Archinect - News

EskewDumezRipple’s latest job opening highlights the role of contracts and codes in construction

2024-02-01T08:34:00-05:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Project Manager at Fluidity Design Consultants, we are using this week’s edition of our Job Highlights series to explore an open role on Archinect Jobs for a Construction Contract Administrator at EskewDumezRipple.

The role, based in New Orleans, calls for an individual with an “intimate knowledge and thorough understanding of AIA Construction Contracts and requirements, applicable codes, schedule monitoring and an understanding of materials, methods, and processes of commercial construction.” Among the responsibilities for the role will be to understand and enforce the contractual obligations of all parties in the construction process, promote and ensure the design intent during the construction process, and ensure that all potentially legal and contractual matters are addressed efficiently and promptly.

AIA comments on congressional revising of fee limitation for federal design and construction projects

2024-01-08T16:50:00-05:00

The recent decision by Congress to revise fee limitations on all federal design and construction contracts undertaken with the Department of Defense (DOD) has been commended by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) following President Joe Biden’s formal signing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2024.

Under the new federal guidelines, fees are now limited to ten percent of the total estimated construction costs for all architect-engineer services for the preparation of designs, plans, drawings, and specifications. The prevailing statutory limitations had formerly been limited to six percent and applied also to any contract modifications (e.g. redesigns). Any other services are not subject to the limit, according to the current letter of the law.

Speaking to the continued need for change, the AIA’s 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell said: “This is a step in the right direction to ensuring that architects are adequately compensated for the specialized skills and ...

David Adjaye answers critics in National Cathedral of Ghana financing dispute

2023-01-24T14:24:00-05:00

David Adjaye has issued a statement in response to the ongoing scrutiny of the design fees and commissioning of the National Cathedral of Ghana project in his home country.

Speaking to the Ghanaian outlet Joy News after the new year, the architect dismissed claims of preferential treatment and financial impropriety on the project, stating that nothing was “hidden or opaque” within the process that has become the subject of legal action taken by political opponents to President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The dispute centers on $21.37 million USD worth of fees paid to Adjaye Associates in two installments by the government that were allegedly not approved by the parliament, according to a minority politician who is campaigning for their repayment dependent on the outcome of the country’s 2024 national elections.

Previously on Archinect: Adjaye may be asked to repay National Cathedral fees as Ghanaian political campaign turns ugly

It has been established, however, that approvals did go through G...

AIA Home Design Trends Survey shows demand for larger homes remaining strong despite shortages

2022-07-01T10:00:00-04:00

The latest data from the American Institute of Architects shows a continued increase in a homebuilding trend that began in the throes of the pandemic and has not abated in the face of supply-chain shortages and several countervailing trends in the residential construction market.

According to the AIA’s newly-released Home Design Trends Survey, interest in larger homes has grown for a second consecutive year after remaining largely stagnant for a period of five.

Extract of the AIA Home Design Trends Survey. The full survey is available here.

ADUs and micro apartment designs saw slight decreases in demand but remain popular. Other trends, including aging-in-home options for seniors, saw increases as pandemic worries and a dramatic shift in working conditions caused a spike in demand for converted features like finished basements and garage spaces. The Q2 statistics also revealed a large number of blended indoor-outdoor areas being requested as well.

Extract of the AIA Home Design Tre...

Oliver Wainwright considers the impacts of Belgium’s Open Call bidding system

2022-05-03T12:17:00-04:00

Unlike the toxic culture of open international competitions, which see countless architects waste days of unpaid labour to compete in a beauty contest of novelty forms, the Open Call is focused – and paid. The democratic process has seen Pritzker prize winners drawn alongside recent graduates, unheard-of elsewhere. Unlikely as it may seem, the scheme has made this small part of northern Belgium home to some of the best new public buildings in the world.

The Guardian critic used Florian Heilmeyer’s new book, Celebrating Public Architecture: Buildings from the Open Call in Flanders 2000–2021, as a means of introduction to the system that was first enacted in 2000. Heilmeyer’s aim is to advance the notion that it “prove[s] that public architecture can actually be daring, thought-provoking, cooperative, and well-done at the same time.” Wainwright thoroughly concurred with the assertion, adding his own opinion that a shift towards a more democratic process could benefit the health and safety of his own country.

“It’s not hard to see why, given the current state of UK procurement culture,” he wrote of the controversial British way of awarding public procurements. “As the Grenfell inquiry has made all too clear in week after depressing week, the process through which public authorities procure building work has become riddled with lethal incompetence and institutionalised negligence.” Wainwright adds: “It is a process of contractual buck-...

AIA updates sustainable design contract suite to streamline green building

2020-05-15T17:39:00-04:00

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has published new and updated AIA contract documents that are designed to "support businesses with reaching their sustainability goals and programming."

The latest set of documents focuses on AIA's renewed efforts to center environmental design in architecture practice as talk of a potential Green New Deal and other green stimulus efforts begin to coalesce in earnest within the profession.

Previously on Archinect: "AIA issues statement of support for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal." Park Passive, the first certified passive house in Seattle. Photo by Aaron Leitz.

According to an announcement published by AIA, the documents offer a "roadmap to integrate sustainability into design and construction projects, as well as ensure less confusion when green project discussions begin."

The organization writes, "While there are already four versions of AIA sustainable project exhibits that attach to standard contracts, this update includes th...