HB Technologies, Inc.

Services

The first phase in the typical church building program is the Conceptual Planning Phase. The conceptual planning phase is a process through which the basic ideas for the project are synthesized. More specifically, ideas begin to develop as the building committee begins to discern God’s will regarding the building program. The conceptual planning phase may consist of a facility needs assessment, growth projections, conceptual drawings, and conceptual estimates.

During the conceptual planning phase, hb technologies, inc. typically provides the following:

Growth Projection Studies
hb technologies, inc. was the first firm to conduct and use growth projection studies as a component to building programs. While many firms suggest that they review worship and Sunday school attendances to guesstimate facility requirements, hb technologies, inc. actually conducts formal growth projection studies to realize facility requirements.

hb technologies, inc. uses inferential statistical analysis to mathematically calculate facility requirements based upon substantiated need, rather than simply guessing at facility requirements. For example, for a church that is considering building a new worship center, we would develop multiple regression equations with several independent variables, such as prior worship attendance, prior growth of a community, and other variables to predict numerical growth. Using these variables we develop a statistical model, a mathematical equation, which can then be used to calculate the future worship attendances. We then size the seating capacity of the new worship center to accommodate that growth.

The costs associated with such a study are nominal, especially when compared to the cost of being wrong. Building too much or too little in today’s construction economy is simply financially foolish. Therefore, we strongly advise our churches to substantiate growth rather than guesstimate growth. As for those of us at hb technologies, inc., we cannot afford to be wrong.

Conceptual Drawings
Conceptual drawings are the initial drawings that we develop as part of a presentation to the church congregation. These drawings are developed from the findings of the growth projection study and usually include a conceptual site plan, conceptual floor plans, and conceptual elevations. The ultimate purpose of conceptual drawings is simply to graphically depict the new facilities to the congregation.

When developing the conceptual drawings for a church, we work directly with the planning committee or building committee. After determining the facility needs of the church with the committee, we then synthesize our collective ideas, turning them into conceptual site plans, floor plans, and elevations. This process is usually completed in approximately two months, but it is a process that should not be circumvented.

Conceptual Renderings
After all conceptual drawings are completed, we develop conceptual renderings. Renderings are images that graphically depict the facility in its completed form.

We provide three dimensional color renderings of our church facilities. These renderings may be of the exterior of your new facility or the interior of your new facility. They may be of renovated construction projects or new construction projects. Regardless, 3-D color renderings, along with conceptual drawings, provide congregations with a means through which their new facilities can be visualized, so they are a crucial in the actual realization of the building program.

Conceptual Estimates
We provide a conceptual estimate of the construction project cost for our churches after we complete the conceptual drawings and renderings. This process allows us to establish an estimate of all known costs associated with the building program, allowing the church to better plan for servicing any expected debts associated with the project.

Cost-to-Wait Analysis
hb technologies, inc. were the pioneers in developing cost-to-wait analyses for churches considering building programs. A Cost-to-Wait Analysis is conducted simply to help our churches determine whether it is more financially feasible to build now or build later. In most cases it is best to build today, knowing that construction costs do not decrease. Nonetheless, it is always necessary that we determine the most appropriate time churches should build in terms of managing current and future debt.

Presentations
As one of the final steps in the conceptual planning phase, it is imperative that we develop and present the results of our conceptual planning to groups within the church body or the entire congregation. hb technologies, inc. develops and typically gives these presentations at no extra charge.

Project Design

Design Development Drawings
hb technologies, inc. completes the actual design of the project as part of its turn-key services. The design phase is imperative as it provides complete graphical representation of the facilities to be constructed. The design drawings and associated specifications serve as the means through which the facilities will be built. The design of most church projects includes:

		Geotechnical Engineering
		Civil Engineering
		Architecture
		Structural Engineering
		Mechanical Engineering
		Plumbing Engineering
		Electrical Engineering

Value Engineering
The final component associated with the design phase is value engineering. As with all of the items mentioned herein, value engineering should not be circumvented. In general, it is the responsibility of the architect, engineers, and other design professionals, to design the project to meet the needs of the owner, while it is the responsibility of the contractor to actually build the project in accordance with the design documents. As such, part of our responsibility lies with our ability to appropriately develop and manage the numerous budgets for this project, including the value engineering of those budgets.

