RGB OPM Services

Key Services

Technical Assistance

Assess documents and procedures for feasibility.

Technical Assistance

RGB offers a range of critical consulting services that, together, ensure your project progresses appropriately. The following are a few examples.

Peer Review

RGB has the capability to examine documents regarding virtually any building and construction type and deliver comments and considerations that realize value upon the effort. As a third-party we can ask the pertinent questions that may not have been addressed and flag areas of concern while there is time to correct them.

Value Engineering

Value engineering is typically conducted following a cost estimate conducted in the Design Development phase of design. RGB reviews the items for potential savings, for example:

Constructability. Is there a better, more efficient way to construct the design and achieve the same intent? Material and Equipment Costs. Is there better pricing when purchased in higher quantities? Has the design team specified the appropriate cost level of equipment and material? Are there unnecessary custom elements?
Schedule. Arrange the schedule to maximize savings.
Clarity. Design documents that are clear minimize confusion. Confusion and uncertainty inherently increases costs.

BIM

RGB has kept pace with changes in design and coordination in the industry through robust capability in BIM modeling. RGB has delivered projects in BIM/Revit including several recent projects including a $42 million multi-residential development and $24 million public safety complex. BIM allows the team to more fully coordinate design across architecture and engineering consultants.

Building Assessment

RGB's services go beyond design and management. To further support our clients, we identify appropriate design and construction strategies by leveraging the depth of our professional experience. We provide a range of critical consulting services that separate us from our industry peers.

When buildings do not perform as designed, either through age and wear or through errors or failures, our staff investigate the issues at hand and develop long-term solutions. Our understanding of past and present building envelope science, building enclosure of walls, roof systems, and components, allows us to recognize and mitigate present conditions, whether they pertain to recent construction or historic.

We document conditions as general wear and tear over a building's life cycle, a possible result of constructed defects, or as caused by water or fire damage. In incidents of possible negligence, RGB offers expert witness/litigation support services.

Building and fire codes can necessitate additional review of documentation. We offer third-party review and code analysis, as well as representation in code variance pleas. We also represent owners in evaluating prepared design documents and through on-site monitoring.

From design to code and construction, RGB's services relate to the built environment through the entire building life cycle, helping you maximize key factors such as use, durability, resiliency, sustainability, and economics.

Services:

Facility conditions assessment
Forensic services – invasive and non-invasive methods
Building and fire code consulting
Project code review consulting
Code alternative and variance representation
Third-party peer review of professional record documents
Building envelope/enclosure review – constructed and/or design phase
Expert witness and litigation support services
Constructability and cost analysis
On-site construction monitoring for third-party lending/funding Institutions
Post-construction assessments, problem determination, and long-term solutions

Field Representation

Ensure quality materials, processes, and results.

Field Representation

Representing Owners, we bring the perspective of a designer to the processes of administration and advisement. RGB has had teams supporting owners in this capacity since the 1970s. At that time, personnel were referred to as field representatives or extended construction administration services. The current crop of Owner's Project Managers or Owner's Representatives (OR) are architects and field representatives that have completed significant projects ranging from historic restorations and renovations to major new designs. Through this work we have refined our processes and been successful in managing projects to measurable goals such as budget and schedule. RGB has successfully served numerous lending institutions as OR on hundreds of projects, ensuring that projects are properly managed and schedules maintained.

Clients have included:

Citizens Bank
Sovereign Bank
Bank of America
Archstone Smith Trust
The Washington Trust Co.
TD Banknorth
Peoples United Bank

RGB provided construction contract document review, construction phase site visits, compliance with contract documents, and review of requests for payment. Our representatives met with owners to report on progress and address needs and concerns. This experience holding projects accountable to bank guidelines is reference to our quality of service and ability to hold your project to budget, schedule, and other requirements.

Project Schedules

Gain insight into project phasing and dependencies.

