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The Practice Management Knowledge Community (PMKC) identifies and develops information on the business of architecture for use by the profession to maintain and improve the quality of the professional and business environment.  The PMKC initiates programs, provides content and serves as a resource to other knowledge communities, and acts as experts on AIA Institute programs and policies that pertain to a wide variety of business practices and trends.

    

  • 1.  Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 05-03-2021 10:38 AM
    I recently posted the below linked article titled on LinkedIn.

    I have worked on many large and complex commercial and institutional projects over my 35 year career and remain surprised at how few include peer review. I wonder whether other AIA PM community members have seen peer review used on their projects, and whether you see growth in this practice?

    Ronald C. Weston, AIA, LEED AP


  • 2.  RE: Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 05-06-2021 06:30 PM
    Ronald, thanks for posting. While I have seen peer review, seldom would be overstating its prevalence (and when it occurs, it is usually a stand-in for a governmental agency who didn't have time to do their job, not an added valuable input). No, I have seen no growth here. YES! We need it!  What is going on with not having this on every major project - not just in terms of budget but also tiny or medium jobs that are highly visible? I see so many advantages including maybe, just maybe, better architecture; better tighter construction documents & even an actual reduction in E&O due to another set of technical eyes; and even newer or smaller firms having the opportunity - as reviewers - to engage with clients or projects they wouldn't otherwise get (we need every tool we can find to fight against the agglomerating tendencies of big business in architecture).

    So how do we make this happen?  What are some tangible steps AIA or we individually can take?  I have often suggested to prospective clients that they hire me for a review - at whatever budget they can afford to which I would scale my service - of another architect's work and they love the idea but don't act on it because they don't have to (and it is hypothetically possible that their prime architect is behind schedule so they don't have time for a review).  So, thanks for prompting my thoughts on this issue - what I have just done since I believe in taking action individually before waiting for the system to change itself is I reached out to another architect I respect and asked him if he would be willing to do a pro-bono design review on an upcoming project that is more public & more visible than average; he said he'd be happy to. I encourage y'all to do the same?

    Any ideas of what else can we do, folks? Does anyone think this is a waste of time, or a great idea?

    Scott Knudson, AIA
    Knu Design LLC

    ------------------------------
    Scott Knudson AIA
    Principal
    Knu Design, LLC
    Boyds MD
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 05-08-2021 09:00 PM
    Great idea Scott and thanks for putting this out there. I suspect most
    practitioners are so darn busy right now that it won't get the attention
    it deserves = but please keep your bull horn at hand as per the old
    saying that you have to repeat something 8 times in the modern world for
    it to be heard.


    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 05-11-2021 08:53 AM
    We try to use a third party reviewer in all of our more complex projects and new project types. I agree that it makes for a better product with comments from a different view point and catches coordination items making for a better construction set. If there was a site that had names and resumes of practitioners who provided this service it would be a great service.

    ------------------------------
    Michael Lassel AIA, LEED AP
    Principal
    Lassel Architects PA
    South Berwick ME
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 05-11-2021 11:58 AM
    Edited by Michael L. Katzin AIA 05-11-2021 01:50 PM
    This is a great topic. Peer reviews can save the architect of record firm time and money and help avoid change orders. I liked back in the day doing peer reviews by overlays with pin bars on a light table. Now there are online electronic services such as "Checkset."   https://architecture-review.com/home   The issue with me about these on-line services is that you do not  necessarily know the skill and knowledge set of the person doing it. The company's website does have a "Career" link.
    I am semi retired and consulting. I offer peer reviews and am getting a lot of interest with small architectural firms. I have, however, found the peer reviews have become more extensive in keeping up with numerous code updates, working with LEED and WELL and version updates, keeping up with unique building sustainability and optimization design approaches and with keeping up with building resilience and hardening design approaches.
    --
    Michael Katzin, AIA, NCARB
    Director - Michael Katzin Project Services, LLC
    Johns Creek, GA



    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Architectural Peer Review Value

    Posted 06-11-2021 01:17 AM
    Here's an interesting tidbit courtesy of the State of Nevada Public Works Division.  The division employs a full set of licensed AE professionals and at 100% CD's we conduct both in-house and 3rd party engineering (MEP, S, C) peer reviews.  However, we only conduct an in-house architectural peer review.  We also have a code plan check by the State Building Official (who often sends it out to a 3rd party plan checking firm)

    Fortunately the division gives me plenty of time to go through the documents with a finetooth comb and I have a couple other architects in our office for discussing any questions, but I always thought it was a little odd that SPWD decided to skip 3rd party reviews for Architects.

    ------------------------------
    Justus Pang
    Nevada State Public Works Division
    Las Vegas NV
    https://www.grizzlypear.com/process/Project Manager II / Architect
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    Original Message