Blog - Strategia Conseil

Is the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) Agreement really the best solution for controlling costs?

With the mining industry facing significant productivity challenges, companies are under pressure to deliver their projects more and more efficiently and meet budget objectives. Owners have often used guaranteed maximum price contracts to “protect” their investment, notably in major mining projects. But is this the best way to control costs? This method of delivering projects […]

Defining the objectives of a construction project to maximize benefits

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Corporate Real estate, Public and Parapublic

Did you know that your construction project and your next family vacation have several things in common? You can’t start a trip without knowing its destination. The same principle applies to projects. You need to determine what the project is seeking to accomplish and how its success will be evaluated (1). Defining these objectives properly is essential to the success […]

Case study: Time limits and cost overruns on a large-scale transport infrastructure project

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Public and Parapublic, Transportation

Three years after the Rapibus was commissioned, the Board of Directors of the Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) mandated Strategia Conseil to conduct an independent review of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project built in 2013. The objectives of the mandate were: Clearly explain cost and time variances and their causes; Identify the strengths and weaknesses of project management and [...]

How can you improve the performance of your next industrial plant shutdown?

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Energy, mines and metallurgy

Are you planning to deploy a major asset maintenance program or replace major equipment? A planned shutdown of operations may be required to maintain, inspect, replace, or upgrade equipment, or to connect new plant units. If you have been involved in a major plant shutdown, it’s very likely that it didn’t go as planned. 40% of shutdowns result in cost or […]

A simple rule to facilitate corporate social responsibility in Québec

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Public and Parapublic

How can corporate social responsibility be encouraged in Québec? According to our experience this involves finding concrete courses of action that can be adapted to any type of company. In a recent blog, we addressed corporate social responsibility, especially in small and medium enterprises (SME). The objective was to share measures deployed at Strategia Conseil […]

What is BIM technology?

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Corporate Real estate, Public and Parapublic

Building Information Modeling (BIM) could be summarized as a 3D modeling technology. But in fact it is much more. It is a process that collects all the information on a project to create a complete data environment. For complex construction projects, this allows the design to be simplified on several levels. The models created are […]

The Integrated Design Process: principles and guidance to success

Posted by Arnaud Rogiez

Public and Parapublic

The Integrated Design Process: principles and guidance to success After a 30-year wait, the Roberval courthouse renovations recently made page one. The $62 million project will allow a 300% expansion! Our team is closely following this project as facilitator of the Integrated Design Process. The Integrated Design Process (IDP) took shape about twenty years […]

Ensuring the sustainability of the cultural, social and real estate heritage (case study)

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Public and Parapublic

The Augustinian Monastery is a cultural heritage and wellness haven developed in the oldest monastic complex in North America. Completely restored and redeveloped, the Monastery offers visitors a unique comprehensive health experience and living contact with the Augustinian heritage. Summary of the project Transform and preserve a complex of buildings constructed between 1695 and 1958, […]

Corporate social responsibility: the experience of an SME

Posted by Patrick Vallerand

Public and Parapublic

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) may seem to be a trend that only affects big business. However, it is much more than a trend. According to Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 95% of Fortune Global 250 companies publish a sustainable development report. CSR is a subject of interest for big business. But what about small and medium […]

How to reduce construction delays with time contingencies

Posted by Arnaud Rogiez

Corporate Real estate, Public and Parapublic

Even the fabulist Lafontaine understood an important principle for reducing construction delays on major projects. Slow and steady wins the race. This famous saying translates into a key point to remember: don’t rush into a project by skipping the planning stage. Planning: a crucial step to reduce construction delays This is Bent Flyvberg’s conclusion after […]