--- title: "How Saunders Construction completed a complex ski resort project at 10,000 feet" customer: "Autodesk" customerWebsite: "https://www.autodesk.com/" datePublished: 2026-10-07 dateModified: 2026-10-07 sourceAssetType: "guide" topics: ["construction-management", "bim", "autodesk-construction-cloud", "rfi-management", "submittal-workflows"] canonical: "https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/" --- # How Saunders Construction completed a complex ski resort project at 10,000 feet Autodesk Build and BIM Collaborate helped Saunders Construction cut RFI time 80% and raise client involvement to 95%. ## Key takeaways - Saunders Construction used Autodesk Construction Cloud to keep a remote, phased ski resort project aligned from design through construction. - Autodesk Build improved field document control, sped up RFIs and submittals, and helped teams resolve issues without constant trips to the trailer. - Design Collaboration in Autodesk BIM Collaborate increased design team participation and helped Saunders maintain design integrity across the project lifecycle. - The Steamboat Springs Ski Area project delivered major scope at altitude, including 650 acres of new ski terrain and a new gondola. ## What was the Steamboat Springs Ski Area project? The Steamboat Springs Ski Area project was a more than $200 million renovation and expansion led by Saunders Construction in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. When complete, the project will make Steamboat Springs the second-largest ski area in Colorado, with 650 acres of new ski terrain, the largest and fastest gondola in North America, and LEED-certified retail establishments. Saunders Construction, a Colorado-based construction manager and general contractor founded in 1972, took on the work because winter sports matter to many Coloradoans. The project required phased construction over the summer while still working around summertime visitors in the mountain village. ## How did Saunders Construction keep a remote, high-altitude project on schedule? Saunders Construction kept the project on schedule by using Autodesk Build, part of Autodesk Construction Cloud, to connect teams across a remote, high-elevation jobsite with limited infrastructure. Clayton Neiman, Continuous Improvement Manager at Saunders Construction, said the project was challenging because of the remote location and the large scope of work that had to be completed in a short amount of time. Matt Hamann, Design Phase Manager at Saunders Construction, said the team used Autodesk Construction Cloud to maintain design integrity across the project lifecycle and avoid last-minute field surprises. The project also had to be completed in phases during the summer because the mountain receives heavy ski use in winter. That made visibility, coordination, and fast issue resolution critical. ## How did Autodesk Construction Cloud connect design to construction? Autodesk Construction Cloud connected design to construction by giving Saunders Construction a shared platform for drawings, coordination, and field execution. That connection helped the team identify potential issues earlier, before they turned into costly or dangerous rework. Clayton Neiman said bringing everything together in Autodesk Construction Cloud made Saunders Construction’s processes easier because the team could connect things in ways it could not before. Matt Hamann said that, with Autodesk Construction Cloud, the team could maintain design integrity across the project lifecycle and ensure clients got the building they were expecting. ## How did Autodesk Build help field teams work in a remote mountain setting? Autodesk Build helped Saunders Construction work effectively in the field by making drawings easy to access, upload, and update even on remote mountain terrain. Saunders Construction implemented Build on the project’s second phase, which included construction on the lower level of a new gondola, an ice rink, a food hall, and more. The team chose Steamboat Springs as the pilot for Build after testing showed the stability of pulling up drawings in the field and the ease of uploading drawings. Matt Hamann said Saunders Construction focused on making sure the team had what it needed to implement Build so the company would not have to move platforms in the middle of the project. He also said getting a large project running on a new technology platform in just days, with teams working remotely on a mountain with little infrastructure, showed how intuitive and reliable Build is. ## How did Saunders Construction improve document control and change management? Saunders Construction improved document control and change management by using Autodesk Build to manage drawings, changes, and field documentation in one place. The ease of uploading drawings and managing changes reduced friction for the field team. Saunders Construction also relied on the Autodesk Construction Cloud Learning Center and weekly meetings with the Autodesk team to learn best practices and implement new modules into the workflow. That combination led to minimal resistance during adoption. Leadership also saw fewer calls about issues, which signaled that Build was working well. ## How did Saunders Construction speed up RFIs and submittals? Saunders Construction sped up RFIs and submittals by using Autodesk Build to route submittals through custom workflows and by tagging RFIs and issues directly on drawings or models. The team ran all submittals through Build and created custom submittal workflows across multiple reviewers. That reduced the time spent waiting on sign-offs and accelerated procurement. Autodesk Build also made it faster to resolve RFIs and issues because the team could see exactly where a problem was located on a drawing or model instead of searching through documents. Clayton Neiman said having drawings at the team’s fingertips saved hours a day because people did not have to go back to the