Why construction can begin before all plans are finalized

Residents may notice early construction activity on the Event Centre site has begun despite not having all design details finalized. This is intentional and part of the Construction Management approach the City selected for this project.

After consulting with industry experts and other municipalities, the City chose a Construction Management model instead of the more traditional “design-bid-build” method. This approach means bringing the construction team on early to allow design and construction to overlap, meaning work such as site preparation, foundations, and servicing can begin while final design details are still being completed.

Many municipalities opt for this collaborative model for large projects to allow for:

• Earlier risk identification and mitigation through collaboration between designers and builders
• Stronger cost control and budget certainty with continuous estimating and open-book transparency
• Fewer change orders and reduced risk of cost overruns by resolving issues before construction begins
• Improved schedule efficiency, allowing some construction activities to begin while later design phases are finalized
• More collaborative, team-based delivery, leading to smoother coordination and better overall project outcomes.

Additionally, PCL Construction has extensive experience delivering projects using this model. Some examples include the construction of the Scotiabank Arena, the renovations to the Rogers Centre and the construction of the Rogers Place.