Building Consultant vs. Project Manager: What’s the Difference?

When you think about construction projects in general (commercial buildings and residential homes though), just so many things have to go down so things go proper. The building consultant and the project manager have two important roles in making this happen. These roles are often confused, and understandably so — both professionals are so involved in the success of a project, but the focus and responsibility are completely different. And so, how can you tell these two essential roles apart? So when do you actually need one over the other? Let’s break it down.

Understanding the Role of a Building Consultant

A building consultant is technical knowledge in a specific area brought to a project. They’re like the experts you turn to when you don’t know the technical aspects of construction design, material, and compliance with regulations. This is the person you call if you’re not sure what materials would be best for energy efficiency and/or if the project complies with local building codes.

Early in the planning stages of a project, a building consultant is usually brought in. In close collaboration with architects and engineers they make sure that the design and construction plans satisfy both the client’s needs and safety and regulatory standards. The work they do helps keep projects on the fast track, preventing costly mistakes or delays from noncompliance with local laws or environmental standards.

Therefore, in many cases, building consultants are involved in long-term projects where sustainability is a main factor. They advise on things like:

• Materials that will minimize environmental impact.
• Energy efficient designs that can save costs over the long run.
• New technologies that will help make the buildings smarter and more sustainable.

They have bird’s eye view of whole process and make sure that it is technically sound in every part of the build. However, unlike project managers, they are more advisory; they are helping set the foundation for the project, but are not as heavily involved in the day to day running of the project while it is building.

Understanding the Role of a Project Manager

A building consultant provides the technical advice and a project manager gets it done on time, under budget and in accordance with the plan. The project manager wears many hats: As leader, coordinator, problem solver and communicator, they are. Mostly they tend to focus on making sure everything on the project from start to finish goes right.

A project manager organized all the logistics to make sure the schedule was set, who’s doing which task, checking the budget and making sure everyone on the project is looking at the same picture. Basically, they are the bridge between the client and the other team, particularly to ensure the expectations and the team’s expectations are crystal clear.

Key responsibilities of a project manager include:

• Timelines management and make sure that deadlines are achieved.
• Keeping costs in check — and the budget under control.
• Coordinating among the many contractors, designers, and stake holders.
• Problem solving when the unexpected happens on site (which it so often does!)

Unlike a building consultant, the project manager participates in the day to day operations in a construction project. They do the hands on work to make sure all the moving parts of the project fit together perfectly.