ConstructionAdvisorToday

Questionable Practices By Construction Lenders

A reader recently called our attention to an interesting problem. He is an HVAC contractor. He provides price quotations to property owners for the replacement and installation of complete systems. The property owner intends to finance this major improvement and approaches a lending institution. The loan officer informs the owner that at least two bids are required before a loan can be approved. The loan officer provides the property owner with the name and contact information of another HVAC contractor.

NIST Official Explains Need For New Guidance Document Promoting Improved Building IAQ

There are "strong arguments" to be made for going beyond minimum standards when it comes to establishing indoor air quality (IAQ) in buildings, said Andrew Persily, who leads the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Indoor Air Quality and Ventilation Group. It is for this reason that five building industry associations and a federal agency last month unveiled the document "Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning."

New Study of IPD Method Demonstrates Efficiencies and Cost Effectiveness

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and The AIA California Council (AIACC) recently announced the results of a joint project focused on real building projects that used and implemented integrated project delivery (IPD) during the building process. IPD is a construction project model in which owner, design professional, and builder jointly share a project's risk and reward.

Are Project Owners Misusing Convenience Terminations?

A project owner’s right to terminate a contract for the owner’s convenience is a vital tool. A termination without cause gives the owner flexibility to respond to contingencies such as lost project financing or changing market conditions. The contractor, who was not in default, is compensated for work performed prior to termination. The most common contractual formula is cost plus profit, along with settlement costs such as subcontractor termination, demobilization and other contract close-out costs.

Autodesk Acquires Dynamite VSP, SIM Visualization Software Products, Related Assets

Autodesk Inc. recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of Dynamite VSP and Dynamite SIM visualization software products and related assets. The products were purchased from 3AM Solutions, a United Kingdom-based technology company that develops visualization software for civil infrastructure. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Lawmakers Want 10 Million Solar Rooftops

Congressional lawmakers earlier this month introduced legislation designed to get photovoltaic solar panels installed on 10 million rooftops across the United States over the next 10 years. The bill, offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), also would increase the capacity of solar hot water by an estimated 10 million gallons over the same period.

Construction Project Governance

FEATURED WEBINAR

WPL Publishing will host a webinar that is designed to help companies understand how a project governance program can help them stand out as an ethical member of the construction community and minimize some of the risks they may face.

For the webinar, entitled "Project Governance: How to Improve on 'One Foot on the Gas' and 'One Foot on the Brake'," WPL will partner with Harold Dorbin, a senior vice president and project advisory leader for Marsh Risk Consulting's Construction Consulting Practice. The 90-minute webinar will take place Tues., Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. To register, click here.

Who Should Pay for Pricing Scope Changes?

When a project owner has issued directives involving a changed scope of work, or is merely considering changes, the owner quite appropriately looks to the contractor for a price proposal. On a large, complex project, or a project plagued by excessive changes, the preparation of change order proposals can be quite burdensome for the contractor.

Lochinvar Develops Library of Drawings of Its Product That Are Configured for Placement in BIMs

Lebanon, Tenn.-based Lochinvar has developed a library of drawings of its commercial and residential products that are fully configured for placement in Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 building information models. Architects, contractors, and designers using the 2010 edition of Revit software, which allows them to design with parametric modeling and drafting elements, can now download the pre-programmed, 3D Lochinvar equipment models at www.Lochinvar.com.  Lochinvar manufactures water heaters, boilers, pool heaters, and storage tanks.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council Adds Resource Pages to Whole Building Design Guide

With help from the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the nonprofit Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) has contributed new resource pages on site security design to the "Whole Building Design Guide" (WBDG).