Improving Structural Steel Outcomes in British Columbia 

A Practical Approach to Reducing Risk, Cost, and Schedule Uncertainty 

Structural steel is one of the most critical components of commercial, institutional, and infrastructure construction projects across British Columbia. Yet despite advances in technology, modeling, and fabrication capabilities, many projects still experience avoidable cost overruns, schedule delays, and coordination challenges. 

The issue is rarely a lack of capability within the steel industry itself. 

More often, the problem lies in when and how steel expertise is brought into the project delivery process. 

A more collaborative and integrated approach to structural steel delivery can significantly improve project performance for developers, owners, and general contractors alike. 

The Problem with Traditional Steel Delivery 

On many projects, structural steel fabricators and detailers are brought into the process too late. 

By the time steel teams are engaged, the structural design is often substantially complete, major system decisions have already been made, and opportunities for optimization are limited. Fabricators are then expected to price and execute a design they had little or no input in shaping. 

This traditional approach frequently leads to: 

• • Increased structural tonnage and material costs 

• • Higher volumes of RFIs and design clarifications 

• • More field coordination issues during construction 

• • Reduced schedule certainty 

• • Greater reliance on contingencies and change orders 

Ultimately, risk is pushed downstream, where it becomes more expensive and more difficult to manage. 

The Case for Early Steel Involvement 

One of the most effective ways to improve project outcomes is to involve steel expertise earlier in the design phase. 

Under a Design-Assist or collaborative delivery model, steel detailers, fabricators, and specialty engineers participate during schematic or early design development. This allows the project team to optimize the structural system before key decisions become locked in. 

Early steel engagement can help achieve: 

• • More efficient structural systems 

• • Improved constructability 

• • Reduced unnecessary steel tonnage 

• • Better interdisciplinary coordination 

• • More accurate and competitive pricing 

• • Earlier visibility into procurement and scheduling risks 

For developers and general contractors, the benefits are substantial: 

• • Greater cost certainty earlier in the project 

• • Fewer design-related changes during construction 

• • Improved schedule reliability 

• • Reduced overall project risk

• • More efficient project execution 

What Leading Markets Already Understand 

In major construction markets such as New York, Chicago, and Miami, structural steel is increasingly treated as a collaborative system component rather than a downstream commodity purchase. 

These markets consistently: 

• • Engage steel teams early in design 

• • Integrate engineers, detailers, fabricators, and contractors

• • Use delivery models such as Design-Build and CM-at-Risk 

• • Prioritize schedule certainty alongside cost optimization 

The result is better coordination, improved efficiency, and more predictable project delivery. 

British Columbia’s construction market has an opportunity to adopt many of these same practices as project complexity and schedule pressures continue to increase. 

A Better Approach to Structural Steel Project Delivery 

Engage Steel Earlier 

Qualified steel detailing and engineering teams should work alongside the Structural Engineer of Record (SEOR) during schematic or early design phases. 

This collaborative process can help finalize and deliver a Fabrication Ready Model (LOD400), enabling: 

• • Earlier procurement planning 

• • Advance Bills of Material 

• • Improved fabrication tendering 

• • Better schedule forecasting 

Adopt a Collaborative Delivery Model 

Projects perform better when developers, general contractors, structural engineers, detailers, and fabricators are aligned early through strategic construction project management services. 

Collaboration reduces downstream conflict, improves communication, and minimizes inefficiencies that often emerge later in the construction cycle. 

Optimize for Constructability 

Structural design decisions should consider real-world fabrication and erection requirements, including: 

• • Fabrication constraints

• • Shipping limitations 

• • Erection sequencing 

• • Site logistics 

• • Crane access and installation planning 

Constructability reviews performed early in design can significantly improve overall project efficiency. 

Balance Cost with Schedule Certainty 

Lowest initial price does not always equate to the lowest total project cost. 

Project teams should also evaluate: 

• • Schedule risk

• • Coordination complexity 

• • Potential for rework 

• • Exposure to change orders and delays 

A slightly higher upfront investment in collaboration and optimization often results in substantial downstream savings. 

Build Long-Term Industry Partnerships 

Projects benefit when teams work together repeatedly over time. 

Strong relationships between owners, contractors, engineers, detailers, and fabricators lead to: 

• • Faster decision-making 

• • Better communication 

• • Improved accountability 

• • More consistent project outcomes 

Long-term collaboration creates operational efficiencies that cannot easily be replicated in transactional, lowest-bid environments. 

Why This Matters 

Structural steel is frequently one of the largest and most complex components of a building project. 

Small inefficiencies during design can create major downstream impacts on: 

• • Cost 

• • Schedule 

• • Coordination 

• • Procurement 

• • Risk exposure 

Addressing these challenges early gives owners, developers, and contractors greater control over project outcomes before construction pressures intensify. 

Conclusion 

British Columbia’s structural steel industry has the expertise and capability to successfully deliver highly complex projects. 

The opportunity is not necessarily to reinvent the industry, but to improve how steel is integrated into the overall project delivery process. 

By engaging steel teams earlier and fostering a more collaborative approach between all project stakeholders, developers and general contractors can achieve: 

• • Lower overall project costs 

• • Improved schedule performance 

• • Reduced project risk

• • Better coordination 

• • More predictable outcomes 

As projects become increasingly complex and schedule-driven, early steel involvement combined with professional construction project management services is becoming a strategic necessity. 

About Us 

DeSimone Consulting Canada Ltd. (formerly, Dowco Consultants Ltd), specializes in advancing structural steel project delivery solutions through early-stage collaboration, engineering-detailing integration, and fabrication expertise. 

Our integrated team of engineers and detailers focuses on optimizing projects from the outset to deliver measurable value for owners, developers, and contractors across North America and internationally. 

Contact 

Ewen Dobbie 
Principal 
DeSimone Consulting Canada Ltd.