Sharkitecture.NET http://sharkitecture.net What every Architect should know Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:53:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Requests For Information or a Declaration Of War? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/mPAV7WWDPZA/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/09/requests-for-information-or-a-declaration-of-war/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:53:17 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=347 Requests for information are a common tool frequently used between contractors and architects in the design and construction industry today. Some contractors use them to facilitate communication with the architect, and some use them to facilitate making claims. Contractors who want to send RFIs seem to generate more, and contractors who do not want to send RFIs seem to generate fewer.

I don’t know why I get into gunfights. I guess sometimes I just get lonely.
- Billy Clanton from the movie Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)

In the AIA article Shootout at the RFI Corral, Grant A. Simpson, FAIA and Jim Atkins FAIA discuss the history and practical applications of life after RFI’s. Well worth the read since so much of the business of architecture is wrapped up in such paperwork.

I start fightin’ a war, I guarantee, you’ll see somethin’ new.
-Capt. Malcolm Reynolds from the movie Serenity


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/09/requests-for-information-or-a-declaration-of-war/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/09/requests-for-information-or-a-declaration-of-war/ Policy Review http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/AZOxc8z0z-w/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/policy-review/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:33:57 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=330 Given the recent spat of discipline actions against those who have posted questions from the ARE, we have decided to do an internal review of all study questions related to the CSE (California Supplemental Exam) to ensure that we are not in violation of Section 123 of the Business and Professions Code (see Security of Examination). We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but feel this is a necessary precaution to ensure a fare and honest exam experience. As questions are cleared, we will post them again. In the mean time, feel free to post questions on the AREforums.

We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the AREforums.


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/policy-review/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/policy-review/ a client has signed off on a SD set and a DD set, but during CD’s the client discovers a space adjacency that was approved in PD is not being accounted for in the design, is the architect obligated to make this change without further compensation or is it fair to say the client should have caught this prior to signing off on the SD and DD drawings? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/qTSi0x_5H2Y/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/a-client-has-signed-off-on-a-sd-set-and-a-dd-set-but-during-cds-the-client-discovers-a-space-adjacency-that-was-approved-in-pd-is-not-being-accounted-for-in-the-design-is-the-architect-obligated-t/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:16:15 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=225

]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/a-client-has-signed-off-on-a-sd-set-and-a-dd-set-but-during-cds-the-client-discovers-a-space-adjacency-that-was-approved-in-pd-is-not-being-accounted-for-in-the-design-is-the-architect-obligated-t/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/a-client-has-signed-off-on-a-sd-set-and-a-dd-set-but-during-cds-the-client-discovers-a-space-adjacency-that-was-approved-in-pd-is-not-being-accounted-for-in-the-design-is-the-architect-obligated-t/ What is the proper procedure/response if a client asks to skip Design Development? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/OqZkQuGDtxM/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/what-is-the-proper-procedureresponse-if-a-client-asks-to-skip-design-development/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:16:15 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=224

]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/what-is-the-proper-procedureresponse-if-a-client-asks-to-skip-design-development/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/what-is-the-proper-procedureresponse-if-a-client-asks-to-skip-design-development/ Does a 20 day notice have to be filed by a prime contractor if they are working for the tenant and not the building owner on a TI project? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/xVc6V-DObhg/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/does-a-20-day-notice-have-to-be-filed-by-a-prime-contractor-if-they-are-working-for-the-tenant-and-not-the-building-owner-on-a-ti-project/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:16:15 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=221

