Projects Module
Projects Module How-To Documents
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Updates to the Project Cost Fields in Unanet
Best Practice and Process Guideline for Project Cost Fields in Unanet Beginning of August 2022, the PUBLISHED COST field in Unanet is no longer a required manual entry field. Going forward, the ACTUAL COST fields are the source of truth for all project-related costs. The actual cost fields come directly from CMiC and are imported to Unanet overnight so in essence, this largely eliminates having to validate and manually update project costs. Additionally, all project sheets and lists generated via Publisher now pulls in the project costs directly from the ACTUAL COST fields. Alongside this change, please review the following two exception scenarios which will require manual entry of ACTUAL COST fields. Manually Created Projects For project records that have been manually created to unify multiple projects (e.g., multi-phased, campuses, etc), keep in mind you'll need to manually update the ACTUAL COST fields since manually created projects do not pull in any CMiC data. In fact, all data points for manually created projects will require manual entry. Published Cost fields can be skipped. In the Project Cost Comments, include clarifying notes to indicate the different phases and breakdown cost for each project if applicable. Construction Projects w/ Separate Phases or Parking Structures that were individual JIP's but you are Marketing as a single project (using a Parent Project) Challenge: Occasionally, a Client/Owner may award individual contracts to the GC for separate buildings, multiple phases, or the parking structure for a project. If you want to market the job as a single project, but the JIPs were set up individually with different job numbers, the total project cost aren't automatically combined because the parent project record cannot pull actual costs from the two CMiC projects. Solution: To ensure your marketed project reflects the total value of both projects (All Buildings, or the parking structure as part of the building project), please update the ACTUAL COST fields with the the final values after the project status shows "Completed". If any manual changes are updated while the project is still "In Progress", those fields will be overwritten since CMiC updates are imported nightly. Once a project is "Completed", the actual cost fields will no longer be overwritten. In the meantime, be sure to attach the Child project records to the parent GC Project record. Include any clarifying project cost notes in the Comments section so others are aware what is included in the final contact value. Project Example: 17055055 - Radisson Hotel - Construction
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What I Need to Know: Lifecycle of Project Data
There are several benefits of entering project data within Cosential: Centralizes all project related data so it isn’t “out of sight, out of mind” on a network drive somewhere Better data and statistics we search/report on for proposals everyday More complete picture of scope, size, and quantity of work with specific clients and in specific markets, product types, and delivery methods Directly supports other Divisions/Offices and especially our National Markets (Aviation, Healthcare, Parking Structures, Mass Timber) Makes assembling project experience for proposals easier by taking less time to report/search for project/personnel experience Supports the larger and long-term goal of automating Project Sheet and Resume creation out of Cosential Please see the attached document to review which fields need to be completed and when.
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What I Need to Know: Project Tabs & Categories
Each project has several tabs/categories with additional information. To see which categories have data, view a project record to check which fields are populated. Project Summary Images Owner/Client Consultant Team Construction Costs Construction Schedule Descriptions
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How To: Archive a Project
As a best practice, projects that will never be marketed should be archived to avoid crowding the system with superfluous data. This may include jobs such as warranty & repairs, insurance claims, debris trucks, miscellaneous jobs, etc. Note: Be cautious with any SFS Miscellaneous jobs as there may be several projects with various Clients bucketed into one project record. Steps to Archive a Project: In the quick search bar, look for the project record you wish to archive. On the project record, click on the "Edit All" button. Scroll down to the General Project Information section. In the Archived field dropdown, select "Archived". Scroll back up and hit "Update" to save your edits. Done!
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How To: Clean-Up & Enter Project Information in Cosential
The attached guide contains instructions specific to entry and clean-up of Swinerton projects and covers step-by-step instructions on entering mandatory Project Fields. Project information is used by Marketing in a variety of ways. Most often, it is used to demonstrate relevant experience in the pursuit of work. Some fields are automated from CMiC.
