I have been encountering that maintaining client momentum towards the end of a project especially in the bidding stages, difficult.
Once the dollars hit, they seem to forget all the leg work on : new ways of working, materials and just plan good design.
How can we keep the clients once, "gun ho" attitude as in the early stages going until opening day?
It's hard enough for the team on the job to maintain enthusiasm especially on long term large scale projects when cuts happen.

I agree, the key in your response, for me, is the G.C. They seem to have way of bending the clients ear to cheapen the project and still think they are giving them what was designed and documented and what they should be bidding on.