By the time a shovel hits the ground, most of the critical decisions have already been made. The structural system is set. The unit mix is locked. The MEP design is either coordinated or it isn’t. The subcontractor bids are either reflective of real market conditions or they’re not.
Preconstruction is where projects are actually won or lost. Construction is where you find out.
We spent a long time inside large organizations where preconstruction was treated as a serious discipline, not a free service you offer to win work. We learned how to build detailed, defendable budgets early in design. We learned how to run constructability reviews that actually catch problems before they become change orders. We learned how to work alongside design teams in a way that speeds decisions instead of creating conflict.
When we started Dana Gunnell, we brought that rigor with us and we applied it to a boutique model. We’re small enough to be nimble, to adapt to projects that don’t fit a standard template, to give clients direct access to the people actually running the work. But we’re systematic enough to replicate quality outcomes consistently, because our processes were built on years of institutional experience.
Our preconstruction process for multifamily, commercial, and industrial projects in Salt Lake City and Utah County typically includes early conceptual budgeting, system-level value engineering, subcontractor market testing, constructability reviews at each design milestone, and realistic schedule development that accounts for current lead times and market conditions.
We offer early preconstruction engagement at no cost on projects that are a good fit. Our goal is simple: eliminate surprises. By the time we break ground, you should know exactly what you’re building, what it costs, and when it delivers. No mystery. No hope. Just a plan you can take to your capital partners with confidence.
If you have a project in early design or are still working through feasibility, we’d welcome the conversation. Early engagement costs nothing and tends to save a lot.