We spend a lot of time planning the next construction phase, but not always enough time planning the next transition.
I'm talking about that point where a building starts becoming partially occupied while construction is still underway.
From my experience, that's when the job really changes.
If the exterior façade isn't complete, you'll likely still need overhead protection while occupants are entering and exiting the building. Elevator access may need to change. The construction hoist may still be required, or it may need to come down sooner than planned. Material deliveries have to coexist with daily building operations. Site access changes. Temporary protections need to be re-evaluated. Logistics and circulation become a completely different conversation because the project is no longer just an active construction site, it's becoming an occupied building.
That's also when the Tenant Protection Plan often evolves. What worked during construction may no longer work once occupants begin using the building, and those adjustments are much easier to make when they're anticipated early.
The projects that seem to handle these transitions the best aren't necessarily the biggest or the most complex. They're the ones that started having these conversations before they had to.
I've found that bringing these discussions into pre-con gives the team more flexibility, more options, and ultimately a smoother transition when partial occupancy becomes a reality.
Just something I've come to appreciate over the years...
I'm curious... what's one conversation you've found is worth having earlier in pre-con because it ends up having a bigger impact than most people expect?
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