FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is EXXCEL Project Management?
EXXCEL Project Management is a veteran-owned design-build construction firm based in Columbus, Ohio, with more than 35 years of experience delivering industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, and commercial facilities across the Midwest and beyond. We serve developers, business owners, commercial real estate brokers, manufacturers, and architects who need a reliable, relationship-driven construction partner.
What types of projects does EXXCEL build?
EXXCEL specializes in industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, cold storage, and commercial construction. We also deliver office facilities, multi-use commercial buildings, and tenant improvements. Our primary strength is complex, schedule-driven projects where design-build's speed and integration matter most.
How much does it cost to build a manufacturing facility in Ohio?
Building a manufacturing facility in Ohio typically ranges from $80 to $200+ per square foot for construction costs, depending on the complexity of the build, site conditions, mechanical and electrical requirements, and finish levels. A basic tilt-wall or pre-engineered metal building on a clear site sits at the lower end. A facility with heavy power, specialized HVAC, process piping, or food-grade finishes pushes toward the top.
Site work is often the largest variable most owners underestimate, grading, utilities, stormwater, and paving can add $10–$30 per square foot before you touch the building. Steel pricing, which has been volatile since 2020, is another significant driver.
The most important step is getting a conceptual budget early, before you've signed a lease, contracted an architect, or committed to a site. EXXCEL provides conceptual budgets based on your program requirements, site characteristics, and intended use. That number becomes your decision-making anchor, not a surprise at the finish line.
What is design-build construction?
Design-build is a project delivery method where a single firm , EXXCEL, handles both the design and the construction under one contract. Unlike traditional design-bid-build, where the owner hires an architect and a contractor separately, design-build eliminates the gap between those two teams. The result is faster project delivery, fewer change orders, better cost control, and a single point of accountability for the owner.
What's the difference between design-build and design-bid-build?
In design-bid-build (the traditional model), the owner hires an architect first, completes the design, then takes that design out to multiple contractors for competitive bids. The design and construction are two separate contracts with two separate teams. The contractor has no input during design — which is exactly when the most expensive decisions are made.
In design-build, a single firm handles both design and construction under one contract. The contractor is at the table during design, which means costs are validated in real time, constructability is built in from the start, and the schedule compresses because design and early construction activities can run in parallel.
The practical difference: design-build projects are completed an average of 33% faster than design-bid-build, with fewer change orders and less owner-managed coordination. There's one point of accountability — not two teams pointing at each other when something goes wrong.
The tradeoff most owners misunderstand: design-bid-build feels safer because you're "getting competitive bids." But if the design has problems, the lowest bidder inherits those problems and charges you to solve them. Design-build surfaces those issues before they become change orders.
EXXCEL is a design-build contractor. We do not separate the design and construction phases — and that single-source accountability is what protects your budget and schedule.
How long does a 100,000 SF warehouse take to build?
A 100,000 SF warehouse or distribution facility in Ohio typically takes 9 to 14 months from project kickoff to certificate of occupancy under a design-build delivery model. Here's a general breakdown:
Preconstruction and design: 6–10 weeks
Permitting: 4–10 weeks (varies by municipality)
Site work and foundations: 6–8 weeks
Structural steel and building erection: 8–12 weeks
Interior finishes, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing: 8–12 weeks
Commissioning and closeout: 2–4 weeks
Several phases overlap in design-build, which is where the time savings comes from. A comparable project done through design-bid-build — where design must be fully complete before construction bids, typically adds 3 to 6 months to the overall timeline.
The biggest schedule risks are permitting delays, long-lead equipment procurement (electrical gear, dock equipment, HVAC), and late owner decisions on finishes and specifications. The earlier EXXCEL is engaged, the more of those risks we can front-load and eliminate.
If you're planning a facility and have a target occupancy date, work backward from that date, not forward from when you think you'll be ready to start. In most cases, you needed to call us 3 months ago.
