Choosing the right MEP partner can make or break your construction project. From energy efficiency to code compliance, MEP/FP systems touch every aspect of building performance. Whether you are developing a high-rise in Boston or a tech campus in Denver, getting these decisions right saves time, reduces costs, and prevents headaches down the line. 

At Revivalry Engineering, both of our offices in Boston and Denver have seen MEP/ FP projects succeed and stumble based on five critical hiring factors. Here is what you need to evaluate before signing with any MEPFP consultant, including even the top Boston design firms. Skip these, and you risk the costly pitfalls that derail lesser-prepared teams.

Proven Expertise in Local Codes and Climate Considerations
Building regulations differ sharply between regions. A firm must master Massachusetts' strict Stretch Energy stretch codes and Denver’s higher-altitude and dry air HVAC challenges. Non-compliance can lead to delays and redesign costs that add up to 50% or more of the contract value, turning a smooth build into a budget nightmare. Inexperienced firms trigger permit rejections, failed inspections, and forced design-built retrofits that push occupancy months behind schedule.

Integrated MEP/FP Design Capability
Your MEP/FP team should deliver mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection from one cohesive model. Look for BIM 360 or Revit fluency and a track record of clash-free construction documents. Early clash detection through BIM and CAD will slash MEP project costs and delays, avoiding the rework that plagues traditional uncoordinated 2D designs. Without it, contractors discover duct-pipe collisions mid-installation, triggering change orders, material waste, and delays that balloon budgets by six figures or more. Most importantly, without adequate coordination, you lose even more of what is almost any project's most vital resource - time.

Sustainable Systems That Actually Save Money
Net-zero sounds great, but only if the payback works. Demand life-cycle cost analysis on every proposal. Top Boston mechanical design firms partner with the best energy consultants to model energy recovery, demand-control ventilation, and renewable-ready infrastructure that cuts operating expense from day one. Inexperienced designers often under or oversize equipment, often even skipping load calculations entirely, locking owners into higher construction bills and premature system failures that demand early replacement. Such product mis-sizing will also mitigate any emission reductions that utilizing the latest technological systems would bring.

Field Experience Beyond the Desk
Software is useless without constructability, and so many engineers design plans without having ever had the experience or feedback of actually installing them. Insist on lead engineers who have managed installations on live sites, and preferably have had at least some experience with the trades. Field-savvy teams cut construction questions and timelines by focusing on practical installation, preventing the common pitfalls that lead to delays in multifamily and commercial builds. Teams without boots-on-ground history generate RFIs that stall progress for weeks, spawn punch-list nightmares, and leave systems that never perform to spec, eroding tenant satisfaction and resale value. The perfect system on paper is worthless if you don’t have the means to install it.

Transparent Fee Structure and Change-Order Discipline
Hidden markups on equipment or vague “contingency” lines erode trust. Require a detailed scope matrix, hourly rates by discipline, narratives, and possibly even a change-order log reviewed at every milestone. The best MEP firms treat your budget like their own. Change orders can balloon total contract cost, without adding anything to project value, but disciplined tracking keeps them under control and protects your bottom line. Novice firms might have lower base fees but will hide extras until the eleventh hour, turning a predictable fee into a runaway train of surprise invoices that strain lender relationships and kill profit margins.

Partnering with an inexperienced firm invites every one of these failures, amplified across your timeline and balance sheet. Revivalry Engineering eliminates those risks. From the kickoff narratives and schematics to the final stamped and signed plans, Our Boston and Denver teams deliver fully coordinated MEP FP services that contractors love and owners profit from.

Visit Revivalry Engineering to see recent healthcare, lab, and multifamily projects from across the country. Ready to get the MEPFP details right the first time? Contact us today and let’s build something efficient, compliant, and on budget.