The Wake County, North Carolina School Board is happy with its use of construction manager at risk for its construction projects, citing the ability to better keep projects on schedule. Some local small contractors are not pleased, though, with the board’s CM-at-Risk policy that was instituted in 2007. The county’s board of commissioners has offered a sympathetic ear to their complaints.
The key point of dispute is that under this delivery method, the construction manager prequalifies the subcontractors who can bid on the work. Some feel that as a result of this provision they are shut out of the process for work that was previously open to them.
These complaints helped lead to the passage of a state law last year requiring public entities to justify using CM-at-Risk for each project. Under this law, school staff will come back to the school board to request approval for using CM-at-Risk for most of the major projects funded by last fall’s bond issue.
At odds over this issue, the two boards have yet to reach consensus on how CM-at-Risk should be used on future school projects.
(http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/08/11/4059339/wake-county-schools-defend-use.html)
Related Stories
| Sep 2, 2014
Proposed federal rules would create more stringent healthcare facility safety rules
A key change is a requirement that buildings over 75 feet tall have sprinkler systems throughout the structure. Existing buildings would have 12 years to install them.
| Sep 2, 2014
Construction unions, housing activists press New York mayor on affordable apartment projects
A group of New York City construction unions have joined forces with affordable housing activists to pressure Mayor Bill de Blasio to require organized labor on construction of 80,000 lower-cost apartment units.
| Aug 27, 2014
Houma, La., will tap FEMA grants to raise hurricane resilience standards on public buildings
The Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center and other public buildings in Houma, La., would be renovated to withstand Category 3 hurricane winds according to a plan being considered by the Parish Council.
| Aug 27, 2014
Napa Valley assesses impact of structural retrofits on buildings after earthquake
About 30 inspection teams of two inspectors each have conducted at least quick exterior inspections of downtown Napa, Calif., buildings since a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the region.
| Aug 27, 2014
Liberty Building Forensics cautions hotel building teams on moisture, mold issues
Liberty Building Forensics Group, a building forensics firm warned building teams working on hotel projects to be on guard against moisture intrusion and mold.
| Aug 27, 2014
Requirement for site safety inspectors hampering construction in New York City
New York City’s regulation that requires contractors to hire independent safety inspectors for job sites is holding up projects worth millions of dollars, contractors say.
| Aug 27, 2014
Turkish government orders demolition of residential towers in Istanbul
Citing negative effects to a world heritage site, the Turkish central government has ruled that the recently completed OnaltiDokuz Residence towers must be demolished.
| Aug 21, 2014
Industry groups agree to streamline green building tool coordination and development
Major building industry groups the International Code Council (ICC), ASHRAE, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES), and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have agreed to collaborate on the development of Standard 189.1, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), and the LEED green building program.
| Aug 21, 2014
Performance-based zoning: U.S. cities starting to loosen zoning regulations
Driven by New Urbanism, more than two dozen communities in the U.S. have loosened zoning restrictions in recent years.
| Aug 21, 2014
Meeting to finalize amendments to green property underwriting standard
The National Public Meeting for Resiliency + Infrastructure Consensus Underwriting Standard Amendments will take place September 16, from 9 a.m.-12p.m. at Perkins+Will, 1250 24th St. NW, Washington, DC in the World Wildlife Fund Building.
