All About Owner’s Representatives

In the world of construction, successfully managing a project from start to finish requires navigating a complex landscape of tasks, stakeholders, and timelines. Clients can face an exacting challenge in ensuring that their projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. It is also not always clear for a client who is or should be responsible for different phases or aspects of a project which can be confusing and costly. This is where an Owner’s Representative (OR) can be an indispensable asset.

We have had the pleasure of getting to know Peak Projects, a boutique owner's representation firm, through a project with architects Johnston Marklee, that recently broke ground in La Jolla.

We have seen a steady increase in the number of clients that are choosing to work with Owner's Representatives, so we wanted to sit down with Joe Tarr and Jessica Tracey from Peak Projects to talk more about what they do and why an Owner’s Representative can have a significant impact on client experiences and project outcomes.

Peak Projects, Johnston Marklee & West Coast GBC on the project site

Let’s start with the obvious question, what does an Owner’s Representative do?

An Owner’s Representative (also known as a Client Representative) acts as an intermediary between the client (owner) and the rest of the project team, ensuring that the owner’s best interests are prioritized and effectively represented throughout the lifecycle of the project. We make sure that the client’s objectives are achieved while also managing risks, controlling costs, ensuring compliance, and overseeing the quality of work.

What is the value-added approach that Peak Projects takes to owner’s representation and project management?

Peak Projects was founded 10 years ago and has since grown to over 70 employees that manage over 100 active projects. One of our strongest assets is the diverse breadth of backgrounds that we bring to the table. We structure our project teams in an intentional way to capture that range of experience and communications capabilities as well. Each project has a main Owner’s Representative that is supported by an Associate OR and a Senior OR.

There is a lot of thought that goes into how that team is put together, you will often have a mix of architecture, construction, project management and design backgrounds on a given project. This allows us to collectively provide services and communicate effectively with clients through to realtors and contractors.

As people become more aware of the role of an Owner’s Representative, some may be wondering how exclusive or accessible the services are.

Grant Bowen, the founder of Peak Projects came from a background working with private family offices that essentially function as Owner’s Representatives for major estates. Part of his interest in founding Peak was to make that service more accessible to people that didn’t fit one profile or demographic but desired the same level of quality and execution. More people are seeking out owner’s representation as a result, we are not exclusive or for one type of client or project.

For most of our clients, the conversation really boils down to value. Whether we are talking about investing in an OR relationship or making change order decisions half-way through a project. The question is often “Do the costs align with what I need and want from the project?”.

Major construction projects are a financial commitment, but they also require significant emotional and time investments that can be complicated by geography, careers, and life priorities. A lot of our clients really understand the value of having an OR there to do a lot of the heavy lifting on the demands that can drain those important non-financial resources.
We provide a layer of assurance that we have a finger on the pulse of the entirety of their project and are keeping things moving and on track.

When is the best time to engage an Owner’s Representative?

As soon as possible!

We can step in on a project at any stage, including after completion since we provide estate management services as well. Generally, we are brought on during design phase. The sooner that we are involved, the better positioned we are to help build out a team that can align and deliver on the needs of a client and make their project a success.

A great example of this is the project that we are doing with West Coast GBC and Johnston Marklee. It’s a great team where everyone is on the same page.

We are sometimes brought on later in a project but it adds complexity and costs. The learning and adjustment curve becomes steeper the further into the process, so unless we are there to rescue a project, it makes the most sense to engage an OR early.

What do you love about your role as an Owner’s Representative?

It is dynamic position. We can do a lot of things, which is enjoyable. It is a bit like being an orchestra conductor that is making sure the symphony is playing the music correctly.

Each client wants a different level of involvement but the through line is communication. We really get to know our clients and tailor communication styles to the individual; it is a job that requires you to be very personable and personal. You're intimately discussing people’s lives, so trust is paramount. There is a lot of responsibility but that is also what makes it so fulfilling.