Because many clients question Construction Administration and the associated fees, I would like to explain what is and how it’s ultimately to the client’s advantage.
Design Professionals, such as Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers, produce Construction Documents. These documents typically include drawings and written specifications which describe the materials, components and assemblies which a Contractor will construct, install and/or provide for the client (Owner).
The Design Professional has a contract (agreement) with the Owner to provide the Construction Documents. The Contractor has a separate agreement with the Owner to provide, construct and install what is described in the Construction Documents.
Each agreement describes the scope of what will be provided. The Design Professional will obviously be providing the drawings, but we may also offer “Construction Administration.” This service relates to the construction phase of a project. In summary, it states that the Designer will visit the project site during construction and observe the Contractor’s work to make sure it complies with the Construction Documents and report any discrepancies. In addition, the Designer will be available to answer questions or provide clarifications about the Construction Documents.
Because the time required for the site visits, reports, questions and submittals may equal or exceed the time required to produce the Construction Documents, this service may result in fees which are more than double the cost of the drawings alone.
The Penland Studio considers Construction Administration to be essential and we include it for all Construction Documents we provide. From our point of view, it is critical to ensure that projects are constructed as designed, without shortcuts or unapproved changes, and that we are available to assist with the changes that inevitably occur during construction.
Owners concerned about the fees must keep in mind that our Agreement is completely separate for the Construction Agreement. We are working FOR the Owner and working to ensure that they get what’s described in the Construction Documents. Let’s face it, even great Contractors are seeking a profit and the Owner may not have the time or construction knowledge to recognize deviations from the documents. Having the Design Professional who provided the Construction Documents provide Construction Administration ensures that Contractor is held accountable for providing what is specified and typically pays for itself several times over in cost savings during construction, while keeping the Owner informed throughout the construction process.
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