Questions Flashcards
‐ How do you assess pricing for variations
First, I would check the scope of the variation and further impact on-time schedule. Then cross-check the schedule of rate provided by the contractor.
‐ How do you deal with extensions of time requested by the builder, when is it appropriate to accept
them, ie: the builder discovers stuff on site that was not apparent beforehand such as a new subfloor.
I would accept the extension of time If it is caused by latent conditions or disruptive weather. I would also check the contract for allowance for delay without changing the date for practical completion.
‐ How do you know if the amount of time requested by the builder is acceptable.
I would cross-check the requested time extension with the proposed construction program submitted by the builder as part of the contract documents.
‐ How do you assess the critical path.
I would assess the critical path by reviewing the milestones in construction. For example, the date for site possession, concrete pouring date, structure assembly. I would visit to the project site at each milestone to check if the project is on track.
‐ Who is responsible for NCC compliance?
- The Architect
- Contractor
- Consultants
‐ The tender process
First, call for tender to selected tenderers. Once the tender is open & running, Architect should provide all tender documents to tenderers for them to identify the scope of works and pricing the construction cost. During this process, there would be request for further information from the tenderers, subcontractors and suppliers. If any extra information need to be given to all of them, then issue tender addendums to all invited tenderers then the tenders would pass this addendums to subcontractors & suppliers. Before the tender close date, all tenderers should submit their tender submissions and the tender would be closed on the tender closing date & time.
‐ What would be unethical during the tender process
- Not providing fair & equal information to all tenderers
- Keep the tenderers list in confidential to prevent collusion between the tenderers
- If tender documents need to be altered or addendums issued, tenderers should be given sufficient time to review & revise their tender submissions.
- If there is a conflict of interest, architect should disclose this to all tenderers.
‐ The role of the building surveyor
They are responsible for ensuring that contract documents are in compliance with National Construction Codes, Australian Standards, and laws.
‐ How to deal with existing items on site that are to be retained.
- The contractor must take all necessary steps to avoid removal, loss, and damage of the existing items.
- Contract types used?
- The contract type for all project was Fixed price lump sum contract while I was working on Tectura Architects.
‐ What went wrong on projects?
- There was no major issue but while working on the Minors Rest primary school project, partial of site possession was not completed by the client. Therefore, we had to prepare contract documents for two different design options and ask tenderer to price those two options as well. After all, site possession was completed before the construction start date but it took us more time & effort to document for these two design options.
‐ What tasks did you undertake on the projects?
- At the time when I start work at Tectura architects, the director wish to transfer the office’s documentation system to adopt BIM system but there was no one who has experience in this area. Therefore, I had to set up the office standard to adopt BIM system. After few months working in this office then I start to working on assisting the project architect’s in project documentations in different project stages.
‐ How do you find working of D+Cs and what are the difficulties?
- I never worked on Design & Construct contract but I assume that maintaining the design quality would be difficult because the architect would be contracted or employed by the builder and the top priority of most builders are often reducing cost & time.
- Which contract is the best contract for dealing with disputes?
ABIC Contract as it has the mechanisms built into it.
- When you would use a cost plus contract?
A fossil found on site and not being able to determine what the scope of the works might be and particularly that you
could use it for an isolated item on an overall project.
- How to get clients.
- I think there are multiple ways of getting clients. I would first advertise that I started a new business providing an architectural full services to the public on the internet and SNS. Also, I could join a community where my office would be located and interact with the community members to build up the relationship. Lastly, I could also join an architectural competition. Although I could not win the project, I still can use the design for marketing.
- Why do you want to get registered, once you are registered how would that affect your role in the office and your pay?
- I think I have developed my knowledge in architecture as well as in BIM industry. Becoming a registered architect would prove my knowledge and experience in architecture and this will enhance my future career. I think once I registered, I would take more roles in project management and contract admin at the office. Therefore, I could request to increase my salary as I will take on more responsibilities than before the registration.
- Do you want to start your own firm?
Yes, I would love to. But I would need to have sufficient savings before starting my own business because the financial reward is not guaranteed once I start my own firm.
‐ Have I seen the fee agreements on any of the jobs I have worked on? If so how are they set up?
- As my role in the firm was graduate, therefore I did not have access to the fee agreement. But I assume the fee agreement will include what type the fee is charged whether it is a percentage fee or lump-sum or hourly rate. Then it would also include how much percentage of the total fee will be charged in different architectural service stages like Schematic Design, Design Development, Contract documentation etc.
