About Us
We are an energetic group of construction professionals who excel at the estimating and cost management aspects of project management. With methods informed by our experience delivering complex projects from varying typologies, we employ proven frameworks to ensure our clients’ capital investment dollars are deployed with maximum efficiency. Our core team is augmented by our network of literal boots-on-the-ground partners working in many aspects of the real estate and construction industry, allowing us to keep our finger on the pulse of the market in real time. We exist to provide timely and accurate information, remove obstacles, and enable project teams to succeed.
Our decentralized approach enables us to pull from a wide range of resources, which ensures the accuracy and reliability of the intelligence we deliver to our clients at a national level. By engaging with our local resources on an “as-needed” basis, we are able to streamline our processes while delivering the data that our clients need to make informed decisions.
Team Leadership
Thomas J Hunt
Principal, Head of Cost Management
For the past 24 years, Thomas has worked primarily in the Southern California market. With roots in the subcontracting industry, he has worked at nearly every level of the construction supply chain. This experience gives him unique insight into the market’s dynamics at several different levels, and his long-standing relationships in the region allow him to keep his finger on the pulse of the industry. He knows the only price that matters is the one you end up paying in the market, and believes that arming his clients with the right data is the best way to obtain maximum value from this market.
Thomas believes that in order to forecast costs correctly, estimates must be based on a solid procurement strategy which considers risk as well as cost, and aims to optimize both. In other words, knowing when and where to buy your project’s scope is just as important as knowing what to buy. Thomas knows from personal experience that numbers are meaningless if you don’t provide your clients with a plan to achieve them.
As the founder of Telford Company, Thomas implemented an estimating framework that accounts for the local market forces among its material suppliers, subcontractors, general contractors, and designers. He employs an approach that analyzes costs through several different lenses to test their logic. This insight allows him to identify areas where costs may be inflated, and better determine the root cause(s) of overage. With this information he can provide his clients with actionable insights rather than simply report the project cost.
Experience
Theme Parks
Universal Studios Hollywood – Jurassic Park/Jurassic World Re-Theming; Universal City, CA – Thomas led the preconstruction team for the major overhaul and re-theming of the existing Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios Hollywood (now Jurassic World). The project included remediation of the existing structure and water feature system, carved plaster rockwork, and several new structures along the existing ride path.
Universal Studios Hollywood – Super Mario Land/Mario Kart; Universal City, CA – Thomas oversaw a multi-national preconstruction team providing estimating, scheduling, value engineering, risk management, and constructability coordination during the planning phase of this new major attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Universal Studios Hollywood, The Secret Life of Pets – Preconstruction Services; Universal City, CA – Thomas served as a CSA/Theming estimator for this new attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood. Along with the more traditional trades, he was charged with pricing, value-engineering, and constructability coordination of the complex, interior and exterior themed elements of the project.
Higher Education
Marion Anderson Hall, UCLA; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas managed the preconstruction and estimating team for this $63M state of the art addition to the UCLA Anderson School of Management complex. The project was a new 5-story building containing lecture halls, event spaces, offices, and classrooms built on top of an existing (structurally upgraded) parking structure.
Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine – Medical Education Building; Pasadena, CA – Thomas provided CSA estimating for the first of its kind, 80,000 medical school. The 5-story structure included simulation areas, flexible classrooms, collaboration zones, a cafeteria, lecture hall, and an outdoor recreation area.
UCLA Center for Health Sciences South Tower Fit-Out; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas performed construction document and bid level estimates for the MEP disciplines on the fit out of 5 levels of laboratory space in the existing Center for Health Sciences complex at UCLA. The scope included gas distribution, fume hood exhaust, chemical waste, general building HVAC, fire suppression, and electrical distribution systems.
Manufacturing
Rivian Automotive Greenfield Manufacturing Plant; Stanton Springs Georgia – Thomas served as the preconstruction and cost management lead for Rivian’s new greenfield factory East of Atlanta, Georgia. His activities included conceptual estimating and due diligence during the site selection phase and managing the preconstruction team during master planning and schematic design.
Cost Management Program Manager – Rivian Automotive Production Facilities; Global – Thomas was head of cost management for the production facilities program at Rivian Automotive. This program included due diligence, estimating and cost planning, constructability review, risk planning and management, and cost management for all future major production facilities as well as renovations and expansions to the existing production plant in Illinois. The program was comprised of major vehicle and battery cell production facilities, and all associated building projects supporting these operations.
Hospitality
Westgate – Anaheim Gardenwalk – Preconstruction & Make-Ready; Anaheim, CA – Thomas provided estimating and scheduling services for a proposed 400-unit timeshare building, built on top of an existing 7-story parking structure. His scope of services also included coordinating the enabling works at the existing structure.
New Hope Village, City of Hope; Duarte, CA – Thomas led the preconstruction and cost management efforts for this 5-story, 157 room hotel at the City of Hope in Duarte, CA. His scope of services included all estimating, value engineering, scheduling, change order review, subcontractor buyout, and coordination of enabling works.
