QUESTION

In the term project, you analyze a construction project of your choice and prepare a professional report, or brief. The written report should not exceed ten pages in length. To complete the project, you will:
Select a project for analysis. I recommend that you contact your local designer or contractor to get the information. Since we used a building project in our class, it is recommended for you to select a building project. In selecting your project, you may have hard time in acquiring information including specs and drawings. If you cannot find those information, there is an alternative way: You can use any estimating textbook that has a spec and drawings. One example would be Construction Cost Estimating (Prentice Hall). However, using a textbook example is not recommended.
Prepare a Project Brief for the selected project. A complete brief will include the following:
an executive summary
general statement of project objectives
preliminary design sketches
description of areas of uncertainty and risk.
This part of the brief is 20% of the final project grade.
Develop the spreadsheet applications developed with assignments two to four. Include explanations and recommendations based on the results of each analysis. If you cannot find required information, please assume. But you should write all assumptions. This part of the brief is 50% of the final project grade.
Write a descriptive narrative—explain the purpose of performing each analysis and the implications of the results obtained. This part of the brief is 20% of the final project grade.
Summarize and draw conclusions. This part of the brief is 10% of the final project grade.
Your term project is graded according to how well it meets the requirements above. Credit will be given to those individuals who go beyond the minimum requirements. Completed projects are due by the date indicated on the course schedule. Reminder: the written report should not exceed ten pages in length.

SOLUTION

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

🏗️ Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a 10-Page Construction Project Brief

🧱 Step 1: Select a Realistic Construction Project

Try to select a real-world building project from your community. Contact a contractor, architect, or project manager for plans or basic project data.
If you can’t find real data, use a project from a textbook like Construction Cost Estimating — but be aware that this may limit your grade.

📝 Step 2: Executive Summary (½ to 1 page)

Goal: Give a high-level snapshot of the project and what your brief will cover.
Include:

Name and type of project
Key goals (cost, timeline, scope)
Major findings and recommendations
Mention the analyses covered (e.g., cost estimate, scheduling)

🎯 Step 3: Project Objectives Statement (½ page)

Goal: Clearly define what the project intends to achieve.
Write:

Specific objectives (e.g., “Construct a 10,000 sq. ft. office building within 6 months and a $3 million budget.”)
Stakeholders and their expectations

✏️ Step 4: Preliminary Design Sketches (1 page max)

Goal: Visually communicate basic layout or design intent.
Tips:

Include sketches or schematics (hand-drawn or digital)
Label dimensions, structural features, or functional areas
If no official plans are available, draw simple floor plans or site layout

⚠️ Step 5: Risk and Uncertainty Description (1 page)

Goal: Highlight areas of concern or unknowns in the project.
Cover:

Project risks (e.g., weather delays, labor shortages)
Estimating assumptions and limitations
Site or material uncertainties
Clearly label this section as “Assumptions and Risks”

📝 This section = 20% of your grade

📊 Step 6: Spreadsheet Analysis and Applications (4–5 pages)

Goal: Integrate work from Assignments 2–4.
Include:

Screenshots or tables of your spreadsheets
Summary of what each analysis shows (cost, labor, materials, timeline, etc.)
Interpret the results and make project recommendations
Clearly state any assumptions

📌 Pro tip: If data is missing, make reasonable assumptions—but explain every one.

📝 This section = 50% of your grade

📖 Step 7: Descriptive Narrative (2 pages)

Goal: Explain the “why” behind your analyses and what they reveal.
For each spreadsheet analysis:

State its purpose (e.g., “to compare material costs across suppliers”)
Explain what the results mean for your project
Discuss implications for time, cost, or design choices