REAL ESTATE LIFECYCLE

Manufacturing & Installation

Precut, precast, prefabricate — build with predictability

Most building components can be precut, precast, or prefabricated against the project’s 3-D model. The result is a project that arrives on site already coordinated — components labeled, sequenced, and ready to install — instead of being figured out one trade at a time during construction.

What this changes for the project

Predictable construction

Most of the variability in a build comes from on-site improvisation. Component manufacturing against a coordinated model removes that variability before anyone breaks ground.

Higher quality, faster install

Labeled components install quickly with minimal supervision. Quality is duplicated project to project — not re-engineered every time.

Reduced callbacks and exposure

Fewer field decisions means fewer mistakes, fewer warranty issues, and a much smaller surface area for disputes after handover.

Stronger warranty position

Component-level documentation supports longer warranties and shorter construction durations — a meaningful competitive advantage against contractors building the traditional way.

Manufacturing and installation are the trades that turn a coordinated design into a finished building. When they are linked to the same 3-D model and component schedule that engineering and contracts work from, the whole project moves as one system.

Who benefits

General contractors gain predictability and warranty leverage. Subcontractors get clear, labeled work packages instead of having to reverse-engineer drawings on the fly. Owners get a building that was actually planned to be built — not assembled by improvisation.

Concurrent Design Engineering™

Highest quality per dollar

Concurrent Design Engineering is the discipline of bringing architectural, site, material, labor, and budget decisions together at the same time — before money is committed on-site. It complements the architect’s design and resolves the interferences and assumptions that, left unchecked, become cost overruns and schedule slip.

Magister Operis builds, on a computer, a complete 3-D model of the project — site, foundation, structure, mechanicals, finishes — and uses it to coordinate every trade against a single source of truth. The model counts members, reads surfaces, and produces precise quantities, so estimates stop being guesses.

What it changes on a project

Interferences caught early

Fit, geometry, and code clashes are detected and resolved in the design phase — not on the jobsite where they cost real money.

Predictable budgets

Counts of members and surface quantities replace guesstimates. Material schedules cut waste, and timelines align with actual manufacture, delivery, and install sequences.

One coordinated build

Site, foundation, structure, mechanical, and finish systems are synchronized in a single digital prototype before anyone breaks ground.

Trade-specific output

Each trade receives the precise information needed for its scope — no more, no less. Components are labeled for fast install and future reference.

This does not replace the architect. Concurrent Design Engineering takes over where most architects and engineers leave off — the coordination, optimization, and constructibility work that determines whether the design actually builds well. It works with any style or complexity of architecture.

Scope of capability

Engineering

Multi-discipline, concurrent across structural, mechanical, and site — with storm, disaster, and sustainability considerations built in.

Manufacturing of components

Flexible architectural production with machine-accurate precision and component labeling.

Construction management

Real-time coordination with all parties — trained and equipped to build, not to dictate.

Installation

Coordinated components, labeled for easy install, connected with motivated personnel and warranty-able workmanship.

Renovation and expansion

Fast, accurate assessment of as-built conditions, with site, material, and trade optimization that minimizes cost and downtime.

Current Industry

As a result of current industry routine, as well as current educational curriculum, current marketing for general construction is being filled in these three ways:

Those offering the cheap price… by hiring the cheapest labor, buying the cheapest materials, and taking whatever shortcut can be gotten away with concerning the client and/or building code. Many times a great manager, but seems to have lots of problems keeping the same subcontractors constantly working and happy and turning out a consistent highly warrantable product.
Master Bull-Shipper (only real skill): purposely absent the majority of construction duration, so that subcontractors must make the decisions for themselves, and then blaming all the continuous mistakes and delays on subcontractors, suppliers, and the owner. This style of management often times, puts the subcontractors in compromising positions with the owners asking questions. These people also take whatever shortcut can be gotten away with, concerning the client and/or building code.
One who… after many years of stereotypical “hands-on experience” (one could have been working in the industry for thirty years, and still cannot lay the structure out correctly and make things plumb, level, and square themselves) has gained a suntan and a reputation of charisma concurrent within a given price range, project magnitude, and industry standards. (All may be qualities of a general contractor, but not to be confused with the full qualifications of a master builder.)

Should these marketers participate in debates, just as our Presidential candidates do? (Calculators, CAD, 32oz. hammers, tennis shoes on top of the walls, boots down in the hole, drafting machines, site layout equipment, and resources are now in session.)

Project Funding

Capital sources for design and construction projects

Architectural and construction projects of substantial scale generally need a capital strategy that goes beyond a single bank loan. Magister Operis works with several project funding channels and tailors the approach to the project, the sponsor, and the collateral available.

Channels available

Depending on the project, capital may be sourced through an institutional partner relationship, through private commercial-banking channels, or through structured arrangements built around collateral the sponsor or principal can bring to the table. No single channel fits every project — the right structure is matched to the deal.

Where to learn more

For the full Magister Operis project funding capability — including pre-compliance requirements, collateral standards, monetization mechanics, and the institutional channel — see the Project Funding page in the Financial section. That page documents the structured-finance side of the practice in depth.

