In the DC Metro construction market, complexity is expected. Projects are shaped by dense urban sites, aging infrastructure, occupied facilities, heightened security requirements, and layered regulatory oversight. In this environment, Construction Managers (CM’s) must do more than manage construction, they must deliver clarity and certainty in a proactive way.

At The Christman Company, Construction Management has always been grounded in a simple belief: the most successful projects are built on intentional planning. As one of the early pioneers of the CM delivery method, Christman helped shape an approach centered on early collaboration, transparency, and owner advocacy, values that are especially critical in the Washington, DC metro area.

Why construction management looks different in DC Metro 

Construction in the DC Metro area presents challenges that require more than standard solutions. Owners must often balance project delivery with: 

  • Active, occupied environments 
  • Tight urban sites and limited access 
  • Multiple authorities having jurisdiction 
  • Schedule and cost pressures in a competitive market 

In this context, Construction Management is not simply about oversight, it is about managing risk early, before it impacts schedule, budget, or operations.

That is where Christman’s Project Planning Team plays a defining role with their ability to add unique value early on in the design and preconstruction process.

Construction management starts with planning 

True CM success begins long before construction starts. Christman’s Project Planning Team engages early, often during conceptual or schematic design, to help owners make informed decisions when they matter most. 

By integrating estimating, scheduling, constructability, logistics, and risk analysis, our team creates a clear roadmap that aligns project goals with real-world constraints. This early alignment allows owners to proceed with confidence, knowing that expectations are grounded in reality, not assumptions.

Early planning enables: 

  • Cost certainty through real-time, market-based estimating
  • Schedule confidence built on realistic sequencing and phasing
  • Constructible designs that reflect site conditions and operational needs
  • Proactive risk mitigation, not reactive problem-solving

In a region where surprises can carry significant consequences, this planning-first approach protects outcomes. 

The role of the Project Planning Team 

At Christman, the Project Planning Team is not a separate team, it is an integrated partner throughout the project lifecycle. 

Our planners work alongside owners, designers, project executives, and field leaders to ensure continuity from planning through construction. This collaboration ensures that what is planned is executable and that decisions made early support long-term project success. 

For DC Metro projects, this often includes: 

  • Detailed site logistics and access planning for constrained environments
  • Phasing strategies that support continued operations
  • Early coordination with local, state, and federal agencies
  • Scenario planning to address procurement and market risks

This level of coordination reduces uncertainty and allows construction teams to execute with purpose. 

A legacy of leadership in construction management 

Christman did not simply adopt Construction Management, we helped define it. 

Since our founding in 1894, we have refined CM as a delivery method built on trust, accountability, and collaboration. These principles continue to guide our work today through disciplined planning practices and a culture shaped by The Christman Way.

In the DC Metro market, this legacy is reflected in how we approach complex public, institutional, healthcare, and historic projects, where thoughtful planning is essential to success. 

What this means for DC Metro owners 

When owners partner with Christman for Construction Management, they gain more than a construction manager, they gain a planning-driven partner invested in long-term value.

Clients benefit from: 

  • Greater budget and schedule predictability
  • Fewer changes driven by unforeseen conditions
  • Transparent communication and informed decision-making
  • A team that anticipates challenges instead of reacting to them

In a market where expectations are high and constraints are real, this approach makes a measurable difference. 

Construction Management, delivered with intention 

In today’s DC Metro construction landscape, successful projects demand more than experience, they demand intentional planning backed by proven leadership.

Christman’s Construction Management services, powered by our Project Planning Team, bring structure to complexity and confidence to decision-making. It is an approach shaped by more than a century of experience, and refined every day on projects that matter.