An odd situation
An odd situation
(OP)
Sorry this is a long post.
About a year and a half ago I was asked to put a proposal together for a new client (an architect) on two projects. The proposals were accepted and design work began on project #1. The proposals included engineering and the necessary construction administration. The contract was to be billed at an hourly rate not to exceed a certain figure (at the client’s request).
About two weeks into the project #1 my contract for project #2 was terminated because the owner wanted to use another design firm. A few weeks later we finished the design work and submitted the drawings to the client together with an invoice in accordance with the proposal (which was about 80% of the proposal) of which we were paid.
Six months later I received a frantic call from the architect asking me to review the shop drawings and if I could have them returned within 24 hours. I reviewed the shop drawings late into the night and had them back to the client within the requested time period.
Ten month later I received a call from the architect asking if I could print another 5 sets of drawings and have them sealed and sent to the client because the jurisdiction lost them. I asked the architect where construction stood and I was informed that construction was 75% complete. When I asked about site visits required by the code to “sign off” on the project the architect said he would get back to me. I printed and sent the drawings as requested.
Now a month later the architect said that I can go onsite and view a structure that is 90% complete.
What do others do in this instance? I informed the client that I would not be able to sign the final construction affidavit as the affidavit requires me to say that I have made periodic visits which I have not. This is now causing the client some concern.
To make matters more complicated, the owner has a construction division and is doing their own GC work.
About a year and a half ago I was asked to put a proposal together for a new client (an architect) on two projects. The proposals were accepted and design work began on project #1. The proposals included engineering and the necessary construction administration. The contract was to be billed at an hourly rate not to exceed a certain figure (at the client’s request).
About two weeks into the project #1 my contract for project #2 was terminated because the owner wanted to use another design firm. A few weeks later we finished the design work and submitted the drawings to the client together with an invoice in accordance with the proposal (which was about 80% of the proposal) of which we were paid.
Six months later I received a frantic call from the architect asking me to review the shop drawings and if I could have them returned within 24 hours. I reviewed the shop drawings late into the night and had them back to the client within the requested time period.
Ten month later I received a call from the architect asking if I could print another 5 sets of drawings and have them sealed and sent to the client because the jurisdiction lost them. I asked the architect where construction stood and I was informed that construction was 75% complete. When I asked about site visits required by the code to “sign off” on the project the architect said he would get back to me. I printed and sent the drawings as requested.
Now a month later the architect said that I can go onsite and view a structure that is 90% complete.
What do others do in this instance? I informed the client that I would not be able to sign the final construction affidavit as the affidavit requires me to say that I have made periodic visits which I have not. This is now causing the client some concern.
To make matters more complicated, the owner has a construction division and is doing their own GC work.
Talk To Other Members
RE: An odd situation
i don't see any honest way to sign off on the reviews, unless you sign and date,
"Allowed on jobsite and witnessed construction at 90% point. Visible structures and all items inspected appeared within spec."
RE: An odd situation
RE: An odd situation
RE: An odd situation
I have a call into the architect to try and resolve the issue but he hasn't returned my call yet. I'm willing to try and help everyone out but at this point I have no intention signing a statement saying I've been present onsite when I have not.
RE: An odd situation
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: An odd situation
http://www.nceng.com.au/
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning."
RE: An odd situation
RE: An odd situation
As the shop drawing review occurred over a year ago I don't recall if I asked for the construction schedule or not.
Project #1 actually consisted of two small additions to a building (150 square feet and 1,100 square feet). It appears as if construction occurred at two separate times for each of the additions. I do remember asking the architect for the schedule over a month ago on the 150 square foot addition and he finally got back to me on Friday (5 weeks later) saying that steel erection was complete. This scenario might have played out over a year ago with the architect never getting back to me.
RE: An odd situation
I was told that the owner/contractor was confused as they have multiple project open at this time and didn't realize that I needed to visit the site. The other design firm that the owner used for project #2 actually doesn't fabrication work and was responsible for the steel fabrication on my project. He has visited the site and is going to sign off on the required affidavits.
This is pretty much what I thought was going to happen. Not sure if the architect is telling the truth or not, but at least everything is now resolved.