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Traditionally, design and construction teams have used MEP firms with auxiliary technology personnel to design the network infrastructure and low-voltage systems on projects. However, due to the increased complexity, cost, and importance of these systems to owner operations, specialized technology consultants (like HSJ) are being engaged. Technology consultants plan, design, engineer, coordinate and manage the network infrastructure and network dependent systems throughout construction projects. Read below to learn five reasons why people are leveraging technology consultants on their projects.

1.  Solving Problems with Thought Leadership

Most MEP firms will build what you ask them to build but your true operational goals may go unmet if the right questions aren’t asked while designs are being developed. This leads to disappointments with system functionality, usability, and scalability as well as possible code violations.

A technology consultant will lead you to the best solution to achieve your vision and then make sure any integration dependencies are thoroughly coordinated. As a leading design and engineering consultant, HSJ strives for a “best-value” approach to system design. This approach increases efficiency, lowers costs and reduces risks throughout your project. Great technology consultants listen to your ideas and problems then find the most user friendly and cost-effective ways to solve them.

“We ensure your existing standards are met while enabling you to think big and create experiences that are beyond the status quo and limitations of a MEP”  

– Steve Jones, President, HSJ

2. Integrated Systems + Thorough Coordination

MEP firms have a wide-spanning scope of services they provide on each project. Many times, low-voltage and security systems become an afterthought as they focus on the building systems required for basic occupancy. Once technology systems are addressed down the road, integration is harder to achieve because the infrastructure required for it was not adequately addressed up front.

Working directly with an owner or architect from the beginning, technology consultants ensure your systems are thoughtfully planned for and then systematically coordinated with other disciplines throughout the design process. This approach eliminates the added project costs associated with coordination breakdowns between interdependent systems like access control, door hardware, and structured cabling. HSJ’s team of certified experts deliver thoroughly coordinated drawings/models for Division 08 Openings, Division 27 Telecommunications, and Division 28 Electronic Safety & Security.

The table below breaks down how the design, engineering, and oversight levels for a few common technology/security scope areas differ between an MEP firm and technology consultants like HSJ.

3. Leverage Depth of Knowledge

Most MEP firms deploy a generalist approach to technology systems due to the wide scope of services they provide on projects. This generalist approach puts your projects at risk. Missing data drops and overlooking integration dependencies for the litany of network-based devices inside modern facilities trickles down into cable tray, switch, and server capacity issues for owners. Those issues then bring on costly change orders and require contractor rework that can derail project budgets and schedules.

Alternatively, onboarding a specialized technology consultant gives you access to the latest planning, budgeting, design, engineering, and construction administration methods throughout the project life cycle. This proactive approach allows best practices, product standards, and code compliance to be addressed by certified technology experts. The result is stable, secure, and scalable technology and security systems designed and engineered right – the first time.

4.  Technology Consultant Availability

Executives at an MEP firm have a tough job. They need to recruit, staff and manage team members within each of their firm’s disciplines and also allocate these resources accordingly across many ongoing projects. This often leads to thinly spread project teams and the insertion of “multi-functional” generalists to fill gaps. This not only dilutes specialists across the many ongoing projects, but also limits their availability to react to complex requirements and unforeseen challenges.

At a technology consultancy, one dedicated team gives your project the attention necessary for it to be a success. The specialized team of certified technology and security experts provides strategic guidance from the onset of the project through commissioning. This includes efforts like gathering client/stakeholder requirements, building accurate budgets, creating detailed drawings, thoroughly coordinating designs, assisting with regulatory reviews and rapidly responding to project activities (RFIs, submittals, contractor CORs, inspections, etc.). This proactive and holistic approach reduces project delays and eliminates project risks.

5.  The Value Supports the Price

You’ll find that MEP companies bid their technology package on projects at a lower price than specialized technology consultants because they are able to spread the technology design costs over their full suite of MEP fees. This low price comes with a much greater risk of change orders and project delays that end up driving up total project costs and busting budgets. These change orders and delays typically stem from missed owner’s requirements and code compliance issues that could have been avoided or accounted for in the planning and design stages of the project.

As a technology consultant, HSJ takes a different approach to delivering value on projects. We design and specify systems that are reliable, user friendly, secure, scalable and compliant for occupancy the first time. Then, we serve as a constant resource during construction to ensure contractor and subcontractor RFIs and submittals are reviewed and processed in an expert and timely manner. This keeps projects running smoothly and gives you expert input on any design deviations, de-scope and value engineering decisions. By adopting this approach, owner’s requirements and operational needs are met, project risks are reduced, and HSJ’s fees are offset by the dollars saved on the overall project costs.

“Their [HSJ’s] attention to detail in construction drawings has saved us thousands of dollars on every project. They get it when it comes to the complicated integration of building systems today. In the beginning, I used them for doors, hardware, and access control. Today they design all of our data infrastructure, security systems, access control, and provide specifications for all of our doors and hardware.”

– Nelson Roque, Director of Facilities, Nemours Children’s Health Systems, Florida

In conclusion, technology consultants are involved in the entire project lifecycle. They thoughtfully solicit user requirements then create error-free, coordinated, scalable, and compliant system designs. This prevents change orders, owner disappointment with system functionality, and network performance issues.

Finally, whichever approach you decide to take on your next project, it is critical to ask the right questions during your evaluation process. Here are the top questions we recommend you get answered in detail so you can make the best decision for your business:

1. How do you collect requirements from owners/users? How do you turn those requirements into your technology system design?
2. Who is going to be the system team lead and/or the discipline leads? What are their qualifications? Are they available during your required time frame?
3. What level of detail do you design to? What is left up to interpretation in the field?
4. What drawings and boiler plate specs do you incorporate from your vendors and suppliers?
5. How do you budget for infrastructure and technology on a project? What level of budget detail are you able to provide? 

HSJ is proud to be a leading technology consultant specializing in highly complex projects for healthcare, government, aviation, higher education, and entertainment. Please contact us to learn more about our services or to get an estimate on your project.