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California-based Webcor Builders provides cost-effective "no surprises" project management by employing innovative technology combined with focused attention to detail and commitment to quality to build premium commercial and residential developments. David Soyka reports on how this unique construction company partners withclients to build success. Anyone who has experience in a building project - whether a home renovation, kitchen renovation, or total construction from the ground up - knows that it frequently ends up costing more than anticipated. On top of that, there's typically some additional work to be done because the project didn't quite turn out according to plan. Call it the "uh-oh" factor. Now, take these kinds of problems from a relatively small scale and crank them up to what can be encountered on a large scale $100 million-plus commercial or residential development that takes place over a period of at least two years and the magnitude of costly headaches grows exponentially. Anyone who can offer building owners not only the engineering know-how, but also the project management skills, to minimize, even eliminate, these "uh-oh" factors offers a considerable value-add. Webcor Builders usually avoids the "uh-oh" factor by using highly qualified and experienced people to execute pre-planning and project methodologies that combine to live up to the company motto of "value through innovation." According to Glenn Gabel, senior vice president, "Smart people create smart solutions. And we emphasize that we offer our clients solutions. If there's a single factor that determines a successful construction project, it is precise planning and careful attention to detail at every step, from estimating and scheduling to our on-site management and quality control. In addition to our own extensive capabilities, we engage the best subcontractors to ensure the vision of a building is not only realized, but realized on-budget and as scheduled." Rosser B. Edwards and David R. Boyd started the company in 1971, and in 1994 merged with A. J. Ball Construction. In 2000, the founders retired, with Andrew Ball taking the reins as president/CEO. Like the founders, Ball believes "if a client has entrusted us to construct a new building, it's our job to ask: how can we build it better?" With over 55 million square feet of projects completed, Webcor specializes in constructing high-tech corporate campuses, commercial office buildings, high-density residential projects, luxury hotels and resorts, healthcare and pharmaceutical/biotech facilities, and parking structures. Webcor also provides interior construction as well as building renovation, historic restoration and seismic upgrades. Headquartered in San Mateo, Calif. (now you understand the seismic upgrade expertise) with satellite offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Hayward and Anaheim, Webcor focuses primarily on pre-eminent projects in its immediate neighborhood. These include landmark projects for such leading companies as Oracle, Electronic Arts, California Academy of Sciences, Starwood Lodging, and LucasFilm. Noteworthy sites include the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio at San Francisco, Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, the Cove in Marina Del Rey, the Griffith Observatory renovation in Los Angles, and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park "We are proud to say that we've built many of California's landmark buildings over the last 30 years," Gabel notes. The company employs over 1,000 people and has over $1.5 billion in open contracts. "We work directly with the owner or developer at the earliest stages of the project," Gabel explains. "We want not only to define what work has to be done and develop a realistic cost of that work, but also to evaluate the cost of the project in comparison to other building costs for similar current projects to help the owner make the right business decision. We look to determine how to get the maximum value out of a project in accordance with the owner's objectives within the permitted uses."