To restore the historic Utah State Capitol to its former glory, owner's representative David H. Hart, AIA, executive director for the state's Capitol Preservation Board, orchestrated a unique and highly collaborative process he calls "project definition." The approach called for selecting contractors, developing technical solutions and cost estimates, and then hiring a design-build team to complete the work.

The benefits of the design-assist delivery included tight cost control, minimal change orders, and novel solutions to longstanding problems.

One of Hart's main concerns was how to restore the dome and rotunda to its original 1916 Richard Kletting design, which called for neoclassical details rendered in terra cotta. Working with manufacturer Boston Valley Terra Cotta and installation subcontractor Kepco+DBI, the team elected to install panelized terra cotta, a novel method that "marries the Old-World technique of terra cotta with modern curtain wall," says Hart. The most technically demanding elements were column enclosures of up to 38 inches in diameter-larger pieces of terra cotta than are typically fabricated.

The planning during the project-definition phase was critical to the project, says Hart. Mock-ups of different panelized terra-cotta elements were created to assure the feasibility of the panelized approach, saving time and money while increasing jobsite safety. To ensure that the historic landmark's modern updating would not alter its original dimensions, a digital laser scan was performed to ensure the integrity of the restored capitol dome.

To create a new Barneys department store-the retailer's first flagship in 12 years-architects from Gensler and Jeffrey Hutchinson Associates teamed up with construction manager (CM) Structure Tone during the schematic phase to address issues of constructability and cost. The main concern, however, was keeping the final design "customer-friendly."

The collaboration relied on the CM for a range of preconstruction services including surveying, field-verifying dimensions, alternate specifications, and cost control.

"We had a very intense estimating process, to let the client know how each department broke down in cost," explains Dan Finnegan, vice president and national retail leader for Structure Tone. "We focused on millwork because it was central to the project and about 40 percent of the total construction cost." In an unusual approach, five separate millwork subcontractors were hired and coordinated for the work.

A number of innovations and benefits came from the front-end partnering, says Ryan Caffyn-Parsons, Structure Tone's project manager. A costly and elaborate flooring design featuring mosaic tile, marble and wood was accomplished within budget by "outsourcing" the work-offshore-to China. Working with specialty contractors in steel, ornamental metals and glazing, the team conceived of a method for manufacturing an innovative Y-shaped staircase in components to allow installation.