Value engineering is a term that is both misunderstood and misused by most persons within the construction industry. Value engineering is a method by which a systematic approach is taken by collective qualified professionals to reduce construction costs on a particular project, as well as life cycle costs of a completed project, without sacrificing design intent. It is not simply “looking for ways to reduce cost.” It requires an approach that incorporates all responsible parties, working under the direction of a single project representative i.e. project manager, to investigate design and construction options with associated cost advantages individually as a discipline, e.g. roof framing system, and collectively as a project, e.g. schedule ramifications. During this process, cost savings may be realized through items such as improved or alternative designs, alternative materials, decreased or alternative labor efforts, alternative means and methods of construction sequencing, and other similar items.

At hb technologies, inc. value engineering is a process we typically complete at the beginning of the project and most often during the first construction estimate we develop. Given that, we typically develop two estimates during the pre-construction phase. An initial conceptual estimate is developed from conceptual drawings. During the development of this initial estimate we estimate the project as it is currently designed, considering different means and methods to construction in which the project may realize savings through the value engineering process. As we realize those potential value-added savings, they are made aware to the architect, engineers, and owner for consideration, at which time they may be incorporated into the project.

We should note, however, that our approach to value engineering is team-oriented. As such, it requires the collective efforts of our project manager, who typically acts as the estimator on the project, our accountants, the superintendent for the project, and our subcontractors under consideration. However, we require the project manager and superintendent to assume responsibility for the cost estimates, operating under the premise that this project is “their” project, mandating they assume ownership of all aspects of the project. In layperson’s terms, if the project manager and superintendent are responsible for the budget during construction, they must play a major role in developing the budget.

We then develop a second estimate at the completion of the design phase based upon the completed design documents. During the development of this second estimate, we typically estimate the project as depicted on the design documents. While this is certainly not to say that further value engineering is not completed during the development of this second estimate, the majority of the value engineering is completed during the initial estimate while the design documents for the project are under development. This second estimate is the estimate that we use while construction is being completed.

Regardless of how value engineering fits into each church project, all financial considerations are critiqued and reviewed by all necessary parties completing the construction. Subsequently, each church has the comfort of knowing that the financial aspects of their church construction project are at the forefront of the professionals at hb technologies, inc.

Project Construction

hb technologies, inc. completes church construction projects through a number of different project delivery methods. We can complete projects as a:

     Construction Manager

     Design/Build Contractor

     General Contractor

Regardless of the method of delivery implemented, our churches are assured that the professionals at hb technologies, inc. have educations and experiences that are unmatched in the church construction industry.

Our collective experiences at hb technologies, inc. include numerous projects, totaling several billion dollars worth of construction. We have worked on projects that have 2 craft employees and projects that have over 2,000 craft employees. We have used the latest available technologies in construction to improve project efficiencies. We have used advanced bar coding systems developed at Clemson University to track construction materials from raw material to fabrication, and from fabrication to erection, thereby reducing wastes and improving construction efficiencies. We have erected elaborate steel structures on the ground, calculating in the field, while cranes and helicopters hovered overhead, their composite centers of gravity, section modulii, moments of inertia, and biaxial bending stresses so mis-picks using the latest in crane and helicopter technology can be minimized, again reducing downtimes and increasing construction efficiencies.

Our employees are also experienced using the latest in pile technology, working on projects using sheet piling, caissons, drilled piles, and driven piles, whether wooden, steel, or concrete. We have experience excavating everything from small footings to coffer dams. We have poured traditional spread footings, stepped footings, slabs, retaining walls, and slurry walls, and we have poured single foundations in single 8,400 cubic yard pours, pours that would last for two or three straight days and nights. We have worked with Grade 60, Number 3 rebar, and we have worked with Number 15 rebar. We have pored 2,000 psi concrete mix designs, and we have poured 8,000 psi concrete mix designs. We have worked with 55ksi pre-engineered steel, A36 steel, and 50ksi steel. We have used wood studs, metal studs, and aluminum studs. Our employees are well versed with the latest construction techniques available.

During the construction phase, our employees use the latest techniques associated with project scheduling, estimating, and project management. As such, our clients again rest knowing that the professionals at hb technologies, inc. have the best interest of their individual project in mind.

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