Retail and Entertainment

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Retail and Entertainment and Practice Management Member Conversations .
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I completed the TI design and CD's for a restaurant back in 1997.  The building shell was already existing.  All went well with the construction and relationship with the client.  The original owner (my client) sold the restaurant about 2 years ago.  Since then the restaurant has been closed down.  I recently received a call from a RE broker saying that he represents a new owner, in escrow, and they would like to get a copy of the old plans.  As a general policy we do not reproduce plans for a third party that we have no contractual relationship with.  And, additionally, since the plans were done 17 years ago, there may have been renovations done to the space that we were not involved with.  I therefore am inclined to tell the broker that we can not provide a copy of the old plans to their client.  I would greatly appreciate any feedback from members who might have run into a similar situation when asked to re-produce old plans for a new third party.  Thanks! 

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Michael Kemp AIA
Principal
Michael Kemp Architects
Los Angeles CA
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Michael, we get requests all the time for drawings on projects we did in the past.  In general we will provide the drawings in PDF format (if available) as a courtesy.  We also get requests for Cad files.  We will not provide those without having the recipient sign an electronic release agreement that states that the files are being provided without warranty of accuracy, and we recommend that the recipient visit the site to investigate and verify the existing conditions.  I don't recall having anyone come back with an issue.  At the very least it usually gives us an opportunity to give a proposal on the future fit up.

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Brett Powell AIA
Associate Principal
Cline Design Associates, PA
Raleigh NC
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I'd get a rubber stamp made with whatever "exculpatory" text you want to say about no guarantee that the building looks like this, that you're not responsible for any changes made, that it might not meet code now, etc.

Run the prints and stamp the drawings and arrange for RE Agent to pick up drawings at the printer after paying cost of printing plus an hour of your time to access archives.

RE Agent can write this cost off as part of effort to make the sale.

You could have a new client. Sometimes we get so hung up over possible liability that we starve the future work lifeline.
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Joel Niemi AIA
Principal
Snohomish WA

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I work for a company that has an ongoing contract with a grocery store chain and we see this all the time when our client acquires other stores. Usually they are successful in obtaining the drawings from the original architect. I don't know if they sign certain agreements with him/her but we certainly get tiffs, pdfs and sometimes cadd files if available. The possibility of having renovations occurred without records of it is always present therefore the new architect must perform a site visit to survey existing condition prior to producing CD's of the new project.
Another path is for them to try to get record drawings from AHJ, but usually this is a long route and the quality of the drawings is not great plus there is no way of getting it in cadd.

I hope this helps!

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Irene Eshak AIA
Architect
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I have often been asked to provide drawings for projects I've designed in the past. Unless it is for a friend who is an architect there is a fee for this service. Don't be too meek in asking for a substantial fee.  I have paid other architects substantial amounts for full CADD construction drawings of buildings I was renovating. My clients are glad to pay the fee since it saves everyone time and money. All drawings that are released have the title boxes removed. We also ask that the person receiving the drawings sign an agreement that eliminates any liability or responsibility on our behalf. I have also experienced instances where the drawing request resulted in a joint project with the architect needing the drawings, I wouldn't be bashful in asking if there is an opportunity for you firm to be part of the team..  

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Joel Ives AIA
Owner
The Ives Architecture Studio LLC
Fair Lawn NJ
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