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Unanet CRM Project Description Guide
NOTE - When entering project descriptions DO NOT use more than one description box for each "Type" of description in the drop down field. Publisher and reporting doesn't allow you to choose which description you want so creating multiple boxes of each type will create a host of problems. Best practice is to include all the same types of descriptions in one description box and separate topics by bold and underlined headers. For instance if you have multiple quarterly articles, only create one description with a type drop down of "Quarterly Articles" and separate the multiple quarterly articles in the SAME box with bold and underlined headers for the different articles. UNANET CRM PROJECT DESCRIPTION FORMATTING Don’t repeat project name in description Don’t repeat location in description Don’t repeat cost in description Avoid “this project” at the beginning; i.e. “This project is a 21-story high-rise…” INSTEAD: “A 21-story high-rise, it features…” For Timberlab projects only, you may include Swinerton project references at the end of the project description within the project record. Following this process will allow you to produce a Project Sheet via Publisher with the reference name populated onto the INDD template and you can make the necessary adjustments needed. Project Description 85 words; 100 max How many levels Total square feet Specify “tenant improvement”, “ground-up”, “seismic retrofit”, etc. Type of building (hospital, mixed-use, classroom, office, etc.) Type of construction/materials (structural steel, concrete, wood, etc.) Type of construction/materials (structural steel, concrete, wood, etc.) Architectural highlights Design-Build? LEED? Self-Performed work (only if significant) Parking structure? Levels above grade and below grade Square feet Stalls Retail space? Design-Build Architectural highlights Self-Performed Concrete? Street Improvements/Site Work? Resume Description 40 words; 50 max Simplify full description Each bullet point can be explained in just a couple words Exclude architectural details Exclude any additional fluff Top 5 Highlights—Pick and Choose According to Importance Building details Type of construction (structural steel, concrete, wood, etc.) Unique architectural and/or interior features Unique challenges overcome Major self-performed work? Occupied facility/campus? Design-Build? LEED? EXAMPLE #1 Alexan South Broadway Los Angeles, CA $100,000,000 Full Description A new mixed-use, 27-story high-rise apartment complex, the 850,000-square-foot building rests on a six-story podium. The ground floor includes a lobby and 7,000 square feet of retail space. Five levels of parking are located directly above, with space for 333 cars. The 21 levels of residential space include 305 apartments, along with a 2,000-square-foot fitness center. A Type I structure, it utilizes concrete and post-tension slabs atop an eight-foot deep mat foundation. The skin features a window wall system, while balconies line three sides of the building. Swinerton self-performed the concrete scope of work. Resume: A new 27-story, 850,000-square-foot apartment tower, it has 305 units and 5 levels of parking with 333 cars. A Type I structure, it utilizes concrete and post-tension slabs atop an 8-foot deep mat foundation, a window wall system, and balconies along 3 sides. Highlights: 27-story ground-up apartment building 5-level parking garage Retail space Concrete post-tensioned; self-performed Window wall system and balconies on 3 sides EXAMPLE #2 TOPA 1900 Avenue of the Stars Tenant Improvement Century City, CA $2,000,000 Full Description Set across 8,000 square feet, the two-story lobby of a 28-story, Class-A high-rise building was completely renovated. Working in a fully occupied space, features included: Herculite entry doors, ceiling system and lighting, focal console table, framing, stone tile, glazing, structural steel, concrete, millwork, air handlers, miscellaneous metal finishes, MEP upgrades, and site improvements. A new bridge was also built at the entrance of the building. Selective demolition was done prior to the start of work. Resume: Set across 8,000 square feet, major renovations to the two-story lobby of a 28-story, fully occupied high-rise included: a new entry bridge, entry doors, ceilings, lighting, stone tile, glazing, framing, structural steel, concrete, millwork, metal finishes, and MEP upgrades. Highlights: Fully occupied high-rise office building New framing, glazing, steel, concrete, ceilings, millwork MEP upgrades and new air handlers New bridge at entrance Selective demolition EXAMPLE #3 Community Memorial Parking Structure Los Angeles, CA $10,000,000 Full Description A design-build project, it features 571 stalls across 5 ½ levels, totaling 184,000 square feet. A cast-in-place concrete, long span post-tensioned structure, Swinerton’s Orange County-based Concrete Group self-performed the entire concrete scope of work. The exterior façade of the structure has a unique combination of architectural treatments, including: pre-finished metal fins, framed perforated metal mesh, framed glass panels, and a metal panel system on the elevator tower. The first floor of the parking garage includes roughly 1,400 square feet of retail space. Resume: A design-build, 5 ½-level, 184,000-square-foot structure with 571 stalls and 1,400 square feet of retail space. A cast-in-place concrete, long span post-tensioned structure, the entire concrete scope was self-performed. Its unique façade features metal fins, metal mesh, and glass panels. Highlights: 5 ½ level parking structure 571 stalls Ground level retail space Cast-in-place concrete, long span post-tensioned structure; self-performed Unique metal and glass façade
