Person in denim jacket reviewing architectural plans on a table, surrounded by notebooks and measuring tools.

EARLY CONTRACTOR INVOLVEMENT

The success of any project is determined long before the first shovel hits the ground.

BLR’s Early Contractor Involvement process brings our construction expertise into the design phase, ensuring every decision is informed, coordinated, and achievable.

Through ECI, we partner with clients, architects, and consultants to identify opportunities, resolve risks, and refine scope - aligning vision with budget, construction expectations, and timeframes.

It’s an approach built on collaboration and transparency, designed to give every project the strongest possible start.

Our ECI approach

When you engage BLR early, you don’t just gain a builder. You gain a partner who builds the path forward.

With a multidisciplinary team of estimators, project managers, and site leaders, BLR brings both strategic insight and hands-on experience to every ECI engagement. Our collaborative process helps clients reduce cost and time risk, achieve greater design integrity, and ensure the finished product meets its intended purpose both functionally and financially.

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PARTNERSHIP FROM DAY ONE

Collaboration that builds clarity

We engage early to align project objectives, budgets, and expectations. Working as an extension of the design team, BLR provides honest, practical advice to help balance ambition with construction criteria.

What this delivers:

  • Shared understanding of scope, budget, and priorities

  • Early alignment of procurement and delivery strategies

  • Clear, consistent communication channels

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COST PLANNING & VALUE MANAGEMENT

Precision planning for better decisions

Our estimating and project delivery teams work together to provide accurate cost plans and identify savings through smarter sequencing, materials, and methodology.

What this delivers:

  • Transparent cost plans with open-book validation

  • Design reviews for cost and performance efficiency

  • Lifecycle value assessment and alternative option analysis

Top view of a building under construction with metal framework and wooden beams.

BUILDABILITY & RISK ASSESSMENT

Anticipating challenges before they arise

We apply real-world construction experience to assess design complexity, staging, and methodology to identify risks early and refine strategies to mitigate them.

What this delivers:

  • Practical buildability reviews across all design stages

  • Early identification of construction constraints and sequencing issues

  • Site-specific risk management and staging strategies

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PROCUREMENT & PROGRAM STRATEGY

The right start sets the right pace

Our team coordinates procurement, long-lead material planning, and program development to ensure a seamless transition from design to delivery.

What this delivers:

  • Market-informed procurement advice

  • Long-lead item tracking and tender readiness

  • Staged program planning for design and delivery alignment

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TRANSPARENT HANDOVER TO DELIVERY

No gaps. No grey areas

At the conclusion of ECI, we provide a complete design, cost, and program package ensuring the client can proceed to construction with total confidence.

What this delivers:

  • Finalised construction cost plan and detailed program

  • Fully coordinated design ready for approval and delivery

  • Smooth transition into BLR’s construction phase through Procore