The residential construction sector faces mounting challenges from evolving housing trends that favor denser, community-oriented developments, particularly in multi-family apartments and independent living facilities for long-term occupancy. These projects require heightened coordination among design, execution, and ongoing management to accommodate complex structural needs, resident accessibility, and sustained community functionality.
As demand grows for housing that supports integrated living environments, developers and builders increasingly turn to approaches that unify various project elements. Integrated residential construction serves as one such method, combining planning, cost management, trade coordination, and execution to promote consistency throughout a development's lifecycle. This coordination addresses operational realities where construction must align with future maintenance, resident needs, and community integration, especially in properties designed for extended use.
Industry observers note that multi-family and senior housing developments involve multiple phases and stakeholders, from initial site assessment through building completion and into long-term operations. The growing complexity stems from regulatory requirements, diverse occupant demographics, and the need for durable, functional spaces that foster community ties. Coordinated construction practices help mitigate risks associated with fragmented processes, such as schedule delays, cost overruns, or mismatches between built features and operational demands.
Lockwood Companies operates within this landscape, providing construction services alongside property management for multi-family and independent living communities. The organization oversees a portfolio of 20 multi-family communities and 8 independent living communities, encompassing 3,450 units across Michigan and Ohio. Properties under management benefit from combined resources in construction, management, marketing, and maintenance, reflecting the practical integration of building and operational oversight in residential settings.
Through Lockwood Construction, the company acts as a general contractor, engaging in project review, risk analysis, collaboration with design teams and trade partners, and efforts to reduce both construction and operational costs. Participation includes reviewing land development plans, working drawings, shop drawings, specialized engineering reports, program management, and team building. This involvement brings practical insight to ensure feasibility and efficiency, with communication established early to align on project goals, expectations, and preferences.
At project close-out, standard and extended warranty documentation is provided, followed by lessons-learned sessions involving the team and ownership to review overall performance. These steps illustrate how construction roles contribute to the broader objective of delivering residential environments suited for long-term occupancy and community cohesion.
Dean Schroeder, Executive Vice President of Construction at Lockwood Companies, said that coordinated planning plays a critical role in managing the layered demands of residential developments. “When construction teams engage early with design partners and trade specialists, it allows potential risks to be identified and addressed in ways that support both construction execution and long-term operational needs,” Schroeder said.
Mark Lockwood, President and CEO of Lockwood Companies, emphasized the importance of alignment across development phases. “Residential and senior living projects involve long timelines and multiple stakeholders, so early coordination helps establish clear expectations and supports consistency from planning through ongoing community operations,” Lockwood said.
These operational examples demonstrate the contributions of experienced firms to an industry where residential projects must balance immediate construction demands with enduring community and occupancy goals. As housing patterns continue to emphasize multi-family and senior-focused developments, methods that foster coordination remain essential to achieving functional, integrated outcomes.
Lockwood Companies is a full-service property management organization with construction capabilities, overseeing a portfolio of apartment communities in Michigan and Ohio. The company provides services encompassing construction, management, marketing, and maintenance for multi-family and independent living properties, drawing on decades of experience in asset management and community operations.
###
For more information about Lockwood Companies, contact the company here:
Lockwood Companies
Mark Lockwood
(248) 203-0991
development@lockwoodcompanies.com
27777 Franklin Rd #1410, Southfield, MI 48034, United States
