Construction Administration
- 03/01/2018
- Comments Off on Construction Administration
- Scott Chappuis
Construction Administration
Construction Administration is the process where the Architect, as agent of the Owner, administers the Construction Contract for the client. The Contract Administration phase occurs once the design has been finalized, documented, and handed off to the contractor. During this phase, the Architect monitors and observes the construction of the project to determine to the best of his ability whether or not the building is being built according to the drawings and specifications. This allows the Architect a chance to be interactively involved with any changes or construction challenges that may arise, while allowing an opportunity to resolve discrepancies before the cost goes up.
Proactive construction administration reduces risk by providing the opportunity to correct any discrepancies in the Contract Documents before the work is completed. This is accomplished through site visits, submittal reviews, and efficient communication between the Architect, owner and contractor. Since the drawings are not a complete set of instructions on how to build the building, the process of the Architect providing clarifications and solving detail conflicts and problems is an important part of Contract Administration.
The Architect reviews contractor submittals of samples and technical drawings showing how the contractor plans to execute the design, called shop drawings, to ensure that they align with the Contract Documents. Concurrent with the review of these submittals, the Architect also conducts scheduled site visits on regular intervals to observe the progress and quality of the work and answer any questions that may arise. Throughout the duration of construction, the Architect takes note of the amount of work completed during these site visits and approves or denies Applications for Payment from the contractor accordingly. Done correctly, construction administration can facilitate a team synergy between the owner, Architect, and contractor that can greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of the project’s execution.
