From a CSI / CDT lifecycle perspective, the project does not end when construction is complete. CSI emphasizes the full facility life cycle, which includes:
Planning and design
Construction
Operation and maintenance
Eventual renovation, repurposing, or decommissioning
The phase during which a building is operated, maintained, and supported so that it continues to perform its intended function is typically referred to as facility management (or “facilities management”). CSI’s project delivery guidance characterizes facility management as including:
Allocating resources (staff, budget, utilities, maintenance contracts, equipment, etc.) to keep the facility functioning as intended
Planning and managing maintenance, repairs, replacements, and upgrades
Overseeing operations, safety, and performance of building systems
Coordinating with design and construction teams when future renovation or major maintenance projects are needed
Because the question specifically highlights “allocating resources for the continued performance of a building’s intended function”, this aligns directly with the responsibilities of facility management.
Why the other options do not fit this definition:
A. BudgetingBudgeting is the process of planning and assigning financial resources for a specific period or scope (project budgeting, department budgeting, etc.). It is a financial planning activity, not the overall ongoing process of managing and operating the facility to ensure it continues to function as intended.
B. CommissioningCommissioning is a quality-focused process performed around the end of construction and the start of operation to verify that building systems are planned, installed, tested, and capable of being operated and maintained in conformity with the design intent and owner’s project requirements. It is primarily a start-up and verification process, not the ongoing allocation of resources over the life of the facility.
D. Project closeoutProject closeout is the process of finishing all project work, completing punch lists, submitting record documents, warranties, training, and formally closing the contract. While closeout transitions the facility to the owner’s operations and facility management, it does not itself describe the ongoing management for continued performance.
In CSI’s project delivery model, once the project is closed out, the responsibility for keeping the building performing as intended shifts to facility management, making Option C the correct answer.
