Project types that construction managers encounter

In the world of project management, there are a variety of project types that project managers can oversee and bring to fruition. Depending on the industry and the type of project manager, projects can vary on a day-to-day basis or on a quarterly basis, depending on the client and what is needed of them. In the construction industry, this is truer than most, as projects vary depending on the needs of the client and the type of projects they undertake.

It’s important to note that although construction projects vary in scope of project specifications, all construction projects follow the same major principles in terms of best practices, tools needed to perform the job, and the steps taken to create an effective project plan.

With widespread digital transformation happening across the globe and infrastructures going up at an increasingly high pace, the construction sector in sub-Saharan Africa is filled with an abundance of potential for those looking to get or continue in the industry. Equipping yourself with the necessary skills and tools will be imperative if you want to stay ahead of the curve and bring both small-scale and large-scale construction projects to completion on time and under budget, regardless of the type of construction project.

Who is a construction manager?

Construction management is the process of overseeing a building project from start to finish, and the construction manager or construction project manager is the individual that is responsible for this.

Construction project managers are responsible for the entire construction project, from the initial design to the final construction. Their duties include everything from setting timelines and budgets to “putting out fires” when any and all issues arise, as well as making sure everyone stays on track and is aware of exactly what is expected of them. It’s a demanding job that requires an arsenal of both soft and hard skills in order to effectively guide a project and a team to successful completion.

The duties of a construction project manager

As stated above, a construction manager is responsible for the entire process of the project, from planning, coordinating, budgeting, setting goals, and supervising employees and contractors during the project from start to finish. Below are just some of the duties and responsibilities that construction managers are responsible for:

• Putting together the
• Negotiating cost estimates from suppliers to keep the project on
• Arranging the work timetables and schedules for all resources involved in the
• Choosing the most efficient construction method and
• Staying in touch with the clients for work or budget-related
• Discussing technical and contract details with workers and other professional
• Overseeing the personnel on the construction
• Cooperating with building and construction
• Establishing a flow of communication for all parties
• Making sure all compliance is up to
• Following all safety
• Delegating work between
• Managing construction

Project types that construction managers can oversee

As you can see, the role of a construction manager encompasses a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities that all fall on one individual. Regardless of the project type, a project manager’s responsibilities stay the same – to deliver a successful project outcome on time and within budget. Below are  some of the major project types that construction managers can oversee.

Residential housing construction or renovations

These types of projects range from building new residential housing, apartment buildings and subdivisions to restructuring, improving, and rebuilding existing residential spaces. Apartments, townhouses, condos, nursing homes, and college dormitories are all examples of residential buildings, while the installation and repair of garages or utility outbuildings for water and electricity supply are categorised as residential construction projects too. Any work or improvement to or the building of these structures will fall under this category.

Institutional and commercial building construction

These construction projects include a long list of building types, such as; sports facilities, hospitals, warehouses, retail stores, restaurants, shopping centres, schools, and manufacturing plants. These construction projects typically involve starting new buildings and repairing or remodelling them.

Specialised industrial construction

Somewhat similar to commercial construction projects, specialised industrial construction projects are concerned with the more specialised construction sites such as power plants, petroleum projects (drilling rigs, refining platforms, land rigs, etc.), and heavy-duty manufacturing plants. These construction sites are referred to as specialised as they specialise in a specific field; for instance, when a privately owned company in the power generation industry builds a nuclear power plant,  it is considered a specialised industrial construction. This type of project will require a high level of technical skills from everyone involved to successfully complete the project, and they are also some of the most difficult types of projects in the construction industry.

Heavy construction and infrastructure

These types of projects include anything not typically considered a standard building, such as airports, bridges, roads, highways, tunnels, sewage treatment plants, dams, and flood control facilities. These types of heavy construction and infrastructure projects are in the public’s best interest and get implemented by government agencies usually; however, some prominent private companies may be involved too.

Environmental construction

The worldwide community has grown increasingly more environmentally conscious over the last few years. Corporations of all sizes are following suit and environmental construction projects are going up faster than ever before. The primary mission of environmental construction is to reduce pollution and offer environmentally-friendly solutions to real-world problems. Building dams, systems to reduce air pollutants, systems for recycling and reusing construction waste, and facilities for wastewater treatment are all examples of environmental construction projects that can be overseen by a construction project manager. It is arguably the most important type of construction project at the moment.

Agricultural construction

These types of construction projects are usually done in the interest of farms or other agricultural companies. Agriculture construction involves the building and development of structures relating to agricultural needs, such as; structures for livestock, machinery, crops, food processing, agricultural products and more. Agricultural construction requires a lot more research than other types of projects as the construction manager will need to find land that fits the criteria of the project, build  structures from scratch, and  stick to the strict health and safety codes in order to stay compliant.

Final words

The construction industry, like most industries these days, is an ever-changing and ever-evolving one that offers plenty of opportunities for those within the industry. With construction at an all-time high, the need for diverse and highly skilled construction managers is growing at an alarming rate. Give yourself the skills and tools you need in order to thrive in this industry by signing up for an online construction management course so that you can stay ahead of the curve and continue bringing success to your construction projects, no matter what field you are in.