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As you begin to plan for your new building or expansion, it is important that you form an understanding of what you want to accomplish through the construction. As planning begins, we help guide you by listening and asking questions which will help to establish a framework for our planning, design and construction process. Generally speaking, an owner or perhaps a few key leaders will be the ones making the decision on the direction of this new facility or expansion. Your design-build partner then serves in essence as your quarterback for the development of a plan that will accomplish your intended objective in building. Needs and wants will be filtered for priority consistent with your budget. As your project begins to take shape, form will meet function leading to a design that meets your needs and is within budget. The specific role of your design-builder is to provide guidance. It is imperative that you empower your design-build partner to provide the input and guidance you have sought relating to the appropriate steps to bring your project to fruition. Be open about an established and attainable budget range which will save considerable time and lead to more accurate planning for your benefit. For some reason owners will occasionally choose to withhold an answer to the question of budget for fear of your design-build partner seeking to maximize your budget. If this fear is present, you have the wrong partner. Allowing your trusted professionals to be equipped with as much information about your business

As you begin to dream about the future of your ministry, it is imperative that the leadership has unity in the type of ministry or outreach it desires to be before you can accurately plan for your facility.  Once unity is established you can then begin to clearly plan what type of building, renovation or expansion will be best.  As planning begins, our approach is to guide the leadership through an informational discovery process, first by listening and then asking clarifying questions which helps to establish a framework for a more seamless process. Generally speaking, a building team is formed to represent the ideas and vision of the greater whole of the ministry.  Your church builder is then empowered to act as your quarterback for the development of an appropriate plan to carry out your vision.  Needs and wants will be filtered for priority consistent with budget.  As your project begins to take shape, form will meet function leading to a design that meets your needs, is within budget, and allows for long term growth. The specific role of the design-builder brought in by the ministry is to provide guidance.  It is imperative that you empower your church builder to provide the input and guidance you have sought relating to the appropriate steps to bring your project to fruition.  Be open about an established and attainable budget range which will save considerable time and lead to more accurate planning for your benefit.  For some reason ministries often choose to reserve an accurate

Suncrest Christian Church out of St. John, Indiana approached PBS to renovate and add on to their existing lobby area and worship center. The addition would span over 5,500 square feet while the renovation would cover over 12,000 square feet. The unique challenge of this project was that the facility had to be fully functional every Thursday night and Sunday morning for worship gatherings throughout the duration of the construction. Fortunately for both parties, PBS has been blessed to help many churches and businesses manage similar logistical challenges over the years. As is typical to most all of our projects, their success is often determined in the planning stages. A detailed plan must be put in place to ensure construction work can carry on with minimal interference to regular operations. Logistical planning was essential for this project. Whether providing temporary access points, transitional areas for gathering or temporary staging following the complete demolition and rebuild of the main worship area platform; safety and efficiency were always key priorities. Maintaining close communication with staff and the entire construction team through multiple channels of communication are critical to ensuring all remain on the same page. While it is generally never easy and takes patience by all involved (including the congregation), there are always solutions to achieve the plan. As mentioned, during the construction phase consistent communication with those we have partnered with is vital to the success of your project. Chris Correlli, Worship Arts Pastor describes his experience: “Throughout the week and even sometimes on

Partnering with Christian Church of Clarendon Hills through the design and construction of their newly expanded student and multi-purpose ministry space was an honor for PBS. Christian Church of Clarendon Hills (CCCH) approached PBS as they were making plans to accommodate their continued growth. This was the second project that we partnered with them on. One of the challenges the ministry was faced with was having to manage the cost of this project carefully because of their desire to accomplish it without debt service. J.K. Stevens, Executive Minister of CCCH explains, “This meant taking the initially desired plan and value engineering the design to focus on the most important parts of the needed space. PBS helped us accomplish that goal, getting their own trade leaders involved so that we knew real costs and not just rough estimates of what our costs may be.” Any time you embark on an expansion that involves occupied space there are going to be inherent logistical challenges. Careful planning and close communication are generally the key elements necessary to successfully navigate your way through and around these obstacles. "We’re so grateful that PBS was our partner through this process. The entire team was a joy to work with. Their on-site management team kept us appraised at every step and when things needed to be resolved we worked together to get them done,” adds Stevens. Our desire is to help guide you through this process in a seamless and transparent manner. We’re here to help. Before you make any plans, please give us

We often use the term, “partner”, as a way of describing our relationships and with good reason. In our nearly 30 years of Design-Build experience, we have determined that the most successful projects are the ones that are established as a partnership from the beginning, built on trust and communication. With this, PBS approaches each project with a focus on developing authentic relationships in order to exceed our customer’s expectations. We have been blessed with many great partnerships over the years on projects ranging from commercial and industrial facilities, to churches, to dental/medical boutiques and recreational facilities. Project success begins in the early planning and development stage. From the beginning, we listen to our customer’s desires and develop a plan that will ultimately streamline the design and construction process. As a Design-Build firm, we work as a single-source, under one agreement, with one unified flow of communication and transparency from initial concept design through construction completion. Under this method, we are able to save you significant time and money all while building a level of trust and confidence together ensuring that your project will be completed on time and within budget. Because of its many benefits, Design-Build has become a preferred alternative to the antiquated Design/Bid/Build process. Under the latter approach, planning, design, engineering, construction management and construction services are all handled by separate entities under separate contracts with you the owner assuming responsibility for all design and engineering services. Under this method, you are guaranteeing to those “bidding” that the plans are free from error. Contractors are then providing numbers specific to a

