Mapping the US Construction Lifecycle
Construction projects are complex by nature, and the people navigating them, as owners, agencies, developers, and consultants, already know better than anyone. As we looked to provide an essential ability to see digital plans at scale, we documented the plan workflow in www.planworkflow.com, but also engaged with the broader aspects of the industry. That led us to build the AEC Project Life-cycle Overview.
What it covers
The resource maps the US construction project lifecycle across six industry sectors: commercial, healthcare, education, infrastructure, industrial, and residential. It runs from planning and feasibility through commissioning and closeout, with permitting threads shown by phase and sector-specific activities, with those that differ called out.
There's also a delivery model reference — a side-by-side comparison of Design-Bid-Build, CM at Risk, Design-Build, CMAR, IPD, and related structures — covering how each is typically used, where it tends to work well, and the trade-offs involved.
The goal isn't intended to be prescriptive. The people using these resources know their projects. The goal was to put a clear, well-organized reference in front of teams who can use it - whether that's to align a room, prepare for a meeting, or simply have a shared frame of reference during a complex conversation.
It's free and open
The resource is available at aec.volantidisplays.com - no sign-up, no paywall. Both the lifecycle matrix and the delivery model guide are available as PDFs for a printable version.
We build display and plan review technology for AEC project environments. We make project information visible, accessible, and clearly presented. This resource is an extension of that - a core part of what we work on every day.
If it's useful to your team, we're glad. If you have suggestions for what's missing, we'd welcome the feedback.