SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

BEAR Construction Company has been a proponent of sustainable construction since its inception in 1984. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits, efficiencies in the transportation, use and disposal of materials provides a quantifiable financial savings that is passed on to our clients. BEAR is a proud member of the US Green Building Council, which educates companies and their employees on environmentally friendly and sustainable construction means and methods. The USGBC offers a designation known as LEED which certifies an individual’s knowledge of sustainable building practices. BEAR has over 15 LEED accredited professionals on staff, and the company as a whole follows those same best practices as a matter of policy.

The Meadow Green Roof at Chicago's Old Post Office

LEAN CONSTRUCTION

BEAR Construction Company has implemented the principles of LEAN Construction into our project management process for over 35 years - long before there was a concept called “LEAN”. BEAR is a proud member of the LEAN Construction Institute, through which our team members have certified their knowledge and understanding of the LEAN methodology and key principles. As its name implies, LEAN Construction is a system designed to minimize wasteful practices, increase efficiencies, and thus control costs and schedule outcomes with a greater precision.

Pull Planning Session

TECHNOLOGY

BEAR has the resources and tools needed to maximize construction efficiencies that can shorten project schedules and improve project team communication/collaboration, all while improving quality throughout the entire construction process. Our robust tools ensure real-time data is always being used and captured and provides the highest level of project team communication.

  • VDC/BIM services
  • 360-degree, aerial and real-time capture systems
  • Integrated, cloud-based documentation systems
  • Mobile field stations
Mobile Field Station

QUALITY ASSURANCE / QUALITY CONTROL (QA/QC)

Our QA/QC program includes a formal process consisting of review of documents, first delivery inspections, construction progress inspections, and an in-wall and above ceiling inspection which ensures that all activities are being performed at a quality consistent with our contractual obligations and owner expectations. We pride ourselves on our record keeping abilities. We document each step and maintain records for owner review.

QA/QC Superintendent

MEP/FP COORDINATION

One of the most important aspects to successfully managing a project’s cost and performance is a systematic and thorough review of the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection (MEP/FP) systems. Most times, the majority of a project’s cost is represented in the MEP/FP components, and those trades are also often the critical path of the project schedule due to their integral nature and lengthy lead-times. For this reason, BEAR places extra importance on these systems with our preconstruction and MEP/FP coordinator teams. By providing data-driven and relevant inputs on cost, quality, schedule and performance from the earliest initial design through final commissioning, we ensure that our clients receive extra value and that projects stay on track. As scope changes throughout the life cycle of a project, we consider cost, quality and scheduling implications in every decision, ensuring that our projects always succeed.

MEP BIM MODEL

DELIVERY/CONTRACT METHODS

Our team can be your partner from design-development to construction. We provide owners, architects, and tenants with everything from early budgets to final proposals that reflect current market cost estimates, progressive schedules and value engineering options. Our in-house estimating staff has developed over $1.5 billion in budget and hard costs over the past 35+ years. Our projects are contracted based on what best fits the client's needs. We commonly work under these methodologies:

  • CM at Risk (CMr) / CM as Constructor (CMc)
  • Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
  • Guaranteed Maximum Price
  • Cost Plus Fee
  • Stipulated Sum
  • Hard Bid
Team at groundbreaking event