Photo courtesy of Mowat Construction Co. Mowat Construction Co. cut more than $20 million from its initial bid for Sound Transit’s SeaTac/Airport station after value engineering and redesign work.

Mowat Construction Co.’s initial bid for Sound Transit’s SeaTac/Airport station was significantly over the agency’s budget. But the Mowat team engaged in preconstruction services that resulted in a negotiated contract that met both the agency’s budget and schedule demands.

Construction costs were reduced by more than $20 million after value engineering and redesigning architectural features, hardscape items and structural steel. The process was like a design-build delivery, where a portion of the construction was allowed to proceed as design details and value engineering opportunities were developed.

Ron Lewis, deputy director of Sound Transit, was satisfied with the outcome. “Mowat’s senior and executive management team played a key role in problem-solving and finding effective solutions to challenging project issues,” he said. “They generated creative and cost-effective solutions to help the owner achieve the desired project objectives of on-time completion within budget.”