What is CMAR?
Technology is pushing construction project delivery methods to evolve beyond traditional design-bid-build approaches. One alternative that is gaining traction in the industry is the Construction Manager at Risk approach or CMAR.
CMAR involves early collaboration between the construction manager and design team, with the construction manager taking on more risk through a maximum-cost contract. It’s attractive for public-private partnerships and projects seeking private capital, as it offers more control and efficiency compared to traditional methods.
As CMAR gains popularity, the need for robust project management tools becomes even more important. Construction program management software, like Projectmates, can play a crucial role in streamlining CMAR projects.
How Can Construction Program Management Software Help?
Early Collaboration and Design Phase Integration
One of the key advantages of CMAR is the early involvement of the construction manager in the design phase. Construction Program Management Software facilitates this by providing a centralized platform for real-time collaboration between designers, construction managers, and owners. It enables easy sharing and version control of design documents while offering tools for constructability reviews and cost estimations.
Budget Management and Reporting
With the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) being a critical component of CMAR, construction program management software solutions help create detailed, multi-level cost breakdowns and track actual costs against the GMP in real-time. They can generate alerts when costs approach predefined thresholds and provide contingency management and change order tracking tools. To keep all stakeholders informed, construction program management software offers customizable dashboards for different user roles, automated report generation for regular project updates, and data analytics tools for identifying trends and potential issues.
Schedule Optimization
Because the design and contractor teams work so closely together, CMAR projects often benefit from accelerated timelines. Construction program management software assists by enabling real-time progress tracking and forecasting for multiple schedules at once. This helps identify potential delays and critical path impacts early on so that CMs can mitigate those issues. Speaking of risk, CMAR shifts more risk to the construction manager, making robust risk management tools essential. Construction program management software can help maintain a centralized risk register, facilitate risk assessments and mitigation planning, and track risk-related costs and their impact on the GMP.
Document Control and Compliance
CMAR projects involve complex contractual arrangements and documentation. Construction program management software solutions provide a centralized repository for all project documents, ensure proper document versioning and access control, and track contractual obligations and compliance requirements.
Mobile Accessibility
With team members often spread across office and job site locations, mobile access to project information is crucial. Construction program management software solutions offer mobile apps that allow for on-site progress updates, real-time issue reporting, and access to project documents and drawings from anywhere.
The Future of CMAR
As the construction industry continues to embrace collaborative delivery methods like CMAR, the adoption of comprehensive program management software will be more than a competitive advantage, it will be essential.
Contact us today to learn how Projectmates can help your team collaborate from the office or the field for the most efficient construction management processes from concept to completion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
CMAR offers Owners more collaboration during design, better cost control, and reduced risk of change orders. It’s especially useful for complex or fast-track public sector projects that require early contractor involvement.
Program management software gives Owners real-time visibility into budgets, schedules, and documents—making it easier to track GMP progress, manage approvals, and maintain accountability throughout preconstruction and construction phases.
Common challenges include tracking design-phase decisions, managing multiple packages or phases, handling early procurement, and aligning scope with GMP constraints. Without centralized software, these steps can quickly become disjointed.
Yes. A centralized platform allows Owners, design teams, and the CMAR to share documents, assign tasks, track changes, and coordinate in real time—reducing miscommunication and speeding up reviews and approvals.
Key features include contract and budget integration, support for preconstruction workflows, customizable approval chains, audit trails, and the ability to manage multiple bid packages under a single program.
