The general contractor, a strategic partner for commercial real estate projects
The general contractor (GC), usually an engineering firm, oversees all aspects of a real estate project on behalf of the client. Whether it is a newbuild, renovation or extension project, the general contractor offers a turnkey solution – from the building’s design to its handover.
Coordinating all trades and crews, the general contractor designs the building to meet the client’s needs – whatever their line of business. The mission therefore includes carrying out all design work and supervising all contractors throughout construction.
The general contractor guarantees the commercial real estate project’s quality, price and date of completion.
The general contractor’s role
Acting as the client’s single point of contact, the general contractor helps define & design their project, then coordinates all the construction work. Communication and transparency and the foundations of this partnership.
Before even the surveyors and architects come into play, the general contractor takes part in the project’s legal and financial setup. With the client, they define its specifications and carry out the required studies: administrative feasibility, environmental surveys, etc.
As part of the project design, general contractors contribute all their know-how in engineering, architectural design and interior design. They propose solutions that address the client’s technical goals and challenges, based on the chosen plot of land. Meanwhile, general contractors also oversee the various administrative application processes (building permits, environmental licences, etc.), as well as the facility’s technical and energy optimisation surveys.
During the construction phase, the general contractor coordinates & supervises all the trades on the site, monitoring quality & safety. Environmental certification advice and support may also be provided.
When the works are completed, the GC ensures the building’s handover within the contractual deadlines and assists the client in the facility’s commissioning..
How a general contractor benefits your project
The general contractor is like an orchestra conductor, ensuring the harmonious progress of your real estate project. This role includes in particular the project’s design, the administrative authorisations, the selection of suppliers & contractors, certificates, defects liability & the ten-year warrantee, the works organisation & execution, the site’s handover, as well as post-handover services. The GC is accountable for the project’s quality, cost and timely completion.
Unless agreed otherwise with the client, the general contractor selects the contractors and coordinates them, in accordance with the project’s specifications, deadlines and budget. In the event of any flaw arising from these contractors, the final accountability lies with the general contractor. Faced with unforeseen events during the construction phase, the GC must – as the guarantor of the quality of the services provided – react appropriately to ensure that the work is completed on time and on budget.
Last but not least, the general contractor ensures compliance, including by adapting to new regulations. The GC guarantees that the building handed over to the client will comply with all applicable standards, such as France’s commercial buildings energy performance regulations (Décret tertiaire and Loi EnR), and deploys other sustainability initiatives (energy consumption, carbon footprint, responsible purchasing, etc.).
In short, a general contractor guarantees that you are supported by experts, optimises the time & resources dedicated to your project, and relieves you of all the procedures related to your building’s construction.
The stages of a real estate project with a general contractor
The project will start with preliminary studies:
- Definition of characteristics
- Environmental surveys
- Client Satisfaction Logbook
- Architectural design
- Technical studies
- Administrative authorisations
- Client process integration
- Energy optimisation
Once the design is completed and approved, construction begins. In this phase, the general contractor coordinates:
- Turnkey construction
- Quality/Safety procedures
- Environmental certification (when requested)
When the works are completed, the next steps are the handover and client care (defects liability, etc.).
- Key collection
- Commissioning
- After-sales service
GSE, the general contractor that digitises site monitoring
GSE introduced the Kaliti app, a collaborative digital solution that enables clients to keep track of their projects’ progress – from the start of the works to the end of the defects liability period.
Accessible across various devices (online, iPad and smartphone), Kaliti simplifies communication and work coordination, while offering clients a smooth and efficient experience.
Thanks to Kaliti, GSE Clients can:
- Record and follow up on observations made on the construction site, with the possibility of analysing them
- Optimise the performance of tasks by reducing the time required to share and process information
- Collaborate, monitor de-snagging, report directly any issues observed after handover, and track their resolution until complete satisfaction
- Ensure the clarity of the information provided and the fluidity of communication between the various stakeholders.
With Kaliti, GSE ensures excellent communication and complete transparency, guaranteeing a superior Client experience.
The general contractor’s post-handover responsibilities & guarantees
The general contractor’s job doesn’t end with the works themselves. It continues during and after the project’s handover to the investor.
