How We Work
HQE provides embedded construction leadership for developers and investors across Denver and Colorado. We don’t just advise — we build the entire project delivery infrastructure, manage your design and contractor teams, and execute from preconstruction through closeout.
How We Embed
An Extension of Your Team — Not an Outside Consultant
When you bring HQE on, we integrate directly with your ownership group. Architects, engineers, and contractors work with us as if we’re your in-house construction department. We manage the process, protect your interests, and drive decisions — while you stay focused on the business side.
Our clients typically come to us because they’ve had costly experiences with traditional GC structures, or because their project doesn’t fit neatly into a conventional delivery model. They want more control, more transparency, and better outcomes.
That’s what we build for them.
What We Deliver
Pre-Acquisition & Feasibility
We work with developers before they close on a property — evaluating sites, running early pricing exercises, and stress-testing the development thesis against real construction costs. This means you buy with a clear execution roadmap, not assumptions.
This includes: site feasibility analysis, preliminary scope and budget development, zoning and code review, and capital structure alignment with projected construction costs.
Design Leadership & Preconstruction
We assemble and manage the entire design team on your behalf. We interview architects and engineers, present options to you, and then direct the design process to stay aligned with your vision, budget, and timeline. We develop the full scope of design documentation, run pricing exercises at each phase gate, and build the complete procurement package before a single contractor is engaged.
This includes: Architect and MEP selection, design direction and scope management, permitting and plan review coordination, detailed budget development, and milestone scheduling.
Procurement & Contractor Buyout
We write your RFPs, run competitive bid processes, level proposals, and negotiate contracts. For developers who prefer to hold contracts directly with trade contractors, we build the entire contracting and compliance infrastructure — so you maintain control and capture margin that would otherwise go to GC overhead and fee.
This includes: custom RFP and scope package development, bid solicitation and leveling, contract negotiation and execution support, insurance and compliance tracking, and vendor onboarding.
Construction Execution & Closeout
Once construction begins, we manage it. Field supervision, contractor coordination, pay application review, change order negotiation, schedule enforcement, and quality control through punchlist and certificate of occupancy. We don’t observe from a trailer — we run the job.
This includes: day-to-day field management, weekly OAC meetings and progress reporting, pay app and change order review, schedule management and contractor accountability, and closeout coordination.
Our Framework
How Every Engagement Starts
We start by listening. What are you building? What’s your capital structure? What’s your risk tolerance? What does success look like? We don’t assume — we learn your specific constraints and objectives before we touch a single drawing.
Understand
We translate your vision into an actionable plan — defining scope, assembling the right team, building budgets and schedules, and establishing the governance and reporting frameworks that keep the project accountable.
Structure
We manage the day-to-day. Design direction, contractor performance, field operations, financials. We stay embedded until the project is delivered and the keys are handed over.
Execute
Flexible Engagement Models
Every project is different. We structure our involvement to match your needs — whether you need a strategic advisor for a single phase or an embedded construction executive across your entire portfolio.
Full lifecycle construction leadership integrated directly with your ownership team. This is our most common engagement — we become your construction department.
Embedded Project Executive
Dedicated execution leadership for a defined development, repositioning, or tenant improvement initiative. Starts and ends with the project.
Project-Specific Engagement
Pre-acquisition analysis, feasibility reviews, or second-opinion consulting for developers evaluating deals or existing project performance.