For AEC clients with a specific project in mind, the most efficient path is a brief initial conversation to determine the appropriate channel and the document set required for pre-qualification.

CLIENT/OWNER

For clarification of the misrepresentation, of effectiveness and ultimate uselessness, of the value in a dollar per square footage question, when asked by a client/general contractor to a builder/subcontractor when a model/project has not been defined in whole...

These are finished products: (all approx. 72 square feet)

Hyundai About......$ 8,000.00
Toyota Camry
Ford Tauras
VW New Beetle
VW Jetta
Acura CL Type-S
Lincoln LS
Mercedes 320
Audi S4
BMW M3
Cheverolet Corvette
Cadillac STS
Dodge Viper
Mercedes CLK55 AMG
BMW M6
Porsche Carrera 2
Mercedes S500
Porsche Carrera 4
Porsche 911 Turbo
Mercedes 600SL
Ferrari Modena
Ruf Porsche 911 Turbo
Bentley-Rolls Silver Seraph
Lamborgini Diablo VT
Ferrari F50
Porsche Carrera GT
McLaren F1
Porsche 959
Bugatti 16/4 Veyron More than.....$ 1,300,000.00

Reality:

Ask Hyundai, to quote you a price per square foot, to build one of their cheapest cars, in your garage, while you take your time, deciding...... where the instruments are located,.. what the shifting patterns of the stick shift are,.. the tread patterns on the tires,.. the compounds used in the tire rubber,.. structural engineers to engineer in the least frame flex (or an exact amount desired),.. while maximizing optimum weight distribution,.. getting with the interior decorators,.. Paxton supercharger?,.. steel braided brake lines?,.. ventilated disc brakes?,.. car automation system designers & installers,... and an aerodynamics team (complete with wind testing, in your own backyard, and the test data displayed on your wide plasma screen digital TV, while you lounge in the reclining theater seats, in your media room)?

The truth is...that Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes dealerhships don't even sell a cars as expensive as what Hyundai would charge you to build a car the same way as the architectural building industry is accustomed to building real estate projects today. While some automobile manufacturers offer customized services, these services are preconfigured so details are defined in advance to assure the maximum efficiency and highest quality control. This comparison of cars is offered to enlighten you to the fact, that these car manufacturers have figured out that you don't produce high-performance cars, by employing the same techniques as is currently offered by today's building industry.

Research will show...

The simple key to efficient and quality construction is:
"DETAILS... DEFINED IN ADVANCE." COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

These commonly asked questions and answers should give you reason to commission Magister Operis^TM for turn-key constructing your current/next project:

