| This article is part of my Common Sense Series | | | | both groups. Both the school district and the city |
| which explores business processes which are | | | | of Columbia Heights ended up with more of a |
| typically the exception rather than the rule. But | | | | facility than they had set out for and they split |
| should they be? | | | | the cost. |
| The day will come when project collaboration | | | | It is common sense. You get more for less. |
| between ownership groups will become | | | | These types of collaborations make all the sense |
| commonplace. This is not only true for public | | | | in the world. Below I have listed just 4 of the |
| public and private/private partnerships but will | | | | many advantages of project collaboration. |
| become true eventually for public/private | | | | 1. Shared Use Potential - With multiple groups |
| partnerships. There are many advantages for | | | | using a collaborative facility, chances are that the |
| groups willing to work collaboratively with other | | | | use percentage is increased. Especially if the |
| entities with similar needs. Speaking specifically | | | | groups are distinctly different. For the gymnasium |
| about building and construction projects, I have | | | | example this is true for Special Events Scheduling, |
| been involved with a number of noteworthy | | | | Tournament Scheduling and Day/Night Scheduling. |
| examples. Such relations often come out of | | | | 2. Shared Operations - Operations expenses are a |
| necessity and are only made possible when | | | | significant part of the cost of a new facility and |
| visionary owners come together. | | | | over time become the major cost area. With a |
| My first example goes back a few years to the | | | | collaborative facility operations costs are shared. |
| early 1990's when I worked on the planning and | | | | This could save individual entities millions of dollars |
| design of a health care facility in the small | | | | over the long haul. |
| Midwestern town of Ada, Minnesota. This example | | | | 3. Economy of Scale - In the construction world it |
| is unique in that the partnering entities had | | | | is a simple fact that bigger projects cost less per |
| common ownership yet differing programs. Small | | | | square foot. This is a factor of economy of scale |
| town Hospitals were disappearing and those that | | | | and is due to the nature of many costs impacts. |
| were able to survive were taken over by larger | | | | Two separate projects would have duplicate due |
| health care management organizations. In this | | | | diligence efforts resulting duplicate costs. |
| example the municipally owned hospital, clinic and | | | | Construction materials and labor costs are |
| nursing home were taken destroyed by the | | | | reduced per unit with larger projects. |
| flooding in the Red River Valley. We developed a | | | | 4. Reduced Cost - The overall cost is less per |
| plan that enabled the sharing of staffing and | | | | square foot also because with a larger project |
| physical resources between the three entities. By | | | | you have better assignment of project scope, |
| doing so operational costs became manageable | | | | more accurate project bidding and fewer change |
| which made the facility feasible. | | | | orders. |
| It is common sense. You get more for less. | | | | It is common sense. You get more for less. |
| My second example is for a shared recreation | | | | Project Collaboration should become more |
| center in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. I worked | | | | common as project funding becomes tighter and |
| on the planning and design for this facility as well. | | | | options become fewer. This is a good thing in this |
| The school district was working on a the planning | | | | world of sustainability. |
| for a single gym expansion. At the same time the | | | | The three pillars of sustainability are social, |
| city of Columbia Heights was working on a the | | | | environmental and economic. If a project |
| planning for a new community center. The costs | | | | measures up in these three areas it would be |
| for the community center were proving to be | | | | considered sustainable. Project Collaboration |
| prohibitive. Because of visionary leadership on both | | | | makes sense on all three accounts. |
| sides we were able to bring the two groups | | | | It is common sense. You get more for less. And |
| together to share in the cost of a single shared | | | | there is less waste. |
| use facility. The result was a multi gym and | | | | Make a Plan. Have a Plan. You will be glad you did! |
| fitness facility that exceeded the expectations of | | | | |