In the Multiple Prime approach, what is a major risk faced by the owner?

In the Multiple Prime approach, the owner engages multiple contractors to work on different aspects of a construction project. This strategy can lead to several advantages; however, one of the major risks involved is the complexity of coordination among these multiple contractors. Since numerous primes are contracted separately, the responsibility for ensuring that their work is synchronized falls to the owner or the owner's representative.

This can lead to difficulties in communication and scheduling, as each contractor may prioritize their own tasks without a holistic view of the overall project timeline. If issues arise between contractors—such as delays, misunderstandings, or conflicts—it can jeopardize the coherence and efficiency of the project, ultimately impacting the success of the build. Therefore, the requirement for heightened coordination becomes a critical challenge for the owner in this approach.

While there can be benefits such as potentially lower costs or more specialized work, these do not negate the inherent coordination complexities that come with managing multiple contractors on site.