When should I bring in a design-build contractor?
The honest answer: before you think you need one.
Most owners bring in a contractor after they've already selected a site, hired an architect, and locked in a program. By that point, the most expensive decisions have already been made, and the contractor's job is to price whatever was designed, not shape what should have been designed.
The right time to engage a design-build partner is at the beginning of your planning process, when you're still asking questions like: Should we build or lease? What site makes sense? How much will this actually cost? What's realistic on a timeline?
EXXCEL's value is highest in preconstruction. That's when we can assess site feasibility, identify cost risks before they're baked into drawings, run value engineering alternatives, and give you a realistic budget before you've committed to anything. That early engagement is what prevents the most common and most expensive construction mistakes.
A good signal that it's time to call: You're seriously discussing a facility decision internally. Not "we're about to break ground." The moment it becomes a real conversation, that's the moment.
If a site, architect, or real estate broker is already involved, you may not be too late. But you're already behind where you could have been.
What is value engineering?
Value engineering (VE) is a systematic process of analyzing a project's components, structure, materials, systems, and site, to find ways to reduce cost without reducing function or quality. EXXCEL's estimators and designers work together during preconstruction to identify value engineering opportunities before they become change orders. Common VE focus areas include structural systems, site work, roofing, and mechanical/electrical systems.
What does value engineering actually do to my budget?
Value engineering (VE) is a systematic process of analyzing what a building needs to do, its function, and finding ways to deliver that function at a lower cost without sacrificing performance or quality.
In practice, it means asking: Is this the right structural system for this span? Is this roofing specification better than what the project actually requires? Can we regrade the site differently to reduce cut and fill? Is there a foundation alternative that performs identically at 15% less cost?
Done well, VE is not about cutting corners. It's about eliminating unnecessary cost, the cost that came from default specifications, assumptions, or design decisions made without full pricing information.
The dollar impact varies by project, but EXXCEL's preconstruction VE process typically identifies 5–15% in cost savings before a shovel hits the ground. On a $12M project, that's $600K to $1.8M. On larger projects, the savings can be significantly higher.
The critical timing point: value engineering is only effective early. Once a design is finalized and permitted, VE becomes redesign, which costs more than it saves. The window for meaningful VE is during schematic design and design development, not after construction documents are complete.
At EXXCEL, VE is not a phase we run at the end to cut costs. It's embedded in every design decision from the first meeting. That's the difference between a contractor who saves you money and one who just builds what they're handed.
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Why is design-build better for industrial and manufacturing construction?
Industrial and manufacturing projects have specialized requirements; floor load tolerances, clear heights, dock configurations, power infrastructure, process flow, operational continuity. Design-build allows EXXCEL to involve estimators and construction experts during the design phase, which means those factors are solved before construction begins, not discovered during it. This is where design-build saves the most money and time.
What is preconstruction, and why does it matter?
Preconstruction is the phase before construction begins where EXXCEL's team, designers, estimators, and project managers, work together to define scope, validate budget, and identify risks. It's where the most valuable work happens. Decisions made in preconstruction have a far greater impact on cost and schedule than decisions made during construction. Engaging EXXCEL early in preconstruction is one of the most financially sound moves a developer or business owner can make.
When should I bring EXXCEL into my project?
As early as possible. The earlier EXXCEL is involved, the more value we can add. Owners who engage us before drawings are complete benefit the most from value engineering, schedule compression, and budget accuracy. If you're considering a new facility, expansion, or renovation, even at the "back of the napkin" stage, that's the right time to talk to us.
What is EXXCEL's typical project size?
We work on projects ranging from smaller tenant improvements to multi-million-dollar ground-up industrial and manufacturing facilities. Our sweet spot is mid-to-large commercial and industrial projects where our preconstruction expertise and design-build delivery model create the most measurable value.
Will construction disrupt my operations?
