Construction Docs Roundtable

2005 AIA Stock Images - Core - Cunningham & Quill - Hickok Warner Cole - HSMM - OTJ ArchitectsConstruction documents have become “unconstructable,” according to Bert Jones, architects, and professional engineers participating in a discussion in mid-November at Schnabel Engineering headquarters in Glen Allen.

Jones’ solution was to do it better, to “Do it right the first time. Pay attention to the documents as they are being prepared and talk to each other when we can still affect change before we are under construction. It is always more effective to do it right the first time than to do it and redo it three or four more times.”

Jones, an architect, was speaking from his position as the associate vice chancellor for facilities management services with the Virginia Community College System. With him was Ed Gillikin AIA, immediate past president of VSAIA and deputy chief facilities officer for VCCS.

Meeting with them were architects and professional engineers from throughout the Richmond region.

The consensus seemed to be that the electronic media used by architects and engineers makes it so easy to develop and revise construction documents that the coordination of those documents within the architects’ offices and among all of their consultants becomes inconsistent at best and non-existent at worst. In addition, the schedules placed upon professionals by clients/owners might be unrealistic.

Jones related his experiences in other positions and agencies in years prior to the advent and adoption of building information modeling (BIM) programs. Years ago, he or one of his staff would sit down with architects for one, two, or three weeks to review the drawings for constructability. These meetings were designed to find the conflicts among structure, plumbing, and mechanical systems and to avoid as much as possible the concept and expense of “working it out in the field.”

At that time, though, he had three times the staff he currently has at VCCS. And the number of projects, he said, is about the same. The VCCS encompasses 23 colleges on 40 campuses. This includes about 350 buildings and 8.8 million square feet of occupied space. Currently, VCCS has $480 million in projects under construction.

The stumbling block, Jones suggested, might be the unrealistic schedules, which lead to a circle of inefficient reviews for incomplete work.

It does not help, he said, to meet the deadlines if the coordination is missing. “The constructability checks are too brief or not done at all. Add time for a group review with the whole team, including the owner/client. If you get an unrealistic deadline, tell me,” Jones said. “What we’re doing right now isn’t working. We have to find a way to get you those ‘two weeks.’ It is more effective to do it right the first time.”

He indicated that he would be flexible on the schedule and would support such a request from the professionals working on VCCS projects. Further, he indicated a willingness to lobby other agencies to do the same in the common goal of getting it right the first time.

In response to a question of fees, he said VCCS does not use a maximum percentage or an artificial dollar limit on fees. “All fees are negotiated,” he said. And he said VCCS has never walked away from negotiations with a top-ranked firm since he has headed the agency.

Ben Hatcher, AIA, with Clark-Nexsen agreed with Jones’ comment. “If you don’t get the fee you need, it’s your own fault.”

On the other hand, Lindley Vaughan, PE, with structural consulting firm DMWPV, said his project requirements have increased four times from several years ago, “but the fees have not.” He said that a project that requires a 20-sheet set of drawings now required but four or five in the past.

Despite the additional workload brought on by technology and ever increasing requirements, Jones believes the efficiency gained through proper attention at the proper time would make a difference. “I do not think additional staff are necessary. [Concentrating on constructability] will allow us to redirect our resources from fighting with each other to focusing on doing it right the first time. In order to affect this change, it has to be a joint effort.”

Documents Comment Period Extended to Oct. 8

Document swirl
© 2006, The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.

AIA Contract Documents® is in the process of updating its industry standard Digital Practice documents for use on construction projects involving BIM and other forms of digital data, and drafts of the updated documents are now available for public review and comment. Reviewers can comment through a short survey and/or provide section by section comments, if they so desire. The public comment period will end on Oct. 8. The updated draft documents are:

  • AIA Document E203™-2012, Building Information Modeling and Digital Data Exhibit
  • AIA Document G201™-2012, Project Digital Data Protocol Form
  • AIA Document G202™-2012, Project Building Information Modeling Protocol Form

Review and comment on the documents>>

Final Six Docs-on-Demand Released

© 2006, The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.
© 2006, The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.

The American Institute of Architects announced the publication of six new Construction Management documents, a project checklist, and a Construction Classification Worksheet via the Documents-on-Demand™ Web site, which  completes the migration of AIA paper Contract Documents to Documents-on-Demand. These additions complete the conversion of paper AIA Contract Documents to the web-based service, bringing the total number of documents available through Documents-on-Demand to 106.

The following documents and forms have been added to AIA Documents-on-Demand:

  • A132–2009, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition, and A132 Exhibit A, Determination of the Cost of the Work
  • A133–2009, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is the Cost of the Work Plus a Fee with a Guaranteed Maximum Price, and A133 Exhibit A, Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment
  • A134–2009, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Constructor where the basis of payment is the Cost of the Work Plus a Fee without a Guaranteed Maximum Price
  • A232–2009, General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition
  • B132–2009, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect, Construction Manager as Adviser Edition
  • C132–2009, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Construction Manager as Adviser
  • D200–1995, Project Checklist
  • G808–2001, Project Data, and G808A–2001, Construction Classification Worksheet

AIA Documents-on-Demand are available at http://documentsondemand.aia.org

 

AIA and ABC Announce Contract Document Agreement

The American Institute of Architects and Associated Builders and Contractors recently announced a marketing partnership agreement, designed to foster a greater understanding and exchange of ideas between architects and contractors in the construction community.

