To see our current and past issues of KMI Leading Edge, click on this link. (You will need Acrobat Reader)  

 

Peter Island villa estate completed

Kraus-Manning  served as the Construction Manager--from demolition of the existing facilities to final fit-out and start-up--of Peter Island Resort's Falcon's Nest, a 20,000 square-foot, six-bedroom private island villa estate situated high on the peak of a hill overlooking White Bay Beach in the British Virgin Islands.  The villa, a contemporary structure with a tropical Caribbean feel, recently earned a very positive review by its first guest, who said the villa "exceeded expectations." Features of the villa include: A custom-made, 12-person hand-crafted tiger maple dining room table and chairs A flat screen television monitor that rises out of built-in cabinetry A magnificent, two-story Great Room with an elevated terrace Top-of-the-line exotic rain showers with over 150 jets of colorful laser-lit streams of water An ocean view couples spa room for treatments without leaving the villa Chef's kitchen and chef's quarters Six master bedroom suites, each with a terrace and a luxurious bathroom offering indoor/outdoor space that takes full advantage of the panoramic views Expansive 4,000 square-foot outdoor living space with a covered dining area, BBQ and swim-up bar A zero-entry, two-tiered pool with a cascading waterfall, grotto and large Jacuzzi Specially designed nanny quarters A full exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment overlooking the ocean

Frenchman’s Cove opens second phase

Kraus-Manning is working with Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI) as extension of staff for the development of Frenchman's Cove, a timeshare vacation villa adjacent to Frenchman's Reef and Morning Star Resort on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The construction team received the Certificate of Occupancy for the project's second phase--Building 2 and the Marketplace--on May 25 and the facility was opened on time on June 1, 2007.  Building 2 was built in just 10 months (three to four months faster than typical in St. Thomas), and the first six of those 10 months were concurrent with the last six months of Building 1 construction, which was completed in February 2007.  Said MVCI Vice President Von Engle, "This has been a great example of how so much of being successful is having the right people in the right roles with the right support and empowerment.  Please join me in congratulating [Kraus-Manning] on this tremendous effort and success."  Tom Davis, Vice President of the Ritz-Carlton, concurred, saying "Top to bottom, the team is top notch." Built on a secluded beach with amazing views of the ocean, the overall design reflects the Danish and British architectural influences that shaped the development of St. Thomas.  The interior of each villa is designed to provide a beautiful, comfortable retreat.  The total project will consist of seven fractional ownership buildings, a Market Place, Kids Club and common area amenities including pools and spas to be opened in phases starting in February 2007.   As extension of staff, the KMI team has worked hand-in-hand with MVCI to manage a project involving multiple trades and direct material purchases to provide the most effective means of delivering a multi-million-dollar project on an offshore site.

 

KMI is a Special Inspector in the US and USVI

Kraus-Manning is registered as an Engineer and General Contractor with the State of Florida and the United States Virgin Islands. Its Principals hold professional licenses in Engineering, Construction, and Real Estate appraising in the United States Virgin Islands, Florida, New York and Maryland. In addition, the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) has approved KMI as a Special Inspector within the USVI. KMI's qualified and experienced Special Inspectors can perform the following inspections for compliance: Density Tests     Concrete Tests Reinforcing Steel Inspections     Structural Steel Inspections Electrical Inspections     Plumbing and Fire     Protection Inspections

 

KMI's estimating and scheduling service

KMI understands the critical nature of pricing and timing in today’s fast-track construction market. Well before a design team begins, and certainly before a shovel is placed in the ground, developing a realistic budget and well-considered schedule is crucial for the successful completion of a building project.  With that in mind, KMI offers an estimating and scheduling service that draws on our proven expertise in handling projects “from concept to completion.”  Key services include: • Quantity Surveys/Takeoffs • Bid Analysis & Negotiation • Budgets • Critical Path Scheduling (CPM) • Feasibility Studies  • CPM Cost/Survey Integration • Value Engineering  • Cash Flow Analysis • Change Order Analysis  Our estimating and scheduling services are led by a certified Construction Manager and Professional Engineer with experience throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Using computer-based programs to takeoff estimate and schedule projects of any size, our dedicated team of professionals will prepare a pricing and/or scheduling plan that addresses your project’s unique requirements. Over the past seven years, our firm has provided a full range of project/construction management services for a range of customers including the Ritz-Carlton Club, Marriott International, Signature Flight Corporation, BBA Aviation, Starwood Resorts, Fairfield Resorts, Cendant, Starwood Capital Group, Institute of Internal Auditors, Philips Hotel Group, and others.

 

First things first: Hiring a CM to handle your hotel or resort construction

An important decision to make early on when planning new hotel or resort construction is how to assign responsibility for project management.  The right decision can make a big difference in terms of cost, quality and timeliness.  Early involvement of a construction manager (CM) is an effective way to safeguard the Owner’s interest in the project.  Understanding the role of a professional CM will help you determine what’s right for your unique project.

Read More ...

 

Resort construction in the Caribbean comes with unique challenges

Construction on a Caribbean island may sound exotic, but it can be a difficult process.  Construction Managers face a number of unique challenges that don’t exist in stateside construction. Issues the CM must confront when contemplating a construction project in the Caribbean include site logistics, infrastructure, labor, materials, and local politics.  In addition, each island may have its own unique challenges not mentioned here but nevertheless requiring an experienced CM’s focused consideration.

Read More ...

 

Signature Flight Support's Boston gateway completed

Kraus-Manning, Inc. recently completed construction management services of an award-winning terminal building at the Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts.  The  gateway for General Aviation from Europe to America is the first "green" fixed base operation terminal to be LEED certified.