Finer planning, stronger partnerships, less risks, and smarter execution.

Owners don’t just need numbers—they need context, options, and a clear sense of what decisions mean downstream. That’s where preconstruction brings real value: helping teams navigate complexity with greater clarity and confidence. 

“Without a contractor involved early, projects can spiral—cost overruns, delays, scope creep,” says Joe Flaherty, TOCCI’s Preconstruction Manager, “Preconstruction gives everyone a clearer path forward.” 

Before a shovel hits the ground, we’re shaping budgets, guiding design decisions, and laying the groundwork for efficient, risk-aware execution. It’s more than estimating—it’s collaboration, strategy, and accountability. Importantly, this is also where project culture takes shape. Safety, quality, and sustainability don’t start at groundbreak. They start in early conversations around scope, means and methods, and procurement 

This mindset drives every phase at TOCCI. By investing deeply upfront, we ensure the entire team—owners, designers, and builders—is pulling in the same direction from day one. 

Getting Involved Early … and Making it Count

Too often, preconstruction is treated as a pricing exercise. But its real value lies in the opportunity to align teams, identify risks early, and establish the groundwork for smoother execution in the field. 

At TOCCI, it’s a space for problem-solving and open dialogue. It’s where our team builds trust with designers and owners—clarifying assumptions, flagging potential challenges, and offering constructive alternatives before decisions are locked in. We see this phase as a pressure-test for the entire project strategy: not just how it will be built, but how well the team works together to get there. It’s why we invest time upfront to understand client goals and proactively shape options that balance budget, performance, and long-term value. Preconstruction isn’t just a phase—it’s the foundation of how we deliver smarter projects. 

“Preconstruction is where you can have the biggest impact with the least amount of cost,” says Joe Ferolito, TOCCI’s VP of Planning + Cost Engineering. How? By being in the room early and staying involved. When we engage in design meetings, we’re able to shape smarter solutions in real time. We evaluate multiple systems or materials before decisions are baked in, flag coordination issues, and run cost or schedule comparisons that guide the team toward more efficient outcomes. 

One of the biggest benefits? Fewer surprises. For TOCCI, preconstruction success is measured by how smoothly the project transitions into construction: predictable subcontractor pricing, fewer RFIs, tighter scope packages. When we’ve done our job right, there’s less scrambling in the field—and more time spent executing the work with clarity and confidence. 

It’s about enabling better decision-making while there’s still room to adapt. Whether that means pivoting to a more cost-effective system or identifying lead-time issues early, preconstruction offers clarity at a point when it still counts. 

Transparency matters. Our estimates are clear about what’s known, what’s assumed, and where uncertainty remains. That openness builds confidence, sharpens priorities, and fosters the kind of collaboration that leads to stronger outcomes in the field. Rather than chasing the lowest number, we focus on clarity; combining historical benchmarks with current subcontractor input to give owners realistic options, not just placeholders. And as design progresses, clarity deepens. 

Our team builds models, reviews specs, and challenges assumptions alongside the design team. That collaboration helps owners avoid costly redesigns, lengthy VE cycles, and change orders later. When we’re embedded early, we’re not reacting—we’re helping lead. 

For TOCCI, it’s an integrated, strategic process that empowers every stakeholder to deliver their best work. 

That’s the value of preconstruction. And that’s what we’re committed to delivering—because we all work for the project.