“We see this as the beginning of a larger, long-term partnership between the AIA and ABC,” said AIA President, Clark Manus, FAIA. “For more than 100 years, the AIA has been committed to promoting greater industry collaboration among architects, owners and contractors, and this partnership is a natural extension of this work. ABC’s decision to partner with the AIA speaks volumes about the fair and balanced nature of AIA documents and their universal acceptance in the industry.”

“We believe this partnership will provide value to ABC members by giving them access to more resources to help them win work and deliver that work safely and productively,” added ABC President and CEO Mike Bellaman. “This partnership will allow for a healthy exchange of best practices and enhance relationships between architects and contractors, as well as bring more value to the industry.”

AIA offers more than 100 documents including contractor/subcontractor agreements and forms; owner/contractor agreements; application and certificate for payment; and change order forms. AIA Contract Documents are revised as necessary in order to remain current with trends and changes in the industry and law, and to balance the interests of all parties. AIA solicits counsel from more than a dozen industry groups when creating or updating documents, including Associated Builders and Contractors, which, under the partnership, will have increased involvement with the AIA Contract Documents program.

As part of the partnership, AIA will provide a number of benefits to ABC members, including a discount on the purchase of any retail-priced AIA Contract Document software license and access to AIA Contract Documents education programs.

AIA Documents Free Through My NCARB for the ARE

In cooperation with the AIA, NCARB is able to offer ARE candidates free access to key AIA documents for the purpose of preparing for the Construction Documents & Services division of the ARE. This is another great resource to help you prepare for the ARE.

Interns may download the following sample documents through their NCARB Record:

Conventional Family

A101-2007           Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor Where the basis of payment is a Stipulated Sum

A201-2007           General Conditions of the Contract for Construction

A701-1997           Instructions to Bidders

B101-2007           Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect

B101-2007A        Document B101-2007 Exhibit A

C401-2007           Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant

Contract Administration and Project Management Forms

A305-1986           Contractor’s Qualification Statement

G701-2001           Change Order

G702-1992           Application and Certificate for Payment

G703-1992           Continuation Sheet

G704-2000           Certificate of Substantial Completion

To access documents:

  1. Log into “My NCARB”
  2. Click “Go” to access your NCARB Record
  3. Follow link for ARE Candidates: Construction Documents & Services Resources visible in the lower left of your Record.

Reprinted with permission from NCARB’s ARE e-News

AIA Releases Free Guide for Sustainable Projects

The AIA recently announced the release of AIA Document D503™-2011, Guide for Sustainable Projects, including Agreement Amendments and Supplementary Conditions (“Guide”). The Guide is free and was developed to assist users in understanding contractual considerations unique to sustainable design and construction projects. The Guide also provides model language that can be used to amend or supplement key AIA Contract Documents in the A201 Family. Developed by the AIA’s Contract Documents Committee, with input from industry stakeholders, the Guide provides AIA Contract Documents users with a valuable tool for creating versions of AIA standard contract documents for sustainable projects.

“The AIA Contract Documents program continues to revise existing documents and develop new documents and guides, as necessary, to remain current with trends and changes in the industry and law,” said Ken Cobleigh, Managing Director and Counsel for AIA Contract Documents content. “The development of the Guide reflects the shifting landscape in the industry and addresses key issues of interest to all parties involved in these types of projects.”

The Guide addresses the current state of sustainable design and construction, discussing issues and concepts including:

  • Certification systems, codes and legislation affecting sustainable design and construction projects,
  • Risks and responsibilities faced by owners, contractors and architects on sustainable design and construction projects, and
  • Recommendations for model language to assist the architect in developing a scope of services and to assist all project participants in appropriately allocating risks and responsibilities.

In addition to providing model language that may be used to amend or supplement documents in the AIA Contract Documents A201 Family for design-bid-build projects, the Guide discusses the applicability of key concepts to other delivery models such as design-build, construction management and integrated project delivery.

Because the AIA believes the Guide is an important resource for the design and construction industry, it is available as a free download at www.aia.org/sustainableprojectsguide.

Software Upgrade, New Documents Launch

AIA Contract Documents launched four new Documents on Oct. 5. The newest AIA Contract Documents address the unique requirements of urban planning, and multi-family and mixed-use residential projects. The new and updated documents include an Owner/Architect and Developer-Builder/Architect agreements for Multi-Family, Mixed Use, and Single Family Residential Projects, a Condominium Project Guide, and a new scope of Architect’s Services for Regional or Urban Planning. The agreements will be available through the AIA Contract Documents Software, AIA Documents-on-Demand™ and in Paper Format through the Virginia Society AIA.

The new Documents are:

Updated Agreement:
– B107TM – 2010, (formerly B188 TM– 1996) Standard Form of Agreement Between Developer-Builder and Architect for Prototype(s) for Single Family Residential Project

New Agreements and Guide:
– B109TM – 2010, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect for a Multi-Family Residential or Mixed Use Residential Project

– B212™- 2010, Standard Form of Architect’s Services: Regional or Urban Planning

– B509™ – 2010, Guide for Supplementary Conditions to AIA Document B109-2010 for use on Condominium Projects

With the new release, AIA Contract Documents software also has a new and improved user interface. Customers have home-page access to the latest 3 documents they are working on and the screen will resize dynamically. Preview the new Software Interface by checking out the informative video.

To purchase Paper Format version of these and other documents and Code books, contact (804) 644-3041.