In many ways, the glory of mankind is our ability to coordinate, use tools, and construct something. While other forms of life create habitats for themselves, like birds who build nests or spiders who sew webs, our habitats undergo change brought on by innovation, artistic expression, and pragmatism. Anthropologists are able to draw a clear line through the architectural record and pinpoint not only when a building was made, but even the industry and philosophy of the civilization that made it.
But despite the differences in materials, design, location, size, age, and function, each one of these buildings from the sandstone Pueblo dwellings of Mesa Verde to the White Tower of London has at least one thing in common: the projects were the collaborative effort of numerous builders, all following the directions of an overseer. In ancient times, these individuals were called “master builders” or “chief architects.” Today we call them general contractors.
The Role of a General Contractor
While the titles may have changed, the basis of the role remains the same: a general contractor coordinates the efforts of construction teams, ensuring that the project is ultimately finished on time and within budget. Like a film director who Marshalls the heads of various departments, they are aware of all the moving parts of a build and are the keepers of the “final vision” of the project. The general contractor not only acts as the central figure to whom everyone must ultimately report and receive feedback, but they also liaise between the various civic entities that concern the project.
A Master of Coordination
One of the most important responsibilities leveled at a general contractor is managing the hiring and job fulfillment of various trade contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. Typically, even though a construction company wins a contract to build a skyscraper, they themselves don’t have all the materials needed to actually construct it, and so the general contractor makes a deal with vendors to procure the steel, wood, and concrete needed for the project. And once the frame is built and it comes time to install the utilities, the general contractor oversees that process as well.
Of course, managing all of these teams can feel like spinning plates, especially since an average general contractor manages multiple building projects at once. That’s why they are always looking for the next best tool to aid in tracking and coordination. These tools are essential to finishing a build; otherwise, a project could be stalled for a number of reasons, including:
- Labor and Payment Disputes
- Laxidaesical Budget Control
- Bottlenecking Action Items and Approvals
- Poor Interdepartmental Communication
- Subpar Scheduling
As difficult as it is, a general contractor must keep all of these things in mind to avoid liquidated damages.
An Eye for Diversity
Thanks to the sheer volume of construction projects going on every day, a general contractor could find themselves overseeing the work of multiple builds at once. This is good, as the diversity of a construction company’s portfolio means that they will have an easier time being considered for a project in the future. One way that a general contractor keeps their team in business is by working hard to be the “go-to” option in a city or state. A Nevada-based firm might find itself winning contracts to build an addition to a college, a religious temple, and a beautiful new Vegas hotel, all at the same time. After a few years, this hypothetical team becomes synonymous with building in Nevada, and the company moves on to ever more prestigious jobs. A good general contractor will keep their eyes peeled for these opportunities, and make competitive bids to win the project.
Of course, all of this can go the other way if a reputation of shoddy work and unreliability should precede them. To avoid this, a general contractor picks their partners well, plans minutely, and is familiar with all of the building codes, local laws, and client concerns that accompany the building site.
Not Just for Businesses
A general contractor is often thought of as the quarterback of only the highest-profile construction jobs in the area; surely anything less than a skyscraper, stadium, or concert hall is more the realm of a local tradesman. While divisions do exist within construction companies that handle big projects, ultimately the professionals on site are adept at doing any type of job and are led by an experienced project manager. This means that the project manager overseeing the construction of an office building might assign a junior colleague to handle the building of a local church or a residential renovation.
In spite of the numerous duties that compete for their attention, a general contractor with the right team members and the right tools will find themselves building things that will last generations. The master builders of yore from Amenhotep to Marcus Agrippa stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the contractors of today, and by exercising the same discipline a modern builder’s work will be tomorrow’s ancient Wonder.
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