What Is CMAR? A Smarter Way to Build in Grand Forks and the Red River Valley
MAK Construction - Grand Forks, ND
If you're an owner, school district, municipality, healthcare administrator, or developer planning a major construction project in the Grand Forks area, you've probably heard the term CMAR- Construction Manager at Risk. It's one of the fastest-growing project delivery methods in North Dakota, and for good reason.
At MAK Construction, we've seen firsthand how CMAR helps owners across Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Thief River Falls, Devils Lake, and the surrounding Red River Valley deliver complex projects on time, on budget, and with fewer surprises. This post breaks down what CMAR is, why it works so well for our region, and what to look for when choosing a CMAR partner.
What Does CMAR Mean?
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) is a project delivery method where the owner hires a construction manager early in design - long before a shovel ever hits the ground. The CMAR works alongside the architect and engineering team during preconstruction, then later commits to delivering the project at a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
That phrase - at risk - is the key. Once the GMP is set, the construction manager assumes financial responsibility for delivering the project within that price. If costs run over due to issues within their control, the CMAR absorbs them. If the project comes in under budget, savings typically return to the owner.
In short: CMAR aligns the builder's incentives with the owner's from day one.
CMAR vs. Design-Bid-Build: What's the Difference?
The traditional design-bid-build model is straightforward but rigid. The owner hires an architect, completes the design, then puts the project out for competitive bid. The lowest qualified bidder wins, and construction begins.
It works - but it has well-known drawbacks:
- The contractor has no input during design, so constructability issues surface late
- Change orders are common when field conditions don’t match the drawings
- The owner carries most of the risk for cost overruns
- Schedule and budget are often disconnected from real-world market conditions
CMAR flips that script. By bringing the builder into the design phase, owners gain real-time cost feedback, value engineering, constructability reviews, and scheduling input before decisions become expensive to reverse.
Why CMAR Is Gaining Ground in North Dakota
North Dakota allows public entities - including school districts, cities, counties, and state institutions - to use CMAR as a recognized alternative delivery method under state procurement statutes. Over the past decade, more public and private owners across the state have moved toward CMAR for a few clear reasons:
Budget certainty up front. With a GMP locked in before construction, owners can secure financing, plan bond elections, or finalize capital budgets with confidence.
Faster project delivery. Because design and preconstruction overlap, projects can break ground sooner - and early procurement of long-lead items (steel, switchgear, mechanical equipment) helps avoid the supply-chain delays that have hammered our industry in recent years.
Local market expertise. A CMAR contractor who knows the Grand Forks subcontractor market, local permitting processes, and the realities of building through a Red River Valley winter can save owners months of frustration.
Transparency. CMAR contracts are open-book. Owners see actual subcontractor bids, material costs, and management fees - no black-box pricing.
Where CMAR Works Best
Not every project is right for CMAR. It tends to deliver the most value on:
- Public and private K–12 and higher-education buildings
- Healthcare facilities and clinic expansions
- Municipal buildings, public works facilities, and emergency services
- Larger commercial and industrial projects
- Renovations or additions to occupied buildings, where phasing and coordination are critical
- Projects with tight budgets, complex stakeholder groups, or aggressive schedules
If your project has any combination of public funding, high complexity, or schedule pressure, CMAR deserves a serious look.
What to Look for in a CMAR Partner
CMAR is only as good as the team executing it. When evaluating contractors for a CMAR project in the Grand Forks region, ask about:
Preconstruction experience. Does the contractor have estimators and project managers who can meaningfully contribute during schematic and design development - not just price the final drawings?
Local subcontractor relationships. A strong CMAR partner has long-standing trust with the trades, suppliers, and inspectors in your market.
Transparent cost modeling. Can they walk you through how the GMP is built, what’s included in contingency, and how shared savings work?
Track record on similar projects. Ask for references from owners with comparable scope, size, and complexity.
A genuine partnership mindset. CMAR is collaborative by design. If the contractor treats it like a traditional bid job, you’ll lose most of the value.
MAK Construction: CMAR Services in Grand Forks, ND and the Surrounding Region
MAK Construction has deep roots in Grand Forks and the surrounding communities. We've built our reputation on showing up early, working transparently with owners and design teams, and delivering buildings that hold up to North Dakota winters and decades of use.
Our CMAR services include:
- Early-phase preconstruction planning and budgeting
- Constructability and value engineering reviews
- Subcontractor prequalification and competitive buyout
- Guaranteed Maximum Price development and management
- Schedule development with long-lead procurement strategy
- Owner-focused communication throughout construction and closeout
Whether you're a school district planning a new facility, a municipality expanding public infrastructure, a healthcare provider modernizing a clinic, or a private developer building commercial space, we'd welcome the chance to talk through whether CMAR is the right fit for your project.
Ready to Talk About Your Next Project?
If you're considering CMAR for an upcoming project in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, or the surrounding Red River Valley, let's start a conversation. Even if you're still in the early planning stages, an early conversation often saves owners significant time and money down the road.
Contact MAK Construction today to schedule a no-obligation preconstruction consultation. We'll walk you through how CMAR could work for your specific project, answer your questions about the process, and help you decide if it's the right delivery method for your goals.
MAK Construction provides Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), general contracting, and design-build services to public and private owners throughout Grand Forks, ND and surrounding communities in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota.