Construction Management At Risk
Construction Management At Risk (CMAR) is a project delivery method in the construction industry where a construction manager is hired early in the design phase to provide preconstruction services and then commits to delivering the project within a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). It involves the construction manager acting as a consultant during design and then taking on the risk of construction as a general contractor. This approach aims to foster collaboration, control costs, and manage risks through integrated project delivery.
Developers and construction professionals should use CMAR when working on complex, large-scale projects where early cost certainty, schedule control, and collaborative design are critical, such as in public infrastructure, healthcare facilities, or educational buildings. It is particularly valuable in fast-track projects where overlapping design and construction phases can accelerate timelines while maintaining budget discipline through the GMP mechanism.