Project Delivery

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Project Delivery and Public Architects Committee .
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After spending many years in private practice as an architect and contractor, and now over 10 yeras as an owner's representative in the public sector, I have come to somewhat understand the complexities of delivering projects for the general public. From developing projects, budgeting, forecasting costs, (that one is held accountable for regardless of economic conditions) to HR issues, and serving elected officials and the public. Being a 'Public Architect" has and will continue to have unique challenges. It is important, if not imperative, that architects have an understanding, of what it takes to deliver Public Projects in all types of economic times. With this in mind I would like to solict feedback from some of the public architects, and others, on thier experiences and their unique challenges in delivering Public Projects in the Public Environment. Also do any colleges or universities have any programs that train architects to practice in Public Architecture? ------------------------------------------- David Trevino AIA, LEED AP Sr. Program Manager - Dept. of Public Works - Facilities, Architecture & Engineering City of Dallas Dallas TX -------------------------------------------

David,
This is a great question. Your comment highlights the specific challenges of public projects...the many issues that must be resolved, in addition to maintaining a high caliber of architectural design, which is the issue we all like to talk about. The particular challenge of setting a reasonable budget that will withstand scrutiny at the time it is set, and then still be workable months or years later, when it is actually authorized, is probably the biggest difficulty, especially in these times. It makes the project delivery method selected particularly important, as architects MUST have genuine cost information as they design if there is any hope of meeting restricted budgets. As an architect who has been on the recieving end of a budget set long before rising costs had their effect, I know how this works.

Your question is timely as we have just been discussing how the Public Architecture and Project Delivery KCs might work together to provide a forum for issues like this. Lane Beouger, Vergel Gay and Christine Setter were all at the recent meeting of Knowledge Communities and we discussed how we might create workshops or online forums to address this. It's great to know the specific questions to include, like those you have listed.

I look forward to some collaboration!
Betsy del Monte

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Elizabeth del Monte FAIA
Principal
The Beck Group
Dallas TX
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After many years working in the private sector, I moved to Lothrop Associates LLP in 2007 whose work is primarily in the public sector. I can tell you there was a significant transition to be made.

The biggest difference, I found, is that all work must be extremely well defined in terms of the exact trade or entity to execute the contract for it.  This is because there is often no general contractor for public work complying with Wick's Law, a NY law that requires separating projects above a certain value into multiple prime contracts. This has a big impact on the organization of the contract documents.

Sometimes, we recommend bidding the project out with a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the unions.  In this case the owner can benefit from pre-negotiated concession from the unions and having a single prime contract rather than multiple contracts. 

If the value of the work is less than the Wick's Law limit, but still falls under municipal law, then prevailing wage rules may apply.  In this case, the current prevailing wage rates as published by the state must be incorporated into the contract documents.

There are other pronounced differences in bidding procedures, insurance requirements, etc.  This is where an experience professional is essential to assist the owner with precise language in the supplemental conditions of the contract to comply with state law, union agreements, municipal law, and many other particulars of the site  while still protecting the owner's interests.

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William R Simmons, AIA
Partner
Lothrop Associates LLP
Valhalla NY
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After spending many years in private practice as an architect and contractor, and now over 10 yeras as an owner's representative in the public sector, I have come to somewhat understand the complexities of delivering projects for the general public. From developing projects, budgeting, forecasting costs, (that one is held accountable for regardless of economic conditions) to HR issues, and serving elected officials and the public. Being a 'Public Architect" has and will continue to have unique challenges. It is important, if not imperative, that architects have an understanding, of what it takes to deliver Public Projects in all types of economic times. With this in mind I would like to solict feedback from some of the public architects, and others, on thier experiences and their unique challenges in delivering Public Projects in the Public Environment. Also do any colleges or universities have any programs that train architects to practice in Public Architecture?

David Trevino AIA, LEED AP
Sr. Program Manager - Dept. of Public Works - Facilities, Architecture & Engineering
City of Dallas
Dallas TX
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