The world of construction management has grown in a multi-billion dollar industry and a force that must be reckoned with for anyone that ever has to deal with a build project. Gone are the days of an elusive contractors that may or may not finish a build within the parameters of the project. The modern world of construction management demands quick completion dates and maximum efficiency. To meet this goal, a team of professionals is needed when perhaps in days gone by one could have gotten by with less of a management team. Today, in the current build environment, the roles of the architect and quantity surveyor are those of lead consultants on a build project. These positions not just luxury positions that only big projects require; instead, the demands and high-stakes world of construction management require that these professionals be part of the management team.
[...] Or, if you are leaning toward an architect, how many buildings has the person not only designed, but overseen during the construction process? Although many years of experiences on a construction site can be a great asset, a lead consultant also needs the specialized educational training that will be a huge asset to any build project. So how does a construction project fair that opts to do without the direct services of an architect or quantity surveyor as lead consultant? [...]
[...] In a build project, the careful management of the architect or the quantity surveyor is now responsible for all of the financial aspects of the build as well, which takes a huge burden off the client for managing these important, yet delicate, matters. Additionally, a quantity surveyor or architect has access to other types of professionals that an owner or client simply will not have. The architect or quantity surveyor is also in charge of managing the time frame of the build and ensuring that subcontractor do their part in the specified amount of time, which is another huge task the owner or client will not have to manage on their own if a quantity surveyor or architect is serving as lead consultant. [...]
[...] The architect's plan must be one that the builders and everyone else who begins the actual construction can readily and easily interpret. The architect can also play an important role in the financial aspect of the process. It is the architect's job to make sure that his or her conception of the project can be done within the financial limitations of the project. An architect must accurately account for current labour prices, as well as the prices of supplies. With the constant fluctuation of prices in the current economic climate, not having a professional complete this aspect of the process can lead to serious problems with the actual cost of the project once construction begins. [...]
[...] The questions with the case study of the Salt Lake City County Building becomes how well did the winning contractor fair without the use of construction specialists? The bidding included the contractor going through a prequalification process that involved proving their ability to care out the work. All bidders were required to bid on all of the work at once. This did not allow for very much unforeseen problems. One such issue that arose was that there were several stone windowsills that would have to be replaced by highly skilled stone masons in order to match the original, historic building. [...]
[...] The surveyor goes beyond the scope of the architect in this regard. The quantity surveyor on a build has a much different role than that of the architect. A client can hire a quantity surveyor, but oftentimes the quantity surveyor works for the contractor. The job of the quantity surveyor, no matter who has hired him or her, is to oversee all of the costs involved with the build project. The quantity surveyors make work directly onsite and literally have immediate and close access to watch supplies and other expenses from right on site. [...]
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