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Unanet CRM Photo Guide
GENERAL PHOTO GUIDELINES Unanet will not upload photos with, commas, periods, non-text or numeric characters such as () and & in the file name. Underscores and hyphens are allowed. Please keep in mind that the your photo file size will impact how quickly or slowly Publisher will handle the image. Larger image files will be slower than smaller files. Recommended image resolution: Web images: 72dpi. Print images: 300dpi. 300 dots per inch (dpi) is the optimal resolution for most printed materials. This is appropriate for materials viewed up close (brochures, books, flyers and most posters). You may be able to get away with less; 150dpi is often okay for photographic images depending on the camera setting and size you need the image to render in print. Ideal screen image resolution is 72 dpi. Source: hhtp:www.urban75.org/photos/print.html PROJECT MODULE IMAGES General Criteria All photos must be approved by your local Safety Manager before uploading to Unanet. You may upload a maximum of 10 of your best final photos. In-progress images can be used when a) final images are not available, and b) when they feature certain elements of work such as self-perform work that are impactful, c) when they are needed to help tell the story. Ultimately, final photos are preferred. Unanet has no image file size limit however, please follow the General Photo Guidelines provided above for consistency. Project images are searchable by name, caption, credit, keywords, and comments. Required Data Additional/Optional Data PERSONNEL MODULE IMAGES General Criteria Unanet requires that resume photos are set to the exact dimensions required in your resume template. Our standard resume template dimensions are W 1.5637 in x H 1.8125 in. The headshot photo that you’d like to populate your template can be identified in the Personnel record. In the Personnel record, this photo can be designated by selecting “Make Primary Photo” in the photo criteria. If no photo is selected as the Primary Photo, then you can select the photo manually. Our naming convention is Last Name_First Name_Version/Other Description (if Version/Other Description is applicable). Unanet will not allow upload of images with file names that include commas. Underscore, hyphens, spaces are allowed. Publisher will pull in the resume photo you’ve uploaded to the Personnel record, so you may want to consider consistent photo backgrounds for your team resumes. If you upload multiple photos, you will have an opportunity to select your desired option. Headshots should be a tightly cropped photo with the bottom of the photo landing in the mid-chest area. Required Data Additional/Optional Data
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How To: Add Project References and Testimonials
When should a Project Reference be added? A Project Reference is used to designate contacts that can provide insight into the project and may have written a reference statement. They should also be vetted/approved for use on future proposals and can be contacted. Project References should include the approval status, approval date, and personnel approval. If the contact sent a letter of reference, the letter can be uploaded as a Testimonial to the Reference Writer as well. Please keep in mind that if there are multiple contacts such as additional client contacts, they should be added to the Owner/Client tab if they are not reference who can speak about the successes and validity of a project. Three Ways of Adding References on Project Records Please follow the step-by-step instructions below and watch the attached video recordings for a live tutorial. Method 1: From the References Tab In the Project References tab of the project record, click on '+Add' and complete the following fields (at minimum): Reference Writer (Contact) - Search for the contact you wish to connect as a project reference. If they are not yet in the system, please add them as a new contact before proceeding. Date Written - Enter the date for when the contact provided a reference. Approval Status - Select Pending/Granted/Revoked so we know whether or not the reference can be used. Approval Date - Enter the effective date for when the reference was approved by a Swinerton personnel for use. Approved By (Personnel) - Enter a Swinerton personnel to confirm who approved the reference. Primary Reference - If the contact is a Primary Reference, select 'Yes'. After saving the Reference, click on the icon to add Testimonials and/or Documents. To understand the difference and learn how to search for Reference Documents/Testimonials, please refer to the following support article. Upload the file as a Document connected to the Reference Writer. If a Document is not available, add the testimonial as Testimonial Text. In the Testimonial Text, you may also pull specific content from the Reference Document to allow for better keyword search when using the 00-TEMPLATE-Project References w/ Specific Testimonial Text (Use Boolean) report. Select the Testimonial Type option that applies: General - Any general sentiments from a reference that might not be a formal letter or belong in any of the other categories. Letter of Reference - A formal letter of reference that may have been sent over email or a less informal channel. The text can be entered in the testimonial text body if there isn’t an official document letter. Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) - Question/answer format responses from a reference. Quote - A short quote provided by a reference that is not necessarily a full-fledged letter. Video/Podcast - Any verbal references that were stated in a video or podcast. Please note that adding the contact to the Reference tab does not add them to the Owner/Clients section. See method 2. To verify your changes, you may click on the Reference Writer's hyperlink. The Project Reference association(s) will be listed under the General Information section of their Contact record. Method 2: From the Owner/Client Tab In the Owner/Clients tab of the project record, search for the Contact record from our Unanet database. Under the Contact Role, select the field that most closely applies to the Contact's Role on the project. Under the Company Role, select the field that most closely applies to the Contact's Company Role on the project. If applicable, provide any Contact and Comments clarifying comments. To create the Contact as a reference, check of the box 'Create Reference Record' and this will also add the Contact to the Project Reference tab. Keep in mind, if you need to remove the Project Reference, the record will also need to be removed from the Reference tab as deleting the Contact from the Owner/Client tab does not nuke all associations. Once you've added the Reference, the project will also be associated and referenced on Contact's record. Please navigate to the References tab to complete the reference approval status, date, and personnel approval details. Method 3: From the Contact's General Information Section In the quick search bar, search for the Contact. Under the General Information section, hover over 'Project References' and click on the field. Search for the project number or name and select the project you wish to add connect as a reference. Select the project and scroll down to save your selection. Click on the project hyperlink that was added to the Contact's reference. Click on the References tab and update any details. Please pay attention to the following nuances when adding references directly from the Contact record: Approval Status - Status will come in as "Pending" and needs to be updated accordingly. Approval Date - This will come into the project's references tab empty. Please fill out the date. Approved By (Personnel) - If you added the reference, your name will be listed automatically in this field. It is important to update the personnel name if the reference was approved by another staff member. Primary Reference - This field defaults to "No" so it'll need to be updated if the Contact is a primary reference. # of Documents - Click on the windows icon to add any testimonials and documents.
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What I Need to Know: Project Experience Guide
The following article and video discusses how to search for specific project experience using five different methods and example questions. Please watch the videos for step-by-step instructions. 1. Advanced Search Provides a quick list of project experience with minimal details (project name, project number, client, location, county). Recommended method if you need a general understanding of experience based on a few criterial such as Division, Location, Client, Cost, Primary Market, and/or other Project Categories (e.g., Secondary Market, Product Type, etc). Example Question: What is the number of industrial self storage projects Atlanta has completed at Swinerton? 2. Project Grid Allows you to search and view key project data. You can configure your grid to display essential fields in the order that makes sense to you. Limited fields are available; however, you can create and save filter sets that makes it easier to gather results for your future searches Example Question: How do I generate a list of Office projects in Austin that are over $5M+? Can the list display the Cost, Client, Secondary Market, Start/Completion Dates, and Delivery Method? No need for a fancy list as I am only seeking for a general understanding of our market experience. 3. Publisher Project Lists Provides a visual and organized list of projects in Word or InDesign table format that can be shared internally. Publisher uses Project Advanced Search or Existing Project Reports to generate your list of project experience. This method provides a general overview as to what critical project fields are missing. Example Question: My Project Manager is requesting a list of Higher Education projects over 100k square feet that we’ve completed company-wide. At minimum, the list needs to include the Client, Cost, and Project Description. What is the easiest way to generate the list for sharing? 4. Project Descriptions Report Used to search for specific key words within project descriptions. The report allows you to narrow down project descriptions based on description type (e.g., Case Studies) as well. Example Question: How do I search for a list of project descriptions that include the word “pool”? 5. Project Reports Provides a robust and complex way to get a variety of data out of the system to conduct analysis. The report module allows various fields and filter options. Reports can be exported to excel for further analysis and information sharing. Due to the complexity of the reports module, it is recommended to start by viewing reports others have created and/or modify existing reports to understand its capabilities. Example Question: How do I generate a list of Design Bid Build Retail projects in SoCalHi that we’ve completed over the last five years? What is the total number and total project value of those projects?
