Design I - Discussion Questions

• The responsibilities of the architect / engineer include:
• -Representing the owner
• -Advising and consulting with the owner
• -Coordinating, communicating, and working with other disciplines
• -Generating a complete set of drawings and specifications
• -Coordinating all drawings and specifications. A cross-sectional diagram that shows all building systems to scale is encouraged during the facility design and is required in mechanical rooms, chases, and areas where building systems intersect.
• -Participating in the bid process and contractor selection.
• -Verifying that the workmanship and the materials conform to the requirements of the drawings and specifications.
• -Inspecting the project periodically.
• -Preparing punch lists.

In speculative development, a building is built without a commitment from a user, but with the belief that a demand exists fo the space and that the space will be rented within a reasonable time after the building is completed.

Build-to-suit development is the design and construction of a building to meet the specific needs of a user who is committed to the project.

Building codes are regulations that promote general safety by regulating the design and construction of the building's components.

Site Coverage: The percentage of the lot that can be covered by the structure.

Floor Area ratio: The ratio of the total floor area of all buildigns on a lot to the area of the lot.

Easement or Right of Way: An agreement that confers on an individual, company, or municipality the right to use the landowner's property in some way. An easement grants rights and partially restricts the owner's use of those portions of land affected by the easement.

Life cycle costing is a process used to determine the sum of all costs associated with an assset, including acquisition, installation, operation, maintenance, refurbishment, and disposal costs.

Design-build is a method of project delivery in which one entity, a design-builder, enters into a single contract with an owner to provide architectural and engineering design and construction services.

The decision about which of the four project delivery methods is appropriate depends on the nature of the project (size, diversity, cost), the capabilities of the owner, and what best serves the owner's objectives.

A cost plus contract is usually between an owner and contractor, design professional, or construction manager. Under this contract, the contractor - design professional or construction manager - is reimbursed for his or her direct and indirect costs and is paid a fee for his or her services. The fee is usually stated as a stipulated sum or as a percentage of cost.

A bid bond is a written form of security executed by the bidder as principal and surety. This bond guarantees that the bidder will sign the contract if awarded the contract for the stated bid amount. The surety is a third party that makes a pledge to pay liquidated damages to the owner if the bonded contractor declines an award offered by the owner. The damages are the difference between the bonded contractor bid and the next highest bidder but do not exceed the face value of the bond.

A payment bond protects certain laborers, material suppliers, and subcontractors against nonpayment. Since a mechanic's lien cannot be placed against public property, the payment bond may be the only protection these claimants have if they are not paid for the goods and services they provide to the project.

RFI (Request for Information): A written request from one party to another for clarification or information about the contract documents following contract award.

RFP (Request for Proposal): A type of bid document used to solicit proposals from prospective practitioners or products or services. This is a request for uniform, detailed information from prospective practitioners being screened for a project.

R-value, or insulating value, is a numerical index that indicates the resistance of a material to heat passing through it. The higher the R-value, the higher the resistance to heat transfer through the material. The R-value of a wall or other building segment composed of several elements can be found by adding the R-values for each element.

Epoxies are added to concrete to enhance the properties of the concrete or to correct problems in the concrete mixture. When added to concrete, epoxies provide high compressive and tensile strength, superior chemical resistance, and good wear resistance. When added to concrete mixture, the cost of the mixture is increased and will require longer curing times.

Epoxies have been used for various purposes such as boding concrete, filling cracks, and anchoring bolts. Epoxies are thermosetting resins that cure by adding a hardener or catalyst.

Galvanic action is the wasting away effect that occurs when two dissimilar metals are in contact in the presence of ann electrolyte or an electric current.

Reflective insulation must be installed with an air space of at least 3/4 in. between the reflective surface and the interior wall.