Frequently Asked Questions about Reducing Construction Costs with C-Street

Quick Answer (TL;DR)

C-Street is a construction-cost-optimization platform that helps developers, institutions and facilities lower construction costs by 10–20% through iterative price discovery and optimization. Unlike bidding or estimating platforms that just collect static bids, C-Street drives down construction costs through live, iterative competition and built-in value engineering. From early design to GMP, it drives savings and confidence in your budget.

1. What is C-Street and why does it matter?

What is C-Street in one sentence?

C-Street is a construction cost optimization platform that helps owners reduce project costs by 10–20% through iterative price discovery and optimization.

Why was C-Street created—what industry problem does it solve?

C-Street was created to fix one of construction’s biggest inefficiencies: the lack of a transparent, iterative pricing mechanism. Most cost data is locked in static bids and informal negotiations. C-Street creates a structured feedback loop that forces the market to reveal its true bottom.

How is C-Street different from a GC, CM, or construction SaaS?

C-Street is not a general contractor, construction manager, or SaaS tool. We don’t manage jobs or hire subcontractors. We sit upstream of award, acting more like a broker that helps you get sharper pricing from qualified builders before contracts are signed.

Is this like Procore, BuildingConnected, or CoConstruct?

No. Those platforms are focused on project execution or bid management. C-Street is focused on price discovery and optimization. We don’t collect static bids—we create a real-time, competitive environment that drives costs down and ideas up.

2. Who should use C-Street?

What kinds of developers or project teams benefit most?

Anyone planning or managing a construction project. That includes private developers, public agencies, facilities teams, universities, hospitals, housing authorities, and OPMs—anyone who’s looking to lower the cost of construction.

Can I use C-Street if I already have a GC or CM on board?

Yes. If you’ve already selected a GC or CM, you can still use C-Street at the subcontractor level to drive down trade costs, uncover VE options, and improve transparency during buyout. We work alongside your existing team.

What project types are a good fit?

C-Street works across all sectors—multifamily, mixed-use, adaptive reuse, modular, lab, life science, academic, healthcare, infrastructure, and more. If there’s a contractor involved, we can add value.

What project size or budget range makes sense?

For developers: any single project over $10M.
For institutions or agencies: any recurring construction spend over $100K per project.

3. How does C-Street lower construction costs?

How much money can I realistically save?

Most users save 10–20% in hard construction costs. Some projects have achieved as much as 42%, depending on the level of inefficiency in their current process.  The less competitive your current process is, the more the savings from C-Street. Also, the more uncommon the construction project is, the more the savings from C-Street.

Where do those savings come from?

Savings come from three key levers: price discovery, where we find more qualified contractors for your project and invite them to bid, and price optimization, where contractors get live and continuous feedback on where their prices and assumption rank in comparison to all other contractors pricing the project. Read more here on why construction costs are higher than they ought to be and how to reduce them: How to Reduce Construction Costs.

How does C-Street uncover VE ideas that GCs might miss?

Bidders are prompted to submit VE suggestions alongside their base bids. These are compiled into a centralized log, where owners can approve, reject, or share ideas across the bidding pool to generate pricing competition.

Do you have case study data to support the savings?

Yes. Every C-Street project tracks pre- and post-platform pricing. In every use case to date, total construction cost has decreased, with savings validated both at the GC and subcontractor level.

4. How does the C-Street work, step-by-step?

When in the design phase should I engage C-Street?

Use C-Street any time you would normally seek GC pricing: pre-acquisition, conceptual design, DD, CDs, or GMP. The earlier you start, the more time there is to create a competitive feedback loop and refine VE ideas.

What drawings or info do I need to provide?

At minimum, a narrative or conceptual drawing. For best results, a biddable CD set and scope breakdown. We support all levels of design.

How are GCs, subs, or bidders invited to participate?

They’re invited via email from either your team or ours, with project details and a prompt to confirm interest. From there, they receive a link to the bid platform and structured templates to submit pricing.

What’s the ranking feedback loop and how does it work?

As bidders input numbers, they see their rank on each line item, each assumption and overall total—but not others’ values or names. This nudges contractors to question some of their conservative assumptions, re-evaluate costs and quantities, explore cheaper alternatives, and negotiate better pricing. They then update their numbers and get their new ranking. A feedback loop.

Can bidders revise numbers or submit alternates?

Yes. Bidders can revise pricing throughout the process. They can also propose alternates or VE ideas throughout.

How are VE ideas approved or rejected?

All VE ideas are logged in a centralized dashboard. Owners can approve, reject, or share a specific idea with all bidders to price. This crowdsources cost-saving ideas while maintaining control.

What do I walk away with at the end?

A whole lot of lower cost options and a flurry of value engineering ideas priced competitively

5. What does C-Street cost and when do I pay?

What is the pricing model for a single project?

C-Street charges a success-based fee equal to 1% of total construction cost, payable only if and when the project moves forward and breaks ground. Also, payable only if C-Street saves at least 1% of the construction price.

Is the fee tied to project size or award?

Yes. The 1% fee is calculated based on the final GMP or lump sum contract signed with your contractor. It is embedded in the construction budget and paid with the first requisition.

Do you charge anything if my project doesn’t move forward?

No. If your project doesn’t start construction—for any reason—C-Street earns nothing. Our interests are fully aligned with yours.

Are there enterprise or portfolio-wide discounts?

Yes. For developers, institutions, or agencies with multiple projects, we offer custom enterprise pricing models and dedicated support.