Construction manager at-risk
Construction manager at-risk (CMAR) is a type of construction project delivery method that can offer an alternative to the traditional process.
The role of the construction manager in the CMAR process is to act as a consultant to the client during the pre-construction design development stages, and then as a construction manager (and sometimes as the contractor) during the construction stages. The construction manager commits to deliver the project within a guaranteed maximum price (GMP), and any costs that exceed the GMP which are not considered to be change orders are the liability of the construction manager. As a result, the construction manager will become very involved in every stage of the project, taking action to keep costs under control.
Before the completion of the design, the construction manager is involved with estimating the costs. This increases the flexibility and adaptability of the design and scope, since the project can be modified as cost, schedule and quality considerations are balanced. The client is also able to make adjustments before pricing is fully completed. This tends to make projects more collaborative, and design solutions tend to have better 'buildability'.
The CMAR delivery method is particularly suited to larger and more complex projects that are more difficult to define prior to construction beginning and have a high chance of changing in scope. It is also suitable for projects that are of a high technical complexity, contain multiple phases, or where the schedule requires that construction begins before the design is complete.
The drawbacks of the CMAR process is that the construction manager may lose out financially if cost over-runs occur. Also, they may compensate for the risk of financial exposure by changing the works to fit the GMP.
The client remains at risk for any exclusions or inconsistencies in the contract documents, as well as the risk that they may not receive the best possible bid from contractors if the GMP is established before the design phase begins.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Construction manager.
- Construction management contract.
- Construction management: outline work plan.
- Design and build contract.
- Guaranteed maximum price.
- How to become a construction manager.
- Integrated project delivery (IPD).
- Management contractor.
- Principal contractor.
- Procurement route.
- Types of contractor.
Featured articles and news
Plumbing and heating for sustainability in new properties
Technical Engineer runs through changes in regulations, innovations in materials, and product systems.
Awareness of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
What CBAM is and what to do about it.
The new towns and strategic environmental assessments
12 locations of the New Towns Taskforce reduced to 7 within the new towns draft programme and open consultation.
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.