Clients are increasingly using text messages to provide direction and relay important project information. This can be problematic for design firms that want to document such communications in their project files. Firms find that following up via email takes additional time, and the client may not respond to the email, which creates ambiguity. Firms that... Continue Reading →
The contract documents program of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released updated residential contracts for both single-family residential and multi-family residential or mixed-use projects. It also published an updated version of their Condominium Project Guide, which is available for free without a documents subscription.Revised Residential Documents The revised residential documents are B107-2020, Standard... Continue Reading →
The Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC) recently published revised versions of E-500, Standard Form Agreement Between Owner and Engineer for Professional Services, and E-570, Agreement Between Engineer and Subconsultant for Professional Services.E-500 Main Agreement UpdatesE-500 is a comprehensive standard contract for engineering design services and related construction phase engineering and administrative services. The terms... Continue Reading →
Earlier this year, the AIA published C203-2017, Standard Form of Consultant’s Services: Commissioning. The document has been significantly updated to reflect changes in the industry that have taken place since the prior version. The changes include: provisions describing the consultant’s role to help prepare the owner’s project requirements; detailed description of the consultant’s commissioning plan;... Continue Reading →
Shortly after releasing the 2017 versions of the traditional owner-architect agreements, the AIA Contract Documents Committee published detailed scope of services agreements that assign professional duties to supplement or replace traditional services. These AIA specialty services documents can be added to any base owner/architect agreement to form a contract. B201-2017, Standard Form of Architect’s Services:... Continue Reading →
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released nine new standard contract documents, including a new owner/consultant agreement, the C103–2015, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Consultant without a Predefined Scope of Consultant’s Services, and two accompanying scope of service exhibits. The C103 establishes expectations between an owner and a consultant on a project.... Continue Reading →
Construction contracts typically include several components. Key business terms are found in the agreement form, which are then modified by the general and supplementary conditions and the drawings and specifications. In addition, key contract-related information is sometimes included in bidding documents, such as instructions to bidders and bid forms. For years, there was no generally... Continue Reading →
As design-build keeps increasing market share in the project delivery process, more often than not architects and engineering firms are relegated to subcontractor status. Often, the contracts used reduce the amount of services provided by professionals, target professionals for all of the professional liability exposure (even though design-builders should carry professional liability insurance), and create... Continue Reading →
Your client wants to save money and opts not to pay for your involvement during the construction phase of the project. Does this increase your risk? Absolutely! It increases your risk as well as your client’s. Construction documents are never 100% complete and accurate. If you’re not involved during the construction phase, you lose the... Continue Reading →
While there is nothing inherently wrong with a design professional being referred to as a "contractor" or “subcontractor,” the use of these terms may be an indication that the contract being offered is one that is more appropriate for hiring someone to build the project, rather than retaining a design professional or surveyor. Contractors have... Continue Reading →