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How To: Process for Tracking Project Awards (Won vs. Lost)
All project awards should be tracked in Unanet regardless of whether the award was won or lost. Please review the following guide and best practices to understand how project awards should be memorialized. Process for Tracking Projects Awards we Won If we WON an award for a project, the award narrative submission, actual award, any related correspondence should be memorialized in the Project Awards tab. Navigate to the Awards tab. Click "+ Add". Sponsoring Organization - search for the certifying agency in Unanet and use the name exactly as it is in displayed (not the acronym or other/former company name fields). If the certifying organization is not in the system, use the exact FULL name as it is on their website, not their acronym. Award Name - type in the name of the award that we submitted an award for. Year Awarded- type in the year of the award in YYYY format. Award Category - Select the category that most closely aligns with the award using the drop down. Corporate Social Responsibility - Awards related to philanthropy, volunteering, The Swinerton Foundation, etc. Marketing - PR related awards such as "XXXX Ranked Best Casino in the NW", i.e. ranked by other firms that aren't trade organizations etc. People - Awards that reference the staff on the project, as a group and not individuals. If individuals, use Personal Awards in Personnel Records. Project - Project specific awards such as DBIA, ENR, Business Journal's etc. or any award that recognizes the project overall. Quality - Specific awards related to efforts involving our Quality Team or quality related processes and elements. Safety - Specific awards related to Safety/Risk such as XXX hours without an incident etc. Formal external recognition of these elements, not internal recognition. Small Business/Outreach - Awards related to outreach and achievement of diversity goals, local business goals, etc. Trade Awards - Industry organizational awards such as local construction organizations (e.g., ACI) and trade related awards for drywall, electrical, etc. AIA should be a project award versus trade award. Preferred Award - is the award nationally or regionally recognized (regional meaning SoCal, NorCal, NW, NE, Central, etc. not just "LA Metro Area" for instance). If nationally recognized, it should be a preferred award. Select "Yes" or "No" for Preferred Award. Award Description - This field in the Awards Tab should be used ONLY for clarifying notes about the award. DO NOT use this field for award narratives. Any narratives resulting from deconstructing the awards submission that add value (i.e. aren’t general/generic write ups) should be included in the Descriptions Tab with a “Type” of “Award Description”. Remember to only use one description box for each “Type” so that all award submission narratives regardless of the award are in the same description box. Also, any related publications (news articles, online articles, etc.) should be added using the Publications tab in the project record. Once all details have been entered, click "Save". On the first column under view and next to the award you just saved, click windows icon on the first column. Upload the narrative submission, actual award, and any other associated correspondence in PDF of Word format. Can upload more than one document, so best practice is to enter a single award and then upload multiple files to that single award line (Narrative Submissions, Actual Awards, any related correspondence, etc). For narratives, they should be deconstructed and added to Project Description tab as appropriate (remember to use ONE box for each TYPE of project description, separating topics by bold/underlined headers). Process for Tracking Projects Awards we Lost If we LOST an award for a project, the award narrative submission and any related correspondence should be memorialized in the Project Documents tab. Navigate to the Documents tab. Click "+ Document". Name the title of the award-related document whether it be the award guidelines or award submission. Keep in mind you'll only be able to attach one Document to each Document title. If there are multiple documents related to the lost award submission, please upload it individually and name the document title to distinguish the difference between the types of documents. Select the document to upload. In the Document Metadata, indicate that it was a project award we submitted for but did not win. Once all details have been entered, click "Save".