The International Partnering Institute (IPI) awarded a 2013 Partnered Project of the Year Award, Ruby Level to Cumming and co-recipient Dougherty and Dougherty Architects, for their work with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) on its South Region Elementary School #10. Cumming served as District’s construction manager while Dougherty and Dougherty Architects was responsible for the project’s design.

The Partnered Projects of the Year Award recognizes teams who distinguish themselves by implementing IPI’s best practices for an integrated partnering program and exemplify high-trust working relationships on their projects. Based on several criteria, including following best practices, achieving outstanding overall project results, successfully overcoming obstacles, involving all stakeholders in the building process, and maintaining a high-trust culture, Cumming’s Los Angeles-based team was selected to receive the coveted award. It is estimated that the team’s partnering efforts led to a net savings of approximately $300,000 on the project.

“Despite having a tight schedule and starting off with an unforeseen 30 day delay, Cumming’s team was able to complete the school on time and under budget,” said Peter Heald, President at Cumming. “Due to our strong commitment to partnering, we were able to deliver a high quality elementary school for the South Los Angeles community, which will continue to improve the local education environment for years to come.”

The presenting organization, International Partnering Institute, was founded in 1996 and is now a non-profit corporation. The organization seeks lessons learned and best practices to capture partnering concepts and techniques that develop high trust relationships and organizational cultures for the successful delivery of construction projects, and then provides education and certification in those concepts and techniques.

“Cumming was able to successfully work within the shortest LAUSD delivery schedule we have seen for a project of this magnitude – the challenge was not only met, but exceeded through our focus on partnering best practices,” said Anthony Sanchez, Vice President of Project Management at Cumming.

Cumming, also founded in 1996, specializes in program, project, construction, and cost management services with extensive experience in California school bond projects and programs. The firm has worked on more than 1,600 education projects, valued at $15 billion, throughout its history. This award comes on the heels of a Project Achievement Award presented to Cumming by the Construction Management Association of America on the new Middle College High School, also with the Los Angeles Unified School District.