Project Schedules

Scheduling Processes

The principles behind the RGB team scheduling processes are as follows:

To provide management systems necessary for efficient planning and construction.
To maintain an open conduit for information exchange between all project parties.
To provide information necessary to coordinate the efforts of all project parties through effective communication of project goals and targets.
To consistently provide current information regarding the contract time and financial status to facilitate decision making (change orders, etc).
To identify potential scheduling issues or bottlenecks before they occur, enabling preventative measures.
To establish specific responsibility for project tasks and to monitor the completion of those tasks relative to overall project completion.

Bidding

RGB has prepared RFPs and supporting materials for project service providers and vendors, evaluated bids, and assisted in awarding contracts, including Guaranteed Maximum Price construction contracts. RFP bid support is a typical feature of project administration and owner's representation. RGB has dealt with all major project delivery methods including traditional bid, construction management, and design build. While the bidding process for each method may vary, there are some underlying fundamentals.

Construction

During the construction phase, your project becomes a reality, however careful attention must be paid to progress. As your OR, we establish procedures for expediting and monitoring all construction phase information through the following:

On-Site Monitoring
Contractor Payment
Change Orders and Schedule Review
Construction Closeout
Record Documents
Final Inspection and Report

Cost Tracking

Hold vendors accountable and mind the budget.

Cost Tracking

The RGB team helps you to manage costs by estimating budgets up front and communicating progress against anticipated spend. Below is an approach that may be taken. Initially, RGB will review the current cost budget estimate to determine order of magnitude. This will be used to confirm the design team's estimate and help navigate the development of the design. In addition, this information can be used to provide general information during the solicitation of construction managers.

Risk Management

Identify and mitigate potential issues.

Risk Management

Owner's Representative Perspective

Potential Shortfalls in Representation:

Not responsive to ongoing Owner needs.
Lacking the resources and team members necessary to meet goals.
Too many other obligations or otherwise unable to commit necessary time and attention.

Risk management analysis allows the team to consult with you regarding key decisions. Decision making should balance your goals, the tasks and measures needed to achieve these, and the outcomes should any task or measure result in suboptimal conditions or represent a realized loss versus the alternative.

Startup Task 1

Meet with all project stakeholders to determine immediate concerns, confirm expectations, and set goals. We will note your updated objectives and their achievability given the current project state. We will also confirm scope specifics so as to avoid duplication of efforts between the design team and any participating developer staff.

Startup Task 2

Review current program, design, documents, permits, schedule, and budget status. Startup is particularly important to meet your timeline for completion, as we pick up on any work in progress. We look to obtain any available documents and communications to ascertain the current state of the project and initiate contacts and tasks that may need to be expedited.

These two startup tasks quickly ascertain the team's understanding of cost, risk, and schedule; this is crucial because it is most often mistaken assumptions of these issues that result in problems later in design and construction. The balancing of all the goals is typically a value decision, and therefore ultimately a question of financial resources. Our main focus is you as the owner, and your core business that the project addresses. As OR, RGB will communicate this perspective to the design and construction teams and encourage them to accept that value decisions rest squarely with the Owner.

Communications Management

As OR, it is important that we are positioned to communicate clearly on all project issues and track all project information. Effective communication from the Owner's perspective needs to focus clearly on project goals and any issues that threaten those goals. To that end, communications should address the following:

Project Objectives
Fiscal Controls
Schedule Compliance
Quality Controls
Other Internal Project Participants
Other External Project Participants
Document Management

Project

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Government Center

Client Case: Owner's Representative for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

RGB was engaged to provide OPM services after project design had started.

The project was initially conceived as a design-build delivery method, however, because of the level of documents and the uncertainly of the team, the owner elected to move to a design-bid-build delivery method and bring on an OPM to manage the process.

RGB demonstrates success in the development and implementation of pre-construction and construction budgets and schedules. As planners, architects, and project managers serving client needs, in all of our projects, we are held accountable to budget and schedule. RGB was brought on as owner's representative for the Mashpee Tribal Government Center. The initial construction estimate had been marked at $9 million previously; the RGB team worked to establish an accurate construction budget of over $13 million. Following reviews and collaboration with the design team, the bid results came in $500,000 below this updated budget, with a grouping of three bidders less than one percent apart.