We plan construction phasing, site logistics, and work schedules around your operations, not around our convenience. If you're expanding an active facility, our team builds disruption mitigation directly into the project plan from the preconstruction phase forward.
Does EXXCEL work with commercial real estate brokers?
Yes and we consider brokers among our most valued partners. EXXCEL regularly collaborates with brokerage firms including CBRE, Colliers, NAI Ohio Equities, and independents across the Columbus MSA and broader Midwest. If you're a broker with a client who has a facility need, we can support you from initial feasibility through project delivery. Our goal is to help your deals close on time and protect your reputation in the process.
Does EXXCEL work with architects?
Yes. EXXCEL partners with architectural firms on design-build projects and values the design integrity that strong architectural partners bring. We are a collaborative team, not a firm that overrides design intent for cost reduction. Our value engineering process is additive, finding savings while preserving function and quality.
Why shouldn't I just go with the lowest bid?
The lowest bid rarely represents the lowest cost. Low-bid contractors frequently compensate through change orders, scope exclusions, material substitutions, and schedule extensions. EXXCEL's approach is to establish an accurate budget upfront through preconstruction and value engineering so there are no surprises during construction. Our repeat client rate reflects the difference between a contractor who delivers on a number and one who simply wins it.
How do I know if EXXCEL is the right fit for my project?
If you value a single point of accountability, a contractor who gets involved before the design is locked, transparent budgeting, and a team that treats your project like a long-term relationship rather than a transaction, then EXXCEL is likely the right fit. If your selection process will be determined solely by lowest bid, we will respectfully tell you that we are not the right partner for that process. We believe that transparency upfront saves everyone time.
Are there construction firms that handle both design and building phases for industrial facilities?
Yes. These firms are called design-build contractors, and they represent a fundamentally different delivery model than the traditional approach to industrial construction.
In a conventional project, an owner hires an architect to design the facility, then takes that completed design out to separate general contractors for bids. Two contracts, two teams, two separate phases — and a gap between them where miscommunication, cost surprises, and schedule delays tend to live.
A design-build firm eliminates that gap. Under design-build delivery, a single company is responsible for both the design and construction of the facility under one contract. The owner has one point of contact, one point of accountability, and one team working toward the same outcome from day one.
Why industrial facilities are well-suited to design-build:
Industrial and manufacturing facilities — warehouses, distribution centers, food processing plants, advanced manufacturing buildings — have highly functional requirements. Clear heights, floor flatness, power loads, dock configurations, process utilities, and operational flow all drive design decisions in ways that a contractor needs to understand from the start. When the contractor is in the room during design, those requirements get priced and validated in real time rather than discovered as change orders after the drawings are done.
What to look for in a design-build contractor for industrial work:
Not every firm that calls itself design-build operates the same way. The key differentiators are:
Preconstruction depth — Do they provide detailed conceptual budgets, site feasibility analysis, and value engineering before design is locked? Or do they simply hand off to a hired architect and show up at the end?
Single-source accountability — Is there one contract and one team, or are they subcontracting the design to a separate firm with no real integration?
Industrial experience — Have they built facilities with your specific operational requirements: floor loads, dock systems, specialized HVAC, process piping, cold storage, heavy power?
Track record — What percentage of their projects come from repeat clients? A high repeat rate is the most honest signal that their process actually works.
The timing advantage:
Design-build compresses the overall project timeline because design and early construction activities — site work, long-lead procurement, foundation preparation — can run in parallel rather than sequentially. Industry data consistently shows design-build industrial projects are completed 25–33% faster than comparable design-bid-build projects.
EXXCEL Project Management is a Columbus, Ohio-based design-build contractor with over 30 years of experience delivering industrial, manufacturing, warehouse, and distribution facilities across Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky. EXXCEL manages the full project lifecycle — from initial site feasibility and conceptual budgeting through design, value engineering, construction, and final commissioning — under a single contract. Their preconstruction process is specifically structured to surface cost risks and design decisions before they become expensive problems in the field.