Q.	What makes Magister Operis^TM or Magister Operis^TM affiliates different from the other architects, engineers, general contractors, suppliers, or subcontractors? How can Magister Operis^TM bring these parties together as a working team to bring substantial change to the efficiency, product quality, and the attitudes of the parties involved in a real estate project?
A.	For over two decades...Magister Operis^TM has studied numerous builders, architects, engineers, suppliers, and subcontractors that have a substantial name in the industry. Each year, there is a severe loss of quality, profit, and worn-out manpower, due to the fact that they all forget that this "building" thing is just a bunch of layers assembled on a building site. In fact, The Economist reported that almost a THIRD of money spent in the United States on construction is wasted due to construction errors, inefficient estimating, and deficient communication between all parties! What is sad is that even with that amount of monetary waste taking place...the finish quality of construction quality also immensely suffers. Unfortunately architects, designers, and draftspeople producing construction documentation today, are not trained to orchestrate all the trades, with the information they critically need nor with people skills necessary to get the project completed as accurately and efficiently as the client/owners checkbook allows. General contractors complement that problem, since typically they do not have enough proficient trades skills personally, to know how to create the proper documention for the building trades that provide the construction geometry missing in typical construction documentation that ensures the likelyhood of guaranteed success. The main reason is because almost all general contractors are general contractors rather than builders. Many builders have no personal intimate experience with the execution of each trade's processes. Magister Operis's background gives the Contract and Specification Management subsidiary a unique outlook with the most custom and flexible options available, which we combine with extreme efficiency tools for the entire construction process. You will not find another company as dedicated to freestyle construction. Most general contractors today eliminate complex details (your options) wherever possible so that they don't have to endure dealing with their uncoordinated subcontractors and suppliers. This is where we ominously excel. We have a reputation for coordination and being efficient with the most complex projects. We train our affiliate builders to implement and manage real estate projects using our Real Estate Lifecycle Technology Systems^TM program, so that they can provide the same level of quality and customer service as Magister Operis^TM personally performing the construction management. Magister Operis^TM treats building as a science, which it very much is...as we have demonstrated on numerous projects. Most general contractors run things more like farming. They plant some subcontractors, some materials, some drawings, and your pre-qualified checkbook out on the construction site and then expects your project to grow like a tomato plant in a garden. Notice most general contractors let their subcontractors and suppliers specify, engineer, and coordinate for themselves. Consider that practice is the core of why they are always working out problems throughout the entire duration of the construction process, rather than efficiently doing the planning up-front. Lots of finger pointing takes place with so very little planned. Subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, etc. are left to work many of the details out for themselves. General contractors typically expect all the planning to come from the architect alone. They don't make use of project timelines and resist one being created so that they can't be held accountable due to not knowing how to get properly intimate with your site, building design, structural, and mechanical options. As Magister Operis^TM intensely studied these general contractors (hundreds) for over two decades, we studied why some contractors fail and some succeed. Consider the fact that most builders do not even have the basic building skills of using a hammer, saw, tape measure or various levelling and alignment technologies much less how to use an advanced scientific calculator which is the most powerful tool on any jobsite. Today's $10 Texas Instruments TI-35Xa calculator is powerful in tracking and accurately defining the geometry on today's jobsite by architects, builders, and subcontractors. Most general contractors and many subcontractors know what geometry is as a subject, but don't know how to actually apply geometry to make construction efficient as well as accurately fabricating and positioning each construction component. And when you don't possess the basic applied construction geometry skills, it makes things quite difficult to effectively and fairly supervise the construction of a project smoothly and on budget. The general contractor without these basic skils , working on a fixed price...cuts corners that effect your project's quality and efficiency to maximize his/her profits. Actually the problem is just as bad (or worse) in the "cost plus" projects simply because it's easier to blow money! While Magister Operis™ extensively uses various technologies directly linked to 3-D CAD, an advanced scientific calculator should also be in every tool belt and/or jobsite vehicle. What you receive when you hire builders trained by Magister Operis^TM is one clean package, without anything else to get in-between. You can hire Magister Operis™ to build your project for the cleanest package. Magister Operis' techniques are similar to the design/build movement in recent times but Magister Operis™ is typically much more technically advanced and jobsite relations oriented than most design/build firms. Magister Operis' Real Estate Lifecycle Technology Systems^TM (RELTS™) eliminate the typical finger-pointing that occurs in typical construction responsibility distribution and quality control. Magister Operis™ has the ability to best bring these two forces together for the ultimate "Integrated Construction System". Consider what Magister Operis™ opens up in regards to your ability to better administer facility management to your real estate assets!!! Consider how much easier your life can actually become when your real estate assets can be managed from a digitally accurate 3-D model that matches each of your projects installed reality. Imagine the look on an electrical, mechanical, or appliance repair person's face when you can show them EXACTLY what is behind the sheetrock in your house or commercial building. As an investor in your real estate assets...seriously also consider the huge opportunities/savings that open up for you when it comes time for additions, renovations, remodeling, etc.
Q.	Why is your estimate of the construction costs different than other quotes we have received from other general contractors?
A.	What most all contractors do is estimate quantities and costs which is can more accurately be termed as "guestimating". They use a mix of formulas and "guestimations" when formulating costs for the construction of your project. Some might use a digitizer hooked up to a computer that has routines of formulas that are applied to the number of lineal feet or areas that the digitizer senses. In order to save time it is also common for general contractors to subcontract the estimating to a third-party estimator that guesses similar to how the typical builder and/or building material salesperson estimates building projects. What makes Magister Operis^TM is different from most general contractors, is that all of it's quantities are taken from is directly from a 3-dimensional model with every piece of lumber and plywood present. With CAD there is very little guestimation estimation, but rather an exact survey of the quantities by counting members and reading the surfaces that was created to complete the 3-dimensional model. The only difference between the 3-dimensional CAD model and your project is that the lumber is straighter in the 3-dimensional model and there is no expansion and contraction. The bottom of the footings in the model is flat.
Q.	So CAD figures out everything?
A.	No...not everything. The output is as accurate and comprehensive as the model is. What is not included in the model will not be included in the output. There are certain things (such as nails) that are usually not cost effective to model. These things are estimated and added to the budget. Although it is near impossible to have perfect cost predictions, the use of the 3-dimensional model to achieve cost controlling/quantifying and quality producing concurrent engineering far outweighs any thought of not employing the power of what the industry is becoming to know as "building information modeling".. A skilled builder can use CAD to digitally pre-build your project the same way as he/she knows how to digitally build things on site with a scientific calculator and his/her tool belt. CAD also allows the trades and suppliers to pre-contribute to the success of the project as well as obtain the details and dimensioning
Q.	We have seen other general contractors with computer-aided design (CAD). Can't they do the same thing?
A.	That depends on their software and their true knowledge of how a 3-D project on-site goes together. One could know the 3-D software inside and out, but if one don't know 3-D building (leaves it up to the architect and subcontractors), one is going to be making a big mess with the many thousands of components in the model. Or the model is going to be incomplete, due to the ignorance of the general contractor not being intimately familiar with the actual building process and the applied trades. Most general contractors prefer to make the mess out on the 3-D job-site with information-deprived subcontractors, expensive materials, and your pre-approved checkbook. The principle of Magister Operis^TM was a specialty framing subcontractor for numerous general contractors for more than a dozen years. We have only seen a few general contractors with the knowledge/motivation to utilize 3-dimensional computer-aided design for total site, structural, and mechanical modeling, engineering, and production drawings. Many have bought some software that will do some 3-dimensional framing, etc. but few actually know what they are doing with it, so the program just sits on their hard drive on their computer, rendered as useless or too complicated...