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6/2006 |
Visible Means: Site Visits and Construction Observation | ![]() |
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by James B. Atkins, FAIA, and Grant A. Simpson, FAIA One of the more rewarding experiences in architecture is to see your project under construction. Nothing is more exciting than to visit a busy job site, smell freshly cut wood, and observe the trades as they perform their skills and artistry. The construction phase, as we have noted before, carries a high level of risk. Architects are judged not only by the accuracy of their documents, but also by how quickly they respond and the actions they take. It is understandable that most claims against architects arise during this time. Site visits should not be approached casually and, above all, should not be eliminated from contracted services. Most states now require that a registered architect be retained to provide construction contract administration services. Many firms have a policy of refusing to eliminate construction contract administration from professional service contracts.
This article will focus on site visits and on-site activities during the construction phase. It will explore important activities, such as attending and reporting project meetings, reviewing applications for payment, conducting preinstallation conferences, and providing inspections for substantial and final completion. It will address the preparation of field observation reports and some effective ways to communicate the project status to the owner. Visits to the site should be enjoyable, but we should not forget the primary purpose for traveling there. Preparation The next step in preparation is to read the contracts. The Owner-Architect Agreement contains your service requirements during the construction phase, and the Owner-Contractor Agreement and General Conditions provide information on the contractor’s duties. You should be aware that most of the AIA’s Owner-Architect Agreements incorporate by reference the architect’s construction-phase services described in a particular general conditions document. It is important to determine if the requirements of the Owner-Architect Agreement and the Owner-Contractor contract are consistent. There is a greater likelihood that the documents will be consistent if they are AIA documents. Unfortunately, some owners prefer to use non-AIA documents, or AIA documents that have been extensively modified.
When you have determined the contract requirements, you should assemble the necessary items to do your job. These could include:
Site visits AIA Document A201™-1997, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction (A201), addresses site visit requirements:
In addition to these contracted services, there are other administrative tasks that can be performed during the visit. Determining the “appropriate” time to visit can be accomplished in several ways. If the contract does not stipulate a specific time or interval, scheduled visits can be determined during the preconstruction conference. The complexity and sequencing of the project may influence the number and frequency of visits. The level of activity may also influence the visit interval. For example, you may visit the site less frequently during excavation and site preparation than during erection of the primary structure. On complex projects, it is important to determine before contract negotiation if a high number of visits will be required. Structural consultants will conduct their site visits at the beginning of the project, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing consultants will visit less often in the beginning, with visits increasing as more of their work is installed. Special consultants, such as curtainwall or roofing consultants, will schedule visits as their products or systems are installed. One must always be prepared to go to the site when circumstances demand, but it is more desirable to make scheduled visits and tend to business in an orderly fashion on each occasion. Site visits are typically scheduled to coincide with the project meeting,
also referred to as the owner-architect-contractor (OAC) meeting. OAC
meetings are often held at the project site to allow reviews of ongoing
construction issues and challenges, presenting an opportunity to “walk
the job” with the owner and contractor. Site observations For the reason cited above, construction observation carries increased risk and should be undertaken by the most qualified people available for the assignment. Some firms elect to have non-architectural experienced personnel who have knowledge of construction make the site visits. However, this approach can be challenging when design problems arise that require immediate resolution. For this reason, it is desirable to have site visits conducted by the partner, project manager, project architect, or other person who has construction contract administration experience. Larger firms may use a dedicated construction services department to accomplish this task.
Many owners look forward to the opportunity to walk the site with the architect, and an invitation should be offered accordingly. It is also common in conjunction with the OAC meeting for the contractor to request observations of specific issues and conditions that may require an interpretation by the architect. If the issue cannot be resolved immediately, the architect should be prepared to document the condition for resolution back at the office. Preparation for walking the site can include a digital camera, a set of drawings for reference, a sketch pad or journal, a measuring tape, and a flashlight. Some architects like to take a mirror for peering into dark or hard to access spaces. If a particular product or system is being observed, it is helpful to have the appropriate shop drawing or product data. Business attire is usually not appropriate if you are walking around formwork and wet paint or entering dusty work areas. Interaction on the site with the contractor and subcontractors should not be confrontational or argumentative. It can be challenging for the architect to maintain a neutral posture if approached by the contractor or subcontractor on difficult issues. Remember that the overall objective is the same for everyone: to deliver successfully a completed project that conforms to the design concept. Construction administration issues and attitudes are addressed in the October 2005 AIArchitect article, “Zen and the Art of Construction Administration.” (Part I, Part II)
Some subcontractors have requested architects to sign a release before entering temporary structures such as scaffolding. AIA documents typically require that the contractor provide a safe workplace and give the architect access to the work. Should you be approached to sign a release, advise the general contractor of the issue and ask how you will be given safe access to the work. The release, while favorably looked upon and possibly initiated by the contractor’s insurance carrier, is contrary to standard AIA contract language. Concealed and nonconforming work In the event work is concealed before the architect has had a chance to make an observation, if the work is suspect, it may be necessary to have the work uncovered. If the observation was discussed in advance, and the contractor concealed work that the architect requested to see without prior notification to the architect, Section 12.1.1 of A201 requires the contractor to uncover the work at his or her own expense if requested to do so.
