Integrated Construction Services

6 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 10, ISSUE 7 WHAT WE DO WHO WE ARE COMMERCIAL DESIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HEALTHCARE FACILITIES RESIDENTIAL DESIGN RETAIL DESIGN PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEED CERTIFICATION www.emuarch.com G R E E N A R C H I T E C T U R E S T U D I O LLC WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS (WOSB) BASED IN PUERTO RICO CONTACT US: 787-940-4666 office@emuarch.com We are experts in creating exceptional spaces guided by trust. We give new meaning to your space from start to finish. Villavicencio further elaborated on the unique features of the Puerto Rican market that his firm had to navigate. He identified distinct differences in pricing, labor efficiency, and availability of qualified specialty subcontractors. These discrepancies posed particular challenges in estimating project costs. Villavicencio noted, “If you estimate a job the way you usually do in Puerto Rico, given the market conditions here, you can’t use that to bid in the States. It is too risky.” To mitigate this risk, they had to establish relationships with the right pool of subcontractors and strive to obtain the best pricing at the right time. Another noteworthy challenge they encountered was inflation, particularly during the global Covid pandemic. Villavicencio pointed out the difficulty in forecasting exact costs due to their relatively short time operating in Texas and the effects of the worldwide crisis. Yet, he emphasized that the hardships they experienced in Puerto Rico, such as the local government’s