Public construction projects require careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars, demanding an approach that balances quality, cost and schedule. Iowa’s adoption of the Construction Manager at Risk delivery method is giving public owners a new way to manage those priorities through earlier collaboration among owners, designers, construction teams and trade partners.
The City of Des Moines has now used the method on three recent projects, including the new T.M. Franklin Cownie City Administration Building. In a recent Business Record article, General Manager Mike Harryman joins City leaders and project partners to discuss how early contractor involvement can provide greater cost certainty, uncover challenges sooner and help teams make informed decisions as designs develop.
This article was originally published in Business Record on July 24, 2026 and written by Michael Crumb, Senior Staff Writer.
