Practice Management Member Conversations

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Project Delivery and Practice Management Member Conversations .
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Chicago BIMForum Call for Presentations

When Does Design End and Construction Begin?
New Dates: July 19-21, 2011   '   Chicago, IL

A consensus is emerging about the benefits of tapping the expertise of consultants, contractors, and facility managers during the early phases of a BIM-enabled project. The intent is to achieve design decisions that are both early and well informed to avoid costly later revisions. But does this necessarily imply that all design effort should be concentrated exclusively at the start of a project? Are late design decisions necessarily detrimental to budget, schedule, and quality? Are changing client requirements and construction volatility such that early decisions are not only impractical but also to be avoided?

If you have direct experience related to the impact of early or late design decisions, we are very much interested in hearing from you. To provide additional clarity, submitted presentations should consider addressing some of the following design related topics:

• Is the idea of good early decisions pragmatically an oxymoron and not possible?
• Is a good decision once made always a good decision?
• Is it reasonable to expect a fixed functional program from a client?
• Can all factors that affect design and cost be known early in a project?
• Do late design decisions always adversely affect a project budget and schedule?
• How does BIM technology affect the cost and schedule implications of late decisions?
• Can design realistically progress in an efficient and linear way without iteratively searching for an optimum solution?
• Are legacy project phases applicable in integrated design and construction?
• What are valid contractual relationships related to consultant, contractor, subcontractor, and facility manager design input?
• How can consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and fabricators be engaged in evaluating multiple designs when they have monetary incentives to consider the fewest schemes possible?
• Are clients willing to pay for additional early design effort by "non-designers"?
• Are consultants and contractors assuming more the role of the designer in early phases while simultaneously ceding much of their legacy documentation and management roles to subcontractors and fabricators?
• Where does traditional design leave off and spatial coordination begin?
• When does spatial coordination morph into design?
• How can contractors and designers find common ground for design and coordination?

Submissions are due by Friday, May 6, 2011. To submit a proposal, click here.
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Kimberly Yoho
Manager, Strategic Initiatives
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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For the Discussion Forum, I would suggest the following subject.  I and I know that a lot of others who have posted their thoughts and ideas on this site would agree with this topic.

Can the Future of the Profession of Architecture Survive?  And if it could should it?

All groups, organisations, laws, and even governments have a life cycle. In my 30 plus years in the profession, I have seen a constant eroding of the service and fees that Architects once provided.  The General Contracting Industry started out of the profession of Architecture as did Construction Managment.  Yet in many states, architects are forbiden from practicing in these fields, no matter what documents that AIA may write.

In the area of Building Codes, the work Archiect is noted a two places in the IBC; once in the definition sectoin and the other in the table of contents that refers to the definition secton.

Many states do not require CA work to be performed by the Architect or for that matter the Engineer of Record.  And yet, everyone wants an Architect involved if only for the Professional Liability Insurance that seems to vary from 8 to 10 years depending on that state.

We have a particular rise in non-licensed professionals via local jurisdiction's plan review and on-site inspection.  Many juristictions even tell the client that the Architect of Record is not required since they have their own thrid party site reviewers.  This, this statement, many times is contrary to lthat State's Professional Practice Law, but no one seems to care.
 
The AIA has embraced the USGBC with such vigor and this groups has grown far larger than that of the AIA, maybe the AIA should merge with the USGBC.  Their fees are larger than that of the AIAs and there programs are endorsed lock-stock and barrel by the AIA.  Why do we need two organizations, if one will do?

Then we have interior designers who are getting licensed in may states with the concept that interior designers are responsible for the interiors of a building while the architect is only responsible for the exterior,

I have not gotten into Constuction Managers, Porject Managers or Progam Managers who appear to have no licensing or responsibility at all except that of being a gatekeeper and filter between the Owner and the Architect and  Contractor.

Maybe the time for the Professional Licensed Architect or Master Builder, as we once were, is over.  If so, we should not fight the inevitable, accept our future, and go quitely into the night and into hsitory.

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David Hauseman
Atlanta GA
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Mr. Hauseman, I posted a topic similar to what you're proposing last October; you may recall this blog:
 
http://network.aia.org/AIA/AIA/Blogs/BlogViewer/Default.aspx?BlogKey=ba0f2dc0-51a6-4aab-8a5f-f3e66c35b6ad

Or perhaps you thought the discussion didn't go far enough and now you'd like to take it to a whole new level?

If so, I can relate as I, too, like to find resolution to ongoing dilemmas.

I am concerned about our profession. I keep researching but have not found the bottom yet. There are several elephants in the room that need to be discussed.  Maybe we will be enlightened when we're brave enough to name them.

P.S. (I was a bit confused by the thread title: RE:BIMForum - Call for Presentations.  In a way, it's ironic...)

Best regards,
Tara

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Tara Imani AIA
Owner
Tara Imani Designs, LLC
Houston TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-02-2011 17:46
From: David Hauseman
Subject: BIMForum - Call for Presentations!

For the Discussion Forum, I would suggest the following subject.  I and I know that a lot of others who have posted their thoughts and ideas on this site would agree with this topic.

Can the Future of the Profession of Architecture Survive?  And if it could should it?

All groups, organisations, laws, and even governments have a life cycle. In my 30 plus years in the profession, I have seen a constant eroding of the service and fees that Architects once provided.  The General Contracting Industry started out of the profession of Architecture as did Construction Managment.  Yet in many states, architects are forbiden from practicing in these fields, no matter what documents that AIA may write.

In the area of Building Codes, the work Archiect is noted a two places in the IBC; once in the definition sectoin and the other in the table of contents that refers to the definition secton.

Many states do not require CA work to be performed by the Architect or for that matter the Engineer of Record.  And yet, everyone wants an Architect involved if only for the Professional Liability Insurance that seems to vary from 8 to 10 years depending on that state.

We have a particular rise in non-licensed professionals via local jurisdiction's plan review and on-site inspection.  Many juristictions even tell the client that the Architect of Record is not required since they have their own thrid party site reviewers.  This, this statement, many times is contrary to lthat State's Professional Practice Law, but no one seems to care.
 
The AIA has embraced the USGBC with such vigor and this groups has grown far larger than that of the AIA, maybe the AIA should merge with the USGBC.  Their fees are larger than that of the AIAs and there programs are endorsed lock-stock and barrel by the AIA.  Why do we need two organizations, if one will do?

Then we have interior designers who are getting licensed in may states with the concept that interior designers are responsible for the interiors of a building while the architect is only responsible for the exterior,

I have not gotten into Constuction Managers, Porject Managers or Progam Managers who appear to have no licensing or responsibility at all except that of being a gatekeeper and filter between the Owner and the Architect and  Contractor.

Maybe the time for the Professional Licensed Architect or Master Builder, as we once were, is over.  If so, we should not fight the inevitable, accept our future, and go quitely into the night and into hsitory.

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David Hauseman
Atlanta GA
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