In a previous blog post, “A Plan for Success,” we discussed the importance of thoroughly investigating your company’s building needs. Once you have a thorough understanding of what needs your building must meet, it will be easier to decide which building method will work best. Systems Building Construction When planning, designing with as much efficiency as possible is critical to the overall value of your building. In order to accomplish this, we work with systems building construction whereby we are able to create clear, open spans in your structure as well as incorporate multiple building heights and roof lines specific to your use. These features benefit you, the owner, by providing the most cost-effective and efficient building system for your use. The advantages of this method result in economy and flexibility. The finishes utilized are long-lasting and weather resistant. PBS Companies is experienced in all types of construction as there will be specific systems appropriate for individual needs. Our team will be able to advise you regarding the various factors that will influence the appropriate building system for you and your business. Members of the PBS team will guide you through each stage of the planning, design and construction process as your single source of responsibility and contact in order to help you successfully complete your building project on time and within budget. For more information, please contact our team at 855.672.4010 or click here. We look forward to the honor of serving you.  

If you want a successful outcome to your building project, you will need to choose the right Design/Build partner. The process of searching for, deciding upon, and hiring a design and construction firm can be a large undertaking. Who you choose is critical to your building success. Below are 3 factors you should consider when hiring a design and construction firm. Experience of the Firm in Your Industry Sector When choosing your Design/Build partner, you want to be aware of the following points: - Experience with similar projects - Ability to handle the complete job - A professional reputation – Ask how communications were during the project. Before making your selection, be sure to visit some of the projects completed by the firm. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and check references. The success of your project will depend largely on the person or company you choose to design and build it. There are many firms who can build nice buildings. This does not mean the journey to get there did not include pain. Investigate the process and not just the visual of the finished product. Consider both explanations from owner and builder to draw any conclusions. Ability to Streamline Work of Components Because design and construction are single source responsibilities, timelines can be significantly reduced. Design/Build is ideal for the application of “Fast Track” construction techniques. With Design/Build, material procurement and construction work can begin as the construction drawings are being finalized. The resulting time savings translates into lower costs and earlier utilization of the completed facility,

Starting with the right decisions means ending with the best results If you want a satisfactory outcome to your building project, you will need to make the right decisions. The following reveals the first of five very important steps to your project’s success. Getting Started Before a blueprint is ever conceived, you must have a plan of action. There are a number of important decisions you must make, as well as several crucial details that need attention. The following will take you through the planning process and keynote the important questions or issues you will need to address at each stage. There is also a checklist (the checklist is only available in the full version) which will help you keep track of the numerous details that are involved in the process. PBS Companies, nearing 30 years of service, has the experience and expertise to help you through this exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming process. Our desire is to help guide you through this process to keep planning more streamlined. Step 1: Review Your Company’s Building Needs You and your team will be living with the building decisions you ultimately make. It is imperative to thoroughly investigate what you need to do to make your new building work well for everyone. If it’s not possible to talk with everyone in your company, then at least select key people in each department and ask for their opinions. Find out what works well in their present environment, in addition to what your employees believe is lacking. Try not to limit these discussions

You’re probably thinking, what? Well, these are two words derived from two different phrases meaning essentially the same thing: “Glove Fit”, “Right Seat on the Bus”. Whether you are planning to design and build a new commercial, industrial, church or municipal facility these are critical phrases when it comes to hiring the right team. They fit with your vision of accomplishing this building goal as well as are the right team player for your business, the proverbial bus. It has unfortunately become commonplace to hear of leadership across the board in all industries reflect on the realization they hired the “wrong fit” and in hindsight for the wrong reasons. Remember the phrase, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. As you consider this common realization, review the following comments made by individuals in response to their selection process. This comes with sincere reflection on each real life comment. In this context the decision maker will be referred to as the “buyer”: 1. “We are looking for someone who we feel comfortable with, can trust and will provide a fair price.” A. If this is truly the case, why does leadership often insist on bringing in 3 “qualified” firms? Taking this approach says that we are comfortable with 3 firms, trust all 3 firms, but really want the lowest price even though we state, “it is not all about price”. This becomes the buyer’s measurable on differentiating between firms. What then is left if you feel they are qualified and know that you can trust their quality

[An excerpt from the book, Faith Building]  How do we begin the Church Building Process? Countless groups have met for hours, days, weeks and months to discuss this question. A very small percentage of churches build, add on or repurpose their facilities more than once or twice in a generation. Generally pastors and church leaders seek out people within their church family to begin a planning or building team. In most cases they also seek outside advice to assist in the important planning and feasibility phase. Involving a design/build firm at this important stage early in the process can pay financial and space utilization dividends for years to come. Trust and an open relationship are key at this point in the process. Developing a trust relationship with a design/build firm is much like allowing a Dad to catch his trusting toddler when the toddler jumps off a table into Dad’s arms. The church has to allow and entrust the professionals to do what they do best. However that is not to say that the church just blindly allows the design/builder free reign, but it is to say that, working in partnership together, the Church trusts the expertise and experience of a good design/build team. Trust That Leads to The Wedding This trust is much like a marriage for a significant period of time. The courtship occurs during the time where the design/build team asks questions and learns of the church’s dreams and aspirations.The engagement occurs when the church has contracted with the design/builder to develop planning schemes