A report by the American Institute of Architects and the Associated General Contractors of America takes a look at the supposed conflict between good design and effective cost management, and why it causes friction between architects and contractors.
āThe āhard bidā relationship is structured to be confrontational,ā according to an architect quoted in the report. āThe architect does not have the time or [get paid a] fee to show scope completely or to fully coordinate the project. The GC is required to bid low to get the project, then exploit information gaps in bid documents to improve profitability.ā
Construction attorneys say that contract provisions can help bridge this collaboration gap, according to an article at Construction Dive. Ideally, architects would specify every material and component for a project, but with limited budgets and time, architects canāt do that. As a result, contractors have to fill in the gaps, and often have to go back to the architect with RFIs.
One contract solution would be to pay architects through an additional services provision for time spent responding to RFIs. This could be accompanied by a contract clause requiring architects to respond in a set time frame or face a financial penalty.
Related Stories
| May 30, 2012
Boral Bricks announces winners of āLive.Work.Learnā student architecture contest
Eun Grace Ko, a student at the Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, named winner of annual contest.
| May 30, 2012
Hill International to manage construction of Al Risafa Stadium in Iraq
The three-year contract has an estimated value to Hill of approximately $3.3 million.
| May 29, 2012
Torrance Memorial Medical Centerās pediatric burn patients create their version of new Patient Tower using Legos
McCarthy workers joined the patients, donning construction gear and hard hats, to help with their building efforts.
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 29, 2012
AIA expands Documents-On-Demand service??
Six new documents added, DOD offers nearly 100 contract documents. Ā
| May 29, 2012
Legrand achieves over 20% energy-intensity reduction in Presidential Challenge
West Hartford headquarters announced as Better Buildings, Better Plants āShowcaseā site.
| May 29, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti/Fore Solutions provides consulting for Phase I of Acadia Gateway Center
Project receives LEED Gold certification.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| May 24, 2012
Gilbaneās Spring 2012 economic report identifies multiple positive economic and market factors
Anticipating increasing escalation in owner costs through 2014.
