Construction Project Management – Series 7–9

AIA Pre-Approved • 3 Learning Units (LU)

(Continuing Education Course for Architects, Technologists & Construction Professionals)

This AIA-approved course forms part of the Construction Project Management multi-series program and is designed to deepen learners’ expertise in project financing, cost planning, and strategic decision-making within modern construction delivery environments. The module examines how capital resources are secured, allocated, and managed, and how financial structures influence project feasibility, risk distribution, and long-term asset performance.

Because a constructed facility requires significant upfront investment long before the benefits are realized, owners and project teams must navigate institutional financing arrangements, cost-benefit timing, lending structures, and economic evaluation. This module connects those financial mechanisms to practical design-construction planning, ensuring participants can make informed decisions aligned with project constraints, market conditions, and organizational priorities.

All hours are fully recognized for AIA LU credit, and are suitable for:

① AIA Members (Architect Members / Associate Members)

② Licensed Architects & Interior Designers

③ Architectural & Technical Teams (Architectural Technologists, Designers, BIM staff)

④ Construction & Project Delivery Teams (Project Managers, Builders, Developers, Site Supervisors)

⑤ Specialized Consultants (Planning, Cost Consulting, Building Code, Structural, Engineering-related roles)

Course Coverage & Learning Topics

1. Project Financing Fundamentals

A clear introduction to how financing structures shape project delivery:

Institutional arrangements for facility financing

Short-term vs. long-term cost–benefit timing

Equity, debt, cash-flow cycles, and capital resource planning

The role of owners, contractors, suppliers, and financial institutions

2. Financing Instruments & Strategies

Examination of commonly used financing tools and risk implications:

Secured loans (bonds, notes, mortgages)

Pricing and capital cost considerations for constructed facilities

Evaluation of alternative financing plans

Corporate-level vs. project-level financing structures

3. Risk Allocation, Incentives & Contract Provisions

How financial agreements affect project quality, risk, and delivery performance:

Contract provisions for risk distribution

Impacts of financial incentives on construction quality

Relationships among owners, lenders, contractors, and insurers

4. Construction Planning & Technology Selection

Applying financial understanding to early-stage project planning:

Basic concepts in developing construction plans

Selection of technology and construction methods

Defining work tasks and scope alignment with feasibility

Cost-driven decision pathways and project sequencing

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this 3-hour program, learners will:

Understand core institutional financing arrangements and how they influence project initiation and delivery.

Evaluate and compare alternative financing plans, secured lending instruments, and capital cost factors.

Identify contract mechanisms for risk allocation and understand how incentives affect construction quality and project performance.

Apply fundamental principles of construction planning, including work-task definition, method selection, and feasibility assessment linked to financial constraints.

Strengthen their ability to make coordinated financial–technical decisions across early-stage project planning, contracting, and construction execution.

Course Purpose

The purpose of this module is to equip professionals with practical, actionable financial and planning knowledge that supports more informed decision-making across the project life cycle. Rather than focusing on accounting minutiae, the course emphasizes how financing mechanisms, risk structures, and planning strategies directly affect design quality, construction methods, scheduling, and project outcomes.