The handover is the act by which the client declares that they accept the work, with or without snags. It takes place between the general contractor and the client. Any remaining snags are recorded in the handover report.
The GC’s responsibilities are governed by implicit and explicit (contractual) warranties, aimed at protecting the client against any defects or poor workmanship affecting the quality, safety and durability of the building. These guarantees take effect at the time of the handover.
Defects liability period
The defects liability period extends over a period of 12 months following the project’s handover. It is an implicit warranty provided to the client, but it is also usually covered by contractual dispositions between the general contractor and the client.
Where applicable, it constitutes one of the main obligations of the general contractor after the handover. The warranty covers all defects reported by the client, whether they concern poor workmanship, non-compliance or construction defects. It is the general contractor’s responsibility to remedy these defects.
Equipment warrantee
The equipment warrantee comes into effect at the time of the handover and extends for a minimum period of 2 years. It is an implicit warrantee provided to the client, but it is also usually covered by contractual dispositions between the general contractor and the client.
It specifically covers equipment and components such as heating and plumbing installations, lifts, electrical systems, etc.
This warranty applies to defects that are not apparent at the time of handover but that affect the equipment’s proper operation and are detected during the warranty period.
Ten-year warranty
In addition to the defects liability and equipment warranties, the general contractor and the entrepreneur are legally liable to the client for damages (even those resulting from a defect in the ground) that compromise the solidity of the structure or that – by affecting it in one of its structural or elements or one of its equipment elements – render it unfit for its intended purpose.
This warranty applies for a period of ten years from the handover.
General contractor vs. multi-trade contractor: what’s the difference ?
A general contractor is not to be confused with a multi-trade contractor. The latter is a construction company that offers various professional services (masonry, carpentry, insulation, electricity, plumbing, heating, painting, coatings, etc.). They carry out the requested work on construction, extension or renovation projects and are responsible for the quality of their work. They do not, however, take charge of the entire project’s management.
The general contractor, on the other hand, supports its client at every stage of their real estate project, offering a turnkey solution from the building’s design to its handover. The GC is responsible for designing the building according to the client’s needs, coordinating all the trades during the construction, and making contractual commitments regarding the work’s quality, price and completion time.
General contractor vs. project manager: what’s the difference?
The role of the general contractor is similar to that of the project manager. Both are responsible for managing a construction site from blank page to commissioning. However, there are major distinctions between a project management contract and a general contractor contract.
The general contractor is subject to an absolute obligation that makes them legally responsible for the project’s outcome. The project manager, on the other hand, is only subject to a best-effort obligation, taking on only part of the responsibility for the project.
The general contractor selects the service providers (architect, design office, construction professionals, etc.) and defines the prices and delivery times, on which they have made a contractual commitment to the client. The project manager cannot offer these guarantees and can only estimate the deadlines and the budget to be allocated to the project. While the general contractor commits to the overall cost of the operation, the project manager commits to a fee.
From ideation to construction: GSE, your general contractor
GSE, founded in 1976, helped define the profession of general contractor. A pioneer and a specialist, GSE has established itself as a reference in the construction industry, thanks to its approach based on a structured organisation, with expert design and construction teams that meet the objectives of quality, safety, technical innovation and environmental performance. The sales and technical teams are entirely dedicated to client satisfaction.
With 340 engineers and offices in France, Europe and China, GSE is now the French leader in commercial real estate, for industrial sites (research centres, production units), logistics platforms (XXL, multistorey, courier services) and services buildings (offices and head offices).
With 45 years’ experience, GSE has expanded its range of general contracting services. We now provide more in-depth support in the earliest stages of the projects, particularly in land search, brownfield redevelopment and legal & financial setups. Throughout the project, our strong, committed relationship with the client is the best guarantee of the project’s success.
Our digital & environmental innovation, demonstrated by the tools we use to design and monitor construction sites and by our groundbreaking offer of green building solutions, have helped make us a reference in our industry. And we remain your partner after you’ve taken possession of your asset, providing support in the commissioning of the building and the monitoring of energy consumption. GSE is your global solution.
