Professional Construction Consultants.
O
R I G I N A L A R T I C L E S
The Owner's Duties in Construction:
The
Owner's Duties in Construction,
Continued
The following is a summary of the many tasks that must be performed by the owner during the successful development of any building project, broken down by project phase:
PRE-DESIGN PHASE
- Development
of the program. This is the project's cornerstone. The owner must
clearly state the project objectives, develop a master schedule, and
prepare a budget. Many things must be considered including space requirements,
adjacency of functions, expandability, constraints, and equipment.
- Selection of the site. A favorite saying in real estate is "location, location, location". There are other considerations in selecting a site such as constructability, zoning, access, environmental contamination and of course, cost.
- Site analysis. It is the owner's responsibility to have the property surveyed to identify set backs, easements, boundaries, and elevations. In addition, the owner must have the site tested and certified for contaminates. Geotechnical borings are required to determine the structural and drainage capabilities of the soil.
- Selection of consultants. The owner needs not only an architect, but also consultants for accounting, legal, and insurance requirements for the project. engineers are usually selected by, and work for, the architect. Once these consultants are selected, the owner must negotiate contracts with each of them.
- Appointment of an owner's Representative for the project. Although the architect typically has broad authority during the project, the architect's responsibilities relative to representing the owner are specific and limited. The owner must appoint someone as his general agent to represent him in all matters relative to the project, including oversight of the architect.
©2000 John A. Jones, PE, CBO
