ConstructionAdvisorToday

Gearing Up for the New Year!

Construction Advisor Today (CAT) is getting ready for the new year and will resume its regular coverage of construction-related developments and insight next week. In the meantime, here are a few brief notes of interest from all three sections of CAT:

Do You Always Follow Change Order Procedures?

Changes are a fact of life in the construction process. Contract documents give the project owner the right to expand, reduce or otherwise alter the scope of work. The contract documents also spell out a process whereby contractors propose, and project owners approve, change orders. Subcontracts include similar provisions. Failure to adhere to the stipulated process can be costly. A Michigan subcontractor recently learned this the hard way.

DOE Unveils New Version of Building Energy Modeling Software

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new version of its building energy modeling (BEM) software for architects, engineers, researchers, and policymakers. DOE estimated that EnergyPlus v7.0 -- which can calculate the energy required to heat, cool, ventilate, and light a building -- is up to 40 percent faster than the previous version of the software. The software can model various types of residential and commercial buildings and HVAC system types, including passive building designs and low-energy systems.

Experts Offer Advice on Recovery Schedules in Construction Projects

Upon receiving a request for a recovery schedule in a construction project, the first course of action should be to examine the schedule and try to determine what may have caused the delay. This is one of many pieces of advice that Warner Construction Consultants Inc. Vice President Michael Harris and Larry Baker, a senior partner at Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald LLP, construction professionals attending a webinar that WPL Publishing held earlier this month.

Are Site Condition Claims Obsolete on Design-Build Projects?

It is self-evident that design-build contracts place much more responsibility -- and risk -- with the contractor than a traditional contract for construction only. The parameters of that risk continue to be defined in the courts. A recent federal case calls into question the ability of design-build contractors to recover for differing site conditions.

New NIBS Report Considered a ‘First Step’ Toward Making High-Performance Buildings Commonplace Across America

Washington, D.C. -- The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) has taken what it considers a “first step” toward ensuring that high-performance buildings become the norm across the United States by releasing a report, entitled “Data Needs for Achieving High-Performance Buildings,” during its annual meeting, held here earlier this month in conjunction with the Ecobuild America conference.

Firm Plans Expansion of BIM Consulting Services

Gehry Technologies (GT) intends to expand its building information modeling (BIM) consulting services and continue development of its design and project management technology, drawing upon $10 million in Series B financing that the firm recently secured. This round of financing, led by Autodesk with participation from Dassault Systemes and private investors, brings total funding to $15 million.

Are Public Projects Being Disguised as Private?

The line between public works and private projects continues to blur. Innovative contracting methods and partnering arrangements allow public money to subsidize for-profit projects, while representing those public-purpose projects as private. Sometimes this is driven by financial imperative; sometimes by political considerations.

Most Surveyed Construction Professionals Believe They Are at Least Somewhat Prepared for Green Building Disputes

About two-thirds of construction professionals participating in a new Green Building Insider (GBI) survey believe they are either “somewhat prepared” or “fully prepared” for any legal disputes they may encounter over the next year that involve their companies’/organizations’ green building work. A balanced representation of nearly 200 construction professionals -- including architects, engineers, consultants, construction managers, owners, contractors, and others -- over the last week responded to the survey’s 15 questions about the risks of building green as well as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and accreditation. Construction Advisor Today members can access a summary of the survey results by clicking on the following link:

Consultancy Sees Proliferation of BIM Next Year

Expect building information modeling (BIM) to proliferate in the coming year as more companies embrace the technology, according to the business and technology consulting firm Microdesk. Proliferation of BIM is one of the top five trends for 2012 that architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) companies should prepare for now, according to the firm.