Practice / Prime construction manager
General contractor
/ˈdʒɛn.ər.əl ˈkɒn.træk.tər/noun
From Latin generalis, “relating to the whole,” and contractus, “drawn together; an agreement.”
Definition
The builder who holds the main construction contract with the owner and runs the job site, hiring and scheduling the trades and buying materials to build the project as drawn.
Fig. 80 — General contractor: schematic studyNOT TO SCALE
Illustrative study — General contractor · AI-generatedSAMPLE IMAGE
Photo study — General contractor · AI-generated00:06
Structural & construction notes
The contractor manages safety, schedule, and cost, sends questions (RFIs) and product submittals to the design team, and arranges inspections. They also keep the marked-up site set that becomes the as-builts.
An educational reference. Project-specific design requires professional guidance.