The Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) is launching a new marketing initiative later this year to promote the profession and recruit new members by raising awareness about how they help control costs on construction projects.
"The struggle for CIQS has always been the recognition of what a quantity surveyor really is," said Mark Gardin, chair of the CIQS.
"For 55 years we have struggled with trying to inform the industry about what a quantity surveyor is, what they do and what value they bring to the project. A lot of people do know what a quantity surveyor is, but a lot of people don’t know, even on a construction site."
The CIQS has hired a marketing firm called Parcel to develop a concept and produce a series of videos that will be used to recruit students at colleges and high schools, as well as to raise awareness within the construction industry about the role and skill set quantity surveyors.
"So, Parcel and Matt (Weber) are really focused in on this and we are producing a couple of videos that will try to get the ball rolling on that end," said Gardin.
The videos, which will be released in late September, begin by providing a definition of quantity surveyor.
"A quantity surveyor is essentially a cost consultant who takes a little bit of all the professions that work in construction and takes a working knowledge of each and brings them all together," said Matt Weber, who is the vice-president and general manager of Concosts Group. "So, it’s one part designer, one part engineer, one part contractor, one part construction lawyer, one part accountant and one large part estimator. They are able to look at things a little differently than some of the other consultants."
Weber argues that the quantity surveyor is not being used properly in Canada. In the traditional approach, Weber said the cost consultant would produce a design and send it to the cost consultant.
At this stage, the quantity surveyor is being reactionary and not showing any foresight.
"When someone comes in just at the end for the banks or the developer, just to check the costs, it is often too late. You are already two years behind the eight ball," he said. "They are not sitting at the table through the whole process."
"In Europe, the quantity surveyor is the first person hired. They help pick the architect and control their fees and design," said Weber.
"The main role is cost control from the ground up, from the first architect agreement to the last trade contract.
"We are saying they should be an active participant in the project throughout the course."
As a result, the quantity surveyor ensures a return is built into the investment and construction of various types of structures.
"One of the biggest things that I see going on right now is quantity surveyors taking on a new role in North America, which is similar to how it is done in Europe," said Matt Weber, who is the Vice President and General Manager of Concosts Group.
"Whereby they are the first, or one of the first people hired on the project, as opposed to one of the last. They are controlling the cost from the get go by working with the engineers and architects."
Gardin and Weber are helping the CIQS to educate people in the construction industry to bring in the quantity surveyor on the management side of the project to support owners, lenders and contractors.
The CIQS is the professional association that sets the highest standard for construction and building economics in Canada.
The institute oversees the designation of Professional Quantity Surveyors (PQS) and Construction Estimator Certified (CEC) professionals.
A group of quantity surveyors in Toronto founded the CIQS in 1959 and the organization currently represents 2,000 members across the country.
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