AIA Sets a New Industry Standard with IPD Agreements

Summary: The AIA will launch two types of integrated project delivery (IPD) agreements on May 15 at the 2008 AIA National Convention. Implementing principles and concepts laid out in Integrated Project Delivery: A Guide, the AIA will provide agreements for two levels of IPD. The first type is transitional and offers a comfortable first step into IPD. The second type introduces a fully integrated way of delivering a design and construction project.

The IPD agreements support processes that build on the expertise of architects, owners, and contractors and rely on transparency and full collaboration.

• The transitional agreement provides for early collaboration of architect and contractor in an arrangement modeled after existing construction manager agreements.
• The second type of agreement allows for complete sharing of risk and reward in a “one-for-all-and-all-for-one” approach. With this agreement, owner, architect, and construction manager work together from the beginning to design and construct the project to meet mutually agreed upon goals, including a target cost.

Both agreement types encourage the parties to implement building information modeling (BIM) and other technologies to achieve efficiencies, increase collaboration, and maximize information sharing.

To explain the IPD agreements and provide instruction on their use, the AIA will present a continuing education program at the AIA National Convention on Saturday, May 17, 8:15 a.m. Entitled “Move to Integrated Project Delivery with AIA Contract Documents,” the program will award 1.5 HSW learning units. For more information or to register for the convention, visit the convention Web site.