RGB has also supported the Tribe with three Federal grant applications and managed grant funds with the USDA RA, Indian Health Services, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.

RGB provided the following services:

Oversaw the design team
Ensured all utility permitting and design was in place
Spearheaded a variance processes (provided renderings for the hearings)
Ensured all permits were applied for and pulled
Managed a competitive Lump Sum bid solicitation process (per public bid requirements)
Developed and maintained the master project schedule
Provided pre-construction cost estimating services
Conducted peer review services
Managed the solicitation and engagement of the special inspections team
Reviewed and maintained budget records for the design and construction team requisitions
Compiled and submitted drawdown application for federal finding
Provided full-time field representation
Provided, solicited bids, and monitored the execution of a full FF&E package
Provided full closeout services
Spearheaded the Tribe's first significant Tribal Employment Right Ordinance (TERO) labor initiative

Team

John Racine, AIA Associate Principal | OPM Director

John Racine AIA, LEED AP - Owner's Representative

John joined RGB in 2007 bringing experience at a firm in Massachusetts working on technical projects for transportation and commercial clients. He has served as an owner's project manager to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in RGB's Taunton office. His background in architectural design and construction administration are skills he brings to owners. John was named an associate principal in 2016.

Project

Neighborhood Health Plan

RGB provided design services, engaged and managed the General Contractor and FF&E contractor for a full turnkey delivery.

RGB provided representation and move management services as well as interior design services for NHPRI for several projects, including recent phased move management to the former Citizens Bank building. The move had an aggressive schedule to accommodate the organization and operations.

RGB acted as CM for this $2.2 million project. This project was multi-phased and extremely time sensitive. Each phase was complete in four month intervals and ultimately led to the relocation of more than 300 employees.

RGB provided the following services:

Provided design services
Ensured all permitting was in place
Developed and maintained the master project schedule
Provided pre-construction cost estimating services
Reviewed and maintained budget records for the construction team requisitions
Provided CM services by engaging the contractor and major subs
Provided periodic field representation
Execution of a furniture, fixtures and equipment package installation
Provided full closeout services

Team

David DeQuattro, AIA Managing Principal

David DeQuattro AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, MCPPO - Managing Principal

David L. DeQuattro, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, MCPPO is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable architects in the commercial building industry in the region. A leader for the firm, David is an expert in evaluating and optimizing new and existing buildings. Developers and building owners seek David's insights and deep understanding of their technical needs. With a design career spanning more than 27 years including more than 24 with RGB, he has seen the firm expand throughout the New England region very rapidly. His role as Managing Principal is multifaceted: from leading the design and successful execution of a variety of projects across multiple practice areas to continuously challenging and guiding the professionals with whom he teams to provide excellence in every project.

David served in the U.S. Armed Forces for 12 years and through his leadership RGB has been certified as a Veteran-owned Business.

Project

First Light Resort Casino

Case Study: First Light Resort Casino

Multi–phase development over five or more years

Full development cost will be well in excess of $500 million

RGB has been on board as OPM since 2014

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's Project First Light project is anticipated to top $1 billion in investment. Genting, a global developer of gaming and entertainment venues is partnered with the Tribe in this endeavor. The project is to consist of a gaming casino and destination resort in southeastern Massachusetts. The project will be phased to bring an operational gaming destination to market. Construction phases to follow will bring hotels, additional structured parking, and a water park. A construction management joint venture team of Dimeo/Penta/Talako was selected to carry out the construction effort. The expansive development represents a tremendous opportunity for the Tribe and the surrounding areas of Taunton.

RGB began the role of owner's representative for this project in mid-2014. Our team was entrusted with this role in part because we had previously worked with the Tribe on the Tribal Government Center. Our team, inclusive of Principal Dave DeQuattro, Owner's Representatives John Racine and Dave Greene, and additional consultants, has worked with the Tribe and design team to track the many aspects of this complex project.

