Dynamic Build takes construction management to the next level
Proper planning and accounting can make or break a major construction project.
That’s where Dynamic Build comes in. The NYC-based construction management company is founded on the principle that using cutting-edge technology to plan and manage a construction project isn’t just good practice, it’s good business. We spoke with Dynamic Build Founder and President Mike Shapiro about the firm’s origins and how its unique approach to holistic project and site management has made it one of the most successful builders in the five boroughs.
The Origins of Dynamic Build
Shapiro’s inspiration for Dynamic Build’s ground-up approach to construction management came from his first career in the construction industry. “My background was completely different from the hands-on approach,” he told us. “I started as a tax accountant working for a firm in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.” He also began investing in construction projects, gaining additional experience with a range of project types.
While doing this work on the backend, Shapiro saw the kind of issues that his clients repeatedly faced and realized that he could provide an advantage to builders by using his experience to head off these problems before they arose. That was when he came up with the idea to go into the construction business for himself.
Starting at the Beginning
Shapiro got his general contractor’s license and founded Dynamic Build as a small contractor building custom homes. As he broke into the industry he was able to sign larger projects and really put his system to work.
“One of the biggest issues I saw was that the preconstruction phase was not a big focus for a lot of people,” he explained, pointing out that most builders would break a project up into separate pieces instead of viewing it holistically from the start in the way that Dynamic Build does.
While this piecemeal approach might mean that a builder is able to break ground more quickly, it creates major problems when something goes wrong and plans have to be changed. For example, if there’s an unforeseen disagreement between an architectural and structural design and one needs to be amended, a builder will end up halting work, forcing them to pay their workers and pay interest on a loan while waiting as many as three months for a new approval to come through and work to resume.
Proper Planning Thanks to Smart Preconstruction
Dynamic Build’s rigorous preconstruction process aims to prevent costly delays by coming into a project before construction begins. “We have drafters and estimators in-house,” said Shapiro. “We take all of these plans, we rip them apart and put them back together piece by piece, and we look at the whole picture from start to finish.” This way, Dynamic Build is able to “identify issues that might arise and tackle them right away, as opposed to when we’re actually in that stage of construction.”
“As a construction manager, if you’re able to provide engineering services as well as planning and review, all of that together in one from the beginning, that’s going to provide a very large benefit to a client,” explained Shapiro.
Dynamic Build partners with developers on their projects, putting their interests directly in line with those of the developer. “We hire all of the trades completely separately, they’re under contract with us and we manage them, but our timeline is the same as the developer’s,” said Shapiro.
Digitizing the Job Site
Once the project is underway, Dynamic Build’s integrated digital management systems keep construction humming along smoothly and safely. “Maybe it’s from my days in accounting, but I’m very big on keeping track of everything,” said Shapiro. “And I’m very big on everything being digitized, no paper.”
Not only are all of Dynamic Build’s projects managed by a single construction software; project managers use iPads on-site so that every plan and document is available at a moment’s notice. “So when you’re in the field, you don’t have to head back to the office to look at the plans.”
iPads aren’t the only evidence of digital management on a Dynamic Build site. All of a project’s plans exist on virtual folders that are accessible via smartphone thanks to QR codes posted around every site, making it easy for subcontractors to check any aspect of the project on the fly. “Whether they need to know what appliance to install or what line to pull, they can check the plans just by scanning the code,” explained Shapiro, which not only ensures accuracy but “saves a lot of time.”
This digital infrastructure also makes Dynamic Build’s sites safer. From toolbox talks with workers to safety checks on things like scaffolding and safety straps, everything is logged digitally via a single software that is accessible via iPad. Whether it’s the superintendent in the field or the assistant project manager in the office, this crucial information is easily and quickly accessible by anyone who needs it, another time- and cost-saving measure that comes from planning ahead and developing smart, efficient managerial infrastructure.
1020 Rogers
The latest Dynamic Build project to get off the ground, 1020 Rogers in Flatbush, is a perfect example of the type of work that the firm has built its reputation on. This mixed-use building has sides facing three roads and will incorporate 75 rental units including affordable housing as well as nine commercial spaces. Dynamic Build is not only building the exterior using its signature concrete superstructure but is also building out the retail spaces, including a daycare and a space reserved for a medical facility.
“We’ve built three separate daycares already in Brooklyn,” said Shapiro, “so this project encompasses several things that we know how to do.” Dynamic Build has also worked on several Kosher Supermarkets, including a 25,000-square-foot supermarket on Staten Island.
Dynamic Build has completed successful projects ranging from custom homes to mixed-use, ground-up developments around New York City, and the firm is beginning to expand beyond the Empire State. “We’re licensed in Florida, and that’s somewhere we’re trying to extend into,” Shapiro told us. Developers looking for a competent, knowledgeable, and forward-thinking construction management and development partner for their next project should reach out to Shapiro’s team today.