Spire assisted the Warmington Group by performing a preliminary cost estimate for the Encinal Del Monte Hotel located in Alameda, California. The proposed project consisted of converting an existing warehouse into a multi-use facility to include a market and five-star hotel. The existing exterior shell of the building, including the masonry walls and roof, was planned to be retrofitted and refurbished while the interior was undergoing a full renovation. Spire’s consultants produced a conceptual cost estimate based on design development drawings for the hotel portion of the project. The design development drawings used to perform the estimate were approximately 50% complete and included architectural, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC); electrical; plumbing; and some equipment schedules. Various cost estimating methodologies and pricing resources were used to perform this estimate. The cost estimating method used for each cost component in the estimate was determined by the amount of time and level of resources available. When possible, semi-detailed and assembly takeoffs were performed. In addition, conceptual level estimates and estimates based on percentages of construction costs were used when appropriate. Spire’s client used the estimate as support when it proposed the project to the City of Alameda.


Spire’s project controls experts bring a comprehensive suite of skills and extensive field experience to the job site. We help project teams and management determine how far a project has progressed at any given time regarding schedule, cost, productivity, and risk and compare against contractual expectations, scope, performance criteria, and milestones. Controls can be applied to all phases of a project, from preconstruction to closeout.

Here are just some of the services our construction project controls consultants can bring to your next project:

Project controls are essential to keep complex construction projects on budget and on time. They help teams and stakeholders identify emerging risks early, before they become expensive, time-consuming problems. With advance warning, these issues can be mitigated or avoided altogether. Project controls also give leadership the data they need to set realistic expectations, manage subcontractors, and plan with confidence.

During the course of a project, program and project managers use controls to monitor time and cost expenditures and compare them to project lifecycle forecasts. They also rely on them to coordinate onsite execution with the milestones established during the design, procurement, entitlement, and pre-construction stages.