During construction the RGB team is:

OPM Team manager
Two full-time field representatives
Structural engineering to periodically monitor concrete placement and steel erection when ready (pending)
Team member to review construction schedule
Team member to review cost changes and contract amendments
Support staff

RGB tasks and services:

Oversaw the design team that is comprised of 20+ firms based across the United States
Contributed to the finalization Environmental Impact Statement for NEPA and MEPA (State level)
Facilitated the development of service/retail agreements with electrical and gas utilities
Engaged with Project Labor Agreement teams
Managed the prequalification process for CMs
Managed a competitive GMP solicitation process
Managed the solicitation and engagement of the insurance broker and is managing the OCIP development process
Developed and maintained the master project schedule
Provided preconstruction cost estimating services
Managed the solicitation and engagement of the building commissioning team
Managed the solicitation and engagement of the building official for First Light
Conducted peer review services
Oversaw the off-site design teams efforts and engagement with State DOT
Managed the solicitation and engagement of the special inspections team
Oversaw the off-site construction team
Reviewed and maintained budget records for the design and construction team requisitions
Risk management

Team

David Greene, Owner's Representative

David officially joined RGB in 2014 after working with RGB staff closely as Clerk of the Works. Since then, David has been an instrumental member of the Owner's Project Manager team, particularly in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe First Light Resort Casino. David brings significant experience as a contractor and construction project manager gained over more than 30 years in the construction industry in which he has progressively overseen larger and more complex projects.

Project

North Providence Public Safety

RGB was initially brought on board to design a new public safety complex for North Providence budgeted at $24 million. As design progressed, RGB was further contracted for Extended Construction Administration services to provide quality and reduce risk on site.

The RGB team will provide on-site presence during pre-construction and construction phases. The site contains three buildings that are being demolished prior to construction start. RGB will help ensure that the work is carried out as anticipated by the Town, monitoring items such as:

Preconstruction

Monitor Demolition

Material quantities being removed
On-site activities during preconstruction that might adversely affect the construction phase
Confirm dust control is being performed and particulates being recorded for potential future reference
Confirm seismic monitoring equipment is in use
Confirm that a SWPP Plan is in place and is being followed
Ensure coordination with existing utility caps and locations
Confirm chain of custody protocols for asbestos containing materials are followed
Ensure air quality is monitored
Ensure safety plan is followed
Ensure proper insurance coverages by the contractor
Proper documentation filings
Rerview and monitor the schedule
Monitor and push the permitting process
Representation during bidding

Construction

On-site field representation and monitoring
Daily field reports recording:

Daily activities
Workforce
Equipment used
Work accomplished
Visitors to the site
Critical issues that need resolution
Daily weather conditions

Review and monitor the contractor's schedule
Assist project architect with review of contract payment applications
Provide insight on potential contractor change claims
Assist in coordinating building commissioning efforts

Team

Andrew Barkley, Owner's Representative

Andrew Barkley, Assoc. AIA, M.Arch., Owner's Representative

Andrew brings over 20 years of architectural experience to RGB, ranging from award-winning design achievements to technical specialization. For the past nine years he has focused on institutional projects, such as schools and residence halls, as a building designer and envelope specialist in the rehabilitation of existing buildings. Andrew has served as an appointed member of the Historic Review Commission in Concord, NC.

Project

CGX Life Sciences

CGX Life Sciences (CGX) intends to fit-out an existing prefabricated building of 41,000 square feet as a cultivation center. A design team with prior history on the project will be retained by CGX to continue developing the construction documents and provide a certain level of construction administration. In addition, CGX intends to construct a new dispensary facility on an acquired lot. Both locations are in Fall River, MA.

As owner's representative, RGB will perform the preconstruction and construction period tasks outlined below.

Preconstruction Period

Preconstruction services include task that need to be performed prior to bidding the project and in preparation of construction activities. These tasks are critical for managing time and costs. Preconstruction work is intended to set the overall master schedule and overall budget. In addition, the owner’s project management team will work with the design team to ensure that the end result complies with the owner’s budget and requirement.

