School renovation and expansion projects are commonly related to overcrowding and/or obsolete facilities. Construction in phases may be the only choice when school operations must continue in the same building or on the same site during renovations and expansion. Phasing…
A Few Predictors of Building Failure in New Construction
The following suggested predictors of building failure in new construction are based on years of experience tracing building failures to their causes. While the failures may express themselves as discrete detail flaws, underlying causes are often found in contractual decision…
Planning for Concealed Site Conditions
Discovery of concealed site conditions can raise havoc with a project, possibly disrupting the construction schedule and adversely impacting the project budget. Here’s a link to an article I wrote a few years ago to share some of my experience…
Delegating for Architects
Project results are directly related to the effectiveness of project communications. Successful delegation of responsibilities and tasks depends on effective communication. Download “Delegating for Architects” to read more about this. Copyright Albert R. Russell 2009
Value Engineering
Any discussion of value engineering (V.E.) is likely to produce a rush of criticisms of the process if you work in an architecture or engineering practice. The architects and engineers are likely to recall bad experiences when V.E. was started…
“By Others” and “N.I.C.”
The terms “By Others” and “Not In Contract” (or “N.I.C.”) can add confusion to construction documents if the intent of the terms is not well established within the documents. The note “By Others” on a drawing may be intended to…
Reviewing the Contractor’s Application for Payment
On most public construction projects, the Architect reviews the Contractor’s monthly Applications for Payment (a.k.a. “Requisitions”) and certifies the amount to be paid to the Contractor for that month. If the Application is made on AIA Document G702, the front…
Posted in Construction Administration, Project Management
Manage Design Costs with Early Project Overtime
One of Mike’s PM tips for managing design costs on a project: “If you know you are going to have to work overtime on a project,” he said, “do it in the beginning. It costs less to do overtime when…
Posted in Project Administration, Project Management
Shop Drawing Review Comments
While it can be frustrating for an architect to review shop drawing submittals that appear to lack adequate preparation or attention to contract requirements, it is still important for the architect to maintain professional decorum in the review comments. This…
Posted in Construction Administration
Construction Documents Peer Review
Joe Iano (see Iano’s backfill ) shared with me an approach to quality review of construction documents that is used by a prominent firm where he is employed in Seattle (see the AIA 2009 Honor Award Firm of the Year…
