Mark Scott Construction
Collaboration and Communication Spell Success at Mark Scott Construction, Inc.
By Deborah Teramis Christian
Mark Scott and Chris Trent are native to the East Bay. With the exception of a few years away while completing college, they've spent all of their lives working in the Tri Valley and surrounding areas. With the accolades afforded by award-winning projects, they are well established in the premier high-end custom home building market at the base of Mt. Diablo, a lesser-known en- clave of expensive, rural zip codes. "We cater to the client who has vision," says Mark. That's where Mark Scott Construction finds its niche. Exceptional communication with the client and refined project management processes enable this company to take concept to completion for high-end residences, delivering a superior product with exceptional service at a good value.
Making something new look old is an art. Working with sophisticated clients with sophisticated taste requires careful planning, execution and complete transparency. Mark Scott Construction, Inc. has carved its niche. (Photo courtesy of Mark Scott Construction)
For each project, MS Construction assembles a team of project managers, foremen and craftsmen who work together consistently as one effective unit. To enhance work and peer relationships, these teams rarely change, allowing the work unit to facilitate quality, consistency and efficiency throughout the project.
Beyond the quality workmanship offered by this approach, highly effective project management is essential. Chris notes it is particularly challenging to reconcile design changes over time with initial project budget projections. Alterations in spec have the potential to affect everything from materials to design, to costs and scheduling. "Change is the status quo. We spend a lot of time synthesizing those changes to make the product meet the budget expectations." This may mean, for example, evaluating the use of alternative materials and methods to achieve the same result for less money or to improve schedule efficiencies. While attentive to budget, the company also recognizes there is artistry at play. "This is not an everyday construction process. It's an artisan thing, project-specific, and not always budget driven." Actualizing a client's vision may entail a search for the perfect radiant heating system, or careful research and selection of other materials or amenities. It is this fact of fluid construction demands that gives impetus to one of MS Construction's highest values: thorough and timely communication with the client. "Delivering those expectations on a daily basis in a changing environment is very difficult. It is absolutely imperative to maintain that level of communication."
"Make it look like this picture, but put all of this here and put that there ... and watch out for the tree ... and what color do you think looks good? Thanks a million for our little cottage!" (Photo courtesy of Mark Scott Construction)
An essential part of this process is MS Construction's close work with architects. In much of the construction industry, clients may be resistant to retaining full-spectrum architectural services. Often, architects and designers are hired only to pro- duce conceptual drawings and have little involvement with the subsequent project. In the high-end residential market, however, it is much more common to see these professionals involved from start to finish. Mark views working with design professionals as a fruitful process, especially when specialized architectural knowledge is coupled with the structural and carpentry expertise of his construction firm. The synergy of design discussions among such a cross-disciplinary team results in well-qualified professional decisions of tangible benefit to the client.
Not only does Mark and his team partner closely with architects, but they encourage homeowners and other clients to do so as well, and to invest in thorough design and construction management services up front that will yield benefits down the road. "More prep yields a better project," notes Mark, "and working with a qualified team of architects and engineers will always result in a better product in the long run."
Almost anything goes today. Mixing and matching styles, materials and shapes is the status quo. Wide-open spans and unusual spaces have stretched the limits of engineering. Even with the large homes of today, carving out enough space for properly routing mechanicals is increasingly difficult and under appreciated. (Photo by Bruce Schneider)
Mark regards architects as decision makers throughout the course of the project, and invites their input. He also values them as a buffer in communications between client and construction team.
"It's a collaboration," agrees Chris. "Our job is to take a bunch of moving parts and figure out how to put them together, and yet maintain the budget and schedule." Mark is a second-generation builder. He grew up heavily influenced by his father, Ted, a framing contractor from Los Angeles, who moved to the Bay Area in the '60s. Mark continued in construction with a large Oakland-based commercial and high-end multifamily residential builder. Founding his company in the late 1980s, the Oakland Hills fires sparked a reconstruction boom that gave Mark entree to high-end residential construction and reconstruction. Today the company works projects primarily in Danville, Alamo, Diablo and the Tri-Valley pocket. They will, however, travel throughout the greater Bay Area for the right job.
Everything is downhill when you're at the top of the world! Most custom projects offer unique challenges. Bringing all services and infrastructure up half-a-mile to the top of a hill, for a single residence, and coordinating with several local and regional bureaucracies was as challenging as building this beautiful home. (Photo courtesy of Mark Scott Construction)
Some of the most rewarding projects MS Construction invites are those where the homeowner not only has a vision but also has realistic expectations and an understanding of the challenges a construction firm deals with in the field. This vision is developed via in-depth communication between builder and client. "We strive to understand the clients' expectations at the beginning of the job," says Mark. "That means we may be less eager to sell ourselves and more interested in making sure they have what they want."
Mark Scott and Chris Trent can be reached at MS Construction, located in Pleasant Hill at 2835 Contra Costa Blvd., (925) 944-0502. You can visit their website at msconstruction.com
February 2006 Builder Architect Edition Issue
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