Entourage is a branded restaurant embracing the spirit of Modern American cuisine. Entourage contracted with Phoenix Builders, Ltd. (Phoenix) to buildout interior and exterior portions, a 6,424 square foot premier restaurant in Naperville, Illinois. Entourage celebrates America’s rich tapestry of cultures, bringing together diverse experiences and opportunities to create something truly unique. Entourage’s approach is rooted in tradition very similar to Phoenix with over 43 years of experience rooted in building restaurants. At Phoenix, we Rise Above The Ordinary; at Entourage Restaurants, they ELEVATE DISHES WITH INNOVATIVE ENHANCEMENTS AND BOLD INFLUENCES! This facility in Naperville included top of the line millwork and finishes that Phoenix built and installed.
The quality of Phoenix Builders, Ltd.’s construction always begins with complete design documents. Phoenix enlisted its estimating and project management team to review and respond to design requirements and provided value engineer suggestions. Phoenix attended meetings with Entourage and design consultants/architects (Torch Architecture) to evaluate optimum constructability requirements for the project. Also, Phoenix team provided valuable insight to Entourage and design consultants/architects to ensure means and methods and pricing was optimal in building contiguous office space and counseling areas.
Phoenix’s Project Management team with its Quality Assurance mantra was the integral component of the project. Weekly onsite face to face reports and/or conference calls about contracted obligations met to forthcoming timelines of construction next steps were readily performed. Field reports were posted on our Procore platform and other software platforms in accordance with all building codes, including International. Field Observation Reports were prepared for trades to be utilized on site to monitor progress and quality throughout construction, the Phoenix team used cell phones to generate photos. Additionally, via our Procore platform and email conversations, were used to communicate any changes and updates to all subcontractors and our Superintendent and Project Manager on this project.
As the project neared completion, Phoenix worked through its closeout procedure by pre-punching the building with subcontractors in advance of walking with the owner and architect to eliminate and minimize the overall list as much as possible.
During close-out, Phoenix oversaw the startup and testing of all mechanical and electrical systems and advised Entourage on the proper use and maintenance of all systems.
Phoenix Innovative Programs
Phoenix instituted its long-standing history of optimizing the construction schedule and that was instrumental in realizing milestones met consistently. Our Project Manager, Superintendent and project management support staff were all aligned in effectively scheduling and communicating with local subcontractors and Entourage to drive the scheduled critical path. Phoenix has a long-standing track-record of meeting tight project schedules for clients and this project was no different. Working consistently with subcontractors and vendors helped alleviate any product/material lead times throughout construction. Our prowess in using Building Connected portal to OnScreen to Sage Estimating to Sage CRE 360 Accounting software to Procore all allowed us to capture throughput of construction milestones on a consistent basis, including at the bidding stage. Look-ahead scheduling was critical in that we used weekly onsite/technological (i.e., Zoom or Teams) meetings to communicate trends being realized in our construction and future (i.e., weekly) lookaheads as to what to expect from our team. This helped in ensuring ongoing construction schedule activities met and completed.
Highlights of Programs Utilized
Procore
Utilized for on-going tracking & updates of current project schedule to reflect any unforeseen delays, inspections, design changes, etc. to keep the client informed of the progress from start to finish. Sage 360 – Project documentation & financial software utilized to produce & track Request For Information (RFI’s), submittals, Purchase Orders/Contracts, Change Orders, and Invoicing.
Building Connected
Our office to all subcontractors for bidding purposes. This software is critical in sending on a timely basis all correspondence of the Entourage Restaurant project in terms of drawings, Requests for Information, bid proposals and more.
OnScreen
Involves measuring, counting, and figuring quantities of any given construction item contained within the plans from Torch Architecture. We use this typically used for bidding, budgeting, and ordering purposes for carpentry work.
Sage Estimating (Carpentry)
Construction take-off software utilized to verify quantities of items throughout the project to affirm costs based on linear square footages (from OnScreen) and confirm scopes of work, changes in work, creating mark-ups for design build changes/RFI’s, as-built drawings, etc.
Value Analysis/Engineering Processes
Phoenix is an expert at providing a team approach in any value engineering (VE) phases. Due to detailed Entourage design requirements and specifications, there was not much room for value engineering in design; but made up for that when unforeseen conditions arose. For example, after awarding the contract, we value engineered some items in order to reduce costs. Some of those included:
1. Refinish existing toilet room doors in lieu of providing new doors as show in Addendum No. 2
2. Eliminate zinc bar top and include $20K allowance for stained wood top
3. Eliminate all Portola coatings, and provide standard painted finish at ceilings
4. Provide accent color LVT at center of dining room in lieu of tile T-3.
Difficulties/Obstacles Overcome
As part of Phoenix’s team approach in all projects, we understand the obstacles and difficulties in getting clients to meet can alter schedules. Overcoming such obstacles required robust communication, collaboration and recurring progress meeting protocols in verbal, virtual and written forms. This entailed meetings with multiple disciplines/people/parties from different departments (i.e., Entourage, Torch Architects, subcontractors, vendors, inspectors, etc.). The roof – on a timely basis we needed to demolition the existing roof and via Building Connected and our Carpentry group’s contact, we contracted with a merit-based company that used a robotic machine to demo the roof in one day! This allowed us to get our contracted roofing company onsite immediately for installation of the new roof.
