Chapter 1 provided us with an overview of the Construction Industry.
Building a Skyscraper
Modern Marvels: Building a Skyscraper - The skeleton
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| The Empire State Building |
A Skyscraper defines our cities. It is a symbol of power, ingenuity, innovation and will. Its a test bed, a place where they work out new technologies, ideas, and new construction methods as they try to build them taller, faster and cheaper.
Clark construction faced $25,000 in construction fees for everyday pass their completion date. The first problem they faced was the fact that some of the holes were not big enough to fit the columns. That seemed to be a quick fix with a jack hammer. The connectors is considered the most dangerous jobs in the construction of the building.
Three months into the project, despite all the safety mechanisms in place, a steel worker fell to his death. According to OSHA, construction has the highest number of fatalities than any other industry classification. Accounting about 20% of work related deaths.
I also enjoyed this video because it enlightened us with some historical facts. The Mohawks, Native Americans, started building bridges in upper New York state and Canada in the 1860s and 1870s. They were really good at it, quickly earning a reputation as exceptional iron workers. It became apparent that they had no fear of heights. The Mohawks and other Native American groups help erect the Empire State building as well as the World Trade Center. The Mohawks still work in construction today and are probably in their fourth generation.
Built in 1885, scholars considered the Home Insurance Building as being the first skyscraper because it has all the essential ingredients. It had a fire proof metal frame and elevators. Fueled by an economic explosion and inflated egos the work would soon see how high buildings could climb.
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| The Home Insurance Building |
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| The John Hancock Center |
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| The World Trade Center |
Project Delivery Systems
Project Delivery Method: A system used by an agency or owner for organizing and financing design, construction, operations, and maintenance service for a building by entering into legal agreements with one or more parties. -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_delivery_method
Types of Project Delivery Methods
Design-Bid-Building (DBB)
DBB with Construction Management (DBB with CM)
Design-Build (DB)
Design-Build-Operate-Maintain (DBOM)
Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)
Integrated-Project-Delivery (IPD)
There are two key variables which account for the bulk of the variation between delivery methods:
- The extent of the integration of the various service providers.
- The extent to which the owner is directly financing the project.
Construction Contract Types Lump-Sum: The contractor agrees to perform a stipulated job of work in exchange for a fixed sum of money. This type of contract is popular with owners for the obvious reason that the total cost of the project is known in advance.
Unit Price: Based on estimated quantities of defined items of work and costs per unit amount of each of these work items. The total sum of money paid to the contractor for each work item remains an indeterminable factor until completion of the project, because payment is made to the contractor based on units of work actually done measured in the field.
Award of Competitive-Bid Contract: After competitive bids have been submitted and found to be responsive, the owner, after careful study and evaluation of the bids received, must identify the contractor to whom the project will be awarded.
Cost-Plus-Fee Contracts: Are used where, in the judgement of the owner, a fixed-sum contract is undesirable or inappropriate. Cost-plus contracts are normally negotiated between the owner and the contractor. Most cost-plus contracts are open-ended in the sense that the total construction cost to the owner cannot be known until completion of the project.
Construction Management (CM): Refers to the providing of professional management services to the owner of a construction project with the objective of achieving high quality at minimum cost and time. Such services may encompass only a defined portion of the construction process, such as field construction, or may include total project responsibility. the essential objective of this approach is to treat project planning, design, and construction as integrated tasks within a construction system.
“Management” vs. “Delivery”
Is the CM “Not At-Risk” (CM Agency) a project delivery method? If the delivery
you are referring to is the delivery of design and construction services, CM “Not At-
Risk” is not a project delivery method! Instead, CM “Not At-Risk” is a project
management (vs. “delivery”) method, a method of managing design and construction
services. Therefore, a CM Agency or “Not At-Risk” could be used in conjunction with
any project delivery method including Design-Bid-Build, Multiple Prime, Design-Build,
or even CM At-Risk!Construction Bidding
Choosing a construction project delivery method is an important decision that an owner makes when deciding on a new building or renovation project. The decision should be made early in the design phase of the project since it impacts the contractual relationship between the owner and contractor, the scope of design services required for the project and the relationship between the owner and the architect. Ultimately, the owner must decide whether the construction of the project will be based upon competitive bidding between multiple contractors, or a negotiated agreement with a pre-selected contractor. Each approach can result in a good product, delivered timely and at a fair price. However, each has advantages and disadvantages which must be carefully considered depending on the client and project. What is most important according to Richard Skendzel and Steven Steimel, is that one or the other is selected and adhered to; not a combination of both.
A summary of the characteristics of both negotiated and bid project delivery methods are shown in the picture below. The decision to use one or the other should be based upon the specific goals of each individual project. Small renovation projects often benefit from using a negotiated delivery method due to the higher proportional cost of complete design and documentation services that would be required to successfully establish the scope of work and then bid them. For new commercial construction work, the traditional design-bid-build approach still has many advantages. A project that is well-designed, detailed, and specified prior to establishment of a construction contract gives the owner the greatest probability that the initial bid price will be very close to the actual construction cost at project completion. For more information visit http://www.letstalkbuilding.com/articles/56/negotiate-or-bid....but-not-both!
Building Codes 101
A building code is a collection of requirements that pertain to buildings. Buildings codes set formal rules for things like the design of the building, the way buildings are to be built, materials used to construct buildings and the overall performance of buildings. The core family of building codes generally consists of: (1) a building code – which covers the building itself, (2) a plumbing code, mechanical code and usually (3) an electrical code. In some locations, this entire group of codes is known as the building code for that location.
The purpose of these rules and regulations focus on the health, safety and general welfare. They address many hazards such as: structure failure, fires, storm, wind damage, flooding, earthquakes, rotten decay, electrocution, dangerous fumes, drinking water contamination and much more. A key point to remember is that building codes is a minimum requirement for buildings. Buildings strictly to the codes and no more will not guarantee a durable, high quality building. The codes only seek to ensure that the building is reasonably safe. Some describe it as the worst you can build a building by law. For many owners, buildings to the code may not be enough. The way buildings are built has an effect on many others. Building codes ensure the provisions for emergency services, accessibility and equal access, reasonable insurance. Building codes are also important because buildings last long and they provide information to new owners when sold and because of the complexity of buildings.
Ultimately the decision regarding the type and extent of building codes used in a certain area or state is determined locally depending on the needs and values. Building codes also provide the uniformity of building practices which make training easier and lower construction cost, ensure all contractors meet a minimum standard for construction and improve the quality of construction. Buildings codes ensure that structures have an appropriate interface with the site and with the community in which the building appears, ensure safe working environment for construction workers, and make a desirable locations for business to set up.
Buildings apply for new or proposed construction or for existing structures. The responsibility for building codes vary depending on the location. In some locations, buildings codes are established at the state level and local jurisdictions are required to enforce it at the local level. In some states, the local jurisdiction can adopt any codes they wish. Code enforcement officials ensure compliance of building codes in their jurisdiction.
Model codes are building codes developed and maintained by an organization independent of the jurisdiction responsible for enacting the building code. Visit the ICC website at www.iccsafe.org for more information.
Below you can find links to Building Codes and Authorities Having Jurisdiction for Arlington, Texas.
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