Preconstruction tasks include:

Conduct a meeting with the owner to gain valuable knowledge of the owner’s requirements.
Develop an overall project budget based on preliminary building square footage costs. This budget will include, but not be limited to the following:

Hard costs – Estimated cost of actual construction
Soft costs – Estimated cost of design, utility company fees, and other fees.
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment (FF&E) – Finish items and furniture that are not permanently affixed to the building.
Contingency – Percentage of additional funds available for unforeseen issues, potential upgrades, and other approved changes.
Any identifiable item that requires special cost consideration.

Develop an overall master schedule. The master schedule will include, but not be limited to the following:

Design schedule.
Anticipated construction duration.
Move-in date (substantial completion).
Coordination, if necessary, with utility companies for the shut-off and capping of utilities to the site.
Solicit third-party special inspections firms for special inspections services during construction as required by code.
Solicit third-party commissioning firms for commissioning services during construction, if required by the owner.

Monitor and push the permitting process for both on-site and off-site work.
Assist the owner in confirming that proper insurance is in place.

Bidding

Coordinate bidder pre-qualifications, if requested by the owner.
Coordinate the bidding process.
Review and assist owner in reviewing bid submissions and engaging successful.
Assist in potential proprietary procurement items.

Construction Period

RGB will provide representation on the owner's behalf and focus efforts on the following activities:

Provide periodic on-site field representation and monitoring.
Attend owner-contractor construction meetings.
Provide field reports recording the following:

Daily activities
Workforce
Equipment used
Work accomplished
Visitors to the site
Critical issues that need resolution
Daily weather conditions

Review and monitor the contractor's schedule. Notify the owner of the status of the schedule. Work with the team to identify any potential scheduling issues.
Assist the Project Architect with review of contract payment applications.
Provide insight on potential contractor change claims.
Review submitted changer order items for:
1. Legitimacy of the change
2. Cost of the change
3. Time extension requested because of the change
Assist in coordinating the commissioning efforts.

Post-Construction Period

Closeouts of major projects bring specific challenges. Without field representation to push the construction team to focus on the final process, the closeout of a building could take much longer than it should. In addition, a field representative can be extremely useful at providing information of the building construction history.

Post-construction tasks include:

Closeout procedures

Assist in coordinating close-out procedures.
Assist in move management efforts.
Assist in the development and execution of punch list.

Project

Field Representation for Lenders

RGB has successfully served numerous lending institutions as representatives on hundreds of projects, ensuring that projects are properly managed and schedules maintained. This has been one core of our owner’s representation experience. Financier clients have included:

Citizens Bank
Sovereign Bank
Bank of America
Archstone Smith Trust
The Washington Trust Co.
TD Banknorth
Peoples United Bank

This experience of holding projects accountable to bank guidelines, highlights the quality of our service and ability to hold your project to budget, schedule, and other requirements.

Project

Somerville, MA Buena Vista Garage

RGB was contracted to perform OR services by the City of Somerville for renovations at a two-level parking garage with a capacity of 189 vehicles. The garage is adjacent to the Harvard Vanguard office building and Davis Square. The priority work alleviates potential safety issues and immediate maintenance issues including concrete repairs, expansion join replacement, waterproofing, and replacement of fire protection sprinkler heads and piping as well as repair of storm/sanitary drainage systems.

Project

Norwell, MA Chapel of St. Gabriel

Norwell, MA Chapel

The Town of Norwell seeks to rehabilitate elements of this historic chapel. RGB facilitates the design and construction by ensuring proper design and construction methods fitting to the historic details. RGB provides peer reviews of the construction documents and conducts existing conditions evaluation with the design team. The intent of the peer review and site visit is to review/comment on the 95% Construction Drawings and Specifications and confirm the design team addresses issues requested by the Owner and observed on site.

Owner's Project Management

Representation that fits your needs.

Key Services

Technical Assistance

Field Representation

Project Schedules

Cost Tracking

Risk Management

Get In Touch

RGB is a certified Veteran-owned Small Business.