Robertson Lane Hotel – Preconstruction Services; West Hollywood, CA – Thomas performed CSA estimating, value engineering, and constructability reviews for this project, which consisted of a 109-room hotel, 36,000 square feet of office space, 42,000 square feet of showroom space, 12,000 square feet of restaurant space, a gym, and a 750-car subterranean parking garage.
Museums & Cultural
Mingei International Museum Renovation; San Diego, CA – Thomas led the estimating efforts during the preconstruction phase of this complete remodel to the 56,000 square foot Mingei Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The existing interiors were removed down to the structure, preserving the historic exterior skin. The project included exhibition & flexible theater space, an education center, retail and café space, outdoor terraces, and a courtyard.
The Factory at Robertson Lane; West Hollywood, CA – Working with historic renovation contractors, Thomas managed the planning of the teardown, renovation, and relocation of the 1920’s built “Factory at Robertson Lane.” His work included developing the scope and methods for restoration of the historic elements of the existing building, including replication of damaged elements. The scope of these services also included working with the design team to develop the means, methods, and details for integrating the historic components with the structure and waterproofing system of the new building.
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts; Beverly Hills, CA – Thomas performed CSA estimating for this performing arts center in Beverly Hills, CA. The project consisted of 70,000 square feet of theatre, office, and common area space, as well as the restoration of a historic 1930’s post office. Thomas was charged with managing the metal stud framing, drywall, plaster, GFRG, and other finish trades for the project, including execution planning.
Sports Venues
Banc of California Stadium; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas performed CSA estimating, value engineering, constructability, and buyout of trade packages for this $300M, 22,000 seat, state of the art sports venue that became the home of the Los Angeles FC and Angel City FC. The stadium includes multiple clubs and lounges, a press box, luxury suites, a team store, 125,000 square feet of concourse area, and a 190,000 ETFE shade structure.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – Scholarship Tower Preconstruction Services; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas performed CSA estimating, value engineering, and constructability reviews for this 7-story, $315M addition to the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The tower includes premium clubs, suites, lounges, concessions, a press box, and locker rooms, and provides an additional 235,000 square feet of interior space to the stadium.
Student Housing
Gayley Heights Apartments, UCLA; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas led the preconstruction team through schematic design for this 17-story student housing tower on the UCLA campus. Adding 300,000 square feet and 1,167 beds to the university’s student housing portfolio, this $160M project relied on an intricate prefabricated exterior wall system to enable its construction on the logistically challenging tringle shaped lot located at a busy intersection of the UCLA campus. This project included the demolition of an existing 9-story classroom.
Office, Research & Development
Cost Management Program Manager – Rivian Automotive Workplace Facilities; Global – Thomas was head of cost management for the workplace facilities program at Rivian Automotive. This program included due diligence, estimating and cost planning, value engineering, risk and cost management for all R&D and office projects. The program included product development and testing labs, office spaces, and employee amenities.
French Market Core & Shell Preconstruction Services; West Hollywood, CA – Thomas provided estimating and scheduling services for a proposed 83,000 square foot core & shell building with restaurant, office, retail, and subterranean parking space. The project required an intricate system of shoring and underpinning to allow for excavation of the area below the historic French Market building, whose protection and restoration was a significant component of the project’s scope.
639 La Peer Office Core & Shell Preconstruction Services; West Hollywood, CA – Thomas provided estimating and scheduling services for a proposed 60,000 square foot core & shell building with restaurant, office, retail, and subterranean parking space. The project included high-span curtainwall at the building’s façade, a rooftop restaurant seating area, and a parking lift system.
The Now; West Hollywood, CA – Thomas served as preconstruction manager on this 4-story above, 3-story below ground building on Sunset Blvd. The project comprised of core & shell space for restaurants, offices, and retail. This logistically challenging project included a significant soil stabilization component and utilized exposed white concrete as its structure.
Playhouse Plaza Office Core & Shell; Pasadena, CA – Thomas served as a CSA estimator/preconstruction manager for this 5-story, 155,000 SF core & shell office, retail, and restaurant building in Pasadena. Thomas was charged with coordinating the exterior skin and interior core buildout work. The exterior skin comprised of a mixture of GFRC and FRP, finished to match the art deco theme of the historic Playhouse District.
Multi-Family
Eighth & Grand Mixed-Use; Los Angeles, CA – Thomas performed CSA estimating for this mixed-use, multi-family housing project in downtown Los Angeles. The project consisted of 700 residential units built over a concrete podium and utilizing a ConXtech steel structure. The area under podium provided core & shell retail space. The project also included a fitness center, rooftop decks, swimming pools, and a clubhouse.
Education
Master of Business Administration; University of Washington, Foster School of Business
Bachelor of Science, Management; Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business
Certificate of Advanced Study in Real Estate Development; National Association of Industrial and Office Properties
Affiliations
Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
Project Management Institute (PMI)
Certifications & Licenses
Project Management Professional (PMP) – Project Management Institute
Journeyman Certificate – United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners
General Contractor’s License – Class B – General Building #1015767 (Inactive)
Real Estate Salesperson License #01847237 NBA