Jobs vary in the proportion of time required for technical work (“stuff”) vs. people work (communication, cooperation, management, etc.). Some jobs may consist of less than 50% stuff, but most jobs done effectively require at least 50% people work. If…
The Architect’s role at the construction site
As construction began on a building, the architect’s field representative was approached by the electrical subcontractor. The subcontractor wanted the architect’s approval to install all distribution conduit at a specific level and prior to construction of interior partitions and mechanical…
Posted in Construction Administration, Project Management
Masonry Design: Not-Quite-Through-Wall Flashing
Through-wall flashing is a common water management feature of masonry cavity wall and veneer construction. It is most effective if its outer edge is beyond the outer face of the wall and is turned down to form a drip edge…
Construction Tolerance
Where codes or regulations establish minimum or maximum values and allow no tolerance outside the limit, industry standard construction tolerance should be incorporated into the design. For example, concrete ramps that must comply with “zero tolerance” maximum slope requirements for…
Masonry Design: Separate hung masonry from foundation-supported masonry
When drawing up elevations for masonry walls, in addition to locating control joints (arguably “expansion joints”) to accommodate expansion and contraction related to temperature and moisture, it is important to consider how masonry supported on lintels hung directly from deflecting…
Purposeful chaos (the 2-minute design offense)
While throwing staff at a project at the last minute is likely to be counterproductive (see Staffing a design project), an imminent project deadline can ignite productive and purposeful chaos that is otherwise hard to generate. Consider the possible accomplishments…
Posted in Project Management
Masonry Construction: A hodgepodge of reinforcing
A recent obituary (darn those things!) reminded me of an event years ago during the construction of additions to a local school. As the architect’s project manager, I attended weekly meetings at the construction site. During the meetings we talked…
Posted in Construction Administration, Masonry
Masonry Design: A subtle difference in brick sizes
It may come as no surprise that bricks are available in different shapes and sizes. But, in at least one situation, the difference in size may be too subtle to notice until you see an area of infill that does…
Proactive coordination meetings on the go
When an architect assembles a conference room full of consultants for a coordination meeting, power and status can sometimes interfere with productive coordination. Some of the consultants may have traveled for hours, may feel uncomfortable or out of their element,…
Posted in Project Management
Building Thermal Movement: Everything in a building moves
We tend to think of buildings as static creations. Sure, doors and windows may move, elevators and escalators go up and down, water runs through pipes, air through ducts, and fans turn on and off. But we tend to think…
Posted in Construction Documents, Design
