Construction Project Management Key Terms

Learn about construction project management

By Terri Deno

Construction project management encompasses all aspects of a construction project, from the beginning design stages to the final construction. A construction project manager oversees all of the steps it takes to build a project, and he or she needs information about a variety of areas, including business, architecture contracts and construction. Project managers must organize all of the people that work together to turn a drawing into a building.

Architects' basic services

Architects' basic services are provided from an architect to the construction project manager for the five different phases of a construction project, including design development, bidding and contract administration.
Try: The Monolithic Dome institute offers advice on what to look for when a construction project manager needs to hire an architect.

As-built drawings, record drawings

An as-built drawing is a design drawing that is amended during the construction process. The drawing is used to provide a record of concealed items, such as conduits.
Try: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides information on how to construct an as-built drawing for the Chicago area. Many local and regional governments vary on the regulations pertaining to as-built drawings.

Building codes

Building codes are the standards set forth by state and local governments to make sure a building is safe. There are building codes for most aspects of a construction project, including electricity, fire safety and the limitations of a building.
Try: The City of New York offers all of the building codes that construction project managers need to know when building in Manhattan.

Construction inspector, project representative

A construction inspector is an authority that determines the safety of the building through the different phases of construction.
Try: The American Construction Inspectors Association has published rules and regulations for the work of construction inspectors.

Design-development phase

The design-development phase is a phase in which the construction project moves from working with schematic drawings to doing the contract document (this happens when the design is finalized and electrical and structural systems are added to the design).
Try: Metro Architects provides an overview of all the phases in a construction project.

Prime contract

A prime contract is an agreement between the owner of a construction project and the construction contractor.
Try: The Architects/Engineers Professional Network has posted information on prime contracts and the risks involved with a construction contract.