The Process
There are three essential phases of the planning and implementation process that the CAG works through to deliver a project: planning, building and operating. According to the firm, in the planning phase, CAG brings in a team of experts to identify the long-term needs of the organization.    

Data is gathered to determine project feasibility and to outline a capitalization plan to fund the project. Space programming is done with the aid of user groups from the healthcare facility. From there, an architectural program is developed from this planning process and cost estimates are prepared.    

This work done upfront lets the owner know the size and complexity of the project, Sokol says, and also helps them determine the overall budget.    

In the building phase, CAG functions as the owner’s right hand, acting as developer and program manager, managing the architect and overseeing the financing. The group’s responsibilities also include maintaining the schedule and making sure the project is completed in a timely manner and within the original budget. It can also handle all licensing and certification requirements and recommend the purchase of necessary equipment and supplies.    

Once the project is ready for the owner to occupy, CAG works with staff make sure they know how to operate the new physical plant and is working off the correct operations manuals. It also provides a one-year project review to identify remaining warranty items and verify they are completed as expected.    

“One thing that sets us apart is that we really understand the clients’ business model and how design impacts patients,” Lamprecht notes. “Our goal is to exceed an owner’s expectations on one project to see if we can get the next. We want people to say,  ‘They created an experience for us.’”