Value Engineering in Project Design

“Value engineering” isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about cutting waste. Too often, people hear “value engineering” and think it means cheapening the product. In reality, true VE preserves design intent and performance criteria while finding smarter, more efficient ways to achieve them. When it comes to glazed façades, there are countless ways to optimize assemblies, layouts, and materials without sacrificing quality. A few examples we use all the time: 1. Start with the performance data: deflection criteria and design pressures drive glass thickness, spans, and makeups. Get these right first. 2. Play with the makeup: can we adjust glass pane thicknesses and/or air gaps to meet acoustic criteria instead of defaulting to laminated? 3. Don’t over-specify: tempered glass isn’t always needed unless code requires it. Heat strengthened often will get the job done. 4. Choose float glass supplier and coating based on performance, not brand names: start with criteria, then pick the supplier. Don’t let the logo drive the spec. Value engineering done right delivers the same performance for less cost a and in some cases, a better performing system altogether.

When do you start thinking about value engineering? Why so late? You know what I mean! Too many projects wait until the budget is busted to start value engineering. At that point, the design is done, permits are in, and changes are painful. That is when the finger pointing starts, and the contractor gets called to save the job. It is like booking your flights and Airbnb first. Then realizing you could have flown direct, stayed closer, and saved thousands. Only if you had just planned it smarter from the start. But what if we flipped the script. What if your contractor sat at the table before the architect picked up a pencil. That is when real value engineering happens. We can spot costly details before they hit the drawings. We can offer alternate systems, smarter materials, and cost-saving sequences. We can protect the schedule, not just the budget. It is the difference between cutting costs and creating value. Bring in your contractor in week one. Not month four.

Day 406 of 730 - 𝐏𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 "𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞" 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐕𝐄 Too often, value engineering is shorthand for slashing costs without strategy....gutting finishes, downgrading systems, or cutting scope to meet a number The result? Frustrated owners, compromised performance, and buildings that fall short of their original vision But it doesn’t have to be that way A great general contractor sees VE as an opportunity, not to cut, but to optimize 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐕𝐄: ✅️ Collaborate early with design teams and trade partners to explore alternatives that reduce cost without reducing quality ✅️ Understand the owner’s priorities (Is it schedule? lifespan? maintenance?) and steer decisions accordingly ✅️ Leverage field experience to suggest constructible, smart, proven substitutions ✅️ Focus on lifecycle thinking, not just install cost, but total cost of ownership The best VE isn’t reactive, it’s thoughtful, proactive, and aligned with project goals At its core, value engineering should protect the value of the project, not destroy it #730orbust