How Mock-Ups Improve Quality

Two practices we routinely deploy that can make a major difference in the final quality of your projects

Each construction project comes with its own set of challenges. Every site, building, client, and project team is unique, and should be treated as such. With over 28,000 multi-family units constructed, we’ve found that it is essential to set expectations and quality standards up front. This is especially true for a high growth market such as Nashville.

It’s one thing to see your building design on paper or a computer screen, but it’s entirely different when you see an actual model of the finished product. Here are two practices we routinely deploy that can make a major difference in the final quality of your projects.

20′ x 10′ mock-up wall constructed for Album Indian Lake in Hendersonville, TN.

#1. Mock-Up Wall

We construct a freestanding mock-up wall mimicking the building façade with a standard window, patio door, and each façade material, transition, and flashing condition.

Our clients, architects, and manufacturer representatives review the installation of the products to ensure they meet all aesthetic and warranty requirements.

This mock-up wall helps resolve coordination issues and future RFIs to drive our building enclosure schedule and ensures a quality envelope installation for years to come. This freestanding wall remains on site until the end of the project and serves as a reference for our trade partners throughout construction.

“McShane’s mock-up process focuses on the most critical components of a building’s envelope. Partnered with product manufacturers, subcontractors, building designers and our own quality assurance team, we review every detail to ensure the ultimate performance of our buildings.”
Jason Breden, Vice President & Director of Nashville Market

Typical mock-up unit expedited for review throughout duration of construction.

#2. Mock-Up Unit

We expedite construction in one unit to serve as a mock-up. Our team schedules reviews with the entire project team – including developers, property managers, architects, and trade partners – at multiple stages of the buildout and once the unit is “turnover ready.”

This sets clear standards for the turnover process, eliminates surprises, and mitigates mass scale issues that can be resolved up front. This also allows our clients to identify any changes they may want to make in advance of all units being completed and minimizes re-work and change orders.

“Our quality is formed by a high level of expectation and achieved by paying attention to the smallest detail. Ninety-five-percent of a project’s success is accomplished in the pre-construction process, and that is where McShane makes its biggest impact.”
Jason Breden, Vice President & Director of Nashville Market

Recent Example

One example of this application was on a recent multi-family residence in Hendersonville, Tennessee named Album Indian Lake. Along with the Owner’s third party moisture consultant and Architect, McShane designed a 20’x10’ exterior building mock up wall. The first phase of the process included framing, flashing and waterproofing details. The last phase included roofing and façade material installations and transitions. By incorporating all of the major items from the building in to the mock-up, our subcontractor partners were prepared to start building construction while ensuring the highest quality standards were met.

Following these processes on our multi-family projects has helped eliminate potential scope gaps and solve issues earlier in the process. It helps ensure that no details are overlooked during construction, and that the residence was constructed to the highest quality standards. It also helps our clients with pre-leasing by offering a finished unit for staging and photography.

Connect with Jason to see examples of mock-ups or to learn more about how they’ve helped our clients’ developments.


Jason Breden
Vice President & Director of Nashville Market
615.588.2641
jbreden@mcshane.com
LinkedIn