Schools and Other Public Owners Bring New Life to Agency CM Work
Construction management and program management provided on a "for-fee" basis has seemed to die several dramatic deaths over the past 15 years. But it's still here and even thriving, despite a shaky economy and market turmoil. Many agency CM firms that have seen storm clouds gathering over the market have simply opened their umbrellas and continued on with business.
"The markets have been down recently, but CM firms seem to be bucking the trend," says Bruce D'Agostino, executive director of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), McLean, Va. He notes that agency CM continues to have a strong following in the public sector, particularly in the hot education market. "Bond issues continue to pass and so the money is there," he says. "People talk about the infrastructure reconstruction needs in Iraq. They should look at the infrastructure reconstruction needs here at home."