Construction Partnering Workshops

Partnering in the construction industry is an approach to organize project communications and coordination between parties so as to improve project safety, quality, and profitability while reducing time delays, costs, conflict, and exposure to litigation.

Partnering workshops provide a forum for the parties involved in partnering to:

Meet one another in person,
Learn first-hand of one another's needs, objectives, and challenges,
Work together to develop "Partnering Documents" (for example, a Charter or Vision statement, an Issue Escalation Ladder, Conflict Resolution Protocols, a Roles and Responsibilities Map, Communication Protocols and Agreements),
Work together to define "Partnering Practices" (for example, means to check for consensus, means to help the team feel connected, practices to recognize different problem-solving approaches), and
Sit down with one another to address problems and issues that are not resolved in the everyday course of business.

Over a 20 year period, Ms. Boucher has developed a signature approach to construction patterning workshops which includes:

Telephone survey interviews with each party prior to partnering to gather information about the needs, interests, and challenges of each party,
A workshop designed to help participants engage with one another in an informal, enjoyable, and creative environment,
A "tiered" approach to partnering in which people involved in the partnering group according to their level of responsibilities and decision-making authority, and
Documentation of workshop outcomes in a "Partnering Handbook" to include the specific Partnering Documents and Partnering Practices developed by workshop participants.

Suggestions to Help Participants Prepare for a Construction Partnering Workshop

Workshop participants can prepare in several ways. They can:

Provide their perspectives as to what they would like to get out the workshop via the pre-workshop survey/interview or "information intake" which generally is conducted via a live teleconference or virtual meeting.
Participate in the subsequent conference call or virtual meeting which is conducted for the purpose of discucssing and making changes as needed to the proposed workshop agenda.
Be aware of who might be their counterparts in the other organizations as they will be working closely with them during the Partnering Workshop.
Come prepared to offer/share any of their ideas in terms of team communication "best practices," methods they've found successful to manage team conflicts, and any practices that help a team feel more cohesive and connected.

Design Charrettes and Concept Design Workshops

Design Charrettes and Concept Design Workshops (CDWs) are two approaches employed in design-build construction projects to engage stakeholders in identifying and developing the design package. Many US government agencies are increasingly using these approaches, and each agency takes a somewhat different approach.

In many cases a third-party facilitator is engaged to help stakeholders and various trades meet and work through a multi-day workshop during which they discuss and work out various design features of a project. This third-party facilitator helps organize discussions, serves as a neutral player to ensure the interests of each party are recognized, and either documents or coordinates the documentation of agreements reached.

Typically the end result is a "report" which documents the project design as worked out and agreed to by all of the parties. This report is largely written and completed prior to the end of the workshop.

Suggestions to Help Participants Prepare for a Concept Design Workshop

Workshop participants can prepare in several ways. They can:

Provide their perspectives as to what they would like to get out the CDW via the pre-workshop survey/interview or "information intake" which generally is conducted via a live teleconference or virtual meeting, oftentimes led by the facilitator.
Review and become familiar with the current conceptual design prior to the CDW.
Come prepared to ask questions and offer ideas to further improve the design.
Come prepared to spend multiple days working with their colleagues from other agencies or organizations to develop one or more updates to the initial conceptual design. Some of these days will likely extend into the evening, especially for the contractor and architect/engineering firm as they prepare updated versions of the conceptual design. It is important that participants bring with them the necessary equipment and resources to do so.
Come prepared to document their discussions real time, often through what is termed a "Memorandum of Meeting" document, which becomes part of the CDW report.
Come prepared to sign the "Concept Design Acceptance Sheet" at the conclusion of the CDW.

List of Completed Construction-Related Workshops

GSA Region 3/NASA Langley/Jacobs/B.L. Harbert - New Flight Dynamics Research Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA - Partnering Workshop; 2022

GSA Region 5/MGA Partners & AECOM/Jacobs/Whiting-Turner - Celebrezze VBA Renovation and Backfill Project in Cleveland, OH; 2022

USACE Baltimore District/Grunley Construction/Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall/US Army’s ”Old Guard”) - Barracks 248 Renovation at Joint Base Fort Myer - Partnering Workshop; 2021

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - MC B Camp Lejeune P4040 French Creek Ambulatory Care Clinic - Partnering Workshop; 2021 NAVFAC/Archer Western Construction - MCB Camp Lejeune Hurricane Florence Recovery Package 4 Design-Build - Partnering Workshop for the start of the construction phase; 2021