When nonconforming work is encountered, the contractor should be notified in writing. Although the defects may be discovered with the contractor present, they should nonetheless be documented to allow future confirmation of resolution. Documentation can be accomplished through a field observation report, an OAC meeting report, memorandum, or letter. When you cite nonconforming work and ask that it be remedied, be prepared for resistance, because replacing work already in place is an unpleasant event for everyone. This issue of replacing installed work was addressed in the February 2006 AIArchitect article, “Gimme Shelter.” Inspections
These two inspections differ from a scheduled site observation. In the first of these two inspections, the architect is looking at the “completed” work to determine if it appears to be “substantially” complete. Completed work conceals many supporting elements, and there is no way to know if those portions of the project are correctly installed unless the architect witnessed every piece of the project as it was installed. Even though these two events are called “inspections,” it serves to remember that they are based on becoming “generally familiar” with the work and are not based on exhaustive inspections. This complex and often misunderstood event was addressed in an AIArchitect article in January 2006 entitled, “Substantial Completion Where Art Thou?”
Reporting AIA Document G711™-1972 Architect’s Field Report (G711), is one of the most common formats for reporting the work progress. The architect usually walks the project—drawings and digital camera in hand—and takes notes or dictates the work that is observed. Images of site conditions can be included in the published report and e-mailed to the recipients. Before images are included, the architect might consider thoroughly examining the image to determine that it is representative of the discussion included in the report and that unreported nonconforming work is not readily visible in the image. Ideally, if nonconforming work is visible in the image, it should be noted in the report. Other formats can include incorporating reporting of observations into the OAC meeting report or simply sending an e-mail, letter, or memorandum. In any case, it is important to report on the status of the work in accordance with your services agreement. The contents of the report could include a date and sequential number, notations of work conformance, and general comments of work in progress. G711 contains a distribution check box at the top; however, a mass e-mail transmittal with all project member names and addresses included can save time. The form also has a place for weather, temperature range, and percentage of completion. With the availability of the National Weather Service, and since your contract likely does not require you to assess the percentage of construction completion, you may choose to leave these blank. The same goes for the listing of those present at the site, since those statistics are typically maintained by the project superintendent.
Communication about any subject, particularly about defective or nonconforming work, should include “truths.” While it is true that no one likes to have their work failures aired out for all to see, it is also true that known defective or nonconforming work must be reported and perhaps remedied. For this reason, your comments on defects and deficiencies should be straightforward and declaratory. Comments such as, “repair scratch on door or replace door,” conveys the required actions better than, “the door has a scratch,” or, “the scratch on the door needs to be fixed.” It is a truer statement in the context of the responsibilities of the contractor that the scratch must be repaired than it is that the scratch exists on the door. Pre-installation conferences
Construction is a team sport The construction process today can be risky, and most claims arise from actions or activities that occur during this time. Effective planning, good relationships, and proactive contract administration can reduce risks and make the job a lot easier. As we have emphasized in past articles, the owner will likely remember their experiences during construction much more than the other phases of service. Repeat business can be fostered by an owner’s comfort with your construction contract administration services.
Success with these objectives requires preparation and planning. An effective preconstruction conference and productive project meetings can enable the team to achieve their goals and have more fun in the process. That phone call just now was the owner, and she wants to you to meet her today at the site to discuss the redesign of the building entrance. Grab your hardhat and journal, and be sure you have some extra pencils. And don’t forget to be careful out there. Copyright 2006 The American Institute of Architects.
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This series will continue next month in AIArchitect when the subject will be The Speed of Life, We will examine how advancing technology and compressed work habits have changed the way architectural services are provided. If you would like to ask Jim and Grant a risk or project-management question or request them to address a particular topic, contact the AIA General Counsel Office. James B. Atkins, FAIA, is a principal with HKS Architects. He serves on the AIA Documents Committee and is the 2006 Chair of the AIA Risk Management Committee. He has been successfully catching javelins for the past twenty-five years. Grant A. Simpson, FAIA, manages project delivery for RTKL Associates. He is the 2006 Chair of the AIA Practice Management Advisory Group, and he is an accomplished and renowned bullet dodger. This article represents the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of The American Institute of Architects. It is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The reader should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws, suggestions and illustrations apply to specific situations. |
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