, Kan.
Trident Aquatics
Construction Type: Hybrid: Conventional construction and pre-engineered metal building
Special Features: Interior - Two pools with a combined 220,000-gallon capacity; custom-treated steel beams; custom building coatings and surface treatments; high-capacity dehumidifying HVAC system | Exterior - Exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS), masonry, architectural metal panels
The young athletes of Trident Aquatics, a sanctioned USA Swimming team, needed a state-of-the-art training facility that could double as a community aquatics center for the region. When it was time for Sean Callan, founder and coach, to make the new business a reality, he called on Koehn Construction to deliver the right solutions.
Creativity and collaboration drove the project. Callan and Koehn, partners on previous builds, brainstormed on ideas, leveraging Koehn’s experience with out-of-the-ordinary assignments to create a solid plan. And by collaborating with Cassandra Taylor of Architect One, Koehn was able to deliver a cost-effective solution for the building.
Where We Provide Construction Management Services
Based in Fredonia, KS, Koehn Construction offers professional construction management services across a wide service area, including Tulsa, OK, Southeast, KS, and the Kansas City metro area. Our reach extends throughout the entire state of Kansas and into northeastern Oklahoma, supporting a diverse range of commercial and industrial clients.
Whether managing a new development in an urban center or overseeing a large-scale industrial build in a rural community, we bring the same level of precision, accountability, and oversight.
Design-Build Projects
Implementation: Remodel/expansion of existing location while in use
Construction Type: Conventional construction
Implementation: New Construction
Construction Type: Implementation Partners, Kaw Valley Engineering, BNB Design, MKEC, PKMR
FAQ: Insights From an Experienced Team
To keep this focused on the core needs of a commercial project, here are the five most common questions regarding Construction Management (CM) services. These address the fundamental “why” and “how” that stakeholders need to understand before signing a contract.
While an architect designs the building, a Construction Manager is hired to manage the “business” of the build. Without a CM, the owner is responsible for coordinating dozens of separate trade contractors, managing the budget in real-time, and solving technical field issues.
- The Value: The CM acts as a single point of responsibility. They bridge the gap between the artistic design and the physical reality of labor, materials, and local building codes. They ensure the project is actually “buildable” before you spend millions on a design that can’t be executed.
For maximum ROI, a CM should be brought on during the Pre-construction phase (ideally when the design is only 20% to 30% complete).
- The Reason: If you wait until the design is finished, you lose the opportunity for Value Engineering. Hiring a CM early allows them to provide cost estimates while the drawings are still flexible, preventing the need for expensive redesigns later.
A CM provides continuous cost modeling rather than a one-time bid.
- Transparency: They use “Open Book” accounting, meaning stakeholders see the actual bids from subcontractors.
- Cost Tracking: They provide regular “Budget vs. Actual” reports. If the price of steel spikes, the CM identifies it immediately and suggests alternative materials or design tweaks to keep the total project cost from moving.
Quality isn’t just about the final look; it’s about the integrity of the systems behind the walls.
- Submittals: The CM reviews every material sample (from the type of concrete to the grade of wiring) to ensure it meets the architect’s specifications.
- Field Inspections: They walk the site daily to ensure subcontractors are following the blueprints exactly. This prevents “re-work,” which is one of the leading causes of schedule delays in commercial construction.
Construction is inherently risky (financial, safety, and legal). A CM mitigates this through:
- Prequalification: They only allow financially stable, insured subcontractors to bid.
- Safety Management: They enforce a strict safety culture, which keeps insurance premiums low and prevents site shutdowns due to accidents.
- Schedule Certainty: By managing the “Critical Path”—the sequence of events that must happen for the project to finish on time—they ensure the building is ready for occupancy when promised.