The Architect, the Co the Lost Art of Comm If you’ve been a contractor for awhile Later on in the project, I received a blis- cast of characters whose antics most (like me), it’s likely that you’ve come in tering memo from this same architect architects would be delighted to contact with an architect. This likeli- demanding that we remove the entire recount. But this doesn’t lessen the fact hood increases further if you tend to do (and already installed) 90-foot hip roof that the architectural industry definite- a lot of commercial work, where indeed system and move it three-eighths of an ly holds their own when it comes to it can be hard to swing a dead cat with- inch to the west. Apparently, this was harboring “unique thinkers” (wackos) out hitting an architect. [Author’s note: half the difference of the horizontal and members who enjoy a (euphemist- Now, don’t go out swinging dead cats measurement of the truss tails (soffit ically) singular perspective on life and willy-nilly at architects; I know it dimension) that he’d measured at the business. sounds like fun now, but it’s probably site. He went on in the memo to insist illegal (check your local laws).] But that “no additional work be performed Which brings me to my problem. You regardless of the ways or means, the until the situation was remedied to his see, it seems that every day, all I appear architect is an entrenched and integral satisfaction.” to do is lock horns with architects and segment of today’s building industry, engineers over what (most of the time) and the contractor and architect enjoy a Well, that sounded good to me . so we ends up being petty, paltry and/or per- positive, proactive working relationship walked off the job. sonal-pride issues. We just don’t seem with one another-most of the time. to communicate on the same level, and Nine days later—and after many letters that leads me to a couple of questions But then there’s the rest of the time. and phone calls (all from the architect; regarding the architect-contractor rela- I did not respond)—we received a writ- tionship: You know these times: You've just ten apology from the owner along with slammed the phone down in bitter dis- a humble entreaty for us to return to 1. Why do the contractor and architect gust after the architect for the ranger the project. We went back the follow- disagree so often—after all, aren't we station you’re building has just ing day, never saw or heard from the really on the same team? demanded you remove the (already architect ever again, and finished the installed) steel columns in the building. job on schedule. 2. Why do the architect and contractor It seems, when he was out at the site, he seem to have such a hard time commu- had snapped one of the columns with Searching for Answers nicating with one another? his fingernail and felt the resulting “pinnnggg” that emanated from the I have other stories similar to this Well, if the answers were simple, there’d column. This indicated (in his mind) one—and though extreme—the story be no need for this article. And, admit- that the “chromium content was a little above is not entirely unusual. Now, this tedly, I’m only able to offer a contrac- low.” This actually happened . and no, may be a good time to mention that I tor’s point of view. An architect would we didn’t exchange the columns. remain fully (and painfully) aware that almost certainly view the matter in a we contractors have our own malicious different light. But, for what it’s worth, 66 Construction Dimensions r October 1998 ntractor and A CONTRACTOR’S unication VIEWPOINT By S. S. Saucerman let’s examine the contractor/architect for the smallest amount of capital from had forgotten entirely to include in the relationship and some of the ways we the-yet to be involved-contractors. owner’s project. The owner noticed the communicate (and don’t communi- The project is strategized, budgets are blank expanse of wall one day as the cate) with one another. prepared, documents are created for project was going up and said he bidding and the bidding packages are “remembered discussing it” with the The Contractor and the finally let out to bidding contractors. architect in the early planning stages. Importance of Being First Up until this point, the owner and In a meeting shortly thereafter, called Let’s discuss the contractor. Now, when architect have enjoyed complete con- by the owner, I thought we were going I say contractor, I’m talking about gen- trol over the process. Together they’ve to be discussing a change-order for the eral contractors, sub-contractors and created the working drawings (blue- newly added window, since the win- pretty much anybody who performs prints), specifications, bid forms, unit dow was never at any time ever men- the actual, hands-on construction of prices, alternates, agreements and virtu- tioned in any documents we had. the building project. They're the ones ally all of the administrative and legal Instead, the architect calmly and who get their hands dirty, who inter- jargon that defines any future contrac- assuredly explained to me that we (the pret the architect’s working drawings tual relationship with the (yet-to-be) contractor) were obligated by our and specifications, and who must sort chosen contractor.. The contractor has agreement to purchase and install the out (at times) erroneous and ambigu- had little to no input or representation window (with no remuneration) under ous information in the plans and spec- in the project thus far. With a total lack the “architectural intent” clause in the ifications. And they’re also the ones of platform on behalf of the contractor, specification manual. You see, it seems who arrived last to the party. the bidding package has transformed that the had intended to put a in win- into a remarkably partisan vehicle that dow, but forgot, so it wasn’t his fault. What do I mean by last? benefits the owner and the architect; a blatant bias that may range from subtle I was stunned. I responded with some- Well, it’s really quite simple: the owner to insulting to the contractor. thing to the effect that I had intended likely came up with the idea for the pro- to be a millionaire by the time I was 30, ject in the first place (so he’s first). He Another Story . but I wasn’t! It didn’t help. But still, checks his coffers, decides what he can confident that he’d made his point, that spend and moves on to solicit the ser- Like this example (which is true): About his logic was unimpeachable and that vices of an architect. After some negoti- two-thirds of the way through a muse- the issue was now settled, he moved on ation, a deal is struck between the um project we were building, I received with other business. And the meeting owner and architect (the architect is sec- a memo from the project architect was adjourned. ond). The architect now becomes, in informing me that we were to supply, essence, partners with the owner, united install and pay for (what turned out to Well, we didn’t buy the window. I did in an effort to acquire the most building be) a $3,300 window that the architect send the architect an invoice for the Official Publication of AWCI 67 time that he had wasted in one of the most truly surreal meet- passages that are inserted into page 13 of the supplemental ings I’d ever attended (no, he didn’t pay it). We completed the general conditions. project, got paid, and six months later we heard that the archi- tect and owner were litigating one another over what each But it’s the only game in town, and owing to market pressure and believed were the other’s broken promises. That was about perpetually stiff industry competition, we accept the situation eight years ago, and I had occasion to drive by the building the with, perhaps some trepidation and even less argument. Do we other day. The owner never did get his window. deserve what we get? You bet! We even try to justify it by telling ourselves that at least all the bidders are equally encumbered or Weak in the Knees that they don’t mean half of what they say in the bid packages because the architect and owner are just covering their butts!” But, still and all, the lopsided packages are created and pre- sented to the contractors as a basically “take it or leave it” And the contractor is the last one to the party. proposition. This leads me to perhaps the most horrifying part of my narrative: The contractor accepts it! We don’t even put So, let’s review question #1 from above. No, we are clearly not up a fight. Oh sure, periodically, we make minor stands and on the same team. may even win an isolated skirmish or two along the way, but we don’t control the battlefield. Heck, half of the time we don’t Social Skills even know we’re in a battle! Maybe we’re apathetic—or stu- pid-and slowly, bit by bit, our liability increases, our control So, we (the GC) prepare our bid, sorting through the pomp and lessens and our losses grow greater through cryptic and subtle formality of the plans and specifications that is inherently alien to the contractor.