Integrated Construction Administration Matters  

Here’s the Why and How

By Aaron M. McCullough, RLS

When land developers embark on a project, they often prioritize planning, design, and securing approvals. But there’s another service that can make or break success: Construction administration (CA).

While many consider construction administration as a separate service requiring dedicated professionals, the reality is that having these skills embedded within your civil engineering and landscape architecture firm can be a game-changer.

A unified approach to design and CA provides continuity needed throughout the process, ensures the project is built as designed, saves time and money—and reduces headaches from beginning to end.

What is Construction Administration in the Context of Civil Engineering and Landscape Architecture?

Construction administration involves those who designed your project taking an active role in overseeing and guiding construction activities. The goal? To ensure your project is built according to design intent, engineering specifications, and regulatory requirements. Unlike working with standalone providers, when the CA function is built into the civil engineering and landscape architecture process, the land developer is assured a cohesiveness that saves time, money—and boosts overall quality.

Rather than merely handing off drawings and specifications to a contractor and hoping for the best, design firms such as HRC Engineers that include CA as part of their services remain actively engaged throughout the construction process.

Involvement ranges from conducting ongoing site visits, reviewing shop drawings, and problem-solving unforeseen challenges in real-time, before additional expense is incurred.

5 Reasons Why Land Developers Should Care About Integrated CA

Land development is a complex, high-stakes business. Having a team that not only designs the project but stays engaged throughout construction provides real benefits over time, including:

1. Ensure Design Intent Is Maintained
   Mistakes happen in the field. Whether from plan misinterpretation, unexpected site conditions, or value-engineering decisions made without full knowledge of the project’s goals and intent. Without an involved designer (i.e. your HRC civil engineers and/or landscape architects) monitoring progress, deviations can lead to costly fixes down the line. An integrated construction administration approach ensures your project stays aligned with the original intent, preventing unnecessary rework and delays.
2. Prevent Minor Issues from Becoming Major Problems
   Unforeseen conditions are common in land development—e.g. soil inconsistencies, utility conflicts, drainage challenges, and more. When your original engineering and landscape architecture team stays involved post design, they’re able to quickly make assessments, address issues, propose solutions, and provide clarifications needed before escalation occurs—and budget overruns or delays happen.
3. Coordinate More Effectively Among Teams
   Land development projects involve multiple stakeholders: Owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, government agencies, and/or community groups and other interested parties. Miscommunication between and among these players can lead to inefficiencies, errors, rework—and cost overruns and delays. Having a civil engineering and landscape architecture partner engaged throughout construction helps bridge gaps and keep teams aligned.
4. Protect Your Investment
   Land development involves a significant financial commitment. Ensuring that infrastructure, grading, stormwater management, and landscape elements are executed as planned keep costs in check. Integrated CA helps reduce risk of costly errors or post-completion failures.
5. Experience a Smoother Path to Completion
   Land developers like you thrive on efficiency. Getting projects completed on time and within budget is always the goal. A civil engineering and landscape architectural firm that understands both design and construction aspects help you streamline processes (and save you money and time). Ongoing involvement—from initial design through completion—minimizes delays caused by lack of specialized knowledge, regulatory misunderstandings, or contractor missteps.

What Does Construction Administration Involve?

Integrated CA typically includes a range of services designed to support a successful build. While it varies depending on project and client need, construction administration tasks performed by HRC civil engineers and landscape architects include:

• Site Visits, Observations: Visiting the site on your behalf periodically to check progress, ID potential issues early, and ensure work is proceeding per plan.
• Submittal Reviews: Reviewing contractor submittals and shop drawings to confirm they align with approved designs.
• RFI (Request for Information) Responses: Addressing contractor questions and clarifications in a timely manner to help avoid delays.
• Change Order Evaluations: Assessing proposed modifications to determine if they are necessary and fair.
• Punch Lists & Closeout Inspections: Conducting walkthroughs to verify all elements meet design specifications before final approval.

Common Misconceptions About CA

Some developers hesitate to prioritize construction administration. Why? Often they have misguided notions about cost or necessity, including:

• “The contractor can manage it.” While good contractors play a crucial role, their primary focus is on executing work efficiently, not assuring design fidelity. A civil engineer or landscape architect with appropriate oversight during the construction process helps ensure your development remains true to its intent.
• “It’s an added expense we can skip.” Cutting CA services might save costs upfront, but without them, mistakes and misinterpretations can lead to expensive corrections down the road. Having the original design team engaged prevents costly errors before they happen.
• “It slows things down.” On the contrary, proactive involvement from the design team speeds the process by preventing delays caused by confusion, miscommunication, or rework.

CA: A Smart Investment for Developers

For land developers, every project requires balance between vision, cost and execution. When seamlessly aligned with civil engineering and landscape architecture services, construction administration adds a layer of assurance that what you’ve planned will turn out as expected. CA services help avoid costly mistakes, ensure design intent is upheld, and protect your bottom line.

By working with HRC Engineers, a firm that embeds construction administration into its total offering, developers gain a valuable ally that understands the project from start to finish. It’s not just about checking a box, it’s about ensuring what gets built reflects the design plan, functions as intended and stands the test of time.

As land developers like you know, success isn’t about breaking ground. It’s about delivering a finished product that meets upfront expectations—and more. Integrated CA is key.