‐ When working on a project from start to finish, am I involved in/with client‐architect correspondence?
- I have not engaged in direct correspondence with the client because I couldn’t represent myself as an architect. However, I assisted the project architect in preparing documents that respond to the client’s request.
‐ What sort of contract did I prefer out of the ones that I had experience with, a D+C or a traditional lump sum?
- Traditional lump sum is the preferred type of procurement for projects because the architect can act as the agent for the client with a traditional lump sum contract therefore, an architect can control the quality of design on behalf of the client within the budget. However, design and construct contract is more focused on time and cost and an architect will work for the contractor. Therefore, the quality of the outcome may not match the client’s expectations.
‐ When tendering a job, how many tenderers did we have, and how did we go about selecting the tenderers?
- Normally 4 tenderers are invited to tender the project. In terms of selecting tenders, we looked at their tender price whether they are well over or under the cost we received from our quantity surveyor and their past projects and their commitment to the local job first policy.
‐ What type of tender process was it?
It was a competitive tender for the invited tenderers.
‐ Was this a typical tender format for the practice that I work for? And why?
Competitive tender was the typical tender format while I was working in Tectura architects. This is because most projects that I am involved in are school projects and this was one of the requirements of the client.
‐ Have you seen a detailed trade breakdown in a tender submission?
- Yes, I have. The trade breakdown is consist of pricing for each trade such as demolition, site works, concrete, steel and windows & glazing, doors, etc. And the total tender price is the sum of these trade breakdowns.
‐ How did you deal with a non‐conforming tender?
- Ask the non-conforming tenderer stand by their tender price with conforming tender or withdraw the non-conforming tender.
‐ When working on a project that we had limited contract admin on, what services did we provide?
- I can still provide schematic design, design development and planning permit applications. However, client would need to take a role as project manager for construction with my professional consultancy.
‐ If you are walking through a site where you have limited contract admin and you see something that is non‐compliant from a statutory point of view but is outside of the area that you are reviewing, what do you do?
- I should inform the client of my concern with the possible risks of non-compliance of statutory requirements.
- If you see a design item that is not in alignment with the contract documents, what do you do?
If any item in the drawings is not aligned with the contract document, an architect should revise the drawings and issue them to contractors at the architect’s cost because it’s the architect’s fault.
- What were the risks of taking over work from another architect, and what measures to put in place to ensure things went smoothly?
- First, need to confirm with the client that fees to the previous architect is all paid and obtained licence to use the design.
- What client-architect agreement would I use when taking over work and why?
-I would use the Client & architects agreement for limited services because this type of agreement does not expressly prohibit a client from transferring the design to the other parties.
- How would I manage variations during construction which were caused by the architect’s incomplete documentation?
- First, I would check how much contingency is left on the remaining budget and if there is any concurrent delay that may prevent adjusting the practical completion date due to the variation.
- If all tenders came back much higher than the pre‐tender estimate, how would I advise the client?
- I would first try to negotiate with tenderers if there is any room to bring the tender cost down. If it doesn’t help, I would ask client if they are willing to increase the budget without changing scope & time of works. If client disagrees in increasing budget then request client to extend the tender and re-document the project to bring the project cost down to match with the initially agreed budget with the client.
- If I had a new client that was new and inexperienced in building what building contract would I recommend him to use and why?
I would suggest the client use a fixed-price lump-sump contract. Because this contract allows the architects to act as an agent of the client and the architect is responsible for bringing the project within the agreed time, cost, and quality of the works.
- My friend wanted to start up a teaching facility for kids learning guitars in an existing building and as a NEW architect where I would start with this, how I would calculate fees etc?
- I would ask budget for this project to my friend with the total area of the existing building. If the budget sounds reasonable then I will send him a client and architect agreement to start the project. In terms of calculating fees, it depends on the scope of works. If the full service is required then I would put my fee as 10% of the total cost of works. However, if the it is limited services then I would charge an hourly rate.
- Large scale project where a number of developers are bidding for a site and one of them has approached you for a design proposal for this bid. They’ve asked you for free services on this as they don’t want to lose money. What would you do?
- I will first check how many project is currently ongoing in my office. If the office has plenty of project to work then I would reject the request. However, if there is no current project in the office and I find the large scale project would be valuable to my firm then I would suggest the developer to form a joint venture from the bidding process. If the developer accepts my suggestion then I will inform my PI insurance company to disclose this.
