The practice of design/build is rooted in antiquity, when the master builder was usually both the designer and the assembler of the projects he envisioned. Today, design/build refers to a method of project delivery in which a single entity provides all services necessary to both design and construct all or a portion of the project. This single point of responsibility distinguishes design/build from other forms of project delivery. We use the latest computer technologies for load calculations, engineering, layout work and coordination drawings. Our well-earned reputation for quality workmanship and effective design is part of every project. Our goal is to bring an efficiently functioning HVAC system to your Design/Build project, on time, and on budget.

With the design team working with the owner from day one to design a building best suited to the owner's needs, the project develops with a realistic budget and the most effective design from the start. The result is the best value for the Owner's dollar. Our success with Design/Build is due to our in-depth understanding of mechanical systems and our ability to work with owners & architects in the design phase to understand and provide what they want. We have a licensed professional engineer and staff in-house to produce our engineering work. Our in-house fabrication capabilities give us an edge in cost competitiveness, flexibility and quality control by producing materials for our projects.

You only build a project once. Invest wisely in experienced professionals to do it right the first time. Please contact us to discuss how the design/build process has worked for other clients and how this process could benefit you.

Mechanical Contractors, Inc. estimates all their projects with electronic takeoff systems for ductwork and piping, which contains databases for our industry. Each estimate is categorized in a database along with years of previous estimates for statistical analysis for your system's cost. This, combined with spreadsheet applications, gives each estimator the flexibility to consider the specific needs of each job. Estimating changes and "what if" options can be achieved with great accuracy in a short amount of time.

One of the primary benefits of the design/build method is that it provides for the earliest commitment of guaranteed cost and delivery. A skilled staff of estimators with a wide variety of construction experience prepares the estimates for proposed projects. Their first task is to prepare a cost estimate based on the conceptual design. Our experience has enables us to develop detailed cost records for a variety of projects. This detailed history of our experience allows us to project accurate cost estimates for the client at the earliest stages of the design phase. If the cost begins to exceed the established budget, alternatives can be offered in order to bring the project back within the desired budget.

Engineering

Mechanical Contractors, Inc. has two Professional Engineers, two Senior Designers, two Controls Engineers, and three AutoCAD Specialists on staff. Each brings his own expertise to a design department, which has experience in the office development in the growing Piedmont Carolinas and the luxury provided by a contractor to experience the installation and operation of the systems we design.

We use the latest computer technologies for load calculations, engineering, layout work and coordination drawings. Our well-earned reputation for quality workmanship and effective design is part of every project. We strive to provide innovative, efficient, and cost effective solutions for each project. Whether designing, developing, or constructing, we focus on energy efficiency, cost control, indoor air quality, and constructability.

MCI has two Certified Energy Managers (CEM) on staff and one Certified Green Building Engineer. We perform energy analysis on new and existing buildings and recommend improvements to existing systems and predictions of operating costs for new systems. We can provide compliance with the NC Chapter 10 Energy Code and ASHRAE 90.1-2004, and energy analysis for LEED Accreditation. LEED aids to improve occupant well-being, environmental performance and economic returns of buildings using established and innovative practices, standards, and technologies. MCI can provide assistance with your LEED projects for Energy & Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality.

The LEED-NC points most often developed with Trane Trace software are under Energy & Atmosphere:

• Prerequisite 2 - Minimum Energy Performance: Establish the minimum level of energy efficiency for the base building and systems.
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  Credit 1 – Optimize Energy Performance: Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use.
  
  
  

Project Management

One unique aspect of the design/build method is that construction can actually begin while design is still underway. This provides additional opportunities for substantial time savings. As construction progresses, the project manager will maintain open lines of communication with the engineer, so that the client is fully apprised of all progress and schedules related to their building.

Once a project has been priced, engineered, and major items purchased, a project manager assumes responsibility. With the direct responsibility of sales, engineering, and purchasing shared by others, our project managers can concentrate completely on project scheduling, production, installation, and effective commissioning. Our project managers schedule mechanics to your job with proper planning and forethought to have materials that are correct and arrive in a timely manner. They maintain constant control of costs associated with each of the projects.

The act of commissioning is implemented from project turn over to owner walkthrough and punch list completion. Throughout the project, project managers are not only checking to see that the products are purchased and installed to design specifications, but that the actual installation is reviewed and checked to make sure that the system can be maintained easily.

Once the project has been completed and any punch list items have been corrected, complete owner training is performed to ensure that the owner understands the complete system. At this time, operation and maintenance manuals as well as test and balance reports are turned in.