GSA Region 3/NASA Langley/Jacobs/BL Harbert - New Flight Dynamics Research Facility at the NASA Langley Research Center Design Phase Partnering Workshop; 2021

US Army Corps of Engineers/Sauer Construction - Design-Build of S10009 Buildings 2387/2389 Barrack Renovations at Fort Polk, LA Partnering Workshop; 2021

OICC Florence/Whiting-Turner Contracting Company/US Marine Corps - Hurricane Florence Recovery Package #5 at MCAS Camp Lejeune, NC Partnering Workshop; 2021

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner Contracting Company/Fleet Readiness Center Easty - F-35B Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility at MCAS Cherry Point, NC Initial Partnering Workshop; 2021

OICC Florence/Whiting-Turner Contracting Company/US Marine Corps - Hurricane Florence Recovery Package #1 at MCAS Cherry Point, NC Partnering Session; 2021

GSA Region 2/VBA/Dattner/ICE/Jacobs - 201 Varick St. NYC VBA Consolidation Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2021

NAVFAC/Sauer Construction - NWS Yorktown, VA P169 NMC Ordnance Facilities Recapitalization Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2021

GSA Region 2/Krueck Sexton Partners/United States Attorney’s Office/Jacobs - Silvio J. Mollo & Jacob Javits Federal Buildings Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2021

GSA Region 5/MGA Partners Team/Jacobs - Celebrezze VBA Renovation and Backfill Project in Cleveland, OH Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2021

NAVFAC SE/The Korte Co./Defense Health Agency/Air Force - JB Charleston Consolidated Storage and Distribution Center Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2021

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - MCB Camp Lejeune Hurricane Florence Recovery Package 5 Partnering Workshop; 2020

USACE Baltimore District/Sauer Construction - Fort Myer, VA 416 Barracks Renovation Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2020

NAVFAC/Korte Co. - JB Charleston Consolidated Storage and Distribution Center Partnering Workshop (Virtual); 2020

NAVFAC/Archer Western Construction - MCB Camp Lejeune Hurricane Florence Recovery Package 4 Partnering Workshop and CDW; 2020

NAVFAC/Sauer Construction - Recapitalization of Ordnance Magazines at Harvey Point Defense Testing Activity, NC; 2020

NAVFAC/NAVSEA/Whitman, Requardt, & Associates - P-758 Machinery Control Development Center Concept Design Workshop; Philadelphia Navy Shipyard; 2019

NAVFAC/Sacyr Construcciòn - Navy Lodge Expansion Follow-up Partnering Session, Rota, Spain; 2019

GSA Region 5/AECOM - Celebrezze VBA Renovation and Backfill Design Concepts Partnering Session, Cleveland, OH; 2019

GSA Region 3/NASA Langley/Jacobs - New Flight Dynamics Research Facility NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA Partnering Session; 2019

NAVFAC/Korte Co. - P403 Recruit Reconditioning Center and Barracks Renovation, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC Partnering Session; 2019

NAVFAC EURAFSWA/US Army Corps of Engineers Partnering Training for the Bahrain MILCON program - Bahrain; 2019

NAVFAC/Sacyr Construcciòn - Navy Lodge Expansion Follow-up Partnering Session, Rota, Spain; 2018

NAVFAC/QBS Inc. - EXU-1 Renovation, Building 900; Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Indian Head, MD; 2017

NAVFAC/NAVSEA/Whitman, Requardt, & Associates - Manufacturing Support Facility Design Charrette; Philadelphia Navy Shipyard; 2017

NAVFAC/Constructora San Jose - Elementary and High School Additions Partnering Session; Rota, Spain; 2016

NAVFAC/Sacyr Constucción - Navy Lodge Expansion Initial Partnering Session; Rota, Spain; 2016

NAVFAC EURAFSWA/US Army Corps of Engineers Partnering Training for the Bahrain MILCON program - Bahrain; 2016

NAVFAC, Navy Gateway Inn and Suites, and Korte Company Concept Design Workshop (CDW) - Navy Gateway Inn and Suites; 2015

NAVFAC, Navy Gateway Inn and Suites, and Korte Company - Navy Gateway Inn and Suites at the Naval Station in Newport, RI; 2015

NAVFAC/U.S. Naval War College/H.V. Collins Company PW - Hewitt Hall Renovation Partnering Session; 2014

NAVFAC, NEXCOM, and J.B. Ballard Construction Company PW - JEB Little Creek Navy Lodge Expansion Partnering Session; 2013

Multiple components of the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Watermark Environmental Co. for design and construction of the Hanscom Air Force Base Mental Health Clinic Addition Partnering Session; 2012

