Smith and Sykes Advise on Risk for Collaborative Delivery Blog
Freese and Nichols’ Trooper Smith and Clark Sykes co-authored a blog post for the Water Collaborative Delivery Association (WCDA), a national organization advancing best practices in collaborative delivery, that analyzes how risk is shared in construction management at-risk (CMAR) projects.
Read the full article: Who Is at Risk in Construction Management at-Risk Projects?
Smith, Design-Build Leader and Program Management Practice Leader, and Sykes, Collaborative Project Delivery Technical Excellence Program (TEP) Leader and Program Management Group Manager, specialize in collaborative delivery and program management for complex infrastructure projects. Collaborative delivery brings owners, designers and builders together early to align decisions, while program management focuses on coordinating scope, budget, schedule and risk across large capital programs. Their contribution to WCDA reflects Freese and Nichols’ leadership in shaping how these projects are delivered across the country.
In the blog, the authors tackle a question frequently raised by water and wastewater owners: who is truly at risk in CMAR delivery. Their answer challenges the traditional notion of risk transfer, emphasizing instead that successful collaborative delivery depends on aligning risk with the team member best equipped to manage it.
Drawing on years of industry experience, Smith and Sykes explain how the construction manager’s early involvement strengthens outcomes through real-time cost modeling, constructability input, and proactive risk discussions. Addressing uncertainty early allows teams to solve problems before they escalate into costly conflicts.
The authors write:
“Risk is not eliminated; it is embedded. … In collaborative delivery, risk is examined, discussed, and intentionally assigned. That requires trust and accountability.”
They also emphasize the importance of early collaboration in shaping better project outcomes:
“Rather than discovering conflicts after contracts are signed, the team addresses them while solutions are still flexible and affordable.”
The blog outlines key considerations for owners, including the importance of active engagement, qualifications-based selection, and understanding how pricing evolves alongside design. For construction managers, the article highlights the financial and reputational responsibility that comes with delivering a project within a guaranteed maximum price.