Historic Resources Committee

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The mission of the Historic Resources Committee (HRC) is to identify, understand, and preserve architectural heritage, both nationally and internationally. HRC is engaged in promoting the role of the historic architect within the profession through the development of information and knowledge among members, allied professional organizations, and the public.

  • 1.  Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-10-2020 05:44 PM

    Thanking all of you in advance for the wisdom of your thoughts regarding my message.

     

    We are receiving strong push-back from large Multi-family Developers/Owners and Contractors for including a typical Project Manual containing both "front end" and "project specifications".

     

    Is this something anyone else is experiencing? We find this absurd and scary that it is even being requested. Reputable CM/GC's are trying to convince Owners that the Owner should replace the specs with

    what is provided in the CM-GC's "Qualifications and Assumptions".  

     

    Appreciate your thoughts...thanks!

     

     

    ACi LA Blue (2)

    Larry H. Adams, Jr. NCARB

    Founding Partner

    ladams@aciarch.com

     

    image002.jpg@01D46FD8.452A5BD0

     

    Development . Management . Architecture

    955 North Pennsylvania Avenue

    Winter Park, FL 32789

    P. 407.740.8405 Ext. 200

    www.acistudios.com

     

    Notice of Confidentiality:
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    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm


  • 2.  RE: Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-11-2020 05:22 PM

    I would never allow that!  I've seen similar requests but don't give in to it.

     

     
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    DEBORAH

    BERKE

    PARTNERS

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    LLOYD L. DESBRISAY
    AIA

    220 FIFTH AVENUE
    NEW YORK NY 10001
    212 229 9211 MAIN
    LDESBRISAY@DBERKE.COM
    WWW.DBERKE.COM
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    Original Message
    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm


  • 3.  RE: Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-11-2020 06:06 PM
    Specifications are at the heart of contract enforcement and quality control.  Without specifications written for the project at hand, there is no quality standard.  This leaves an architect at an enormous disadvantage, as there is no means of proving that an appropriate product was specified or installed correctly.  You could become responsible for a failed product and a failed installation, in the absence of specifying a product that met the standards you intended. 

    I would recommend speaking to an attorney with experience in construction disputes and familiarity with design professionals.  If it was my practice and my decision, I would drop this client.  Even if they represent a revenue stream, there is great risk involved.  There are major liability issues here that will not even be resolved by a waiver of liability by your client.  This may be a growing trend among developers.  Responsibility may not stop with the client.  Owners of condominiums can hold design professionals responsible for construction defects, in addition to the developer and the contractor.      

    Remember that specifications, however humdrum they may be, are a critical component of construction documents.  In some cases, they can resolve otherwise ambiguous construction documents.

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    Marsha Levy AIA
    Boca Raton FL
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    Original Message
    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm


  • 4.  RE: Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-12-2020 05:29 PM
    Oh my! No, I have never experienced that and I would not be at all agreeable to deleting  the project manual. It protects both you and the Owner. I recommend pointing that out to the Owner.

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    Norman Alston, FAIA
    Principal
    Norman Alston Architects
    Dallas, Texas
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    Original Message
    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm


  • 5.  RE: Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-13-2020 01:43 AM
    When you say strong push-back by "reputable CM/GCs" I hope you don't mean a concerted effort by the contractor's association (local or otherwise) or a similar lobbying group.  This appears self-serving and would undermine the owner's and architect's security from risk. Hard to believe any responsible architect would agree to this, since it is clearly not in the best interest of the client.
    I had a somewhat similar experience, wherein a local homeowners association asked my opinion if front-end AIA documents/project manual is necessary for a repainting project estimated at about $125K, and I advised no matter how big or small the project, these front end documents are necessary and not optional.  Well, they didn't heed my advise, stating that the board voted NOT to include them in awarding the contract, to save money.  Needless to say, the exterior paint starting blistering and peeling 6 months into the project (while the project was ongoing!), and the homeowner's association had no legal recourse to bring the painting contractor to re-do the botched job.

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    Renato Martinez AIA
    President
    HDR
    Chalan Pago
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    Original Message
    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm


  • 6.  RE: Request to Delete Project Manual (Specs)

    Posted 02-15-2020 10:03 AM
    Multi-family projects have a historically high percentage of liability claims already. Here is a chart from this paper: https://theaiatrust.com/filecabinet/Residential-study.pdf



    I'd certainly discuss the issue with your Insurer. I'm sure they have something to say and you may find that they will not insure a project without front end and specification documents. I've had to use the "my Insurer will not insure such a project" more than a few times in such situations.


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    Thomas Bank AIA
    Principal Architect
    Simply Stated Architecture, P.C.
    Lemoyne PA
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    Original Message
    AIA24 HRC luncheon Thursday 6 / 12:00 -2 pm