trailer, which meant a trip down the mountain. Saunders Construction reported about 80% time savings in resolving RFIs. ## How did Autodesk BIM Collaborate increase design team participation? Autodesk BIM Collaborate increased design team participation by making Design Collaboration easier and more connected for both the design team and construction team. Saunders Construction saw more interaction with design team partners using Design Collaboration in Autodesk BIM Collaborate. Matt Hamann said that five years ago, about 10% of design teams participated in design collaboration with contractors, and now, with a seamless desktop-to-cloud experience, it is closer to 90%. Saunders Construction also reported an 800% increase in design team usage with Autodesk BIM Collaborate. That increase helped the team work with live information instead of outdated files and reduced the time needed to update drawings from about a week to a matter of minutes. ## What business results did Saunders Construction achieve with Autodesk Build? Saunders Construction achieved faster coordination, better visibility, stronger client involvement, and more efficient project execution with Autodesk Build. The project team used Build to keep everyone aligned in real time, move faster on feedback, and minimize rework. Matt Hamann said the platform freed up a massive amount of time for project teams so they could focus on the critical tasks needed to keep the project on schedule. Saunders Construction also reported 95% client involvement on Autodesk Build. Clayton Neiman said Build fostered trust between the design team and the client because it gave clients more visibility and more involvement in the review process. ## How is Saunders Construction expanding Autodesk Build across the business? Saunders Construction is expanding Autodesk Build beyond the Steamboat Springs project and using it on more than 100 projects, with plans for company-wide adoption. The company sees value not only in project execution but also in using one platform to study data, increase efficiency, enhance safety efforts, and better serve clients. Saunders Construction views that unified data approach as a key part of future innovation. ## Frequently asked questions ### How can a construction team keep a complex, multi-year resort project on schedule when the site is remote and at very high elevation? Saunders Construction kept the Steamboat Springs Ski Area project moving by using Autodesk Build and Autodesk Construction Cloud to connect teams, control documents, and resolve issues quickly in the field. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#how-can-a-construction-team-keep-a-complex-multi-year-resort-project-on-schedule-when-the-site-is-remote-and-at-very-high-elevation) ### What are the best ways to improve RFI turnaround on a large construction project with many stakeholders? Saunders Construction used Autodesk Build to tag RFIs and issues directly on drawings or models, which cut the time spent resolving RFIs by 80%. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#what-are-the-best-ways-to-improve-rfi-turnaround-on-a-large-construction-project-with-many-stakeholders) ### How can connected design-to-construction workflows help reduce coordination issues on a difficult jobsite? Autodesk Construction Cloud helped Saunders Construction connect design to construction so the team could catch potential issues earlier and avoid last-minute field decisions. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#how-can-connected-design-to-construction-workflows-help-reduce-coordination-issues-on-a-difficult-jobsite) ### How do Autodesk Build and BIM Collaborate support document control on complex construction projects? Autodesk Build supported field document management, while Autodesk BIM Collaborate with Design Collaboration improved live coordination and reduced the time needed to update drawings from days to minutes. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#how-do-autodesk-build-and-bim-collaborate-support-document-control-on-complex-construction-projects) ### What helps increase design team participation during construction on a large, remote project? A shared desktop-to-cloud workflow helped Saunders Construction raise design team participation in design collaboration from about 10% five years ago to about 90%. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#what-helps-increase-design-team-participation-during-construction-on-a-large-remote-project) ### How do construction teams maintain visibility and control across a long-duration project in a remote mountain location? Saunders Construction used Autodesk Build to give all team members real-time visibility into submittals, drawings, changes, and field issues, even with limited mountain infrastructure. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#how-do-construction-teams-maintain-visibility-and-control-across-a-long-duration-project-in-a-remote-mountain-location) ### What digital tools are most useful for managing RFIs, documents, and coordination on a high-complexity construction project? Autodesk Build and Autodesk BIM Collaborate were the key tools Saunders Construction used to manage RFIs, submittals, drawings, and design coordination on the Steamboat Springs project. [Direct link](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/autodesk/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort/#what-digital-tools-are-most-useful-for-managing-rfis-documents-and-coordination-on-a-high-complexity-construction-project) --- [Download the guide (PDF)](https://theintelligencelibrary.com/downloads/how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort.pdf?utm_source=theintelligencelibrary&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort) Published by [Autodesk](https://www.autodesk.com/?utm_source=theintelligencelibrary&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=how-saunders-construction-completed-a-complex-ski-resort).