Optimizing Project Outcomes in Pre-Design Using Life Cycle Analysis: Why and How?

Robert Blakey, CFM, CEM, LEED^® AP, Strategic Equity Associates, LLC
Mary Jo Olenick, AIA, The S/L/A/M Collaborative

Why? Many construction projects today for laboratory research, healthcare, and academic facilities seek to achieve highly complex outcomes. They seek to balance costs and needs at the facility, organizational, and global levels.

Until recently there was only limited information available about these complex outcomes in the early phases of pre-design when the budget must be developed. Yet, often it is these highly complex outcomes at the organizational and global levels that will create the maximum value and productivity within the proposed facility. Estimating their value during the early phases of a project is vital to making an informed decision on the project construction budget.

Optimizing project outcomes in pre-design using life-cycle analysis allows us to develop a balanced consideration of these multi-level needs. It can inform the decision on project budget so that an overly narrow focus on construction cost does not prevent inclusion of highly productive outcomes within project scope.

How? Instinctively, we often know that there are important reasons why first cost alone is not an adequate indicator of project value and outcome to the organization. Yet, how exactly do we turn this instinctive knowledge into financial data to guide our budgeting process?

Researching and developing these metrics and applying them to project decisions is what this presentation is about.

This powerful new tool is demonstrated in a case study of its actual use at Cornell University in the design of a new Agricultural Laboratory Sciences facility to replace the aging Stocking Hall.

Optimizing project outcomes in pre-design using life-cycle analysis allowed Cornell to develop a balanced consideration of these multi-level needs. It informed the decision on project budget so that an overly narrow focus on construction cost did not prevent inclusion of highly productive outcomes within project scope.

Biographies:

Robert Blakey is the founding principal of Strategic Equity Associates, and is an expert in the field of life-cycle studies. Robert graduated from California Coast University with both a Bachelor of Science Degree in management and a Master of Science Degree in engineering management. Robert has over 15 years experience in management with much of it in the area of facilities management and project management. Areas of specialized training include life cycle cost engineering analysis, technological forecasting, systems engineering, property management and facility management.

In addition, Robert is a licensed engineer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. He holds a Chief Engineers license for steam, motor, or gas turbine vessels of any horsepower (unlimited) and has over 20 years experience in various disciplines of mechanical and electrical engineering.

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