NAVFAC/Watermark - P-485, NAVSTA Newport Naval Academy Preparatory School Renovation; 2011

NAVFAC/Absher Construction Company - P-451, NAVSTA NEWPORT Officer Training Command Quarters design-build project; 2011

NAVFAC/Watermark - P-485, NAVSTA Newport Naval Academy Preparatory School Renovation; 2011

Clark County Water Reclamation District, Whiting-Turner Contracting, LAN Design-Build Contracting Team Follow-Up PW - Las Vegas Primary Effluent Pump Station Phase III; 2009

NAVFAC/Lejeune Support Services, MCB Camp Lejeune Base Support Contract; 2008

Clark County Water Reclamation District, Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. and LAN (Design-Build Contracting Team) - Las Vegas Primary Effluent Pump Station Phase III; 2008

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - Las Vegas, NV; VA Medical Center Foundation Package; 2007

NAVFAC/Lejeune Support Services - MCB Camp Lejeune Base Support Contract; 2006

City of Wilmington/C. Construction & L.C. Gaskins; 2006

NAVFAC Washington/Forrester Construction - DIA Generator Replacement; 2006

NAVFAC NLON and TGS-Triton - Design-Build of Security Gates #3 & #5; 2006

NAVFAC Washington/Forrester Construction - DIA Generator Replacement; 2006

NAVFAC/NEXCOM/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - NAVSTA Norfolk Navy Lodge; 2005

NAVFAC/Abhe & Svoboda - NCTS Cutler, Maine Towers’ Refurbishment; 2005

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - Indian Head D-327 and Command Center; 2005

City of Wilmington/C. Construction & L.C. Gaskins - new Police Station; 2005

NAVSTA Brunswick Construction; 2005

Camp Lejeune/Global Construction - Camp Geiger Armory; 2005

NAFAC/W.M. Schlosser - Dam Neck Building 355 Renovation; 2005

NAVFAC/Forrester Construction - Washington Navy Yard Commandant’s Office; 2005

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - Dam Neck Building 355 Renovation; 2004

Ft. Meade/Forrester Construction – New Dining Facility; 2004

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. - Indian Head D-327 and Command Center; 2004

NAVFAC/Volmar Construction - Naval Dental Clinic; 2004

NAVFAC/Korte Construction - NAPS BEQ; 2004

NAVFAC/Volmar Construction - Naval Dental Clinic; 2004

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - Naval Support Activity Gate 10 Improvements; 2004

Fairfax County Water Authority/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; 2004

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - Dam Neck Building 355 Renovation; 2004

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - Naval Support Activity Gate 10 Improvements; 2004

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - NAB Little Creek Bachelor Quarters Renovations; 2004

NAVFAC/Volmar Construction - NAVSTA Brunswick, ME Housing Phase III; 2003

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner - NAVSTA Newport, RI Child Development Center; 2003

NAVFAC/Integrated Technology Construction Corp. - Great Lakes Vehicle Inspection Facility and Security Gates Upgrade; 2003

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner - NAVSTA Newport, RI Police/Fire/Security/Gates Center; 2003

Fairfax County Water Authority/Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; 2003

NAVFAC/Hourigan Construction Co. - NAB Little Creek Personnel Support Facility; 2003

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner - Washington Navy Yard Band Building Renovation; 2003

NAVFAC/Whiting-Turner - Quantico Hochmuth Hall Renovation; 2003

NAVFAC/Technology Construction Corp. - Great Lakes Vehicle Maintenance Facility;2003

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - NAB Little Creek Combined Bachelor Quarters (Building 3603) Repairs and Renovations; 2003

NAVFAC/Sauer, Inc. - Quantico Brig Rehab; 2003

NAVFAC/S.B. Ballard Construction - NAB Little Creek Waterfront Operations Facility; 2003

NAVFAC/Biscayne Contractors, Inc. for the Quantico Fire and Rescue Station; 2003

NAVFAC/U.S. Department of the Air Force/Whiting-Turner - Andrews Air Force Base East Runway Repairs; 2003

NAVFAC/W.M. Schlosser - NAB Little Creek Combined Bachelor Quarters (Building 3603) Repairs and Renovations; 2002

NAVFAC/Triton Marine Construction/Energy Resources Group - NLON Power Plant Repairs; 2002

NAVFAC/C. Construction Co. - Camp Johnson Academic Facility; 2002

NAVFAC/Blue Rock Structures - Camp Lejeune Engineering Equipment Shop; 2002