What Does a Site Manager Do in White-Box Construction?

When a business such as a store or office closes down, it leaves a lot of construction work to be executed. Items to deal with include running water, electricity, what to do with signage and business equipment, and more. The space must be turned into a “white box” (or vanilla box) to be available for tenant improvements for future tenants. This means eliminating and reconstructing the space to the point where it was left prior to previous tenant renovations. So what does a construction site manager do in white-box construction? A construction site manager can also be called a construction manager or project manager. The site manager manages the overall project relationships and ensures the construction staff are working on their own correct project items on a daily basis. The site manager also organizes the construction schedules and costs and manages the safety aspects of the construction site. Specific items for site managers to do can change from job to job, however there are common, expected activities for site managers. For example they are in charge of contract administration or management to make sure all areas of a contract are in order and being met, and that all parties involved are satisfied each step of the way. Finances are also important - site managers have to stay on top of costs and manage customer expectations if projects or fees change. Site managers are also expected to oversee quality management by ensuring that everyone involved in a project is working within quality requirements. They are also in charge of safety management - site managers are expected to identify and fix safety problems for the workers and site. They are in charge of ensuring employees are not taking hazardous shortcuts that will hurt the overall construction or others. Multi-tasking is vital to site managers - they must also be able to to read and comprehend blueprints - for the specific project at hand as well as blueprints in general. Site managers should also know construction trends and building codes. They should generally comprehend all aspects of construction including construction software. In education, they should have studied areas such as scheduling, financial estimating, design and construction planning. Certifications are also important for site managers and are achieved from a combination of education, hands-on experience and overall understanding of construction management. Certifications for example can come from the Construction Management Association of America or the American Institute of Constructors. With so much involvement for all parties, such as various workers and customers, project communication is very important - and is vital for site managers to stay on top of it all. The site manager keeps them in the loop and deals with any issues at any time. Want more? Read about Buildrite Construction's Construction Management services.