Project Management

Exam Contents (you must know)

SECTION 1: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Selecting a Consultant

  • • First consider the past working relationship with the consultant.

    • Then consider their staff availability and fee.

• Assess Staff Need in a Project

  • • Principal, Project Architect, Architect, Designer, Drafter

    • Structural, Mechanical, Electrical (basic service)

    • Civil, Landscape, Telecommunication (additional service)

SECTION 2: PROJECT WORK PLANNING

• Project Scheduling

  • • Milestone Chart: for small project, only list milestone dates.

    • Gantt Chart: suitable for all projects, easy to see the work sequence.

    • Critical Path Method: more often used in construction, understand critical path vs float.

• Project Communication

  • • Manage client expectation. Clearly communicate what is basic scope and what is additional scope.

    • Document agenda, meeting minutes, emails, and memos.

    • Contractor-Owner, Contractor-Consultant communicate through Architect.

SECTION 3: CONTRACTS

• AIA B101 - Owner/Architect

  • • Architect's responsibility, Owner's responsibility, Contractor's responsibility.

    • Basic Service: Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract Documents, Bidding and Negotiation, Construction Administration, typical Design-Bid-Build.

    • Additional Service: Programming, Landscape, Civil, Telecommunication, LEED (listed in the contract).

    • Out of scope items: Architect always request additional service from Owner, then adjust the project compensation and schedule.

    • Request additional service: change of design after Owner approval, change in building code and regulation, expedite drawing production, change in initial information provided by Owner.

• AIA A101 A201 - Owner/Contractor

  • • Contractor is responsible to pay for utility at construction site.

    • Uncover work, Unknown condition, know who pays.

    • All submittals and RFIs should be sent from General Contractor to Architect.

    • Understand when to issue Supplementary Instruction, Change Order, and Construction Change Directive.

    • Dispute Resolution: Architect is IDM, mediation, arbitration, litigation.

• AIA C401 - Architect/Consultant

  • • Consultant is responsible for code compliance and accuracy of its portion of work, and responsible for its own error and omission.

    • The prime Owner-Architect agreement is attached to the contract as an exhibition, consultant expect to provide the same standard of care.

    • Architect should furnish information requested by Consultant, coordinate code requirement and specification format.

SECTION 4: PROJECT EXECUTION

• Construction Budget

  • • Architect provide cost estimate at each design phase, SD, DD, CD.

    • If the lowest bid is over construction budget, Architect need to revise scope, program, area, material without additional compensation.

• Changes in Scope

  • • Architect request additional compensation and time when owner request additional service.

    • Avoid internal scope creep, inform team clearly the project expectation scope of work.

• Project Delivery

  • • Design Bid Build, Design Build, Fast Track, Construction Manager, Integrated Project Delivery.

    • Design Build and Construction Manager delivery type, architect usually not responsible to prepare project cost estimate, but still need to review constructability with Contractor.

SECTION 5: PROJECT QUALITY CONTROL

• Code and Regulation

  • • Always follow the most strict code.

    • At permitting, building official determines code/material compliance.

• Project Quality Control

  • • Process: checklist, standard detail, corporate procedures.

    • Checking: peer review, cross check, third party review.

    • Architect checks other disciplines drawings for consistency: structural clearance, diffuser location, etc.