Project Management + Estimating
Our Projects team supports HELM clients and mission‐aligned partners with professional project management, estimating, and owner’s project management services for high-performance construction projects.
Learn more about:
Project Management Support & Training
If you are a contractor, design-build company, or an architect, you know how critical pre-planning, project management, and detailed cost estimating are to the success of your projects. HELM works as part of your team to offer your clients professional project management and estimating services. We also provide training and mentoring to improve your internal systems and build your team’s capacity to manage projects independently.
How Does It Work?
We can take some of the burden off your shoulders and help keep your projects on schedule and on budget while assuring quality and performance standards are met. HELM can support you behind the scenes to improve your project administration and client communication. Most importantly, our goal is to make you look good and exceed the client’s expectations.
Our proactive approach encourages the project team (architect, builder, client, subcontractors, and suppliers) to work together to achieve the quality, cost, and schedule objectives. We strive for positive working relationships among the team members, facilitating the timely resolution of the problems and conflicts that are common in the construction process.
Services We Provide:
Project team coordination
Critical path schedules
Project pre-mortems and post-mortems
BEAM carbon accounting
Budget accountability
Change order review and management
Payment review and approval
Punch list development and resolution
Owner’s manuals
Contract closeout
Energy efficiency incentive management
Third-party certification documentation and administration
Owner’s Project Management
Whether you’re renovating a historic building or commercial property or embarking on a facilities expansion for your non-profit institution, HELM is here to help guide you through the planning and construction process.
How Does It Work?
We act as your representative and advise your organization through the process of selecting an integrated project team, including the architect, builder, engineers, and consultants. We keep your project organized so that everyone on the team knows what to expect regarding schedule, budget, responsibilities, communications, and meetings.
Who We Serve
We work with mission-aligned non-profit organizations, community initiatives, and educational institutions to create low-carbon, low-energy buildings that have a positive impact on their community. HELM’s OPM projects define the standard for exemplary integrated project delivery with a focus on collaboration, justice, and equity.
Services We Provide:
Pre-Construction Phase
Analyze project feasibility
Review and coordinate permits
Develop Owner’s Project Requirements
Create a Total Project Budget
Develop and maintain the overall project schedule
Manage Architect and Builder/CM selection
Review contracts
Facilitate project Kick-off
Construction Phase
Facilitate regular team meetings and updates
Review and approve change orders
Review and approve requests for payment
Develop and manage punch list
Oversee commissioning process
Oversee contract closeout
Coordinate procurement of Owner items, FF&E
Coordinate move-in
Featured Projects:
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Ames Hill Passive House
This certified passive house project was completed in 2020. HELM provided project management services. On a hillside in Marlboro, VT, it features a slab-on-grade with frost walls, a thick double stud wall with integrated service cavity, and truss roof with lots of cellulose. It incorporates an innovative compact heating, cooling, and ventilation unit and had the lowest blower door number this team had ever done. We worked very closely as an integrated team (Architect, Builder, Project Management, Owner, CPHC, PHIUS rater, various subs and vendors) throughout the design and planning process to incorporate cost savings measures and provided numerous estimating “interventions” to stay on track. Winner of the Efficiency Vermont 2021 Best of the Best, Healthy Home Award for Residential New Construction and a 2021 PHIUS Single-Family Honorable Mention.
Architect: studioWebster
Contractor: Mathes Hulme Builders -
Vermont Natural Resources Council
This historic net zero retrofit in Montpelier, VT transformed an 1880s historic home into the new Center for Climate, Communities and the Environment for VNRC, the Vermont Natural Resources Council. In alignment with VNRC’s mission, the project goals included zero net energy, low embodied carbon, respect of historic resources, and fossil fuel free. VNRC hired HELM as Owner’s Representative to coordinate between the staff and the design and construction team.
Architect: Vermont Integrated Architecture
Contractor: Neagley & Chase Construction Company -
North Branch Nature Center
The North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier, VT hired HELM as its Owner's Project Manager for a three phase, multi-year renovation and expansion project including the renovation of an old barn into a preschool space, a new 1700 SF addition with a multipurpose classroom, and the deep energy retrofit of a historic farmhouse. With the addition of a 15 kW solar array, the whole campus is now Net Zero. This project scope included Act 250 permitting coordination, grant writing, contractor selection, and budget management. Winner of the 2019 Vermont Green Building Network’s Going Greener and People’s Choice Awards.
Architect: Black River Design Architects
Contractor: Kingdom Construction
What People Are Saying:
“Working with Kate Stephenson and HELM has been an incredibly worthwhile investment. Simply put, we could not have accomplished what we have without HELM’s services and expertise. Kate is highly efficient, knowledgeable and organized. From the permitting process to the construction management phase, she was adept at keeping our facilities committee on task and communicating with the myriad players involved in a major construction project. I couldn’t recommend HELM more highly!"
— Chip Darmstadt, Executive Director
North Branch Nature Center
“My wife and I moved from an area where we knew all of the architects, builders and subs to one where we knew none. Mel and HELM helped us to identify and choose a team for a large renovation project. They guided us through a rigorous selection process and lead the development of a building schedule and budget. Our project completed both on time and very close to that budget. Equally importantly we would work with every single person Mel helped us to find again on any future project. We would highly recommend HELM to anyone in need of guidance on any aspect of their building project.
Oh... and they are super cool too!”— Chris Stowe