]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/does-a-20-day-notice-have-to-be-filed-by-a-prime-contractor-if-they-are-working-for-the-tenant-and-not-the-building-owner-on-a-ti-project/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/05/does-a-20-day-notice-have-to-be-filed-by-a-prime-contractor-if-they-are-working-for-the-tenant-and-not-the-building-owner-on-a-ti-project/ Hello world! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/pTS2SR2Wr90/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/02/hello-world/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:41:59 +0000 admin http://any.bodyhere.com/?p=1 Well, my exam went well.  I don’t have the results (obviously) but the process went very well.  Even though I live in San Diego and the exam was in Anaheim (less than 2-hour drive), I booked a hotel room in nearby Buena Park.  The hotel was cheap and convenient.  I had dinner with a friend who was also taking her exam.  Afterwards I went to my room and studied some more and went to bed.  Thanks to some Tylenol PM I was able to get a good night sleep and started studying some more.  My exam was right after lunch so I grabbed a bite on the way to the exam.  Studied some more in the parking lot (what else you going to do while you wait?).   I signed in for the 20-min review period and was escorted up to the exam floor.  All the exams are given in the hotel suites on the same floor (5th floor to be exact).  Unfortunately, we had to wait way longer than we should have considering we were the first group of the day, but eventually I was taken to my exam room.   The examiners were friendly and patient and I felt comfortable.  It helps that I felt (and was) well prepared for the exam – unlike the last time.  Obviously I can’t discuss the exam itself but the material here proved to be very helpful in preparing me for the exam.


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/02/hello-world/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/02/hello-world/ A new ramp is required to get into the front entry that damages the historical fabric of the building. What steps do you take? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/yJMn31pqknA/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/a-new-ramp-is-required-to-get-into-the-front-entry-that-damages-the-historical-fabric-of-the-building-what-steps-do-you-take-2/#comments Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:58:26 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=157 Read about San Francisco City Hall’s $1 million ramp.


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/a-new-ramp-is-required-to-get-into-the-front-entry-that-damages-the-historical-fabric-of-the-building-what-steps-do-you-take-2/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/a-new-ramp-is-required-to-get-into-the-front-entry-that-damages-the-historical-fabric-of-the-building-what-steps-do-you-take-2/ What is the proper procedure for rejecting part of a contractor’s application for payment if the architect observes that a portion of the work is not yet complete? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/5xic0IKjjrg/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/what-is-the-proper-procedure-for-rejecting-part-of-a-contractors-application-for-payment-if-the-architect-observes-that-a-portion-of-the-work-is-not-yet-complete/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:28:43 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=223 Within 7 days, notify the Owner and Contractor in writing the reasons for withholding the certification in whole or in part.


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/what-is-the-proper-procedure-for-rejecting-part-of-a-contractors-application-for-payment-if-the-architect-observes-that-a-portion-of-the-work-is-not-yet-complete/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/what-is-the-proper-procedure-for-rejecting-part-of-a-contractors-application-for-payment-if-the-architect-observes-that-a-portion-of-the-work-is-not-yet-complete/ If there is a conflict between spec and drawings which one is assumed to over-ride the other? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/f8P3EU4Kj9U/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-spec-and-drawings-which-one-is-assumed-to-over-ride-the-other/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:12:57 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=222 The Contract Documents are intended to be fully cooperative and to the be complimentary. If the Contractor observes that any documents are in conflict, the Contractor shall promptly notify the Owner in writing.

In case of conflicts between the Contract Documents, the order of precedence shall be as follows:

    1) Change Orders or Work Change Directives
    2) Addenda
    3) Special Provisions (or Special Conditions)
    4) Technical Specifications
    5) Plans (Contract Drawings)


]]> http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-spec-and-drawings-which-one-is-assumed-to-over-ride-the-other/feed/ 0 http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/if-there-is-a-conflict-between-spec-and-drawings-which-one-is-assumed-to-over-ride-the-other/ What should an architect do if a contractor refuses to correct non-compliant work? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Sharkitecture/~3/4l9xSBTAT04/ http://sharkitecture.net/2009/01/what-should-an-architect-do-if-a-contractor-refuses-to-correct-non-compliant-work-2/#comments Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:05:24 +0000 admin http://sharkitecture.net/?p=220 As the architect in this situation I would report my concern to the contractor, and if they are still unresponsive I would issue written notice of the situation to the owner. Under AIA A201 Owner-Contractor Agreement the owner is entitled to either perform the required work themselves and remove the costs from the contract sum, or terminate the contract with the contractor.


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